WidgetService.exe


nicoalpennau

nicoalpennau

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It's been running in task manager 24/7 and while it is meant to be normal, it's meant to run under "Microsoft Widgets" alongside Widgets.exe but it's a independent task if you get me
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PC specialist

WidgetsService.exe​

  • Manages the backend service responsible for updating widget content.
  • Handles data syncing, user preferences, and content delivery from Microsoft services.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4061
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
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    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
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    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4061
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26100.4061
I am aware of that, my concerns are the following:

1. It's unsigned
2. I thought is should run under "Microsoft Widgets" which I don't see
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PC specialist
One is a service, one is a service client.

1. Both are signed. They should be since they're part of the Windows.Web.ClientExperience appx package.

2. There are multiple "widgets":
- News & Interests that pops up and takes over half of your desktop.​
- And for some users, Lock Screen has widgets for weather, traffic, etc.​

Widgets run on the WebView2 platform, so it launches a whole bunch of other WebView2 threads while running.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
What version are you running?
Code: 
powershell "(Get-AppxPackage *WebExperience*).Version"
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
When I reboot, two processes with the name "Widgets" are visible in the Task Manager. Since I don't use any Widgets, I just throw them away (end task) and never see them again. That is, until my next reboot.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home, 24H2, OS Build 26100.4482
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP 15-dw0xx
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-8145U CPU @ 2.10GHz 2.30 GHz
    Memory
    8GB
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    930 GB
    Keyboard
    Built In
    Mouse
    Wireless Logitech M325S
    Browser
    Chrome 131.0.6778.266
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Cygwin64
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Home, Version 22H2, Build19045.3693
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD E-300 with Radeon HD Graphics 1.30 GHz
    Memory
    10GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Radeon HD Graphics 1.30 GHz
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15"
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Hard Drives
    700 GB
    Keyboard
    Wireless
    Mouse
    Wireless
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    This computer is connected to my IC-735 radio.
525.15301.20.0 no longer has a WidgetService.exe, which was part of the 24H2 ISO's older version of Windows.Web.ClientExperience.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
I don't know. Do you have more than numerical version under C:\Program Files\WindowsApps?

Open an Admin CMD or PS:
Code: 
cd "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps"
dir *WebExp*
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Volume in drive C is Windows
Volume Serial Number is 2006-DCAA

Directory of C:\Program Files\WindowsApps

27/06/2025 16:18 <DIR> MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_525.15301.20.0_neutral_~_cw5n1h2txyewy
27/06/2025 16:18 <DIR> MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_525.15301.20.0_x64__cw5n1h2txyewy
0 File(s) 0 bytes
2 Dir(s) 164,527,067,136 bytes free
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PC specialist
If you're in Task Manager, click on the process Properties. It should tell you what folder WidgetService.exe is running from.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
K7MEM said:
Since I don't use any Widgets, I just throw them
Click to expand...
Then why not disable them
www.elevenforum.com

Enable or Disable Widgets Feature in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the widgets feature for all users in Windows 11. 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...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
or uninstall widgets
www.elevenforum.com

Uninstall and Reinstall Widgets in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to uninstall or reinstall widgets for all users in Windows 11. Widgets are small cards that display dynamic content from your favorite apps and services on your Windows desktop. They appear on the widgets board, where you can discover, pin, unpin, arrange...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4061
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4061
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26100.4061
garlin said:
If you're in Task Manager, click on the process Properties. It should tell you what folder WidgetService.exe is running from.
Click to expand...
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime_1.6.9.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\WidgetService
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PC specialist
Although not signed, it does say that it's by Microsoft Corporation when hovering over it
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PC specialist
nicoalpennau said:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime_1.6.9.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\WidgetService
Click to expand...
Ah that one... Don't have it installed on my system, and I don't remember which Widgets builds needed the Platform Runtime.
I think that version was pushed out today April 2025.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
I downloaded WidgetsPlatformRuntime_1.6.9.0 from MS, and they didn't sign WidgetService.exe. 🤷‍♂️

Going back to a few earlier versions, and even checking the x86 package... they didn't bother signing it.
MS has been doing this wrong for a while.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Although I don't have any widget active, I have "WidgetService.exe" process running. When you click on that process, and select properties, there is not any digital sign tab.

Typin the commands suggested by @garlin, I have the same two files with the same version.

I believe the process is valid and I would not worry about it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    13700K
    Motherboard
    MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI (7D91vHE - 0x12B)
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 Kingston Fury Renegade @6400
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    MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Slim White 12G
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z SE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VA24DQ
    Hard Drives
    WD Black SN850X 2TB (main)
    SAMSUNG SSD 990 Pro 2TB
    WD Blue 1TB 7200rpm
    PSU
    Corsair RM1000x SHIFT
    Case
    DeepCool CH560 WH
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15S
    Keyboard
    Logitech G915X
    Mouse
    Logitech G403 HERO
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