- Windows 11 will finally allow users to turn off the news feed on Widgets.
- The feature is expected to arrive sometime in 2023.
- In addition, users will soon be able to pin widgets to the desktop too.
Microsoft plans to make changes to Windows 11 to allow users to remove the news feed from the Widgets board. During the Build 2023 developer conference, the company revealed that “soon” users will be able to turn off the news feed.
Although widgets can provide quick access to information and perform small tasks, Windows 11 also provides a news feed curated from the new MSN news network, which, most of the time, only provides marketing-optimized, political, and unwanted content. The new change will allow users to show only widgets on the board, getting rid of the news feed altogether. However, it’s still unclear when and how the option will be implemented.
The ability to turn off the news feed is announced shortly after the company is reportedly also making changes to allow users to pin widgets on the desktop in an effort to lure users into using the feature more.
Although you can open the dashboard from the Taskbar or using a keyboard shortcut, and it offers a full-screen mode, it’s not the same as having these little applications on the desktop. According to a recent report, the functionality will work as it used to work on Windows Vista and 7, meaning that you will be able to pin widgets anywhere on the desktop.
The ability to pin widgets to the desktop and turn off the news feed is part of a larger vision to improve the experience alongside other upcoming features, such as the ability to group apps into folders on the desktop.
Widgets have been part of the operating system since Windows Vista, where they were called “Gadgets.” On Windows 8.x, the feature was removed in favor of Live Tiles in the Start menu, and then on Windows 10, the feature reappeared as “Taskbar Widgets.” On Windows 11, the company reintroduced the experience with the Widgets dashboard that slights in from the left side of the screen.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].