How to Enable or Disable Widget Announcements on Taskbar in Windows 11
Widget announcements on the Windows 11 taskbar display live news, weather updates, and sports scores right next to the Start button . Introduced in Windows 11 build 25211, these pop-ups let you check fast facts without opening the full Widgets panel.
Turn off live updates or switch to a static weather icon if the moving badges distract you. You can change this setting in a few quick steps through the taskbar settings menu.
To enable or disable widget announcements on your Windows 11 taskbar, click the Widgets icon, then your profile icon in the settings , and toggle the “Show announcements” switch. This controls whether live updates appear on your taskbar .
Troubleshooting Widget Issues
Experiencing widget problems? If widgets fail to work correctly, a conflict with third-party taskbar mods or a glitch in the Windows Explorer process might be the cause. Third-party customization software like Windhawk often conflicts with the default widget board layout.
Restarting Windows Explorer
Frozen widgets often respond well to restarting the Windows Explorer shell (the graphical interface responsible for the taskbar and desktop) instead of a full reboot.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager .
- Find Windows Explorer in the list.
- Right-click it and select Restart.
Taskbar Orientation and Alignment
Custom taskbar positions like a vertical layout break widget announcements entirely. Windows 11 is built for a standard horizontal taskbar, and third-party layout changes interfere with widget animations.
Summary
Managing widget announcements in Windows 11 requires understanding that widget rotation is actually a feature called ‘Show announcements.’ Troubleshooting UI bugs involves restarting Windows Explorer and identifying why third-party taskbar mods often interfere with default widget behavior.
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Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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