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How to Sign In and out of Widgets on Windows 11

Richard
Written by
Richard
May 23, 2026 Updated Sep 16, 2026 3 min read
Desktop screen with widgets panel sliding out
Desktop screen with widgets panel sliding out

Signing in and out of widgets on Windows 11 controls the Microsoft account tied to your taskbar feed and personal updates. Widgets are small panels that slide out from the left side of your screen to show live weather, news, and calendar info.

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Signing in links the board to your personal Microsoft account and saved preferences, while signing out removes your profile and hides that data. You can switch accounts or turn off the widget board entirely through your Windows settings .

⚡ Quick Answer

Open the Widgets board by clicking the icon on your taskbar or pressing Win+W. Click your account button in the top-left corner and select “Sign Out” to disconnect. To sign back in, find the “Sign in” button on the Widgets board and choose your Microsoft account.

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Signing Out of Widgets

Signing out of windows 11 widgets is easy when you want to switch accounts or stop personalized content from showing on a shared computer. Open the Widgets board by pressing the Win+W, click your profile picture or account button in the top right corner, and select sign out to disconnect your Microsoft account immediately.

  1. Open the Widgets board. Click the Widgets icon on your taskbar . Or, press Windows key + W on your keyboard. The Widgets board will slide out from the left.
  2. Find your user account button. Look for a button, usually in the top-left corner. It might show your picture or initials. Click this button.
    💡TipIf you don’t see your picture, it might show your name or a generic icon.

    Clicking it is how you get to your account settings in Widgets.

  3. Select “Sign Out”. A menu will show up after you click your account button. Look for “Sign Out” and click it.

    Warning: Signing out will reset your Widgets board to how it was when you first got it. Any Widgets you added might disappear. The content will not be picked just for you anymore.

Widgets board showing user account button with profile picture.
Image: Microsoft
Widgets board showing sign out option in user account menu.
Widgets board showing sign out option in user account menu.

Keep in mind that signing out resets the board to its default state. Any custom widgets you added will disappear, and the feed reverts to generic content, which keeps local browsing private.

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Signing In to Widgets (or Switching Accounts)

Windows 11 widgets sign in steps let you link your Microsoft account again to restore your personal news feed, weather, and calendar events. Open the Widgets board by pressing the Windows key + W, click the sign in button or your account icon, and follow the prompts to enter your account details and connect your profile.

  1. Open the Widgets board. Click the Widgets icon on your taskbar or press Windows key + W.
  2. Look for the "Sign in" option. When you open Widgets after signing out, or if you have never signed in, you will likely see a "Sign in" button. Or, there might be a message at the top asking you to sign in.
    💡TipIf you signed out and want to use the same account, you might see your picture or name again.

    Clicking it might let you sign back in. If you want to use a different account, look for something like "Sign in with a different account".

  3. Choose your account. A box will ask you to sign in with your Microsoft account. You might see a list of accounts already on your PC. Pick the one you want to use for Widgets.

    Practical Tip: Make sure you sign in with the Microsoft account that has your favorite settings and subscriptions. This helps Widgets know what content is best for you.

  4. Enter your details. If asked, type your Microsoft account password. Or, use other ways to prove it's you, like a PIN or Windows Hello. Follow the steps on the screen to finish signing in.

    Warning: Be careful when you type your login details. Always check that you are on a real Microsoft sign-in page. This stops you from falling for scams. If you are not sure, close Widgets and go to the official Microsoft website to sign in there.

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Widgets board displaying sign-in prompt for Windows 11.
Widgets board displaying sign-in prompt for Windows 11.
Widgets board with highlighted sign-in button for Windows 11.
Widgets board with highlighted sign-in button for Windows 11.

Signing in updates the board automatically. Your stories, weather, and calendar details appear based on your past activity.

Reference:

Summary

Signing out of Windows 11 Widgets keeps information private on shared PCs, while signing in utilizes a Microsoft account for tailored news and weather.

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Tags: #Windows 11
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Richard

About the Author

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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