You may have noticed that different pictures appear as the lock screen background on your Windows 10 computer. These pictures are displayed by Windows Spotlight. Spotlight gets pictures from Bing and displays them on your Windows 10 lock screen. Sometimes, many users have noticed that Windows Spotlight lock screen not working on their computers. This is a common issue and can be caused by various issues, such as a bad internet connection or corrupt Spotlight files. If you are also experiencing lock screen not working Windows 10 due to Spotlight, this is the guide for you. In this guide, we will discuss reasons and methods to fix Spotlight not working on Windows 10.
How to Fix Windows Spotlight Lock Screen Not Working in Windows 10
There can be various reasons for Windows Spotlight not working on your Windows 10 computer. Some of the common reasons for the issue are mentioned here.
- A bad internet connection can also cause this issue.
- An outdated or corrupt device driver is also sometimes responsible for this issue.
- A corrupt system file on your computer can cause Spotlight to malfunction.
- An outdated Windows version can also be responsible for this issue.
- Improper loading of the Windows Spotlight service can cause this issue.
- If the essential background apps are not running, Spotlight may have trouble loading.
- Various underlying issues with Spotlight, such as bugs, can cause this issue.
- Corrupt Spotlight-stored files are also responsible for this issue.
- Improper configuration issues with the Spotlight service are also responsible for this issue.
- Various issues with the system can cause Spotlight to malfunction and not work properly.
In the following guide, we will discuss methods for fixing Windows Spotlight lock screen not working issue.
Method 1: Wait for Spotlight to Load
When you first launch Microsoft Spotlight on your computer, it may take some time to load properly. Sometimes, it can take up to a day for the Spotlight to fully sync images with Bing. Before moving to the more advanced methods, wait a day to see if lock screen not working in Windows 10 issue is fixed.
Method 2: Troubleshoot Network Connection
One of the most common reasons for Windows Spotlight not working may be a poor network connection. If you are experiencing a weak or unstable internet connection, you may see Spotlight malfunctioning. Therefore, the first step that you should try is to fix the network issue to resolve Windows Spotlight lock screen not working issue.
Step I: Restart WiFi Router
One of the first methods you can try to resolve the Spotlight not working properly issue is to repair WiFi connections. Generally, network and application connection errors can be caused by improper router connections. Therefore, make sure that you have connected your WiFi router properly.
1. Long press the Power Button on your router.
2. Once the router has been turned off, unplug the router from the main switch.
3. Wait a couple of minutes, reconnect the cable, and turn on the WiFi router.
Check if the connection has been restored.
Step II: Speed Up Internet
If the WiFi router is working fine but you continue to receive a bad internet connection, then the issue could be caused by your internet provider. To fix these issues, you can try to check with your internet provider. Also, make sure you have an active internet plan on your devices. If you continue to experience a slow internet connection and can’t figure out how to fix it, you should check out the Slow Internet Connection? 10 Ways to Speed up your Internet!
Also Read: How to Change Theme, Lock Screen & Wallpaper in Windows 10
Method 3: Update Device Drivers
Outdated and corrupt device drivers can cause various issues with a computer. Therefore, it is important to keep them updated all the time. If your device drivers are outdated, you may experience lock screen not working Windows 10 issue. You can try to fix Spotlight issues on your computer by updating these drivers. If you are not sure how to update drivers, you can check out the How to Update Device Drivers on Windows 10 guide to find methods to update device drivers.
Method 4: Repair System Files
Corrupt system files on your computer are also responsible for various issues. Some of the common issues that are caused by corrupt system files include slow performance, app malfunctions, and system errors. Corrupt system files are also associated with Windows spotlight lock screen not working issue. Therefore, it can be helpful to locate and repair system files on your computer. You can check out the How to Repair System Files on Windows 10 guide to find methods to locate and repair system files on your computer.
Method 5: Update Windows
Outdated or faulty Windows updates are also responsible for numerous errors on your computer, including Microsoft Spotlight errors. Generally, Windows gets updates automatically, but you can also manually update Windows on your computer. You can check out the How to Download and Install Windows 10 Latest Update guide to update Windows 10 to fix Spotlight issues.
Also Read: Enable or Disable Cortana on Windows 10 Lock Screen
Method 6: Re-enable Windows Spotlight Service
If the previous methods do not help and the issue persists, you can try to stop the Windows Spotlight service on your computer. To resolve lock screen not working Windows 10 issue, use the steps below to stop the Windows Spotlight service.
1. Press Windows + I keys together to open Settings.
2. Now, click on Personalization.
3. From the left-side panel, click on the Lock screen.
4. Under Background drop-down options, select Picture or Slideshow.
5. Now, reboot the PC.
6. Follow steps 1-4 and change the Background drop-down to Windows spotlight.
Method 7: Turn On Background Apps
If the previous methods do not help with Windows Spotlight lock screen not working issue, you can try to run the background apps that are required to run Spotlight. If some of the essential background apps are not running, it can cause Spotlight to malfunction.
1. Press Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
2. Here, select Privacy.
3. From the left-side panel, click on Background apps.
4. Here, locate the Let apps run in the background toggle and enable it.
5. Now, click Home, and then click on Personalization.
6. From the left-side panel, click on the Lock screen.
6. Under the Background drop-down options, select Windows spotlight.
Method 8: Re-register Windows Spotlight
You can try to re-register Windows Spotlight on your computer to fix this issue. You can use the Windows PowerShell utility to re-register Spotlight.
1. Press the Windows key, type Windows PowerShell and click on Run as administrator.
2. In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press the Enter key.
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like "*SystemApps*"} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
3. Finally, reboot the PC.
Also Read: Fix Background Images Not Appearing on Lock Screen After Anniversary Update
Method 9: Delete Windows Spotlight Files
Spotlight stores pictures from the Bing browser. If any of these stored files get corrupt, you may experience issues with Spotlight. Therefore, one of the most effective methods to fix Spotlight issues is to delete these corrupt files.
1. Press Windows + E keys simultaneously to open File Explorer.
2. Here, navigate to the following location path.
%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets
3. Press the Ctrl + A keys together to select all files, and press Delete key them.
4. Finally, reboot the PC.
Method 10: Reset Windows Spotlight
If the previous methods do not work, you can now consider resetting Windows Spotlight. If there were any changes made in the Spotlight configuration that you can’t revert, resetting will fix these issues.
1. Press Windows + E keys simultaneously to open File Explorer.
2. Here, navigate to the following location path.
%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings
3. Here, locate the settings.dat and roaming.lock files.
4. Rename these files by adding .bak at the end.
5. Finally, restart the PC.
6. Follow the Method 6 to enable Windows spotlight services.
Also Read: Fix Windows 10 Critical Error Start Menu and Cortana Aren’t Working
Method 11: Perform System Restore
If none of the previous methods work and you continue to have Windows spotlight lock screen not working issue, you can try to perform a system restore on your PC. However, be cautious when using this method because system restoration can result in data loss on your computer. If you are not sure how to perform a system restore, you can check out the How to use System Restore on Windows 10 guide to safely perform a system restore of your Windows 10 computer.
Note: It is advised to use this method only when absolutely necessary. Also, make sure that you have created a backup of all the important files on your computer before performing a system restore.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is Windows Spotlight?
Ans. Windows Spotlight is a Windows component that displays background images on your computer. Spotlight gets these pictures from Bing and displays them on the Windows lock screen.
Q2. Why is Spotlight not working on Windows 10?
Ans. There can be various reasons for Windows Spotlight to not work on your computer. Some of the common reasons include bad internet, corrupt system files, and outdated device drivers.
Q3. Can I disable Windows Spotlight on Windows 10?
Ans. Yes, you can disable Windows Spotlight on Windows 10 from the personalization settings by selecting pictures or a slideshow as the background.
Q4. Can I delete Windows Spotlight data on Windows 10?
Ans. Yes, Windows Spotlight data is stored in the root file, you can delete it by navigating to the location on your computer.
Q5. How long does it take for Spotlight to load?
Ans. Generally, Spotlight takes some time to load properly. In some cases, it may take up to 24 hours.
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We hope this guide was helpful to you and you were able to fix Windows Spotlight lock screen not working issue on your Windows 10 computer. If you have any queries or suggestions for us, please let us know in the comment section.
