Windows 11 spotlight not working? 9 fixes and 3 inspections to do

Windows Spotlight was first introduced on the Lock screen and later added to the desktop in Windows 11. However, because this feature obtains data from the Internet, it may sometimes not work as expected. If you are facing the same issue while using Windows Spotlight, then you can fix it on your PC.

Why doesn’t Spotlight work on Windows 11?

There may be several reasons why Spotlight is not working as expected on Windows 11. Here are some prominent causes that can help you familiarize yourself with the problem.

• Internet Connection Issues
• Firewall Conflicts
• DNS Conflicts
• Broken Background Apps and Services
• Corrupted Cache and Asset
• Other issues with Windows Background Services

All of these issues can cause problems with Windows Spotlight and, in the worst case, break it completely.

How to Fix Spotlight on Windows 11

Here’s how to fix Windows Spotlight on your PC. We recommend that you first make sure everything is set up as expected on your PC. You can then try the fixes listed below to get Spotlight working again on your PC.

Step 1: Perform these checks to make sure everything is set up as expected

Let’s start by doing some checks on your system. If you fail these checks, you can try to fix them using the subsequent tutorials. These may be the nominal reasons on Windows 11 that are preventing you from accessing Windows Spotlight on your PC as expected. let's start.

Check 1: Make sure the system is using the correct date and time

Let’s first make sure the system date and time are set correctly on your PC. Simply verify using the time on your mobile device, or use one of the links below to see the current time in your area.

• Google | Current time
• Timeanddate.com | Current time
• Time.is | Current time
• Greenwichmeantime.com | Current time

If your system clock is out of sync, then you can follow the steps below. On the other hand, if the time on your PC is set correctly, then you can move on to other checks in this list.

Press Windows i and click Time and Language.

Click Date and Time.

Turn on the switch at the topAutomatically set time.

Click the drop-down menu for Time Zone and select the correct time zone.

Click Sync Now under Other Settings.

# Your clock will now be synced with the Microsoft servers and it should now reflect the correct time on your PC.

Check 2: Make sure you have an Internet connection

Internet is a requirement when using Spotlight for daily images as well as widget data from the cloud. If Spotlight can't access a dedicated server, that may be why it's not working as expected for you.

First visit the website in your browser to check your internet. If you don't have a connection on your PC, try using the same network on your mobile device to make sure it's currently down.

If you are experiencing Internet issues, you can try any of these fixes to get the Internet back up and running again on your PC.

• Wait a minute: In most cases, the problem is with your Wi-Fi provider and not your PC. If all devices on your network are unable to access the internet, then we recommend waiting for some time for the issue to resolve itself. You can also contact your internet provider to further resolve your issue.
• Check your DNS settings: If you are using custom DNS, then we recommend you to check your DNS settings and fix them accordingly. Mismatched DNS settings or a broken DNS server can also prevent you from accessing the Internet as needed.
• Using the Windows Troubleshooter: The Windows Troubleshooter has come a long way since it was first released. Troubleshooters can now use data in the cloud to find issues and likewise use custom scripts and fixes to resolve your issues. We recommend that you run the Internet Troubleshooter on your system by going to Settings > System > Troubleshooting > Additional Troubleshooters.
• Use a different connection: At this time, we recommend that you try switching networks until the problem with the current network is resolved. You can temporarily use a hotspot on your mobile device or choose a different Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection entirely.

Check 3: Make sure you are not using a metered connection

Metered connections limit data usage on your device to minimize the data used by Windows apps and services. It also minimizes the data consumed in the background, and these limits also apply to Windows Spotlight. So if you're not using Spotlight as expected or it's not updating for you, you're most likely using a metered connection. You can switch to a different connection to keep data usage to a minimum on your current network, or choose to mark your current network as unmetered. Here's how to do it on Windows 11.

Press Windows A and click the > icon next to Wi-Fi to see all networks.

Click the Information( i ) icon of the current network.

Now turn off the on-screen metering connection toggle.

The current network will now be marked as unmetered, and Windows Spotlight should now be able to access Microsoft servers as needed.

Step 2: Repair Spotlight on Windows 11

Now that we have made sure that all settings are correct on your system, let’s start fixing Spotlight on your system. We recommend that you start with the first fix and work your way through the list until you manage to fix Spotlight on your system. let's start.

Fix 1: Restart Windows Spotlight

Let’s start by restarting Windows Spotlight. Use the following steps to help you through the process.

Press Windows i and click Personalization.

Click Background.

Click the drop-down menu for Personalize Background.

Select either option instead of Windows Spotlight.

Click at the top to personalize.

Now click on Lock Screen.

Click the drop-down menu next to Personalize Lock Screen and select any option other than Windows Spotlight.

Now close the Settings app and restart your PC.

#Make sure you are connected to the Internet and set Windows Spotlight as your desktop and lock screen background. If your background is updated with the latest images, Windows Spotlight is now pinned on your system.

Fix 2: Delete Spotlight Assets

If restarting Spotlight doesn't work for you, then we can try rebuilding its asset cache. Use any of the following methods to help you with this process.

Method 1: Use CMD

and press Windows R to start running.

Enter the following and press Ctrl Shift Enter on your keyboard.

cmd

Now enter the following command and press Enter once to complete.

DEL /F /S /Q /A "%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets

This will remove all Spotlight assets from your PC. If necessary, enable Spotlight on your desktop or lock screen and restart your PC. If a corrupted asset cache is the cause of your problem, Then now it is time to fix Windows Spotlight on your system.

Method 2: Remove Spotlight Assets Manually

If the CMD method does not work for some reason or you prefer to do it manually from the system Delete the assets then you can do this.

Press Windows R to start the run.

Now paste to the following path and press Enter. You can also click OK. %USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets

Select all the files in the folder using Ctrl A and then press Shift Del to delete them permanently.

Click Yes Confirm your choice.

After deleting all files, restart your PC and set Windows Spotlight to Desktop and Lock screen background. If asset conflicts are the cause of your issue, it should be fixed on your system now.

Fix 3: Reset Spotlight Settings

We will reset first now Your Windows Spotlight setup. Use any of the following methods to help you get started.

Method 1: Press

Windows R

using CMD to start Run.

Now enter the following and press Ctrl Shift Enter.

cmd

CMD will now open on your screen. Enter the following command and press Enter on your keyboard.

DEL /F /S /Q /A "%USERPROFILE %/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings

The settings for Windows Spotlight will now be removed from your system. Restart your PC and set Windows Spotlight as your background again. If conflicting background settings are the cause of your problem, you should fix it on your system now.

Method 2: Manually reset Spotlight settings

You can also choose to manually reset Spotlight settings using the following steps.

Press Windows R to start running.

Paste the following path into the Run dialog box and press Enter. If necessary, you can also click "OK".

%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings

will now # The ##roaming.lock and settings.dat files are renamed to the following.

• Roaming lock.bak
• Settings.dat.bak

Now close the folder and restart your PC.

Set Windows Spotlight as your background. If mismatched settings are the cause of your problem, they should now be fixed on your system.

Fix 4: Re-register Windows Spotlight

We will now re-register Windows Spotlight to see if that resolves the issue on your system. Use the following steps to help you through the process.

Press

Windows R to start running.

Type the following and press

Ctrl Shift Enter.

powershell

Now copy and paste the below command into the PowerShell window. When finished, press

Enter on your keyboard.

Get-AppxPackage -allusers *ContentDeliveryManager* | foreach {Add-AppxPackage "$($_.InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode -register }

When finished, type the following to close PowerShell.

exit

Now restart your PC and set Windows Spotlight as your background if needed.

#Windows Spotlight should now be fixed on devices facing background conflicts with Windows services.

Fix 5: Run the System Maintenance Troubleshooter

You can also run the System Maintenance Troubleshooter on your system to fix Windows Spotlight. Please follow the steps below to help you through the process.

Press

Windows R to start running.

Type the following and press

Enter. You can also click "OK" if necessary.

control panel

Click the drop-down menu in the upper right corner and select

Large icon .

Click

Troubleshooter.

Now click on

System and Security.

Click

System Maintenance.

Click

Next.

The troubleshooter will now do its thing and fix any problems it finds on your system. Once the process is complete, restart your PC and try using Windows Spotlight again.

Fix 6: Run an SFC scan

SFC scan or System File Checker scan can help identify and repair problems with system files. Use the tutorial below to help you run the same program on your system.

Press Windows R to start running.

Type the following and press Ctrl Shift Enter.

cmd

Now run the SFC scan using the following command.

sfc /scannow

After the scan is complete, type the following to close CMD.

exit

Restart your PC and try using Windows Spotlight again. If corrupted system files are the cause of your problem, then you should fix it on your system now.

Fix 7: Use a third-party alternative

At this point, if you don’t want to take drastic measures, you can try choosing a third-party application to replace Windows Spotlight . We recommend trying a similar dynamic theme, which is highly rated and recommended by many users facing similar issues. Use the link below to download the same on your PC.

• Dynamic Theme| Download Link

Final Fix:

At this point we will need to select something harsh Steps to Fix Windows Spotlight. These actions may impede your settings, delete files, and remove custom drivers. We recommend that you back up all your data before choosing any of the options below.

Fix 8: Use System Restore

You can first use System Restore on your PC to help restore your files, applications, and system files Revert to a previous known date when Windows Spotlight worked for you. System Restore helps preserve most files, except new files created after creating a system restore point. This also includes installed third-party apps and Windows Store apps.

Fix 9: Reset your PC

#As a last resort, you can reset your PC. A fresh start will help you test everything out of the box, and Windows Spotlight shouldn't have any conflicts with installed applications, drivers, or files on your PC. Once everything is working as expected, you can restore all your data using the backup we created earlier.

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