Widgets are small windows that display dynamic info on your Windows desktop. They appear on the widgets board, where you can add, remove, arrange, resize, and customize them to reflect your interests and the way you work. Widgets help you stay on top of what’s important to you by bringing together personalized content from your favorite apps and services so you can have the latest info at a glance throughout your day. So say goodbye to constantly switching between apps and devices and websites—now you can stay connected to the things you care about without losing focus on your most important tasks.
Your widgets board consists of two sections: your widgets and your news feed. Your widgets are all located at the top of the widgets board. The news feed can be found below your widgets. The following sections describe how to use the widgets board.
To use the widgets board, you need to be signed in to your Microsoft account, your work account, or your school account.
Starting with Windows 11 build 25262, in the most recent update for Widgets, we are removing the sign-in requirement for the widgets board and making it available for all users. Now, you can now get weather updates on the taskbar, pin widgets from your favorite apps or access personalized dynamic feed without an account.
Updated content will appear in your news feed when there is new content to show that meets your personalization settings. Your news feed learns about you over time, so you might not always see changes right away. Signing in to Windows 11 and Microsoft Edge with the same Microsoft account will help ensure your news feed personalization is available across Widgets, apps, and devices.
See also:
Stay up to date with widgets - Microsoft Support
Learn more about how to use the widgets board to keep track of the things you care about.
support.microsoft.com
How to update the Windows Web Experience Pack in the Microsoft Store - Microsoft Support
If the Weather widget isn't working in Windows 11, you might need to update it.
support.microsoft.com
Policy CSP - NewsAndInterests - Windows Client Management
Learn how Policy CSP - NewsandInterests contains a list of news and interests.
docs.microsoft.com
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the widgets feature for all users in Windows 11.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable the widgets feature in Windows 11.
Widgets is not available in Windows 11 SE.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Widgets in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Widgets using REG file
EXAMPLE: Widgets feature enabled and disabled
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two below.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Widgets
3 In the right pane of Widgets, double click/tap on the Allow widgets policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (Enable) or step 6 (Disable) below for what you would like to do.
5 To Enable Widgets
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
6 To Disable Widgets
A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 To Enable Widgets
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_widgets_feature_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\NewsAndInterests\AllowNewsAndInterests]
"value"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh]
"AllowNewsAndInterests"=-3 To Disable Widgets
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_widgets_feature_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\NewsAndInterests\AllowNewsAndInterests]
"value"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh]
"AllowNewsAndInterests"=dword:000000004 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 Either restart explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
8 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Related Tutorials
- Enable or Disable Edge Bar in Microsoft Edge
- Open Widgets in Windows 11
- Add or Remove Widgets Button on Taskbar in Windows 11
- Sign in or Sign out of Widgets Board in Windows 11
- Add or Remove Widgets on Widgets Board in Windows 11
- Resize Widgets on Widgets Board in Windows 11
- Personalize News Feed on Widgets Board in Windows 11
- Customize Widgets in Windows 11
- Move a Widget on Widgets Board in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Show Widgets on Hover in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Notification Badges for Widgets on Taskbar in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Show Updates from Widgets on Taskbar in Windows 11
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