How to get rid of Windows 11’s worst feature: Widgets

It’s been 5 months since Windows 11 launched, but one of its most disappointing features still shows no sign of improving: Widgets.

Widgets are activated by tapping the blue and white icon that is automatically installed on the Taskbar or by pressing Windows Key + W. When pressed, half of the screen is occupied by a large feed of information. useless: weather forecast, sports scores, thumbnails from your photo gallery and news stories.

Widgets could be so much better if Microsoft opened them up to third-party apps and let you customize what appeared in that pane. Instead, you can choose from a number of Microsoft’s own apps and services, with Microsoft’s use of Widgets being more than just a full-screen marketing opportunity.

For example, Microsoft not only fills the news feed with stories from its own MSN feed, but if you click on a story to read more, it opens in the Microsoft Edge browser – regardless of which browser you choose. which default browser. It’s just one of the many ways Microsoft is trying to use Edge for Windows 11 users.

Leaks have suggested that Microsoft is preparing to offer third-party widgets:

However, we have yet to see any official confirmation from Microsoft. Indeed, a recent update posted to Windows Insiders shows that Microsoft is now planning to do little more than shuffle decks with Widgets, with the company announcing an experiment to “combine widgets and news feed experience as a dynamic composite feed containing both widgets and news content.”

In other words, news items are being promoted further in the Utilities pane, as the impressive graphic shows:

Still my beating heart.

How to get rid of Windows 11 Widget

Until and unless Microsoft finally starts supporting third-party Widgets, the feature will be removed from my PC. If you also want to get rid of the Widget, here’s how.

1. Right click on any empty space on the Taskbar (the bar at the bottom of the screen)
2. Open Taskbar Settings from the popup that appears
3. Click Widgets to Turn Off, as shown below

You can always turn them back on if they become useful, but don’t hold your breath.