If you’re trying to get the weather to pop up on your taskbar in Windows 11, it’s a bit of a strange one, but honestly pretty easy once you know the steps. Sometimes, the weather widget just won’t show, and you’ve gotta do a bit of digging. Usually, it’s because it’s not turned on or some settings are a bit wonky. Here’s how I get it working when it doesn’t show up how I want.
Step-by-step to show weather on Windows 11 taskbar
Having the weather widget on your desktop makes life a bit easier. Instead of opening an app every time, it’s just there. Here’s how to get it sorted:
Step 1: Open the Taskbar Settings
Right-click somewhere empty on the taskbar and pick Taskbar settings. Or, just hit Win + I, go to Personalisation, then click on Taskbar. That’s handy if you want to poke around other options later on.
Step 2: Find the Widgets Toggle
In the settings window, scroll down till you see the Widgets toggle. It’s usually pretty obvious, right at the bottom. This switch controls whether the weather and other info show up on your taskbar. If it’s off, no weather, no drama.
Step 3: Turn the Widgets On
Switch Widgets to On. Just flip the switch — deadset easy. Once that’s done, the weather icon should be lurking on your taskbar, ready to give you the forecast. Sometimes, after turning it on, you might need to restart your PC or restart Windows Explorer to get it to kick in — Windows can be a bit temperamental like that.
Step 4: Check the Weather Widget
Spot the weather icon on your taskbar. If it’s not there, give the Widgets icon a click (looks like a little square with rounded corners). Sometimes, it’s just hidden or needs a nudge. If it’s still playing up, a quick reboot or signing out and back in often sorts it out. It might take a second or two to appear, or sometimes a quick sign-out does the trick.
Step 5: Tweak the Weather Widget
Click on the weather icon or widget to open its menu. You can then adjust your location, switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius, or choose to have it follow your current location if that’s an option. Handy because, let’s be honest, sometimes you want the forecast for your hometown, not some random city.
And that’s pretty much it. After these quick steps, the weather should show up on your taskbar and update itself automatically. If it’s still acting up, a quick system refresh or maybe a Windows update might do the trick.
Tips for troubleshooting
- If the weather still doesn’t show, try restarting your PC. Sometimes Windows just needs a bit of a kick.
- Make sure your Windows is up to date — newer versions usually fix bugs that block widgets.
- If it’s still dodgy, check Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar > Widgets again. Maybe toggle it off and on again.
- Use the search in Settings if you’re having a hard time finding the Widgets toggle; just type “Widgets”.
- Turning off other unnecessary widgets can sometimes help the weather widget run a bit smoother.
Honestly, Windows can be a bit of a pain sometimes. Little quirks where settings don’t stick or the widget doesn’t show up straight away. Not exactly sure why, but messing with the widget toggle or restarting explorer.exe in Task Manager often gets it back up and running.
FAQs
Can I only see the weather on the taskbar in Windows 11?
Yep, the weather widget is built-in now and can be added straight to the taskbar, but only in Windows 11. No other Windows version natively supports it.
What if the weather widget isn’t showing?
Double-check that the Widgets toggle in settings is turned on. Sometimes a reboot helps, or you might need to sign out and back in. If it keeps playing up, running Windows updates or resetting the widget can sort it out.
Can I change the weather location globally?
Yep, just click on the weather icon on the taskbar to open the forecast card, then tap or click your location to swap or set it as default. Usually works smoothly, depending on your region and permissions.
Is there a way to turn off the weather widget?
Sure thing. Just disable Widgets in Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar. Easy as.
Does the weather widget slow down my system?
Nah, it’s pretty light on resources. Shouldn’t drag down your PC unless you’ve got an ancient rig. Usually, it just sits there quietly in the background.
Summary
- Right-click the taskbar, head to Settings.
- Find the Widgets toggle and flick it on.
- Look for the weather icon on your taskbar.
- Click to tweak if needed.
- If it’s dodgy, restart your PC or check for updates.
Hope this helps save a few headaches. It’s pretty straightforward once you know where to look, but the little bugs can make it a bit of a pain sometimes.