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Prevent Microsoft from using your Windows 10 Lock Screen for ads

If you’re like me, your Windows 10 lock screen may have made you do a double-take yesterday. When I went to login to my computer, the full screen was an advertisement for Rise of the Tomb Raider on the Windows Store. This doesn’t interest me and I would prefer my computer not be used for ads unnecessarily. This feels like a similar approach to Amazon’s Kindle with Special Offers. Fortunately, there is a simple setting to change to prevent your lock screen from being used.

From the Start Menu, click on Settings. In the Settings window, click on the Personalization (Background, lock screen, colors) icon.

Under Personalization, click on Lock screen on the left hand side. Then for the Lock screen, choose from the drop-down and change it from ‘Windows spotlight’ to Picture or Slideshow. ‘Windows spotlight’ is what Microsoft calls being able to feature images and ads on your lock screen.

Also toggle the setting off for ‘Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen’ to control your experience completely.