Lock screen spotlight behavior changed


brucehvn

brucehvn

New member
Local time
8:22 PM
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2
OS
Windows 11
I have a client with Windows 11 pro. I installed their computer in Nov 2023. For several months, it had the same lock screen behavior as my laptop which is that when booting up the machine, it would first show the spotlight picture, then after a few seconds you would see the text overlay about "do you like this picture", tips, etc. You would then need to click on the picture to get to the PIN entry.

Probably within the last month or so, the behavior on their computer has changed. It now comes up directly to the PIN entry screen (still with a rotating image blurred in the background). If you don't do anything, after about 10 seconds the spotlight image will come up with just the clock, but no tips and the other stuff.

While I would probably appreciate the new behavior, my client actually liked the old behavior better and I've been trying my best to get it back but I can't seem to do it. I've read several articles and I've done the whole SFC and DISM stuff as well as resetting the spotlight completely, deleting the cached files and settings and restarting the machine, but it just won't go back to the old behavior.

I would think that some Windows update might have changed it, but my laptop is always up-to-date and I've seen no change in the lock screen.

Any ideas on what it might be?
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 Pro 23H2

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook
Hi, brucehvn, welcome to the ElevenForums 🙏

I assure you you’re not being ignored. It’s just that nobody to date has an answer for you.
You’ve certainly tried everything I would.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.5039
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4 x LG 23MP75 - 2 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    100/40Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
brucehvn said:
I have a client with Windows 11 pro. I installed their computer in Nov 2023. For several months, it had the same lock screen behavior as my laptop which is that when booting up the machine, it would first show the spotlight picture, then after a few seconds you would see the text overlay about "do you like this picture", tips, etc. You would then need to click on the picture to get to the PIN entry.

Probably within the last month or so, the behavior on their computer has changed. It now comes up directly to the PIN entry screen (still with a rotating image blurred in the background). If you don't do anything, after about 10 seconds the spotlight image will come up with just the clock, but no tips and the other stuff.

While I would probably appreciate the new behavior, my client actually liked the old behavior better and I've been trying my best to get it back but I can't seem to do it. I've read several articles and I've done the whole SFC and DISM stuff as well as resetting the spotlight completely, deleting the cached files and settings and restarting the machine, but it just won't go back to the old behavior.

I would think that some Windows update might have changed it, but my laptop is always up-to-date and I've seen no change in the lock screen.

Any ideas on what it might be?
Click to expand...
I need to double-check later when I get back in front of a real PC, but I have a suspicion that I know what is happening.

Take a look at this setting:

Settings > Accounts > Accounts > Sign-in options > Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up after an update.

When this option is turned off, you will see your normal login screen. When this option is enabled, what the system is effectively doing is logging you in at the logon screen and then immediately locking the screen.

I will have to get back in front of another machine to verify that this behavior is exactly what you are seeing, but in the meantime, give this a try and see if this is it. If you make sure that the above option is turned off, I'm hopeful that this will give your client what they are looking for.

BTW, I find this to be an invaluable aid. I have a couple computers where I have an app that I want to start automatically and previously the only way to do it was to autologin. But I like this option more because it instantly locks the machine after logging you in but that allows apps that start with login to start running automatically.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built
    CPU
    Intel i7 11700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime Z590-A MB
    Memory
    64GB (Waiting for warranty replacement of another 64GB for 128GB total)
    Graphics Card(s)
    No GPU - Built-in Intel Graphics
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Envy 32
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    1 x 1TB NVMe SSD
    1 x 2TB NVMe SSD
    1 x 4TB NVMe SSD
    3 x 512GB 2.5" SSD
    1 x 4TB 2.5" SSD
    5 x 8TB Seagate Barracuda HDD
    PSU
    Corsair HX850i
    Case
    Corsair iCUE RGB 5000X mid tower case
    Cooling
    Noctua NF-S12A chromax.black.swap case fans (Qty. 7) & Home Computer Specifications, Configuration, and Usage Notes General Specifications ASUS Prime Z590-A motherboard, serial number M1M0KC222467ARP Intel Core i7-11700K CPU (11th Gen Rocket Lake / LGA 1200 Socket) 128GB Crucial Ballistix RGB DDR4 3200 MHz DRAM (4 x 32GB) Corsair iCUE RGB 5000X mid tower case Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black CPU cooler Noctua NF-S12A chromax.black.swap case fans (Qty. 7) & Corsair LL-120 RGB Fans (Qty. 3)
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70 Max RGB Magnetic Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1 Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    The five 8TB drives and three 512GB SSDs are part of a DrivePool using StableBit DrivePool software. The three SSDs are devoted purely to caching for the 8TB drives. All of the important data is stored in triplicate so that I can withstand simultaneous failure of 2 disks.

    Networking: 2.5Gbps Ethernet and WiFi 6e
  • Operating System
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 2
    CPU
    Intel i7-1255U
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC3306-CG codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3-inch IPS Display
    Screen Resolution
    WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
    Hard Drives
    2 TB 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
    PSU
    USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 Power / Charging
    Mouse
    Buttonless Glass Precision Touchpad
    Keyboard
    Backlit, spill resistant keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    WiFi 6e / Bluetooth 5.1 / Facial Recognition / Fingerprint Sensor / ToF (Time of Flight) Human Presence Sensor
hsehestedt said:
Take a look at this setting:

Settings > Accounts > Accounts > Sign-in options > Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up after an update.
Click to expand...
You may be on to something with this. I looked at my laptop which works as my client wants. That setting you describe is enabled. I disabled it and rebooted. Then I would get the spotlight picture still, but no tips even after waiting about 30 seconds, and I still had to click on the picture to get the PIN screen. Not quite exactly what my client sees, but it gave me an idea. I turned the setting back on again and the tips came back like before. I'm thinking it might be related to his account info though. I know sometimes Windows wants us to sign in again periodically for whatever reasons. Next time I see the client, I'll make sure he's properly signed into his MS account and see if that helps.

Thanks for the info. That's a bit of a mysterious setting and it isn't obvious what all it does, lol.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook
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