How to use the Widgets feature on Windows 11
Here’s how you can get started using the Widgets feature on Windows 11.
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OnWindows 11, “Widgets” is a feature that provides various types of informational content (weather, news, sports, stocks, traffic, entertainment, tasks, and family activities) in the form of small widgets from a flyout without having to open your phone to consume the same content.
If the feature looks familiar, it should because it’s the same idea as the “news & interests” feature found on Windows 10.
The Widgets board flies out from the left side of the screen as you click the icon in the Taskbar or use the"Windows key + W"keyboard shortcut. You can swipe from the left edge to open the board on a tablet or laptop with a touch screen.
The board is divided into three sections. At the top, you’ll find the header with the current time and controls to access the settings, then there’s the section to place your widgets, and at the bottom, it includes your feed (which won’t be fully personalized until you change the preferences.)
Alongside the board, there’s the Widgets icon in the Taskbar that shows weather information with badge notification support and alerts for dynamic content like sports, finance, and breaking news information.
Although the default settings may be optimal for some users, Windows 11 allows you to control the experience and disable it (not completely) to avoid distractions.
Thisguidewill walk you through the steps to get started with the Widgets experience on Windows 11.
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How to add and remove widgets on Windows 11
On Windows 11, you can add, resize, re-arrange, and remove any of the available widgets to make the experience more personal.
Add widgets
To add more widgets to the board, use these steps:
Microsoft has already published the documentation that developers can use to bring third-party widgets to Windows 11, but at the time of this writing, you can use these:
Resize widget
To change the side of a widget, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the widget will change to your selected size.
Re-arrange winget
To change the location of a widget, use these steps:
You can only re-arrange your widgets, not the news feed widgets.
Remove widgets
To remove widgets from the board, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the widget will no longer be available on the board. You can only remove your widgets, not the ones in the news feed.
How to manage interests settings for widgets on Windows 11
The news stream shows content based on your interests. However, if you don’t use Microsoft Edge, are logged in with a Microsoft account, and using Microsoft Bing, you will probably need to set your preferences to see the content based on your likings.
Change widgets interests
To change the content that appears in the stream, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the news stream will update and reflect your interest changes.
Control widgets stream
To tweak the type of content you like to see in your stream of news, use these steps:
As you interact with your feed, you will train it to show more stories you’re likelier to like. If you save a story for later, it’ll be available through yourMicrosoft account.
How to enable or disable widgets icon in Taskbar on Windows 11
The widgets icon in the Taskbar can show various alerts with animations for sports, finance, and breaking news information, in addition to weather, which can be distracting for many. If you don’t find a use for this feature and keep opening the board by accident every time you hover over the icon, you can remove the icon from the Taskbar to minimize distractions.
To enable or disable the Taskbar widgets icon, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the Taskbar icon with dynamic content and weather information will be removed. However, using the “Windows key + W” keyboard shortcut, you will continue accessing the flyout.
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
