How to Get Rid of Learn About This Picture

“Learn about this picture” is a desktop icon associated with Windows Spotlight, which can display rotating images as your desktop background. To remove the icon, change the background setting away from Spotlight. This also stops Spotlight from selecting new desktop images; Windows does not offer a reliable built-in switch to keep Spotlight while hiding only its icon.

You’ll need access to Windows Settings. The labels and arrangement can differ slightly by Windows version, but the relevant controls are under Personalization and Background. These steps change the desktop background, not the lock-screen Spotlight setting.

What You’ll Need

A Windows PC with access to Settings and the desktop.
A replacement background choice: a picture, a solid color, or a slideshow. If you choose Picture, have an image saved on your device.

Step-by-Step

Open Personalization. Right-click an empty part of the desktop—not the “Learn about this picture” icon—and select Personalize. Alternatively, open Start, select Settings, then go to Personalization. Right-clicking the Spotlight icon itself may open information about the picture rather than the settings you need.
Go to Background. In Personalization, select Background. This page controls what appears behind your desktop icons. If you cannot find it, use Settings search for “background” or “desktop background”; the menu path may differ slightly by version.
Open the background selector. Find the control labeled Personalize your background or a similar phrase. Select its menu to see the available background types. On some versions, the options are presented directly on the page.
Choose a non-Spotlight option. Select Picture, Solid color, or Slideshow instead of Windows Spotlight. Picture uses one image, Solid color uses a plain color, and Slideshow rotates through images you choose. Any of these removes the desktop’s dependence on Spotlight images.
Set the replacement. For Picture, select a thumbnail or use Browse photos to choose an image file. For Solid color, choose a color. For Slideshow, browse to a folder containing the pictures you want to rotate. Follow the prompts and confirm the selection if Windows asks.
Check the desktop. Return to the desktop and look for “Learn about this picture.” It should disappear after Windows applies the new background. If it remains, wait briefly, then press Windows key + D to show the desktop or restart Windows and check again.

Common Mistakes

Changing the lock screen instead. The lock screen and desktop background are separate settings. Changing the lock-screen picture may leave the desktop Spotlight icon untouched. Make sure you are on Personalization > Background.
Choosing another Spotlight option. Windows can offer Spotlight for more than one part of the interface. Changing a lock-screen Spotlight setting does not necessarily change the desktop background. Set the desktop background type itself to Picture, Solid color, or Slideshow.
Expecting the icon to have a separate off switch. The usual built-in fix is to stop using Spotlight for the desktop. If you keep Windows Spotlight as the background, the icon may remain; available controls can vary by Windows version.
Selecting an image that is not available. If a picture was moved, deleted, or stored on a disconnected drive, Windows may not apply it as expected. Choose an image currently saved on the device or select a solid color.
Assuming the setting failed immediately. The desktop may take a short time to refresh. Check the selected background type in Settings before repeating the process.

Tips

Use a solid color for the simplest result. It avoids broken image paths and stops desktop background rotation.
Keep a personal rotating background. Choose Slideshow and point it to a folder you control, rather than choosing Spotlight. The folder needs to remain available for Windows to use its images.
Remember that background choices are reversible. You can return to Personalization > Background and select Windows Spotlight again if you want its rotating images. The “Learn about this picture” icon may return with it.
Change only what you intend to change. These steps affect the desktop background. They do not erase Spotlight images or necessarily alter the lock screen, themes, or other account settings.
Use Settings search if menus look different. Searching for “background” is often quicker than following an older set of screenshots or instructions for another Windows release.

Troubleshooting

The icon is still visible

Open Personalization > Background and confirm that the selected type is not Windows Spotlight. If you have already changed it, return to the desktop, refresh by minimizing or closing open windows, and give Windows a moment to update. Restarting the PC can help if the desktop has not refreshed.

I cannot find the Background setting

Open Settings and use its search field to look for “background” or “Personalize your background.” If the device is managed by a workplace or school, an administrator may control some personalization options. Contact the device administrator if the setting is unavailable or grayed out.

Windows Spotlight keeps coming back

Check that you changed the desktop background selector rather than only the lock-screen setting. Then select a non-Spotlight type again. If a theme or managed policy restores Spotlight, check whether you can choose a different theme or ask the administrator about the restriction.

The replacement picture does not appear

Choose a different image stored locally on the PC, or temporarily select Solid color to confirm that the background setting works. If using Slideshow, verify that its chosen folder still exists and contains image files. The menu names and available choices may differ slightly by Windows version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide “Learn about this picture” without changing Spotlight?

Windows does not consistently provide a built-in setting to hide only this icon while keeping Spotlight as the desktop background. Switching to Picture, Solid color, or Slideshow is the straightforward supported approach.

Will this remove the icon from the lock screen?

No. The steps change the desktop background. The lock screen has separate personalization settings, and changing one does not automatically change the other.

Will changing the background delete my photos?

No. Choosing a different background does not delete the image files in your folders. It only changes which background Windows displays.

Can I use my own rotating pictures instead?

Yes. Select Slideshow under Background and choose a folder containing your images. If that option is unavailable, use Picture or Solid color and check whether the device is managed.

Why did the icon return?

The desktop background may have been set back to Windows Spotlight, perhaps after a theme or personalization change. Check the Background page and select a non-Spotlight option again.

Further reading: Microsoft Support. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.