If you’ve been exploring Windows 11, you’ve probably noticed the little widget panel tucked neatly into the taskbar. While some users love it for quick news updates, weather forecasts, and calendar reminders, others find it distracting—or worse, unnecessary. If you fall into the second category, you’re probably wondering: How do I turn off Windows 11 widgets?
Well, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through several step-by-step methods to disable widgets in Windows 11, so you can enjoy a cleaner and distraction-free workspace.
What Are Windows 11 Widgets?
Before we dive into disabling them, let’s quickly cover what widgets are.
Widgets in Windows 11 are interactive cards that show personalized information. They include:
- Weather updates
- News highlights
- Calendar events
- Sports scores
- Traffic updates
They sit in a panel you can access from the taskbar or by pressing Win + W. For some users, widgets are handy. For others, they’re just another thing cluttering the screen.
Why Would You Want to Turn Off Widgets?
You might be asking yourself: Why even bother turning them off? Here are some common reasons:
- Distractions: News headlines popping up when you’re trying to focus can break concentration.
- Performance: Widgets run in the background and can consume system resources.
- Privacy: They often rely on personalized data, which not everyone is comfortable with.
- Clean Aesthetic: Some people just like a minimalistic desktop look.
Can You Turn Off Widgets Completely?
Yes, you can. The good news is Windows 11 gives you multiple ways to disable widgets—some temporary, some permanent. Whether you want to hide them from the taskbar or disable them at a deeper system level, you have options.
Method 1: Turn Off Widgets from the Taskbar Settings
This is the quickest and easiest way.
Step 1: Right-Click the Taskbar
Hover over your taskbar, right-click on it, and select Taskbar settings.
Step 2: Locate the Widgets Option
In the settings menu, look under the Taskbar items section.
Step 3: Toggle Off Widgets
Simply flip the switch for Widgets to Off. Boom—no more widgets on your taskbar.
Method 2: Disable Widgets Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Even if you turn off the taskbar button, you might accidentally press Win + W. If that bothers you, you’ll need a stronger solution.
Unfortunately, there’s no official option to disable the shortcut. But don’t worry—we’ll cover a workaround later using Group Policy or Registry tweaks.
Method 3: Turn Off Widgets via Group Policy (Pro & Enterprise Users)
If you’re on Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can use the Group Policy Editor.
Step 1: Open Group Policy Editor
Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
Step 2: Navigate to Widgets Settings
Go to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Widgets
Step 3: Disable Widgets
Double-click on Allow widgets, select Disabled, and hit Apply.
This completely removes widgets from your system.
Method 4: Disable Widgets via Registry Editor (Home Users)
Don’t have Group Policy Editor? No worries—Registry Editor works just as well.
Step 1: Open Registry Editor
Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Step 2: Navigate to the Widgets Key
Go to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft
Step 3: Create a Widgets Key
- Right-click Microsoft, choose New > Key, and name it Dsh.
- Inside Dsh, create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value called AllowNewsAndInterests.
- Set its value to 0.
Step 4: Restart Your PC
After restarting, widgets will be gone.
Method 5: Turn Off Widgets via Task Manager
This method helps if widgets are still running in the background.
Step 1: Open Task Manager
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Step 2: End Widgets Process
Find Windows Widgets or Windows Web Experience Pack under Processes. Right-click and select End Task.
This temporarily shuts them down, but for permanent removal, you’ll need to disable them in startup.
Method 6: Disable Widgets from Startup
Step 1: Open Task Manager
Go to the Startup tab.
Step 2: Locate Windows Widgets
If you see Widgets or Windows Web Experience Pack, right-click and choose Disable.
Now, they won’t launch when you boot up.
Method 7: Uninstall Windows Web Experience Pack (Advanced)
Widgets in Windows 11 run through an app called Windows Web Experience Pack. If you don’t want it at all, you can uninstall it.
Step 1: Open PowerShell as Administrator
Search for PowerShell, right-click, and choose Run as Administrator.
Step 2: Enter the Command
Type:
Get-AppxPackage *WebExperience* | Remove-AppxPackage
Step 3: Restart Your PC
Widgets will be completely gone after rebooting.
Pros and Cons of Disabling Windows 11 Widgets
Pros
- Cleaner desktop look
- Fewer distractions
- Reduced background processes
- Better privacy
Cons
- Lose quick access to news and weather
- Extra steps needed for calendar updates
- May affect users who rely on productivity shortcuts
Alternative to Turning Off Widgets
If you don’t want to fully disable widgets but still find them distracting, consider:
- Customizing widgets to only show useful info.
- Resizing or rearranging widgets for better organization.
- Turning off notifications from specific widgets.
This way, you can keep the useful stuff without the noise.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Widgets still appear after disabling: Restart your PC to apply changes.
- Can’t find the Widgets option: Make sure your system is updated.
- Registry tweak didn’t work: Double-check the value (it must be set to 0).
Final Thoughts
Turning off Windows 11 widgets is easier than you might think. Whether you simply hide them from the taskbar or go the extra mile with Group Policy, Registry tweaks, or even uninstalling the Web Experience Pack, the choice is yours.
If you value a clean, distraction-free environment, disabling widgets can help streamline your workflow. But if you enjoy quick glances at the weather or news, you may just want to customize instead of removing them completely.
FAQs
1. Can I re-enable widgets after turning them off?
Yes, you can always go back to Taskbar settings or re-install the Web Experience Pack if needed.
2. Do widgets slow down my computer?
They can use some system resources, but on most modern PCs, the effect is minimal.
3. Will uninstalling the Web Experience Pack break anything else?
Not really—it mainly handles widgets. Other system functions will remain intact.
4. Are Windows 11 widgets the same as Windows 10’s News and Interests?
Yes, they’re similar but redesigned with a new panel and more integrations.
5. What’s the quickest way to disable widgets?
Right-click the taskbar → Taskbar settings → Toggle off Widgets. Done in seconds.