How to enable Spotlight desktop wallpapers on Windows 11, 10

Windows 11 now changes wallpapers automatically to get a fresh desktop experience every day, and here's how to enable the feature.

Windows 11 desktop Spotlight
Windows 11 desktop Spotlight / Image: Mauro Huculak
  • To enable Spotlight on Windows 11 (or 10), open Settings > Personalization > Background and choose the “Windows Spotlight” setting. 
  • If you’re using the “Themes” settings page, select the “Windows Spotlight” theme.

On Windows 11 (and 10), Spotlight is a feature that automatically changes the desktop background image daily with panoramic images from around the world, and in the guide, I’ll teach you the steps to complete this configuration.

If the feature sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same one available for the Lock Screen, which Microsoft has adapted to change the wallpaper to keep the desktop fresh automatically.

It’s important to note that starting with version 23H2, Windows 11 will turn on Spotlight automatically when using a solid color or the default bloom wallpaper after an upgrade. If you turn off the feature, the system will respect your settings and won’t try to enable Spotlight after a feature update.

In this guide, I will teach you how to set dynamic background images on your Windows desktop using the Settings app’s “Background” and “Themes” settings pages.

Enable Spotlight desktop from Background

You can use Spotlight on Windows 11 as well as on Windows 10.

Steps for Windows 11

To enable Spotlight on the desktop on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

  2. Click on Personalization.

  3. Click the Background page on the right side.

  4. Under the “Personalize your background” section, select the Windows Spotlight option.

    Enable desktop Spotlight

Once you complete the steps, the first desktop wallpaper will automatically be set on the desktop, and the background image will change during the day.

You will also see the “Spotlight” icon on the desktop that lets you change the image quickly. You can use this feature by right-clicking the icon to bring up the interface, allowing you to view and switch between four images.

Windows 11 Spotlight viewer
Windows 11 Spotlight viewer

The thumbs-up and down options allow you to rate the images so that future photos will be more tailored to your liking. The “Learn more” option will open Microsoft Edge on the page with information about the image.

Steps for Windows 10

To set dynamic wallpapers on the desktop with Spotlight on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 10.

  2. Click on Personalization.

  3. Click on Background

  4. Choose the Windows Spotlight option in the “Background” setting.

    Windows 10 enable Spotlight desktop

After you complete the steps, the feature will start rotating random wallpapers on the desktop.

Enable Spotlight desktop from Themes

The option to use the Themes settings to turn on this personalization feature is also available for both versions of the operating system.

Steps for Windows 11

To enable the Spotlight desktop wallpapers from the Themes settings, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Personalization.

  3. Click the Themes page on the right side.

  4. Under the “Current theme” section, select the Windows Spotlight theme.

    Themes settings enable Windows Spotlight

After you complete the steps, the Spotlight wallpapers should appear on the desktop. (The theme has the camera icon on the top-right.)

Step for Windows 10

To turn on Spotlight from the Themes settings, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings

  2. Click on Personalization.

  3. Click on Themes

  4. Choose the Windows Spotlight theme under the “Change theme” section.

    Windows 10 Themes with Spotlight

Once you complete the steps, the desktop will start displaying new wallpapers automatically.

Update May 6, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].