Should You Use Windows 11 Widgets Or Turn Them Off Completely

The Pros of Using 🪟 Windows 11 Widgets

Before you choose to turn off Windows 11 widgets completely, it helps to learn why some people actually like the feature. If you set up the widgets correctly, the small info cards can really help your daily computer routine by showing live weather, sports scores, and news updates in one place.

Quick Information at a Glance

Windows 11 widgets give you quick information at a glance like the current weather, sports scores, and calendar events without needing to open a web browser. Pressing a simple keyboard shortcut brings up this real-time data instantly, saving you time when you just need a fast answer to a simple question.

Personalized News and Updates

If you enjoy keeping up with the news, financial markets, or your top sports teams, the widget board works like a custom feed. You can hide stories you do not like, follow subjects you care about, and pick the kind of headlines you view every day.

Integration with Microsoft Services

For people who use Microsoft tools a lot, the widgets work smoothly with your Microsoft account. You can view your upcoming calendar events, check your tasks, and look at recent pictures from your cloud storage without digging through menus or folders.

The Cons: Why Many Users Turn Widgets Off

Even with the perks, a huge number of Windows 11 users turn off the widget feature right after setting up a new PC. Here are the main reasons why people choose to switch them off.

Performance Impact and Resource Usage

Even when you close the Windows 11 widget board, the system tasks behind the widget board often run in the background. The background process consumes RAM (random-access memory) and CPU cycles. On older or cheaper laptops, the extra background work can run down your battery quicker and cause small lags or slowdowns.

Distractions and Clutter

Windows 11 widgets can cause major distractions and screen clutter because the board is tied directly to loud news feeds, clickbait articles, and ads. Opening this panel to check a basic piece of information often leads to endless scrolling, making it hard to stay focused on your actual work.

Privacy Concerns

Because the news and content feeds match your browsing habits, Microsoft tracks the stories you click and the subjects you read. Users who care about privacy often prefer to turn off features that collect this kind of usage data.

How to Customize 🪟 Windows 11 Widgets Instead of Turning Them Off

Customizing Windows 11 widgets instead of turning them off lets you keep helpful tools while getting rid of annoying news feeds. You can easily clean up the widget board so it only displays useful information like your weather and calendar instead of endless clickbait.

Follow these steps to clean up your widget board:

1. Press the Windows Key + W on your keyboard, or click the widget icon on your taskbar to open the board.
2. Look at the top of the board for the toggle switch that says Discover or look for the news section below your personal widgets.
3. To remove an unwanted widget (like sports or finance), click the three dots in the top-right corner of that specific widget box.
4. Select Unpin widget from the menu.
5. To add something useful, click the Plus (+) icon at the top of the board and choose a tool you actually want to use, such as the weather or your calendar.

By removing the news feed and keeping only practical tools like the weather or your to-do list, you can enjoy the benefits of widgets without the annoying distractions.

How to Turn Off 🪟 Windows 11 Widgets Completely

Turning off Windows 11 widgets completely is a simple process that hides the shortcut button from your taskbar and stops unnecessary background activity. You can clear out these features in just a few clicks through your taskbar settings if you prefer a cleaner computer interface.

Follow these steps to hide the widget button from your taskbar:

1. Right-click any empty space on your taskbar at the bottom of your screen.

   

2. Click on Taskbar settings from the menu that appears.

   

3. Look for the section labeled Taskbar items.
4. Find the toggle switch next to Widgets and click it to turn it Off.

Once you complete these steps, the widget button will immediately disappear from your taskbar. You can no longer open the widget board by accident.

Advanced Control: Uninstalling the Windows Web Experience Pack

Uninstalling the Windows Web Experience Pack provides advanced control by completely removing the underlying software that powers the widget engine. This step goes beyond hiding the taskbar button to free up system resources by getting rid of the background app package entirely.

Follow these steps to completely remove the widget system app:

1. Click the Start button, type PowerShell into the search bar.

   

2. Right-click Windows PowerShell in the search results and choose Run as administrator.
3. If a window pops up asking if you want to allow this app to make changes to your device, click Yes.
4. Type or paste the following exact command into the PowerShell window and press Enter:

   ⬛PowerShell

   Copy

   Get-AppxPackage *WebExperience* | Remove-AppxPackage

5. Wait a few moments for the command to finish running. Once it completes, the core widget application is fully removed from your system.

If you ever change your mind and want widgets back in the future, you can simply open the Microsoft Store app, search for "Windows Web Experience Pack," and install it again.

Summary

Windows 11 widgets give you fast updates on the weather and news, but they can also drain your battery and cause distractions with background activity. Deciding whether to use them or turn them off completely depends on whether you prefer having instant data at your fingertips or a cleaner and faster computer.