- Featured content from Windows (Windows Spotlight) displays dynamic backgrounds and suggestions both in the lock screen like on the desktop of Windows 11.
- The Enterprise and Education editions allow advanced management through CSP and Group Policy, with custom messages and backgrounds.
- In Windows 11, you can enable featured content in Settings > Personalization > Background, provided your system is up to date.
- If Spotlight fails, it's advisable to check settings, connection, update Windows, and only in extreme cases, consider a system reset.
Featured content on Windows 11 desktop It has become one of those features that go unnoticed until you try it and think, "How could I have gone so long without this?" This feature, also known as Windows Spotlight, fills both the lock screen and the desktop itself with spectacular images that change daily and, in addition, is accompanied by suggestions, interesting facts, recommendations, and messages from the organization in corporate environments.
Although at first glance it may seem like just a change of backgroundBehind it all lies a whole experience designed to make the computer more attractive, useful, and, in businesses and educational institutions, also more communicative. Throughout this article, we'll see exactly what Windows Spotlight is, what its requirements are, how to activate it on the Windows 11 desktop, how to manage it centrally with policies and administration tools, and what to do if it stops working or if you want to go a step further with custom backgrounds.
What is Windows Spotlight?
Windows Featured Content It's a built-in Windows feature that automatically downloads different wallpapers from Microsoft servers and displays them on the lock screen and, in Windows 11, also on the desktop. You might know it better by its English name, Windows Spotlight, as it has been used that way for years, especially in technical documentation and forums.
Its main mission is to rotate photographs of landscapes and striking places. From all over the world. Every day, the system applies a new image, both when locking the computer and when logging in. On the desktop, these photos also change, so you're faced with a more dynamic and less monotonous environment than with the typical static background.
In addition to images, the featured content includes additional informationWindows usage suggestions, small TricksInteresting facts or specific messages from the organization (in corporate and educational environments) are displayed discreetly, usually linked to icons or text overlaid on the image itself, without interfering with computer use.
The lock screen can be enhanced with applications that display quick information, such as the calendar, email, or Skype (or other) apps Compatible). By default, these Microsoft applications usually appear, although you can change them in the settings to suit your needs.
Windows license requirements and editions
It is important to differentiate availability according to the Windows editionWindows Highlights as a manageable enterprise-level feature (including policies for organizational messaging and advanced personalization) is officially available in Windows Enterprise and Windows Education editions.
In these professional and educational environments This is where the feature truly shines, as it can be configured to display not only spectacular backgrounds but also internal communications, company announcements, security reminders, corporate campaigns, messages for students, and more. All of this is integrated within the Windows Spotlight mechanism.
In other editions of Windows 10 and Windows 11, such as Home or ProYou can also use Windows Spotlight to change the lock screen image and, in Windows 11, the desktop image, but without all the centralized management options available in Enterprise and Education. In practical terms, home users primarily see the aesthetic aspects and Microsoft's general suggestions.
In short, if you work in a company or educational institution with Enterprise or Education licenses, this applies.You have a wider range of options available to control this featured content through policies and administrative tools. If you use Windows at home, you'll still have the more visual and dynamic aspects, which for many is already more than enough.
Featured content on the Windows lock screen
Windows Spotlight has been present on the lock screen for some time now. This applies to both Windows 10 and Windows 11. It's the screen you see when you turn on your computer or press the Windows + L key combination to lock it, where the date, time, and, if configured, quick information from some applications appear.
For individual use on a single deviceThe easiest way to enable featured content on the lock screen is through the Windows Settings app. No special tools or advanced features are needed; your system simply needs an internet connection to download images and content updates.
The basic steps to change the lock screen image to featured content Here's how: Go to Settings, then Personalization, and then Lock screen. There you'll find an option to "Personalize the lock screen" using a drop-down menu. Within that menu, select "Windows Spotlight" to have your computer automatically start using daily Spotlight images.
In that same settings section you can adjust whether the lock screen image is displayed. This also applies to the login screen, specifically when you enter your PIN, password, or login method. Enabling the "Show lock screen background image on login screen" option visually unifies both areas.
All of this applies at the user's local level.Therefore, each person can choose whether they want Spotlight or prefer a static image or a slideshow of their own photos on the lock screen, as long as there are no corporate policies that prevent it.
How to enable featured content on the Windows 11 desktop
The big news in Windows 11 is that featured content has moved to the desktop.Until recently, this feature was primarily intended for the lock screen, but Microsoft decided to extend it so that it can also be used as a desktop background, allowing users to enjoy the same photos and content without having to lock their computer.
To make this feature appear in your systemA specific Windows 11 update is required. Microsoft introduced it through the optional update KB5014019, which has subsequently been integrated into more recent Windows 11 builds, including major updates such as 22H2 and later.
The first thing you should do is make sure your Windows 11 is up to dateGo to Settings, enter the section of Windows Update And check if you have the latest cumulative updates installed. If KB5014019 appeared as an optional update previously, it's most likely now included in later packages, so simply install everything Windows Update suggests.
Once it has been confirmed that the system is up to dateYou can now enable Spotlight on your desktop. The steps are simple: open Settings, go to Personalization, and then to Background. Within the background customization section, you'll see a drop-down menu where you can choose different background types (picture, solid color, slideshow, etc.). That's where the "Windows Spotlight" option should appear.
Selecting “Windows Spotlight” as the background typeYour desktop will automatically switch to using the daily photos downloaded by Windows Spotlight. You'll see an initial image, usually a stunning landscape, which will rotate over the days, just like on the lock screen.
By enabling this option, Windows also adds a small icon in the upper right corner of the desktop.That icon displays information about the current image, such as the location where the photo was taken or other details. It's usually quite discreet, but it's there in case you're curious and want to know more about what you're seeing.
If at any point you get tired of the featured content and you'd prefer to go back to a static background or a slideshow of your own photos, or even set a different background on each desktop and monitorSimply go back to Settings > Personalization > Background and change the background type to "Picture," "Solid color," or "Slideshow." Windows will remember your choice until you re-enable Spotlight.
Troubleshooting and additional adjustments
Occasionally, featured content may stop being updated or always displaying the same image. It's usually a one-off thing, but if it happens to you, there are some simple steps you can take before getting into bigger trouble like resetting the system or manually editing the registry.
The first thing to do is check the basic settings.Open the Settings app using the Windows key + I, go to Personalization, and check both the Lock screen and Background sections (for the desktop). Verify that the selected option for personalization is "Windows Spotlight" and that, on the lock screen, the box to display the image on the sign-in screen is set as desired.
Next, make sure your computer has an internet connection.Windows Spotlight needs to download new images and content, so if your computer is offline for days or has very limited connections, you may see the same photograph for quite some time.
A trick that often works when Spotlight gets "stuck" This involves temporarily changing the background type. For example, on the lock screen or desktop, change from "Windows Spotlight" to "Picture," apply the change, lock the screen with Windows + L, log back in, and then reselect "Windows Spotlight." This brief reset of the settings forces Windows to refresh the feature.
More advanced recommendations are commonly found in user forums.This includes running scripts or .bat files that modify the Windows registry to force Spotlight to be reconfigured. These types of solutions can work, but they also carry risks, especially if the file comes from dubious websites or if you're unsure exactly what it's modifying.
If you're considering using a .bat file or changing the registryIt's highly recommended to create a system restore point beforehand. That way, if something goes wrong, you can revert to a previous state without losing your entire system. It's also a good idea to review the file's contents and make sure you understand the changes it will make.
In more extreme situations, when there are general problems with Windows Since these issues affect not only Spotlight but other parts of the system, it might be more sensible to reset your computer. Microsoft itself offers the option to "Reset this PC," which keeps your files and, where possible, your settings.
Before resetting, it is advisable to follow several steps: Check that you have an associated Microsoft account and that the Windows digital license is linked to the computer, back up all your data to an external drive and, very importantly, export the settings of those desktop programs that allow it, so that you can import them later.
After resetting Windows with the option to keep filesPrograms installed from the Microsoft Store can be easily recovered, and many save settings to the cloud. However, traditional desktop programs will need to be reinstalled manually, hence the importance of having backups and settings exported beforehand.
Once the system is clean and updated againYou can reactivate Windows Spotlight on both the lock screen and desktop, and the feature should normally return to normal.
Featured content on the Windows 11 desktop adds a very attractive visual touch And at the same time, it serves as a streamlined channel for information and advice. Understanding how to activate it, how to manage it at a corporate level, and what to do when it fails will allow you to get the most out of it, whether on a single PC at home or in a massive deployment in an organization where image and internal communication play a key role.
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