To turn off the Windows 11 lock-screen background supplied by Windows Spotlight, open Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Under Personalize your lock screen, select Picture for one fixed image or Slideshow for images from folders on your PC. Selecting either option stops Spotlight on the lock screen. To enable Spotlight again, return to this menu and select Windows spotlight.
The lock screen and sign-in screen have separate controls. You can keep a custom lock-screen image while preventing it from being reused behind the sign-in prompt, or turn off the motion effect independently of the background choice.
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What the Windows 11 lock-screen choices do
Windows 11 gives you three background modes in the Lock screen settings. The choice determines where images come from, whether the display is predictable, and whether Windows adds optional tips or notifications.
| Mode | Image source | What you see | Best when you want |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picture | One image selected from Windows defaults or your device | The same selected image remains the lock-screen background | Predictability and a single personal image |
| Slideshow | One or more folders on your device | Images from the selected folders cycle as the background | Automatic variety using local files |
| Windows spotlight | Rotating imagery supplied by Microsoft | Changing images, with possible tips, tricks and notifications | Automatic variety without maintaining your own folders |
Microsoft describes Windows Spotlight as a rotating set of images accompanied by tips, tricks and notifications. If you want the lock screen to stop changing or to stop showing that extra content, choose Picture or Slideshow instead.
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How to disable Windows Spotlight
- Open Start, then select Settings.
- Choose Personalization in the Settings sidebar.
- Open Lock screen.
- Find Personalize your lock screen.
- Change the selection from Windows spotlight to Picture or Slideshow.
The change takes effect by replacing Spotlight with the mode you selected. Choose Picture if you want one controlled image, or choose Slideshow if you want Windows to rotate through images stored in folders on the device.
Choose Picture for a fixed background
Select Picture under Personalize your lock screen. Use the image choices shown by Windows or the browse control to select a file on your device. After you choose it, the lock screen uses that single image rather than Spotlight’s rotating content.
This is the most predictable option: the background will not change merely because Spotlight has supplied a new image. If you later want another image, return to the same Lock screen page and replace the selected picture.
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Choose Slideshow for local rotation
Select Slideshow, then specify one or more folders containing the images you want Windows to use. A slideshow keeps the source under your control while still providing changing backgrounds. It does not use Microsoft’s Spotlight imagery; it uses the folders you selected on the device.
If you choose Slideshow only to escape Spotlight but do not want rotation, Picture is the better choice. Slideshow is intended for a collection of images, while Picture is intended for one.
How to enable Windows Spotlight again
- Open Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
- Under Personalize your lock screen, open the mode selector.
- Select Windows spotlight.
Windows then returns to its rotating Microsoft-provided lock-screen imagery. The Spotlight mode can also provide tips, tricks and notifications. If you later decide that you want a fixed image or your own rotating collection, select Picture or Slideshow from this same selector.
How to set your own lock-screen image
Use Picture when you want a particular photo, illustration or other image file to appear on the lock screen.
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- Set Personalize your lock screen to Picture.
- Choose one of the images Windows presents, or use its browse control to locate an image stored on the device.
- Leave the mode set to Picture so Windows does not switch back to Spotlight.
Picture and Spotlight are mutually exclusive modes for this setting: selecting Picture is the action that stops Spotlight on the lock screen. You do not need to remove Spotlight files or uninstall anything; change the mode in Settings.
How to create a lock-screen slideshow from your folders
Slideshow is useful when you want Windows to rotate through a personal collection rather than Microsoft’s content.
- Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
- Set Personalize your lock screen to Slideshow.
- Use the folder-selection controls to add the folder or folders that contain the images you want to display.
- Review the selected folders and keep the mode set to Slideshow.
Because the slideshow reads from local folders, adding or removing images from those folders changes the pool available to the lock screen. If you want a completely stable result, select Picture instead.
Control whether the sign-in screen reuses the lock-screen image
The lock screen is the screen shown before you enter credentials. The sign-in screen is where Windows presents the sign-in prompt. Windows has a separate setting named Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen.
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Use the same image on both screens
Turn on Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen when you want the image selected for the lock screen to appear behind the sign-in prompt as well. This setting works with whichever lock-screen mode you selected: Picture, Slideshow or Windows spotlight.
Keep the sign-in screen from reusing it
Turn the same setting off when you want the sign-in screen not to reuse the lock-screen background. This does not disable the lock-screen image itself. It changes only whether that image is carried over to the sign-in screen.
If the sign-in screen continues to show the same picture after you expected it not to, return to the Lock screen page and check this toggle specifically. Changing Picture, Slideshow or Spotlight controls the lock screen’s source; the reuse toggle controls the sign-in screen.
Turn off the lock-screen motion effect
Windows also lists Make the lock screen image react when I move my PC. This is independent of the background source.
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- Turn it off if you prefer a static presentation.
Disabling this option does not turn off Spotlight, Picture or Slideshow. Choose the background mode separately under Personalize your lock screen.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Manage tips, tricks and other lock-screen content
Microsoft’s Lock screen settings include Get Fun Facts, Tips, Tricks, and More on Your Lock Screen as an optional content setting. Spotlight can display tips, tricks and notifications along with its rotating images. If you do not want that Spotlight experience, select Picture or Slideshow under Personalize your lock screen. If you continue using Spotlight, review the optional content setting and adjust it to your preference.
Choosing the right mode
| Your priority | Select | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| A single image that does not rotate | Picture | It uses one chosen image and gives the most predictable result. |
| Your own collection of changing images | Slideshow | It cycles through folders you select on the device. |
| Microsoft-supplied changing imagery | Windows spotlight | It provides rotating Microsoft images and may include tips, tricks and notifications. |
| The same image on the lock and sign-in screens | Enable Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen | This is a separate reuse control, regardless of the selected mode. |
| No image motion when you move the PC | Disable Make the lock screen image react when I move my PC | This changes the motion effect without changing the image source. |
Troubleshooting common results
Spotlight pictures are still appearing
- Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
- Check the value under Personalize your lock screen.
- If it still says Windows spotlight, select Picture or Slideshow.
- If you selected Slideshow, verify that the folders contain the images you intend to use.
Choosing a different image while leaving the mode set to Windows spotlight does not change the mode. The selector itself must be changed to Picture or Slideshow.
The background changes when you wanted one fixed image
Check whether the mode is Slideshow or Windows spotlight. Both are designed to provide changing imagery. Select Picture and choose the image again to make the background predictable.
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The lock screen and sign-in screen do not match
Check Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen. Enable it for reuse of the lock-screen image; disable it when the sign-in screen should not use that image. This setting is separate from the mode selector.
The image moves when the PC moves
Turn off Make the lock screen image react when I move my PC. The motion control does not determine whether the image comes from Picture, Slideshow or Spotlight.
You want to stop tips and notifications as well as changing images
Switch from Windows spotlight to Picture or Slideshow. Spotlight is the mode associated with Microsoft’s rotating imagery and its accompanying tips, tricks and notifications. You can also review the optional Get Fun Facts, Tips, Tricks, and More on Your Lock Screen setting.
A quick verification checklist
- Open Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
- Confirm the intended mode under Personalize your lock screen.
- Use Picture for one fixed image, Slideshow for local folders, or Windows spotlight for Microsoft’s rotating content.
- Check Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen separately if the sign-in image is unexpected.
- Check Make the lock screen image react when I move my PC separately if you want a static image presentation.
- Review the optional fun-facts, tips and tricks setting if Spotlight content is not wanted.
Bottom line
Windows 11 handles the lock-screen background from one place: Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Select Picture or Slideshow to disable Windows Spotlight, select Windows spotlight to enable it again, and use the separate sign-in and motion toggles to control how that background is presented.
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