How to Remove Widgets on Windows 11
Getting rid of those pesky widgets on Windows 11 can feel a bit like searching for your sock in the dryer—frustrating but doable. It’s not a big hassle, but you do have to poke around a bit to find where those options are hiding. Once you turn them off, your desktop looks heaps cleaner—a bit more space for the stuff that actually matters instead of clutter. Plus, it might even give your system a tiny boost if it’s not the newest gaming rig. Let’s have a squiz at how to turn off those widgets.
Open Up the Settings
First up, hit the Windows key + I. This brings up the Settings app quicker than clicking through the Start menu. Seems like Windows could be a bit easier to navigate, but hey, here we are, wandering the maze of settings. This is where you can set things up your way. If your desktop’s looking a bit cluttered, this is your starting point.
Find Personalisation
Once you’re in Settings, look for Personalisation. It’s like your front porch of customisation—pretty easy to spot. Inside, it’s all about changing backgrounds, themes, and yep, those dreaded widgets. Today, our mission is to tidy up and turn off that widget feature.
Go to Taskbar Settings
Now, in Personalisation, find the Taskbar option. It’s a tiny section that controls what pops up at the bottom of your screen. If you want a clean taskbar, this is where you can ditch the widgets button. Not sure why they hid it down here, but Microsoft loves to keep us guessing.
Quick Tip: You can also skip the long route and get straight to Taskbar settings—right-click on the taskbar and pick Taskbar Settings. Easy as!
Turn Widgets Off
In the Taskbar settings, you’ll see an option labelled “Widgets.” There’s a little toggle switch next to it. Flick that to off. If you’re a bit handy with PowerShell, you can also do this with a quick command:
Get-AppxPackage *MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience* | Remove-AppxPackageThis command totally removes the widget app, which sounds a bit hardcore and probably isn’t for everyone. For most of us, just flicking the switch is enough. Once done, poof! The widget icon disappears from the taskbar like magic, giving your desktop some breathing room. It took a bit of digging to find this setting, but now it’s sorted and less cluttered.
Save Your Changes
No need to restart or anything—just close the Settings window. Changes happen instantly, so you’ll see that widget icon vanish right away.
Extra Notes
- If you want to manually remove the Widgets icon from the taskbar, right-click the taskbar, click Taskbar Settings, and switch off Widgets.
- For Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise users, there’s a group policy way to turn off widgets. Go via:
gpedit.msc → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Widgets → Turn off Widgets - PowerShell fans can really go to town with commands—just remember, that’s a bit of a sledgehammer move. Usually, flicking the toggle is more than enough.
Heads Up Before You Turn Them Off
Before you go all out disabling widgets, think about whether you actually use them. A quick peek at the news or weather can be handy, but if they’re just sitting there unused, they’re probably gobbling up resources and slowing things down a tad. Tweaking this can give your system a boost, especially if it’s not the latest and greatest. And if you change your mind, turning them back on is just as easy—flip the switch again.
FAQs About Turning Off Widgets
Can Widgets Come Back After Turning Them Off?
Absolutely! If you decide widgets aren’t so bad after all, just head to Settings → Personalisation → Taskbar, and flick that Widgets switch back on. Or, if you’re feeling a bit techy, you can reinstall them with:
Get-AppxPackage *MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience* | Add-AppxPackageWill Turning Off Widgets Save Resources?
Most likely, yep. Those widgets can munch on some CPU and RAM, so shutting them down might give your PC a little extra kick—especially handy on older gear.
Are There Other Ways to Get Similar Info?
Sure thing. You can replace widget features with standalone apps or bookmark news and weather sites directly on your desktop or taskbar. Apps like “Microsoft News” or “The Weather Channel” do a pretty good job too.
Do I Need to Reboot After Turning Off Widgets?
Nah, no need. It all happens on the fly—no waiting around for a restart, which is a bonus in Windows land.
Can I Tweak Widgets Before Turning Them Off?
Yes, you can manage which widgets show up and change their settings first—just click on the widget icon, then hit the three dots in the widget panel. If you just want to tidy the clutter, turning them all off is the way to go.
Turning off widgets in Windows 11 isn’t too tricky once you know where to look. It’s a quick fix to clear up your desktop and might even speed things up a bit. Whether you’re decluttering, fixing sluggishness, or just wanting fewer distractions, ditching those widgets can make a real difference. And remember, you can always turn them back on whenever you like—this Aussie’s motto is “your PC, your rules.” So go on, tidy up that desktop and enjoy a more focused workspace.
This little tip could save you hours of searching for answers. If it helps a couple of machines run smoother, that’s a win in our book.