Microsoft Tests New Flyouts for Enhanced Windows Spotlight Experience

02 Sep 2024

Microsoft is currently developing new flyouts for Windows Spotlight. This feature allows users to enjoy a fresh desktop wallpaper daily, tailored to their interests. The upcoming flyouts will enhance user experience by offering a broader range of options for discovering more about the images or expanding the flyouts. To access these new features, users must be part of the Beta Channel Insider program and enable the feature via Vivetool.

Enhanced User Experience with New Flyouts

Windows Spotlight serves as a delightful tool for refreshing your desktop with new images each day. By rotating wallpapers based on user-selected topics, it injects a sense of novelty into the daily routine, effectively breaking the monotony of static backgrounds. The feature also includes a flyout option that allows users to delve deeper into the image set as their background, accessible by right-clicking the “learn more” icon.

Despite some criticism directed at the icon associated with Windows Spotlight, which has even led to the creation of tools aimed at its removal, many users appreciate the opportunity to learn about the images that grace their screens. A recent discovery by X (formerly Twitter) user Phantomofearth reveals that Microsoft is poised to enhance the Desktop Spotlight experience with several new flyout options that appear upon right-clicking to learn more.

While it may seem cumbersome to navigate the current testing phase, these options are expected to become widely available in the future, barring any unforeseen complications. For those eager to experiment with the new flyouts, Phantomofearth has shared the necessary steps on X.

As this feature is still in its infancy, it’s likely that Microsoft will refine the options before a broader rollout. Currently, only two of the three variants have been documented, with the third remaining a mystery. The three choices are relatively straightforward: a compact flyout menu without search links or minimization options, a minimized flyout that cannot be expanded, and the option to retain the existing flyout associated with Windows Spotlight.

While personal preferences may vary—some users, including myself, favor a clean spotlight image devoid of prompts—it’s clear that many appreciate the opportunity to explore the origins and capture stories behind the images displayed on their desktops.

How to get windows spotlight pictures as desktop background?

To get Windows Spotlight pictures as your desktop background, you need to locate the images first. The images are stored in a hidden folder in your user directory. Navigate to `C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets`. Copy the files to a new folder and rename them with a `.jpg` extension. You can then set them as your desktop background by right-clicking the desktop and selecting `Personalize`, then `Background`, and choosing your images.

How to get windows spotlight as desktop background?

To use Windows Spotlight as your desktop background, you will need third-party software, as Windows does not support this feature by default. Programs like `Spotlight Desktop` or `Dynamic Theme` can accomplish this. Download and install one of these programs, follow the setup instructions, and they will automate the process of setting Spotlight images as your desktop background, updating them regularly to keep your desktop fresh with new images.
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02 Sep 2024

Microsoft Tests New Flyouts for Enhanced Windows Spotlight Experience

Microsoft is enhancing Windows Spotlight with new flyouts, offering more options for discovering daily wallpapers tailored to user interests. Available to Beta Channel Insiders via Vivetool, three variants are being tested: a compact menu, a minimized flyout, and the existing version.

Read more

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