Windows spotlight

Windows spotlight is a feature included with Windows 10 and Windows 11 which downloads images and advertisements from Bing and displays them as background wallpapers on the lock screen. In 2017, Microsoft began adding location information for many of the photographs.

Technical details

Windows spotlight images are provided by Windows' Content Delivery Manager. New ones are shown every 1–2 days. Once downloaded; spotlight images are stored on the computer. If the Content Delivery Manager has no new picture to display, a default image is used. This default fallback image can be changed.

Photo locations

Photo location information is made available to the computer user. The images typically depict identifiable, well-known locations such as famous historical or natural landmarks and rarely show any human beings. Location information is occasionally provided, while photo credits are typically not. The following subjects have been featured (alphabetical by continent):

Africa

Abu Simbel, Egypt

The White Desert (Sahara el Beyda) near Farafra, Egypt

Nile River near Luxor, Egypt

Sway bridge at The Palace of the Lost City, Sun City, South Africa

Grand Anse Beach, La Digue Island, Seychelles

Isalo National Park, Madagascar

Sahara Desert dunes near Ouargla, Algeria

Waterfalls near Chamarel, Mauritius

Antarctica

Lemaire Channel

Asia

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Longsheng Rice Terrace, China

Chateau Laffitte Hotel, Beijing, China

Canola fields in Luoping County, China

Dushanzi Grand Canyon, Dushanzi District, Karamay, China

Huangshang Mountains, China

Yangshuo County, China

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China

Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, China

Hong Kong skyline, Hong Kong

Jal Mahal, Jaipur, India

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Kelimutu, Indonesia

Lampung, Indonesia

Azadi Tower, Tehran, Iran

Vakil Mosque, Shiraz, Iran

Hokkaido Island, Japan

Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan

A lagoon in Semporna, Malaysia, Borneo

El Nido, Philippines

Quiapo, Philippines

Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia

Rub' al Khali, Saudi Arabia

Supertree Grove, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Bukhansan National Park, South Korea

Hehuanshan Mountain, Taiwan

Ko Tapu off Khao Phing Kan, Phang Nga Bay, Thailand

Ko Phayam, Andaman Sea, Thailand

Sam Pan Bok, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand

Ao Ta Lo Woo pier in Ko Tarutao, Tarutao National Park , Thailand

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Europe

Garni Gorge, Armenia

Hallstatt, Austria

Lake Gosau, Austria

Central Train Station, Antwerp, Belgium

Bruges, Belgium

Devetashka Cave, Lovech Province, Bulgaria

Rab Island coastline, Croatia

Land's End, Cornwall, England

Palace of Westminster London, England

Port Isaac, England

Stonehenge, England

Wastwater Lake, Lake District, England

Yorkshire, England

Lac du Pontet, Villar-d'Arêne, France

Luberon, Gordes, France