Windows 10 was kinda better at giving quick insights into pictures you liked on the Lock Screen. In Windows 11, that whole feature is turned up a notch if you’re rocking Spotlight wallpapers — so much so that it’s in your face more than ever. And honestly, sometimes that little info icon can be more annoying than helpful, especially if you’re trying to keep your desktop as clean as possible. Trying to delete it with a regular right-click or just hiding it? Yeah, that usually doesn’t work, and it sticks around stubbornly. Thankfully, there are a few ways to remove or hide this thing, whether you wanna disable Spotlight, mess with the Registry, or even use third-party tools.
How to Remove the Lock Screen Info Icon in Windows 11
Disable Through Settings — but beware, you’ll lose Spotlight entirely
This method basically kills two birds with one stone — it’s simple, but it turns off the Spotlight feature too. If you’re okay with that, it’s worth a shot. It’s useful if the icon bug is bugging you enough to lose the whole slideshow on your desktop background.
- Open Settings (hit Win + I).
- Click on Personalization from the sidebar.
- Navigate to Background.
- In the Personalize your background section, click the dropdown and pick anything OTHER than Windows Spotlight.
- Once you change that, the icon should (borderline magically) vanish, because Windows auto-hides some Spotlight options when you switch to a static picture or slideshow. Note: If you want Spotlight back later, just switch back to Spotlight, but understand you’re back to hotspot info icons.
Honestly, this works on most setups, but on some machines, the icon stubbornly stays until a reboot or a logoff. It’s kind of weird, but that’s Windows for you.
Disable Via the Registry — a bit more involved but keeps Spotlight alive
This is the workaround if you really dig Spotlight but hate the icon lurking in the corner. The Registry hack tells Windows not to bother showing that desktop icon while keeping Spotlight running behind the scenes. The reason this works? It’s turning off the desktop icon specifically, not Spotlight itself.
- Open the Registry Editor by typing regedit into the Run dialog (Win + R) or search bar, then hit Enter.
- Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons. - Right-click and select New > Key. Name it
NewStartPanel. - In this new key, create a new String Value named
{2cc5ca98-6485-489a-920e-b3e88a6ccce3}. - Double-click that entry and set Value Data to 0. Click OK.
- That’s it — restart the PC, and the icon should be gone from your desktop. If you want it back later, just change the Value Data to 1.
This registry tweak sometimes takes a little time to kick in, and on some setups, a reboot is needed for it to work. Also, messing with the registry can be risky, so maybe backup first or just try the other methods if you’re not comfortable.
Third-Party Tools — because some of us really don’t like messing with regedit
If all this registry stuff sounds too much or if you’re just tired of Windows making it harder than necessary, some third-party apps can help. Software like Winhance on GitHub can give you more control without digging through reg files. You can customize what shows up on your desktop and hide icons you don’t want in a more visual way.
Just keep in mind, not all of these apps are free, and always be cautious when downloading third-party tools. But if you’re into customizing and want a less technical fix, they’re worth checking out.
Honestly, it’s kind of a hassle to hide those icons in Windows 11, compared to Windows 10. But between toggling settings, tinkering with regedit, or using some third-party helpers, there’s hope. Not sure why Microsoft makes this so complicated — simple toggle, that’s it.
Summary
- Disable in Settings by changing background to anything other than Spotlight (works most of the time, but turns off Spotlight too)
- Use Registry tweaks to hide just the icon without losing Spotlight (more complicated)
- Try third-party tools like Winhance for easier control (be cautious with downloads)
Wrap-up
Hiding that stubborn icon in Windows 11 isn’t exactly straightforward, but it’s doable. Whether you’re okay losing Spotlight or want to keep it but hide the icon, there’s a method for you. Sometimes, rebooting after changes is necessary, and other times, you might have to repeat steps. Still, overall, these tricks should get you out of the desktop clutter mess.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours of frustration for someone.