How to Disable Windows 10 Pro Lock Screen Ads

Windows 10 Pro can display promotional messages, tips, app suggestions, and other sponsored-looking content on the lock screen. These messages usually come from Windows Spotlight, which rotates attractive photographs and related recommendations before you sign in. Although the feature is built into Windows, many people prefer a clean lock screen without advertisements or unexpected suggestions.

The quickest fix is to replace Windows Spotlight with a static picture or slideshow and disable Microsoft’s tips and recommendations. A few related settings can also make promotional content appear in the Start menu, Settings app, or Microsoft Store. The steps below are suitable for everyday Windows users in Australia, whether the computer is used at home, in a small business, or on a shared family PC.

Change The Lock Screen Background

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Personalisation.
3. Choose Lock screen from the menu on the left.
4. Find the Background drop-down menu.
5. Change Windows spotlight to Picture or Slideshow.

Windows Spotlight downloads a changing collection of images from Microsoft’s online service. Alongside the images, it may show facts, recommendations, links to apps, or promotional material. Selecting Picture gives you a fixed image, while Slideshow lets you use a folder of your own photographs.

If you choose Picture, select Browse and pick an image stored on your computer. Australian users might use a photograph of the Great Ocean Road, the Blue Mountains, or a favourite beach near Perth. You can also select one of Windows’ built-in images. With Slideshow, choose a folder containing several pictures, then remove any folder that includes images you do not want displayed.

Look below the background settings for Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen. Clear this option if it is available. The wording can vary slightly between Windows 10 updates, but the purpose is the same: it prevents Windows from placing extra information over the lock screen image.

Turn Off Related Suggestions In Windows

Changing the background normally removes the main source of lock screen advertising, but Windows has several other recommendation features. Open Settings, select Personalisation, and choose Start. Turn off Occasionally show suggestions in Start. This stops Windows from placing suggested applications among your normal Start menu tiles or application list.

Next, go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions. Under the notifications section, clear Get tips and suggestions when I use Windows. You can also switch off Show me the Windows welcome experience if you do not want Windows to display feature announcements after an update or when a new account is created.

The exact labels may differ slightly according to your Windows 10 build. If you cannot see a particular option, use the search box in Settings and type terms such as suggestions, tips, or lock screen. This is often faster than opening every category, especially on a laptop connected through a slower regional NBN service.

For further privacy controls, open Settings > Privacy > General and review the advertising and recommendation options. Turn off Let apps use advertising ID to make ads more interesting to you based on your app activity, if that setting is present. This does not directly control the lock screen, but it reduces personalised advertising across supported Windows features and applications.

Use A Picture Policy In Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 Pro includes the Local Group Policy Editor, which provides a stronger way to manage lock screen behaviour. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. If the editor opens, go to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalisation

Look for Do not display the lock screen. Double-click it, select Enabled, and choose Apply, followed by OK. This policy removes the lock screen entirely, taking you more directly to the sign-in screen. It is useful on a desktop in a shop, office, or workshop where the lock screen is not needed, but it is different from simply removing advertisements.

If you want to keep the lock screen while removing its promotional content, leave this policy set to Not configured. Use the Picture or Slideshow method instead. Disabling the entire lock screen can be inconvenient on a shared computer, because users may lose the normal view that shows the time, date, and selected status information.

On a family computer in Brisbane, Adelaide, or regional New South Wales, the standard Personalisation settings are usually the safest approach. Group Policy changes affect all users of the computer and can be confusing if another person expects the lock screen to remain available.

Avoid downloading registry files or third-party “privacy tools” simply to remove Spotlight advertisements. A registry tweak can work, but an incorrect value may affect sign-in, Personalisation, or future Windows updates. The built-in settings are easier to reverse and are less likely to create a new troubleshooting problem.

Check Microsoft Account And Store Content

Some messages that look like lock screen ads are actually related to Microsoft account services, app recommendations, or the Microsoft Store. Open the Microsoft Store, select the three-dot menu, and choose Settings. Review options related to app updates, promotional content, and video autoplay where available. Store settings do not control every lock screen message, but they can reduce advertising inside Microsoft’s app ecosystem.

Also check Settings > Personalisation > Lock screen after signing in with a Microsoft account. If Windows has reverted to Spotlight following an update, change the background back to Picture and clear the tips checkbox again. Feature updates can occasionally restore default preferences, particularly after a major repair or a new user profile.

On computers used by a business, school, or community organisation, a Microsoft account may be managed by an administrator. In that situation, a policy can override your local choice. A small Australian business using Microsoft 365 may have device settings applied through its management system, while a personal computer purchased from JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, or a local independent retailer usually gives you full control.

It is also worth checking the lock screen status apps under Settings > Personalisation > Lock screen. Remove weather, calendar, mail, or other apps from the detailed and quick status slots if you want a simpler display. These are not normally advertisements, but removing them prevents unnecessary information from appearing before sign-in.

If promotional notices still appear after these changes, restart the PC rather than relying only on signing out. Windows may retain the previous Spotlight image in its cache until the next full sign-in cycle. A restart also helps confirm whether the setting has been accepted for your user account.

Troubleshoot Ads That Keep Returning

When advertisements continue to return, first confirm that you changed the settings in the correct Windows user account. Each account can have its own lock screen preferences. On a shared household PC, one account may use a static photograph while another still has Windows Spotlight enabled.

Check for recent Windows updates under Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. An update may change the wording or position of a setting without removing the feature. Install reliable updates, restart the computer, and then revisit the Lock screen page. If Settings itself behaves strangely, run System File Checker from an elevated Command Prompt with sfc /scannow.

A damaged Windows profile can also cause Personalisation choices to reset. Create a temporary local user under Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, sign in to that account, and test the lock screen. If the adverts disappear there, the original profile may need repair rather than the whole operating system.

Other Windows problems can be mistaken for an advertising issue. For example, if a lock screen background or video preview fails to load, media components may be involved; the guide on fixing Windows Media Player covers related playback checks. If the computer is slow before sign-in, review programs that launch automatically using Task Manager startup controls, since unnecessary startup activity can make the lock screen appear frozen or delayed.

Do not confuse Windows lock screen advertising with browser notifications. If messages appear in the lower-right corner after you reach the desktop, open Microsoft Edge or another browser and remove unwanted website notification permissions. Browser pop-ups require a different fix and will not be controlled by the Lock screen settings.

After making the changes, lock the computer with Windows + L and inspect the result. You should see your selected picture or slideshow without Spotlight suggestions, promotional text, or rotating recommendations. Test again after a restart and after Windows Update has completed to ensure the preference remains in place.

Remove Windows Spotlight in favour of a personal picture, switch off Windows tips and Start menu suggestions, and review Store and notification settings for a cleaner sign-in experience. These built-in changes take only a few minutes and keep control of the computer in your hands, whether you are working from a Melbourne apartment, a rural Queensland property, or a busy home office in Sydney.