Getting rid of that News and Interests widget from Windows 11 isn’t just about decluttering—it can actually make your workflow smoother if you’re easily distracted. Honestly, on some setups, that thing pops up like clockwork even after turning it off. Not sure what’s going on there, but a quick reboot sometimes clears it out for good. Anyway, here’s what typically helps.
How to Remove News from Windows 11
If you’re tired of seeing the news headlines, weather, or traffic updates sitting right there on your taskbar, follow these steps. They help you turn off the widget, so your taskbar stays clean, and you can focus on your work—no extra noise. Usually, this applies when the News widget pops up randomly, even after you’ve toggled it off in settings, or if Windows updates reset some preferences. Expect your taskbar to look more minimal and, at times, a little less quirky.
Step 1: Right-click the Taskbar
First, locate the taskbar at the bottom, then right-click on an empty space. It’s kind of weird because sometimes if you right-click on the icons, it doesn’t give you the full menu you need. So, make sure it’s a blank part of the taskbar.
When that menu appears, it should list options like Taskbar settings. If you don’t see that, try clicking around or restarting explorer.exe from Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc then find Windows Explorer, right-click, and pick Restart).
Step 2: Select Taskbar Settings
Click on Taskbar settings. This opens a dedicated window or pane, depending on your version, where you can tweak what appears on your taskbar.
Honestly, on some builds, the settings sometimes default to whatever ‘last used,’ so you might see some options already turned off. But if not, keep going.
Step 3: Find the Widgets Option
Scroll down if needed, until you spot the option labeled Widgets. It’s generally a toggle button. This controls whether that little news feed icon shows up on your taskbar.
If you’re seeing the news flicker on or it reappears after a reboot, it might be worth checking for a registry tweak or a Group Policy setting, but usually toggling off here does the trick.
Step 4: Toggle the Widgets Off
Set the switch to Off. Be aware that on some systems, this doesn’t instantly disable the feature—sometimes you gotta log out and back in, or restart. Other times, it needs a reboot to stick. If stuff keeps coming back, try that.
One odd thing is, sometimes Windows seems to re-enable Widgets after an update. So, don’t be surprised if it pops back temporarily; just toggle it off again.
Step 5: Close the Settings Window
Once you turn off the toggle, close out the settings pane. If your taskbar’s still showing news headlines after that, a quick restart of the explorer process (taskkill /f /im explorer.exe then run explorer.exe again in PowerShell or CMD) might help. Yeah, it’s a bit extra, but Windows can be annoying that way.
And honestly, that last step kind of helps in most cases. I’ve noticed that sometimes the widget stubbornly refuses to go away until explorer restarts, even after toggling off. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Tips for Removing News from Windows 11
- Make sure you’re logged in with an admin account if some options aren’t showing up. Sometimes the settings are limited for standard IDs.
- If toggling doesn’t stick, try running a system file check (
sfc /scannow) — maybe something’s broken in the background. - Disable any third-party apps that might be controlling notifications or widgets—some tools override Windows settings.
- Remember that re-enabling the widget is just a matter of toggling it back on in taskbar settings.
- Customizing other taskbar features might help distract you less, so explore options like hiding icons or adjusting notification settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I want to remove the News from Windows 11?
Because sometimes, the news feed is just more clutter — especially if you prefer a minimalist setup to keep focus. Less distraction, more space for apps that matter.
Can I turn the News back on if I change my mind?
Pretty much, yeah. Just go back into “Taskbar settings,” toggle Widgets on, and it should reappear. Sometimes, a reboot helps it stick.
Does removing News affect other widgets?
Only the news widget gets affected. Other widgets, like weather or calendar, stay active unless you disable those individually.
Are there risks in disabling the News feature?
Not really. It’s just a user setting, so no worries about system stability. It’s more about preference than anything else.
Will disabling the widget boost system performance?
Honestly, not much — but it does make the taskbar less cluttered, which can be a tiny productivity boost for some. Nope, it’s not a speed hack, just a cleaner look.
Summary of Steps
- Right-click the taskbar and pick Taskbar settings.
- Find the Widgets toggle.
- Switch it off.
- If it doesn’t stick, restart explorer or reboot.
- Enjoy your cleaner desktop.
Conclusion
Getting rid of the News widget isn’t complicated, but sometimes Windows has its own ideas. Like, why default to annoying news when most people probably just want a tidy taskbar? Anyway, once you get it turned off, it’s a lot easier to keep focused. Just remember, Windows updates tend to mess with your prefs, so don’t be surprised if you need to toggle it off again after a while.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Keep exploring the settings—you might find even more ways to tailor Windows to your liking.