How to restore my Explore Background

Question

How to restore my Explore Background

Veronica Bunas 0

How to restore my Explore Background. This is a standard feature that no longer is showing. Next Background remains.

[Tag moved from: Microsoft 365 and Office | Other]

Veronica Bunas 0 Reputation points

2026-09-03T15:43:36.48+00:00

none of the steps given were successful in restoring my Explore Background feature. What is my next step?
Norah-L 10,490 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-06T03:21:06.7666667+00:00

Hi Veronica,

Thank you for trying the steps and letting me know. Please press Windows key + R, enter winver and share the Windows version and OS build shown.

1 answer

Your answer

Veronica Bunas 0 Reputation points

2026-09-03T15:43:36.48+00:00

none of the steps given were successful in restoring my Explore Background feature. What is my next step?
Norah-L 10,490 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-06T03:21:06.7666667+00:00

Hi Veronica,

Thank you for trying the steps and letting me know. Please press Windows key + R, enter winver and share the Windows version and OS build shown.

Answer 1

Norah-L 10,490 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Veronica Bunas,

It sounds like the Explore background option is missing when you right-click the desktop, although Next background is still available. This option is part of Windows Spotlight and may appear under the newer name Learn more about this background.

Please try the options below and check whether the issue continues:

I recommend trying the following:

Open Settings > Personalization > Background.
Temporarily change Windows spotlight to Picture, then change it back to Windows spotlight.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Under Processes, right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.
Right-click an empty area of the desktop again and check whether Explore background or Learn more about this background has reappeared.
Open Settings > Windows Update, install any available updates, and restart the computer.

If it is still missing, please press Windows key + R, enter winver, and share the Windows version and OS build shown. The exact menu options can vary by Windows build, so this information will help narrow down the next step.

Please let me know how it goes after trying these steps, and I'll be glad to continue looking into it with you.

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Norah-L 10,490 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-27T07:27:01.97+00:00

Hi Veronica,

Have you had the chance to check my answer yet?

Please do keep me updated.
Henry 0 Reputation points

2026-08-27T15:11:01.43+00:00

Hi @Norah-L . I am having the same issue as Veronica and the recommended steps did not change anything. I noticed the option stopped appearing a few days ago, too. Given the timing, I suspect this may be related to a recent Windows update.I am running Windows version 25H2 OS build 26200.9106.
Norah-L 10,490 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-30T08:29:26.39+00:00

Dear Henry

Thank you for confirming the build and for trying the suggested steps. Since the same behavior appeared around the same time on more than one device, an update-related change is possible.

In this situation, I suggest pressing Windows key + F to open Feedback Hub and submitting a report. Please include Windows 11 version 25H2, OS build 26200.9106, and a screenshot showing that Next background remains while Explore background is missing.

Since this is a user-to-user forum, we cannot investigate or confirm product-level issues directly. Submitting feedback allows the relevant Windows product team to review the diagnostic information.

Thank you so much for your patience!

Best regards.
Henry 0 Reputation points

2026-09-01T14:23:01.1166667+00:00

FYI, as of today 9/1/2026, the issue is resolved on my end without any further action taken. Not sure what happened here.
Norah-L 10,490 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-03T03:38:21.4166667+00:00

Hi Henry,

Thank you for the update. I’m glad to hear that the option has returned.

Since it resolved on its own, this may have been a temporary Windows Spotlight or feature rollout issue, although the exact cause has not been confirmed.