Microsoft working to bring Windows Spotlight to the desktop

Oct 9, 2020 16:04 GMT  ·  By

Windows users love customizing their desktops, there’s no doubt about it, and this is the reason Microsoft itself is also tweaking Windows 10 with more options in this regard in every new feature update.

At the same time, Windows Spotlight is a feature that comes in super-handy to those who don’t want to stick with the same wallpaper on the lock screen, but on the other hand, it comes with a major drawback: it can’t be enabled on the desktop, which is something that doesn’t make any sense since this would allow users to get a new wallpaper every day.

Windows Spotlight is available in all versions of Windows 10.

“Select Windows spotlight for beautiful photography to show up automatically on your lock screen. Windows Spotlight updates daily with images from around the globe, and it also shows tips and tricks for getting the most out of Windows. Keep in mind Windows spotlight won't appear after restarting or shutting down your device—an account with spotlight turned on needs to be signed in to Windows first,” Microsoft explains.

By the looks of things, however, Microsoft is working on addressing the drawback mentioned above, so sooner or later, Windows Spotlight would make its way to the desktop too.

In other words, users can enable Windows Spotlight on the desktop and have a new wallpaper every day without them moving a single finger.

The change was spotted by Twitter user Albacore, who also figured out a way to enable it in the latest preview build of Windows 10.

All you need is the ViveTool app and then use the following command in PowerShell:

.\ViveTool.exe addconfig 26008405 2

In the meantime, however, Microsoft has remained completely tight-lipped on this feature, so we don’t know when exactly it is supposed to go live for users. However, it shouldn’t take too long before it lands in a preview build of Windows 10.

As for the production builds of the operating system, this is obviously hard to anticipate, especially because the next feature update for Windows 10 is believed to be finalized already.

Windows 10 version 20H2, or the October 2020 Update, is already in the final development stage, and Microsoft says that it released the RTM build to users in the Windows Insider program. The rollout to the first wave of production devices should kick off as soon as this month.

What will be interesting to find out is whether Microsoft wants to use the same approach as on the lock screen once the feature goes live on the desktop too. At this point, Windows Spotlight not only that sets a new wallpaper every day on the lock screen, but it also shows feature suggestions, fun facts, and tips.

And while all of these don’t make much sense on the desktop, some are worried that it could end up becoming more cluttered if Windows Spotlight is enabled.

“The Windows Spotlight displays a new image on the lock screen each day. The initial background image is included during installation. Additional images are downloaded on ongoing basis. The lock screen background will occasionally make recommendations on how to enhance your productivity and enjoyment of Microsoft products including suggesting other relevant Microsoft products and services,” Microsoft explains.

At the end of the day, with the right approach, Windows Spotlight can become quite a handy feature on the desktop, especially given the appetite for personalization features on Windows 10. Fingers crossed for Microsoft to find the correct way to make it happen on the Windows 10 desktop, so once it goes live in the Insider program, don’t forget to send your feedback to the company.