How to uninstall Widgets in Windows 11
Widgets are just one of the new features in Windows 11. Some people like it, some people don't, we are not going to debate its usefulness here.
The problem with the app, is that the user isn't really given the choice whether they want it or not. Just because it is a new feature isn't a reason to pre-enable the option.
The most common complaint that I have seen around the internet, is that Windows Widgets is using system resources in the background. Open the Task Manager > Processes, and scroll down to the Background Processes section, and you can see for yourself that the app is in the list.
Right-click anywhere on the Taskbar and open its settings. Toggle the Widgets option to hide the button. The same goes for the Search, Task View and Chat button should you want to remove those. This toggle is just going to prevent you from accidentally opening the Widgets panel, it's not going to disable it permanently.
Microsoft changed the way Widgets worked in recent builds, so the app runs in the background even with the option turned off. As a matter of fact, the Task Manager screenshot that you see here was taken with the Widgets button disabled. If you want to stop the app from running automatically, you have to remove Widgets completely.
How to uninstall Widgets in Windows 11
1. Open a Command Prompt (or PowerShell) as an Administrator.
2. Type the following command in the window, and hit the Enter key
winget uninstall "windows web experience pack"
You will need to agree to the Microsoft's Store's terms and conditions. Type Y to accept, or N to cancel the operation.
If you chose Yes, the Winget package manager will delete the Widgets' app's package which has the name: MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience. You will see a message in the command window that says Successfully Uninstalled. Check the Task Manager and you should no longer see the Widgets among the list of background processes. The toggle for the app will also be removed from the Taskbar settings.
Okay, I deleted the app, but I want it back now, what do I do? Here's how.
How to reinstall Widgets in Windows 11
1. Open the following link in your web browser.
https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9MSSGKG348SP
2. It is for an app made by Microsoft, called "Windows Web Experience Pack". It's hidden in the Store app, so you won't find it by searching. Just click the Get button in your browser, and it will open the Store app to download it.
3. Access the Taskbar Settings and the toggle should be back, and though it is enabled, the button will not be visible on the Taskbar. To fix this, disable the option, and enable it. The Widgets button will be back, click on it and the app should load normally. You do not need to restart the computer for the change to take effect.
Disable Widgets using the Group Policy Editor
I came across a different method on Reddit. Please be aware that I could not test the following, since it requires Windows 11 Pro, and I only have Windows 11 Home. This process requires the Group Policy Editor.
1. Hit the Win + R keys, and type GPEDIT.msc.
2 . Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Widgets
3. Click the "Allow Widgets" option, and set it to Disabled.
4. Restart your computer to apply the changes.
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277