18. Spotlight
Downloads pictures and advertisments to show while computer is locked. Disable this.
Danger
After every major windows update, verify these settings.
Disable all spotlight features
GPO
User Configuration › Administrative Templates › Windows Components › Cloud Content › Turn off all Windows spotlight features
☑
ENABLED
Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference
Registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent
DisableWindowsSpotlightFeatures
DWORD
1
Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference
Disable third-party content in spotlight
GPO
User Configuration › Administrative Templates › Windows Components › Cloud Content › Do not suggest third-party content in Windows spotlight
☑
ENABLED
Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference
Registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent
DisableThirdPartySuggestions
DWORD
1
Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference
Disable all spotlight features on lock screen
GPO
User Configuration › Administrative Templates › Windows Components › Cloud Content › Configure Windows spotlight on lock screen
☑
DISABLED
Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference
Registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent
ConfigureWindowsSpotlight
DWORD
2
Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference
Disable spotlight action center notifications
GPO
User Configuration › Administrative Templates › Windows Components › Cloud Content › Turn off Windows Spotlight on Action Center
☑
ENABLED
Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference
Registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent
DisableWindowsSpotlightOnActionCenter
DWORD
1
Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference
Disable spotlight settings notifications
GPO
User Configuration › Administrative Templates › Windows Components › Cloud Content › Turn off Windows Spotlight on Settings
☑
ENABLED
Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference
Registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent
DisableWindowsSpotlightOnSettings
DWORD
1
Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference
Registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent
DisableWindowsSpotlightWindowsWelcomeExperience
DWORD
1
Updated: 2021-02-19 Reference