How to disable widgets and news feeds in Windows 11 to improve performance

Last update: 12/11/2026
Author Isaac
  • There are several ways to remove news, from superficial adjustments to completely uninstalling the web experience package.
  • Disabling it at the system level through the Registry or Group Policies prevents processes from continuing to consume RAM and CPU in the background.
  • Using PowerShell commands allows you to automate system cleanup and recover critical resources for demanding tasks like gaming.

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If you've ever felt like your computer is sluggish or that you're constantly distracted by news you're not interested in, the Windows 11 widgets panel is likely the culprit. While Microsoft markets it as a super useful tool for keeping the weather or stock market information handy, the reality is that for many of us it's more of a visual nuisance than a help , especially when we need to fully concentrate on work or studies.

The most annoying thing is that even if you remove the icon from the taskbar, some processes remain, silently hogging RAM and CPU . This is a serious problem on low-end computers or if you're someone who plays games at high settings and doesn't want even a millisecond of lag. Therefore, we're going to look at all the possible ways to get rid of widgets, from the easy way to the most radical method to ensure they never reappear.

Quick route: Basic settings for users

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If you don't want to get too involved and are only bothered by the news, but you do like knowing if it's going to rain, you can make a quick adjustment. Just press Win + W to open the panel and click on the settings gear in the upper right. There you'll see an option called "Show or hide sources" ; if you turn off the sources switch, the news will disappear instantly, although the panel will still be there.

For those who simply don't want to see the icon in the taskbar, just right-click on an empty space in the taskbar, go to Taskbar Settings , and turn off the Widgets switch. That clears up the view, but be aware that this is just a cosmetic fix; the service may still be running in the background without you noticing.

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Advanced methods for thoroughly cleaning the system

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If you're looking for real performance, we need to go beyond visual menus. There are ways to lock the panel so no one can open it, not even accidentally with the keyboard.

Using the Group Policy Editor (GPO)

This method is perfect for those using Pro, Enterprise, or Education versions. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc , and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Widgets . By opening the "Allow widgets" policy and setting it to Disabled , the system will remove all traces of the panel, thus freeing up services that typically burden the processor.

Modifications to the Windows Registry

For those who don't have the Pro version, the Registry Editor is a lifesaver. After opening it... regeditYou must head to the route HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\DshIf the Dsh folder doesn't exist, create it. Inside, you need to create a DWORD (32-bit) value called AllowNewsAndInterests and set the value to 0After restarting, the panel will have completely disappeared.

Automation and radical uninstallation

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If you have multiple computers or are too lazy to navigate through endless registry folders, PowerShell is your best friend. By running the console as administrator, you can use the command New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh" -Force followed by Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh" -Name "AllowNewsAndInterests" -Value 0 all with cancel widgets in one fell swoop.

However, if you want to go all out and remove the software that makes this work, the most effective thing to do is uninstall the Windows Web Experience PackThis is vital if you notice that the process Widgets.exe This causes overheating or lag in games. Open PowerShell as administrator and run the command Get-AppxPackage *WebExperience* | Remove-AppxPackageThis starts the service from the ground up. If you ever change your mind and want them back, you can reinstall them using the `winget` command: winget install –id 9MSSGKG348SP.

Important considerations and potential pitfalls

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Sometimes, when trying to make these changes, we might run into a roadblock. For example, if you're on a company computer, an administrator's group policy might override your local changes. It's also crucial to always back up the registry before making any changes, because a typo can cause a major headache.

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Regarding the lock screen, remember that widgets can also appear there. To remove them, go to Personalization > Lock screen and, in the status menu, select "None ." This ensures that no unnecessary processes attempt to download data in the background while your PC is locked.

Having complete control over what runs on your computer is key to optimizing Windows 11. Whether through simple settings, registry entries, group policies, or a complete uninstallation of the Web Experience Pack, removing these features frees up CPU cycles and RAM , eliminating distractions and improving overall system stability, especially during heavy-duty tasks.