One of the best tools for updating your Windows wallpaper is about to get an update

What you need to know

Microsoft is working on new flyouts for Windows Spotlight.
Windows Spotlight allows you to have a new image appear as your desktop wallpaper each day.
The new flyouts provide a wider variety of options for finding out more about images or expanding the flyouts.
To see the new options, you have to be a Beta Channel Insider and enable the feature through Vivetool.

As a seasoned analyst with decades of experience in the tech industry, I have seen countless updates to operating systems and their various features. While some changes are met with excitement, others are greeted with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. The latest update to Windows Spotlight, Microsoft’s daily wallpaper feature, falls squarely into the latter category for me.

Windows Spotlight offers a convenient method for regularly updating your computer’s wallpaper with unique images. This automatic feature changes the wallpaper daily according to themes you select. It helps maintain a vibrant and engaging desktop atmosphere by providing variety and breaking up the routine. The feature also displays a pop-up when you hover over the image, allowing you to learn more about it. To access this pop-up, simply right-click on the “learn more” icon.

As a tech enthusiast, I’ve always been intrigued by the images that pop up on my Windows Spotlight. Over the years, it seems like this feature has received its fair share of criticism, with many tools designed specifically to get rid of it. However, for those of us who appreciate learning more about these images, an upcoming change in Windows 11 is definitely something to look forward to. A recent discovery by Phantomofearth (previously known as Twitter user) reveals that the Desktop Spotlight experience is set to gain a few flyout options when right-clicked, providing additional insights into the beautiful images gracing our screens.

To use the freshly introduced functionality, you’ll need a bit of adjustment. Ensure that your system operates on Windows 11 Build 226353.4145, which is currently accessible for Beta Channel Insiders. Once you’ve secured this version, you’ll need to activate the feature using Vivetool. It’s worth mentioning that a different user discovered the ID is also available in the most recent Canary build of Windows 11, but they weren’t able to enable it while running that specific build.

It might not be necessary to deal with that trouble on your system right now, as the features will likely become accessible to everyone in the future (provided there aren’t any problems). However, if you’re keen to experiment with various flyouts for Windows Spotlight, Phantomofearth has provided the necessary instructions on X.

As a devoted fan, I must share my insights: The version of this feature we’re currently testing is still in its infancy and may undergo significant changes before it becomes available for everyone. It seems Microsoft is exploring multiple possibilities, intending to select just one. Phantomofearth hinted that out of the three variants displayed on X, only two have been officially documented by Microsoft.

Here are three simple choices:

I have a preference for standalone spotlight images, without any accompanying information, yet I recognize and value the curiosity of others who want to know where the images originate from and how they were taken.

2024-09-02 21:09

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