Alex Ruben
How To Turn Off Lock Screen Ads and Tips in Windows 11/10
How to Disable Lock Screen Ads and Tips in Windows 10/11
Getting bombarded with ads, tips, and suggestions on your lock screen can be kinda annoying, especially if you prefer a cleaner look. Windows, especially with the Spotlight feature, loves throwing random images and tips at you, making the lock screen feel cluttered. If that’s been bugging you, there’s a way to shut off all that clutter and make your lock screen just the way you like it—personalized, simple, and distraction-free. These tweaks are pretty straightforward, but sometimes Windows acts a little stubborn or different depending on the build. So, it’s good to know a couple of methods since one might work better on your setup than another.
Step-by-Step Guide
Access the Lock Screen Settings
First up, you’ll need to dive into the Windows Settings menu. These days, it’s usually through Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen. On some setups, this can be a tiny chore if the menu layout changed after updates or if you’re running enterprise editions with restrictions, so kinda keep that in mind.
- Click the Search icon (the magnifying glass) on your taskbar.
- Type in Settings and press Enter.
- Choose Personalization from the list that appears.
- On the left sidebar, click Lock Screen.
Customize or Change Your Background
This step seems obvious, but switching from Windows Spotlight (the default that pulls random photos and tips) to a static image or slideshow can help keep things predictable. If you’re already on custom images, this might not be necessary but doing so can sometimes reset Spotlight’s influence.
- Under Background, pick either Picture or Slideshow.
- If Spotlight is enabled and causing ads, switch it to Picture and choose an image you actually like. But beware—Spotlight often re-enables itself after updates, so stay vigilant.
Turn Off Tips, Facts, and Suggestions
This is where the magic happens. Disabling the ad-bombing and tips that Windows throws at your lock screen is simple, but kind of weird to find if you’re not used to digging around these settings.
- Scroll down to locate Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen.
- Unchecking this box helps prevent Microsoft from flashing random info when your lock screen loads.
- Make sure to do this in both Picture and Slideshow modes; sometimes, Windows toggles these options independently.
Sometimes, if you’re still seeing ads or tips after this, check for updates or restart your PC. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Extra Tips & Common Problems
If the ads or tips just won’t go away, here are a couple of quick workarounds:
- Disabling Windows Spotlight entirely might help if the above still lets ads slip through. To do this, go to Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen and under Background, choose Picture instead of Spotlight, and turn off Allow Windows to choose a desktop background automatically.
- Sometimes, changing the group policy or editing registry entries is needed – but that’s more advanced and can have side effects. Maybe not for everyone.
Wrap-up
Getting rid of lock screen ads and tips is a bit of a scavenger hunt, especially since Windows likes to re-enable Spotlight and its suggested content after updates. But, with these settings tinkered, most of the unwanted distractions can be kept out of sight. It’s kinda satisfying when your lock screen feels calmer and more personalized, right? Just remember, a lot of these settings can reset with major updates, so keep an eye out if things suddenly reappear after updates.
Summary
- Access Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen
- Switch background from Spotlight to a static image or slideshow
- Uncheck the box to block tips and fun facts
- If problems persist, disable Spotlight entirely or update Windows
Fingers crossed this helps
Disabling those ads and tips can make your login experience less cluttered and more your style. Not sure why it’s so involved, but hey, that’s Windows. Hope it works on your setup, and at least now you’ve got a few options to try out.