In this blog post, we will explore multiple ways to disable Windows Spotlight on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices managed by Intune. Windows Spotlight, enabled by default, is a feature that personalizes your lock screen and desktop background with stunning, regularly updated images from around the world (sourced from bing), while occasionally providing tips, fun facts, suggestions and organizational messages.
For a cleaner desktop and lock screen and to save network bandwidth, you can disable Windows Spotlight. Please note that this feature is only available on Windows Enterprise and Education editions. To manually configure Windows Spotlight on Windows 10 and 11 devices, you can use the steps given on MS documentation link: Configuration options. Below is a screenshot of how a Windows Spotlight wallpaper looks like on a Windows 11 device.
Intune Policy to Disable Windows Spotlight
You can create an Intune device configuration policy to disable Windows Spotlight. Let’s check the policy details and assign it to Windows devices.
- Sign in to Intune admin center > Devices > Windows > Configuration > Create > New Policy.
- Platform: Windows 10 and later
- Profile type: Settings catalog
- Click Create.
- On the Basics tab, provide a Name and Description of the policy and click Next.
- On Configuration settings tab, click on + Add settings and use the Settings picker to search for Windows Spotlight and select Allow Windows Spotlight (User) along with the settings under it.
Move the toggle switch next to Allow Windows Spotlight (User) to Block and disable Windows Spotlight completely. You can also individually use the toggle switches next to the feature you want to disable while keeping the Windows Spotlight enabled.
- Scope tags: Click Next.
- Assignments: Assign this policy to an Entra group containing users or devices.
- Review + create: Review the policy and click on Create.
Monitoring Windows Spotlight Policy Progress
- Sign in to the Intune admin center > Devices > Configuration.
- Choose the Device Configuration profile you want to work with, and at the top of the page, you’ll see a quick view of the Success, Failure, Conflict, Not Applicable, and In Progress status.
- Click on View report to access more detailed information.
Sync Intune Policies
The device check-in process might not begin immediately. If you’re testing this policy on a test device, you can manually kickstart Intune sync from the device itself or remotely through the Intune admin center.
Alternatively, you can use PowerShell to force the Intune sync on Windows devices. Restarting the device is another way to trigger the Intune device check-in process.
End User Experience
After Intune device check-in process is completed on the device, You will find that Windows Spotlight is disabled, and you no longer will see any tips, fun facts, automatic wallpaper changes. Along with that I observed that the Windows spotlight option under Settings > Personalization > Background and Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen is no longer available.
Policy CSP for Windows Spotlight
You can read more about Windows Spotlight Policy CSP here: AllowSpotlightCollection. Link of all Policy settings related to Windows Spotlight: Policy settings.
Disable Windows Spotlight using GPO
We will not go into much detail on demonstrating the policy deployment via GPO as it works in the same way as shown above. I will provide you the policy which you need to configure to disable Windows Spotlight via GPO.
- Login to a domain controller and open Group Policy Management Console (gpmc.msc).
- Create or Edit a GPO and Navigate to User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Cloud Content. Enable Turn off all Windows spotlight features policy.
Disable Windows Spotlight using Registry Editor
You can also enable or disable Windows Spotlight using registry editor. Let’s check the steps:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry editor.
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent and create a new DWORD registry entry called DisableSpotlightCollectionOnDesktop and set its value to 1 to Disable Windows Spotlight.
