Turning off widgets in Windows 11 is pretty easy, but not everyone knows where those tiny info panels hide. If you’re like me and find the widgets more of a distraction than anything else, here’s how to ditch ’em. As you’d expect, Windows likes to make things a bit tricky sometimes, right?
How to Turn Off Widgets in Windows 11
Basically, this helps you save some screen space and keep things looking tidy. When the widgets are off, your desktop feels a lot cleaner, and you’re less likely to get sidetracked by news or weather pop-ups every few minutes. It’s a small change, but it makes a big difference for focus.
Step 1: Open the Settings
Click on Start, then hit the gear icon for Settings. Or just press Windows + I — that’s often quicker if you’re feeling lazy like me. Going into Settings is like opening your PC’s control panel, and from here, you can tweak a bunch of stuff.
Step 2: Head to Personalisation
In the Settings window, find and click on Personalisation on the left. It’s basically where you go to change themes and what shows up on your desktop and taskbar. Handy for keeping things simple or a bit flashier, depending on your vibe.
Step 3: Click on Taskbar
Scroll down a tad and select Taskbar. That’s the big strip at the bottom of your screen with icons, widgets, and notifications. Here’s where you can cut out some of the clutter.
Step 4: Switch off the Widgets
In the Taskbar settings, find the toggle called Widgets. Just flick it to Off. The icon should disappear from your taskbar straight away, but sometimes you might need to restart explorer.exe — just run taskkill /f /im explorer.exe in PowerShell or Command Prompt, then start it back up with explorer.exe. Not always necessary, but if the widgets stay stubborn, that’s your fix.
Step 5: Close the Settings
Just click the X or anywhere outside the window. No need to restart your PC — though rebooting can sometimes fix weird glitches. On some systems, the change works instantly, but on others, a quick log out or reload might be needed.
And that’s it! Your desktop should look way cleaner without those little widget icons. If you want a distraction-free workspace, that’s your go-to move. Plus, you can turn them back on anytime if you change your mind.
Tips for Turning Off Widgets in Windows 11
- Think about whether you actually use the widgets every day before turning them off. Sometimes they’re handy, but most of the time, they just add clutter.
- Turning off the toggle doesn’t delete anything — it just hides it for now.
- While you’re in the Taskbar menu, check out other options like which icons show up. You might find some stuff you don’t need clogging up your screen.
- Disabling widgets might give a tiny boost to performance, especially if your PC isn’t the newest model — but don’t expect miracles.
- Keep Windows up to date — newer versions might change how it all works or add more customization options.
FAQs About Turning Off Widgets in Windows 11
Why should I turn off widgets?
Honestly, they can be more of a distraction than a help. If you’re trying to focus, those news updates and weather snippets just take up space without doing much for you.
Can I tweak the widgets instead of turning them off?
Yeah, in some cases you can. Not all options are super flexible, but you can often make the widgets less intrusive or more relevant without fully disabling them.
Will turning off widgets slow down my system?
Probably just a tiny bit, if at all. Might free up a smidge of resources — nothing dramatic unless your PC’s pretty old.
Can I turn them back on later?
Definitely. Just head back into Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar and flick that toggle on again. Easy as.
Do widgets gobble up a lot of system resources?
Not really, but on older or slower computers, turning them off can help squeeze out a bit more run-time.
Summary
- Open Settings with Windows + I
- Go to Personalisation
- Select Taskbar
- Switch off Widgets
- Close Settings and enjoy a cleaner desktop
Hopefully this saves someone a bit of a headache. Dead easy to do, and worth it if the widgets are grating on your nerves. And the best part? You can turn ’em back on anytime — no dramas either way.