How to Disable and Hide Widgets on Windows 11

Step by step

1. 30 sec

   Open Taskbar Settings

   Right-click any empty space on your taskbar. Select Taskbar settings from the context menu to launch the Settings application directly to the relevant panel.

   Note: Alternatively, press Windows Key + I to open Settings, then navigate to Personalization > Taskbar.
2. 15 sec

   Locate Taskbar Items

   Within the Taskbar settings window, scroll down to the Taskbar items section. This area contains toggles for system-integrated icons like Search, Task view, and Widgets.

3. 15 sec

   Disable the Widgets Toggle

   Locate the Widgets entry in the list. Click the toggle switch to set it to the Off position. The icon will disappear from your taskbar immediately.

4. 10 sec

   Confirm Changes

   Inspect your taskbar to ensure the Widgets icon is no longer present. The area previously occupied by the widget entry point is now reclaimed by your pinned applications.

5. 2 min

   Remove Widgets via Group Policy

   For enterprise environments, press Windows Key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Widgets and set Allow widgets to Disabled.

   Note: This requires Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise editions.