How to Remove Weather from Taskbar in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

By / October 10, 2025

If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 11, you’ve probably noticed the weather icon on your taskbar. It sits neatly in the bottom-left corner, showing current conditions, temperature, or “News and Interests” when hovered over.

While convenient for some, others find it distracting, redundant, or cluttering. The good news? You can easily remove the weather from your taskbar — and in this article, we’ll show you step-by-step how to do it using several safe methods.

Whether you want a cleaner interface, improved performance, or just dislike the constant pop-ups, this guide has you covered.

2. What Is the Weather Widget on Windows 11 Taskbar?

In Windows 11, the weather icon is part of the Widgets feature — a panel that displays dynamic content such as:

  • Weather forecasts 🌦️

  • News headlines 📰

  • Sports updates ⚽

  • Stock information 💹

  • Calendar events 📅

You can access it by clicking the Widgets icon (a blue square with curved corners) or by hovering over the weather display on the taskbar.

Microsoft added it to make information accessible at a glance — but not everyone appreciates it, especially if they never use the Widgets feature.

3. Why You Might Want to Remove the Weather Icon

Here are a few common reasons:

  • 🧹 Cleaner look: Simplifies your desktop interface.

  • 🚫 Avoid distractions: Stops random pop-ups with unwanted news.

  • ⚡ Performance boost: Widgets can consume background resources.

  • 🔒 Privacy: Reduces Microsoft’s data tracking through personalized feeds.

  • 🎯 Customization: Allows you to control exactly what appears on your taskbar.

No matter your reason, removing it is quick and reversible.

📘 Summary (Key Takeaways)

Method Tool/Setting Used Difficulty Effect
Method 1 Taskbar Settings ⭐ Easy Instantly hides weather icon
Method 2 News and Interests Toggle ⭐ Easy Turns off entire widget
Method 3 Registry Editor ⭐⭐ Moderate Permanently removes widget
Method 4 Group Policy Editor ⭐⭐ Moderate Disables for all users
Method 5 Third-Party Tools ⭐⭐ Moderate Removes widget and other clutter

4. How to Remove Weather from Taskbar in Windows 11 via Settings (Easiest Way)

This is the simplest and safest method for all users — no coding or registry edits needed.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Right-click on the taskbar.
    You’ll see a small context menu.

  2. Click on Taskbar settings.
    This opens the Taskbar personalization page in the Settings app.

  3. Under the Taskbar items section, find Widgets.

  4. Toggle the Widgets switch OFF.

🎉 That’s it! The weather icon instantly disappears from your taskbar.

If you ever want to restore it, just toggle the switch back ON.

5. How to Remove the Weather Icon Using the Taskbar Context Menu (Quick Shortcut)

Windows 11 (especially versions after 22H2) allows even quicker removal.

Steps:

  1. Right-click directly on the weather icon on your taskbar.

  2. Click Hide from taskbar or Close widget (depending on your Windows build).

✅ The weather and widget panel will disappear instantly.

💡 Tip: If you’re using Windows Insider or Beta builds, the label may differ slightly (e.g., “Turn off weather”).

6. How to Remove Weather from Taskbar Using Registry Editor

If you want to permanently disable widgets — or you’re managing multiple PCs — use the Registry Editor.
(Perfect for power users or administrators.)

⚠️ Warning: Modifying the registry can affect system behavior. Proceed carefully and back up your registry first.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

  2. Type:

    regedit

    Press Enter.

  3. Navigate to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh

    (If the “Dsh” key doesn’t exist, create it.)

  4. Right-click the Dsh folder → select New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.

  5. Name it:

    AllowNewsAndInterests

  6. Double-click it and set its Value data to 0.

  7. Click OK and close Registry Editor.

  8. Restart your computer.

After restart, the weather and widget icon will be completely gone.

🧩 To restore it later, set the value back to 1 or delete the DWORD.

7. How to Remove Weather Using Group Policy Editor (For IT Admins)

If you’re on Windows 11 Pro, Education, or Enterprise, you can disable the weather widget for all users using Group Policy Editor.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R → type:

    gpedit.msc

    and hit Enter.

  2. Navigate to:

    Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Widgets

  3. On the right pane, double-click Allow widgets.

  4. Select Disabled → click Apply → OK.

  5. Restart your computer.

✅ The weather widget will be removed from the taskbar for all users.

8. How to Remove Weather from Taskbar via Command Line (Optional Method)

For those who love automation, here’s a PowerShell command to disable the Widgets feature:

Steps:

  1. Right-click the Start menu → select Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).

  2. Run this command:

    Get-AppxPackage *WebExperience* | Remove-AppxPackage

  3. Wait for the process to complete, then restart your PC.

💡 What it does:
This command uninstalls the Windows Web Experience Pack, which powers the weather and news widgets.

🧠 Note: To restore the weather later, reinstall it from the Microsoft Store by searching “Windows Web Experience Pack.”

9. How to Turn Off News and Interests Pop-Ups Without Removing the Widget

If you don’t want to remove the weather entirely but dislike the pop-ups, you can simply disable hover behavior.

Steps:

  1. Hover over the weather icon.

  2. Click the three-dot (⋯) menu in the top-right corner of the widget panel.

  3. Choose Widget settings or Manage interests.

  4. Turn off Show taskbar widget when hovering.

Now, the weather will remain visible but won’t open automatically unless you click it.

10. How to Hide Weather Only (Keep Other Widgets Visible)

Want to keep other widgets like calendar or sports updates but hide the weather section only?
You can customize your widget feed.

Steps:

  1. Click the Widgets icon (or press Windows + W).

  2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) on the Weather card.

  3. Select Remove widget.

✅ The weather will disappear, but other widgets (news, stocks, etc.) remain.

11. How to Remove Weather from Taskbar Using Third-Party Tools

Several third-party customization apps can modify your taskbar behavior beyond what Windows allows.

Popular Tools:

Tool Name Key Feature
TaskbarX Hide or rearrange icons easily
ExplorerPatcher Remove widgets and weather icon completely
StartAllBack Classic Windows 10-style taskbar without widgets

⚠️ Caution: Use trusted tools only from official developer websites. Backup your settings before installation.

12. How to Bring Back Weather Icon After Removal

Changed your mind? You can restore it easily.

Steps:

  1. Right-click on the taskbar → Taskbar settings.

  2. Toggle Widgets → ON.

  3. The weather icon will reappear instantly.

If you removed it via registry or Group Policy, reverse the earlier changes:

  • Set AllowNewsAndInterests back to 1 (Registry).

  • Set Allow Widgets → Enabled (Group Policy).

13. Troubleshooting: Weather Widget Not Hiding or Reappearing

Sometimes Windows caches your taskbar layout, causing the weather icon to remain even after disabling.

Fixes:

  • Restart Windows Explorer:

    1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

    2. Find Windows Explorer → Right-click → Restart.

  • Sign Out and Sign Back In.

  • Update Windows 11 (Settings → Windows Update).

  • If still stuck, reboot your PC.

14. Performance and Privacy Benefits of Removing the Weather Widget

Many users report that removing the weather widget:

  • 🚀 Improves boot time and taskbar responsiveness.

  • 🔋 Slightly reduces background CPU/RAM usage.

  • 🕵️ Minimizes data tracking from Microsoft’s MSN feed.

  • 💡 Provides a distraction-free workspace.

While the impact isn’t massive, it’s noticeable — especially on older systems or laptops.

15. Comparison Table: All Methods to Remove Weather from Taskbar

Method Ease of Use Reversible? Needs Admin Rights? Best For
Taskbar Settings ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✅ Yes ❌ No Everyday users
Taskbar Right-Click ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✅ Yes ❌ No Quick removal
Registry Editor ⭐⭐⭐ ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Power users
Group Policy Editor ⭐⭐⭐ ✅ Yes ✅ Yes IT administrators
PowerShell / CMD ⭐⭐ ⚠️ Partial ✅ Yes Advanced users

✅ Conclusion: Simplify Your Taskbar by Removing the Weather Icon

The weather widget in Windows 11 can be handy — but for many, it’s just visual clutter.
Thankfully, you can easily remove it using Taskbar Settings, Registry Editor, or even Group Policy Editor, depending on your needs.

To summarize:

  • 🧭 Quick fix: Turn off Widgets from Taskbar Settings.

  • 🧩 Advanced control: Use Registry or Group Policy Editor.

  • 🔄 Reversible: You can always bring it back later.

With the weather icon gone, your taskbar will look cleaner, your workflow will feel smoother, and you’ll have one less distraction in your day.

❓ FAQs: How to Remove Weather from Taskbar in Windows 11

1. How do I remove the weather icon from my Windows 11 taskbar?

Right-click your taskbar → select Taskbar settings → toggle Widgets off. The weather icon disappears instantly.

2. Why can’t I find the “Widgets” option in settings?

You might be on an older Windows 11 version. Update to the latest build via Settings → Windows Update.

3. Can I disable only the weather without removing other widgets?

Yes. Open the widget panel → click the three dots (⋯) on the weather card → choose Remove widget.

4. How do I permanently disable weather for all users?

Use Group Policy Editor → navigate to Windows Components → Widgets → Allow Widgets → set to Disabled.

5. Does removing the weather widget improve performance?

Slightly, yes. It reduces background resource usage and speeds up startup time on some devices.

🧭 Final Takeaway

Removing the weather from your taskbar in Windows 11 is quick, safe, and fully reversible.
Whether you do it through Settings, Registry, or Group Policy, the result is a cleaner, distraction-free desktop experience that lets you focus on what matters most.

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