Solved Cannot disable widgets and keep from logging into Microsoft

Got a new laptop and learning Win11 after clinging to Win7 for so many years. Still learning the intricacies of the new OS.

Then I did an incredibly stupid and rash thing that I'm afraid is irreversible. I had a desire to have the local weather/temp be visible on the taskbar--I know, but one can dream can't they? I decided to see what the weather widget looked like and against my better judgement enabled widgets in Settings and logged in using an old Microsoft login that I had once created for some reason. And just that easily the trap was sprung and Microsoft won't let go and I'm afraid I may have to reformat and reinstall Windows 11 and all my programs to rid myself of an unbreakable curse. Before doing that I figured I'd check here and see if there is any redemption for this penitent sinner that succumbed in a moment of weakness by allowing Microsoft to become aware of my new laptop.

In trying to turn back the hands of time to erase my blunder I have turned off widgets in Settings. This, of course, did nothing as a right swipe from the left edge of my screen still shows me logged into my windows account and the awful contents of the widget's "curated" dreck that passes for news is all over the widget fly-in overlay. Sure, I can click the logout button and temporarily stop this fountain of filth but if I reboot I'm back to being logged in again.

So, I discovered that in logging into Microsoft to experiment with a weather widget I inadvertently changed my account settings off "Local account". It took me some time to figure out how to return my account to local (and unencrypt my user files which it did behind my back with no confirmation from me). I reset back to a local password and my account settings clearly show "Local account". Still, that is not enough to stop the Microsoft news juggernaut from interpreting any errant motion near the left edge of my screen as a request to see disgusting curated junk popping out at me.

Widgets are in theory off and I'm logging in locally but Microsoft will not take the hint that I do not wish to be harassed with this unceasing font of what it considers to be news and information. I can log out to temporarily stem the psychic assault but whenever I reboot I'm logged back into my Microsoft account and though widgets are disabled there seems no way to my previous state where this laptop was unaware of my Microsoft account.

I think the Microsoft account might have latched onto my Windows Hello methods of biometrically recognizing me. Perhaps, deleting my fingerprints and facial recognition and retraining again fresh might break this curse of the zombie news widgets that refuse to die.

Desperately seeking any guidance from those more versed in Win11 and who might know some remedies to try to rid myself of this curse I've unleased upon an otherwise unsuspecting laptop. Hoping there is some path short of a restore to OEM software install.


Thanks in advance to anyone who can aid a Win11 newbie out of my current unfortunate state.


Cheers.

-Ken

Hi Ken. Welcome to the forum. One thing you might be able to do, is rather than converting your existing account into local, create a new account, with administrative privileges and delete your existing account.

Step 1. Check your current account

One thing to check first; when you go into file explorer, then open Local Disk (C:), then go to the Users folder, see what the folders are.



You will see atleast one with your name. This may be in the format:
"Richard Jones"
or the format..
"richa"

If it is the latter of the two, this is a Microsoft account. They are limited to five letters long and those are the first five of your email. Which one do you have?

Step 2. Create a new account
It doesn't matter which type of account you have, but to remove microsoft account this is what to do.

1. First go to settings.
2. Go to the Accounts option on the left bar
3. Below your name, what do you have? Local Account, or your email?
4. Go to Family & other users
5. Then under other users, click Add account
6. 
7. When it says How will this person sign in? Click I don't have this persons sign in information, then add user without Microsoft account.
8. Once done with the account setup, Under Family & other users, select the account owner name (you should see "Local account" below the name), then select Change account type.
9. Under Account type, select Administrator, and then select OK.

That should create a new account. Please do not fret to ask for further help on this.


Best of luck,

My account name is less than 5 characters so that is inconclusive. I tested out my idea to remove all biometric login methods which I suspected the Microsoft login had attached to like a remora. Removed 2 fingerprints, a face recognition, and a PIN that were associated with my laptop account. A reboot and fresh login (using my local account password--the only ID verification method remaining) seems to have solved the issue of my Microsoft account additionally being logged in. The fact that the news widgets were remaining active even though I explicitly turned OFF widgets in Settings seems to be a problem/bug (which will likely never be investigated/fixed).

The deeper issue of so many folks (from what I read online) wishing for the ability to enable widgets to obtain a useful weather widget without the cost/nuisance of having to be splattered with dozens of annoying "news" feeds speaks to Microsoft not being concerned for the needs/desires of their users and instead focusing on some potential profit/business model in pushing news feeds that you can't escape. I've read it was possible to opt out of news interests in Windows 10 while keeping useful widgets like weather but it seems that flexibility has now been restricted by Microsoft. Sad when potentially useful tools come inextricably bundled with such awful baggage.

I'm also forced to turn off the swipe actions from the left/right edges of my screen. I often have need to scroll some apps from the left side of the screen and too frequently this action is misinterpreted as a right swipe to fly-in the widget screen. Swiping in on the right edge was convenient to see the calendar/notifications but it seems swipe actions are all or none and one action cannot be independently disabled while leaving the other functioning. More minor annoyances I'll have to get used to with Windows 11.

I'll consider my Microsoft auto-login issue solved by deleting all biometric identification methods and maybe this information will help someone in a similar situation in the future. I'm sure I'll have cause to post again to this forum when I mess up something else in the future.


Cheers.

-Ken