no widgets selection for lock screen setup

Billy L Bunting 20

no widgets selection for lock screen setup and spotlight does not change the photo

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Answer accepted by question author

CrazyKats 19,245 Volunteer Moderator

Hi Billy,

Try the ISO again and this time tick for it

Not to Check for Updates. I had this happen

once and not letting it check for updates

worked and then afterwards I got all the

updates via Windows Update.

Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-09-04T17:35:54.23+00:00

I performed the ISO installation as you recommended and it worked. However, it did not fix the missing widget button with drop down menu for my lock screen in Settings - Personalization. There is a lock screen status button with a drop down menu for weather that doesn't work. There is never a weather display on my lock screen.

My other Windows 11 computer doesn't have a lock screen status button but it does have the widget button with its drop down menu. Any more suggestions?

Billy

8 additional answers

Clary-N 15,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-22T01:18:22.64+00:00
Hi Billy L Bunting,

To help narrow this down, could you let me know which Windows 11 version and build you're running? You can check this by pressing Windows + R, typing winver and sharing the result.

In the meantime, please try these additional steps:
1. Run System File Checker and DISM:
Open Command Prompt as Administrator, then run the following commands one at a time:
```
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
```
After it completes, run:
```
sfc /scannow
```
These tools can repair corrupted Windows system files that may affect built-in features such as the lock screen, Widgets and Windows Spotlight.
1. Test with a new user account:
Create a temporary local user account by going to Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account, then sign in to the new profile. If the Widgets options and Windows Spotlight work correctly there, it may indicate that the issue is limited to your current Windows profile rather than Windows itself.

Also, is the Widgets section completely missing from the Lock screen settings or do you see it but with no available widget choices? For Windows Spotlight, has the image never changed or did it stop updating recently?

If possible, please share a screenshot of your Lock screen settings page.

I look forward to your update.

If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.
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Clary-N 15,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-25T08:36:42.42+00:00

Hi Billy L Bunting,

May I know if you have got any chance to check my answer?

I am glad to help if you have any other questions.

Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-08-25T16:20:16.89+00:00

Yes, I performed your suggestions to no avail. Do you have any other ideas?----------------### [Moderator Note: Personal Info Removed]

Hi Clary-N, Thank you for your response. My Windows 11 version is Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.9168). Unfortunately, the additional steps you suggested did not resolve the issue. The problem began after I clicked "not interesting" on several lock screen displays. Since then, the lock screen has stopped changing and remains stuck on the same image whenever I lock the computer or reboot it. Also lost the widget selection. Best regards, [Moderator Note: Personal Info Removed]

Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-08-25T16:20:48.89+00:00

----------------### [Moderator Note: Personal Info Removed]

Hi Clary-N, Thank you for your response. My Windows 11 version is Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.9168). Unfortunately, the additional steps you suggested did not resolve the issue. The problem began after I clicked "not interesting" on several lock screen displays. Since then, the lock screen has stopped changing and remains stuck on the same image whenever I lock the computer or reboot it. Also lost the widget selection. Best regards, [Moderator Note: Personal Info Removed]

Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-08-25T16:22:23.8033333+00:00

I tried all your suggestions to no avail. Any other recommendations?

Clary-N 15,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-26T09:07:23.74+00:00

Please note that our forum is a public platform, and we will modify your question to hide your personal information in the description. Kindly ensure that you hide any personal or organizational information the next time you post an error or other details to protect personal data.

Hi Billy L Bunting,

Thank you for the update. The fact that this started immediately after selecting "Not interesting" on several Spotlight images is helpful, especially since both the lock screen image rotation and widget options were affected around the same time.

Since the DISM, SFC, and new user profile tests did not resolve the issue, I'd suggest first switching the lock screen from Windows Spotlight to Picture or Slideshow, restarting the PC and then switching it back to Windows Spotlight.

If that does not help, you may want to consider performing an in-place upgrade repair of Windows. This reinstalls Windows while keeping your personal files, apps and settings intact, and can often resolve issues affecting built-in Windows features that are not corrected by SFC or DISM.

Before proceeding, I recommend backing up any important files as a precaution.

To perform an in-place upgrade:

Download the latest Windows 11 ISO or Installation Assistant from the Windows 11 download page.

Open the ISO and run Setup.exe (or launch the Installation Assistant).

Select Keep personal files and apps when prompted.

Complete the installation and allow Windows to restart.

After the repair is complete, check whether Windows Spotlight and the lock screen widget options have been restored.

Kindly keep me updated on how it goes.

Clary-N 15,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-27T08:56:18.6666667+00:00

Hi Billy L Bunting,

Have you had a chance to check my answer yet?

Please do keep me updated.

Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-08-27T10:38:10.0833333+00:00

Clary-N,

Thanks for your response. Yes, I have checked your answer but haven't tried it, yet. Will let you know when I get a chance to try it.

Billy

Clary-N 15,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-28T05:01:07.04+00:00

Hi Billy L Bunting,

Thanks for the update. Whenever you have a chance, please give the steps a try and let me know how it goes.

If the Spotlight reset does not help, you can then consider the in-place upgrade repair as the next step.

I look forward to your update.

Clary-N 15,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-31T08:24:29.57+00:00

Hi Billy L Bunting,

I have not heard from you for a couple of days.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can help by leaving your comment down here.

Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-08-31T15:19:50.23+00:00

Clary-N,

I downloaded an ISO file and a MediaCreation tool from the Microsoft website. Which one do I use?

Billy

Clary-N 15,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-31T23:20:28.69+00:00

Hi Billy,

Thank you for the update.

For an in-place upgrade repair, I recommend using the Windows 11 ISO that you downloaded.

Please double-click the ISO file to mount it, open the newly mounted drive, and then run Setup.exe from within the ISO. When prompted, select Keep personal files and apps. This performs the repair installation while preserving your data, applications and settings.

The Media Creation Tool is typically used to create installation media (such as a bootable USB drive) or to download Windows installation files. Since you already have the ISO, the ISO method is the more direct approach for the repair.

As a precaution, please ensure any important files are backed up before proceeding.

Once the repair installation is complete, kindly let me know whether the Windows Spotlight images and lock screen widget options have been restored.

Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-09-01T12:38:04.42+00:00

Clary-N, thanks for the clarification. Will give it a shot.

Billy

Clary-N 15,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-04T05:38:53.69+00:00

Hi Billy,

You're welcome! Please let me know if it works for you.

If the issue persists, feel free to reply back and I'll be glad to help troubleshoot further.

Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-09-04T15:28:54.3833333+00:00

Clary-N,

The iso file (Win11_25H2_English_x64_v2) I downloaded does not work. It continues to run at 46% checking for updates and won't advance any further. Any ideas?

Billy

Clary-N 15,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-05T00:05:58.08+00:00

Hi Billy,

Thank you for the update. I can see that you're currently working with another Volunteer Moderator on this issue, so I recommend continuing the discussion in that thread to keep everything in one place.

If you need any additional assistance from me, please don't hesitate to let me know. I'll be happy to help where I can.

Wishing you all the best and I hope you're able to get everything resolved soon.

Kind regards.

Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-09-05T11:34:55.08+00:00

Clary-N, I didn't pick a different moderator. Microsoft did that. I had no control.

Billy

CrazyKats 19,245 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-05T12:50:52.8166667+00:00

Hi Billy,

Microsoft doesn't pick Moderators to respond on here.

I chimed in because I could help you with that

ISO install issue because I dealt with the same thing.

I continued to try and help you with the Widget issue.

My last suggestion was a total clean Windows install.

If that doesn't help or you don't wish to do that,

then feel free to continue with Clary.

Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-09-05T20:57:20.62+00:00

I installed a system image I had made in June and got the widgets button back but no widgets. When I try to add a widget, the widget add buttons are grayed out. It's almost like I lack permission. What say you?

Clary-N 15,730 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-08T06:49:00.8+00:00

Hi Billy,

Thanks for the update. If you have not already done so, I recommend trying the latest recommendations provided by the VM, while skipping any steps you have already completed. Sometimes the newer suggestions may address issues that were not covered by earlier troubleshooting.

If the issue still persists, please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators and contributors, including external Microsoft employees, do not have access to customer accounts, devices or backend systems and therefore cannot directly investigate account- or service-specific issues.

For further investigation, I recommend contacting Microsoft Support:

Go to Contact Microsoft Support and sign in with your Microsoft account.

Type "Chat Support" and select Get help.

Scroll down and select Contact support.

Under Products and services, choose Windows.

Under Category, select Technical support, then click Confirm.

Select Chat with a support agent in your web browser.

I also encourage you to submit feedback through Feedback Hub (Win + F) and include any relevant screenshots, logs or error messages. This helps Microsoft investigate the issue and improve future updates.

I hope this helps.
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CrazyKats 19,245 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-04T18:02:59.6566667+00:00

Hi Billy,

Many complain about Spotlight

not changing pictures.

Two other things:

Build 26200 is now up to .9267.

Is that what you have now?

Also if you look under Windows Update,

Advanced Options, Optional Updates

do you see a build 26300?
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Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-09-04T18:17:57.4766667+00:00

I have build 26200.9278 listed in optional updates. I haven't installed it yet. Kim Komando warned about issues with it. No build 26300 or 26200.9267.

Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-09-04T18:27:29.8766667+00:00

There is a build 26200.8037 on this computer that isn't on my other computer.
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CrazyKats 19,245 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-04T18:50:14.12+00:00

Hi Billy,

I would take the 26200.9278 update,

because the build you're on is really

outdated.
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Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-09-04T19:31:43.77+00:00

I installed 26200.9278 to no avail. The issue still exists.
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CrazyKats 19,245 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-04T19:37:10.0866667+00:00

Hi Billy,

Just to clarify, are you referring to

this option in Personalization, Lock Screen?
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Billy L Bunting 20 Reputation points

2026-09-04T19:51:05.24+00:00

Yes. That is the widget select that is missing. It is gone.
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no widgets selection for lock screen setup

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