Bing Wallpaper Update Clicks the Desktop to Force-Launch Bing Search

Bing Wallpaper, a desktop application from Microsoft linked to Bing’s Image of the Day, now opens Bing Search by default when users click any empty area on the desktop, a change described as more intrusive than prior features. According to Windows Latest, after installing the update users are greeted with two pop-up windows—one listing features and another prompting to set Bing Search as the default search engine across Edge, Firefox and Chrome.

Tests by Windows Latest also show that the desktop click-triggered searches can occur several times a day, even during normal workspace interactions. The update appears to be aimed at boosting Bing’s traffic by ensuring that even unintended clicks contribute to activity metrics, without user consent or awareness. Additionally, Bing Wallpaper now includes a news module within the app, a change some readers may view as resembling persistent news feeds from other software. The article notes that the feature is promoted to users via Windows 10/11 and the Edge browser, with the update reported on 28 October 2025.