Could This Be Why the Spotlight Image Does Not Change?

Like some other Windows 10 users, my Windows Spotlight image stopped refreshing shortly after my recent clean install of Windows 10. The image never changes, and neither do the 'feature suggestions, fun facts and tips.'

In Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Background, I can select "Windows spotlight" but the setting reverts to "Picture."

I recently came across this posting on Microsoft's website: Configure Windows Spotlight on the lock screen, which includes this:

"In Windows 10, version 1607, the lock screen background does not display if you disable the Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing setting in This PC > Properties > Advanced system settings > Performance settings > Visual Effects, or if you enable the Group Policy setting Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Desktop Windows Manager > Do not allow windows animations."

I'm currently on version 1909 [build 18363.657] and we know that Windows 10 versions are cumulative. Moreover, I have disabled Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing in Control Panel.

Could this be the reason why my lock screen image never changes?

Bulldog said:

I'm currently on version 1909 [build 18363.657] and we know that Windows 10 versions are cumulative. Moreover, I have disabled Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing in Control Pane Could this be the reason why my lock screen image never changes?

I have a little Intel atom powered netbook for taking out and about (well, 'powered' is perhaps an over-statement ) running 32-bit 1909 (18363.657). It needs all the help it can get, so these are my Visual Effects settings. Despite that, the Spotlight lock screen regularly updates.



One thing that will prevent Spotlight updating is if you have set a Metered Connection.

See if changing your settings makes any difference, but if not try...

Reset and Re-register Windows Spotlight in Windows 10

If anyone is still following ...

I discovered that the links on my Spotlight image don't work: They don't connect to anything when clicked (e.g., Microsoft Store.) If the Spotlight page can't connect to the internet, for whatever reason, not only will the links not work, but the page will not refresh.

Anyway, I gave up and removed the lock screen via Group Policy.

Bulldog said:

I discovered that the links on my Spotlight image don't work: They don't connect to anything when clicked....

The expected behaviour is that if you click one of the links on the Spotlight lock screen it will first take you to the sign in screen, then after you have signed in Edge will open to at a url supplied by the link you clicked on. Even if you have no internet connection Edge should still open at the specified url, it will of course then tell you it cannot connect.

Does Edge open after you sign in? If not, then your Spotlight is broken. Try the tutorial:
Reset and Re-register Windows Spotlight in Windows 10

I did not know that Edge was supposed to open.

Nevertheless, I'm done with Spotlight as I mentioned. It was never anything more to me than a novelty, so when resetting didn't help, Spotlight was just something that 'got in the way.'

Bulldog said:

I did not know that Edge was supposed to open.

Nevertheless, I'm done with Spotlight as I mentioned. It was never anything more to me than a novelty, so when resetting didn't help, Spotlight was just something that 'got in the way.'

Edge never opened for me (the old or new Edge after sign-in and my Spotlight is not broken. I've never heard of that.

opens chromium edge for me ok.

Mcd73165 said:

Edge never opened for me (the old or new Edge after sign-in and my Spotlight is not broken. I've never heard of that.

This is what is supposed to happen. If I click on this link on the Spotlight lock screen....



...the lock screen clears to reveal the sign in screen. Then, after signing in Edge opens (even though it's not my default browser) with this page....

After signing in from the Start Screen , the PC opens to the desktop like it always has. It never opens Edge unless I click on Edge. It has always been that way. Plus the fact that I wouldn't want it to open a Browser by itself. If I'm misunderstanding what's being said then my bad.