When you boot up your computer or press Windows Key + L to lock it, you are greeted by the Windows 11 Lock Screen. By default, Microsoft uses this space to display beautiful, rotating photography via the “Windows Spotlight” feature. However, over the past few updates, Microsoft has begun overlaying these images with distracting text boxes containing “fun facts,” promotional tips, and occasionally, outright advertisements for Microsoft Edge and Office 365.
If you prefer a clean, distraction-free login experience, you can easily disable this overlay text without losing the beautiful background images.
How to Disable Lock Screen Ads
The setting to disable these tips is slightly hidden, as it requires you to temporarily change your background setting to reveal the toggle switch.
- Open the Windows 11 Settings app (press
Windows Key + I). - In the left-hand navigation pane, click on Personalization.
- Click on Lock screen.
- Look at the drop-down menu labeled Personalize your lock screen. If this is currently set to “Windows spotlight”, you will notice that no other options appear below it.
- Temporarily change the drop-down menu from “Windows spotlight” to Picture.
- A new checkbox will instantly appear below the image gallery labeled: “Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen.”
- Uncheck this box.
Restoring the Spotlight Images
Now that you have successfully disabled the promotional text, you likely want the rotating daily wallpapers back.
- Click the Personalize your lock screen drop-down menu once more.
- Change it back from “Picture” to Windows spotlight.
Because you unchecked the box while on the “Picture” setting, Windows will respect your choice. Going forward, your lock screen will continue to download and display stunning high-resolution photography from Bing every single day, but the screen will be completely devoid of text, tips, and promotional advertisements.