Microsoft r̶e̶b̶r̶a̶n̶d̶e̶d overhauled the News and Interests feature to release Widgets on Windows 11. While rumors suggest that Microsoft would eventually open the widgets panel for third-party app developers, all you get on Windows 11 widgets right now are Microsoft’s own weather, stocks, photos, and news panels, to name a few. If you prefer not to see the widgets panel, here’s how you can disable widgets on Windows 11.
We have detailed four methods to get rid of widgets on your Windows 11 PC in this article. Choose the method you are comfortable with and follow the steps to remove widgets on Windows 11.
- Disable Widgets on Windows 11 from Taskbar Context Menu
- Disable Windows 11 Widgets from Taskbar Settings
- Hide Widgets on Windows 11 Using Windows Settings App
- Remove Widgets on Windows 11 Using Registry Editor
Windows 11 Widgets: How They Look and Work?
As mentioned above, the flyout widgets panel in Windows 11 is a reboot of the News and Interest feature that was first introduced in Windows 10. In Windows 11, you can access the widgets using a dedicated shortcut (white and blue icon) in the taskbar. It lives to the right of the virtual desktops button in the taskbar on your Windows 11 PC. You can also use the Windows 11 keyboard shortcut Win + W to open the widgets panel.
Moreover, Microsoft lets you customize the layout of the widgets panel. You can add or remove widgets, rearrange and resize them, and customize the content it serves you with ease in Windows 11. While all this sounds good, the widgets panel is lackluster, and there’s a good chance that you may want to disable it for now. So, let’s see how you can go about it.
- First, right-click on the Widgets icon from the taskbar and choose the “Hide from taskbar” option. This is the easiest way to remove widgets on Windows 11.
You can also go to the taskbar settings to disable Windows 11 widgets. To do that, just follow the steps below:
Right-click anywhere on the taskbar and choose “Taskbar settings”.
Another way to disable the widgets button is through the Settings app. So open the Settings app, switch to the “Personalization” tab, and click on “Taskbar”.
Last but not least, power users can rely on the Registry Editor to disable widgets on their Windows 11 computer. Here’s how it works:
