How to Enable or Disable Widgets Feature in Windows 11 Windows 11 introduced widgets as interactive panels that give you quick updates like news, weather, and calendar events. They sit on your desktop, ready at a glance. But not everyone wants them. Some users disable widgets to reduce distractions or save system resources, while organizations may turn them off for policy compliance. Today, let's walk through different ways to enable or disable widgets in Windows 11 so you can keep your system aligned with your needs. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne's IT Video Hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Method 1: Using Settings The fastest method is through Settings. Right-click the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, and toggle the Widgets switch off or on. This hides the button but keeps the feature running in the background. If you want to completely disable it, you’ll need to use Group Policy, the Registry Editor, or PowerShell. Method 2: Using Group Policy Editor (GPO) Using Group Policy Editor, available in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions, you can control widgets system-wide. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Widgets. Double-click Allow widgets and set it to Disabled to turn them off, or Enabled to restore them. This method removes the widgets button from the taskbar and prevents users from re-enabling it through Settings. Method 3: Using Registry Editor Before using the Registry Editor, create a backup to avoid potential system issues. Open Run (Win + R), type regedit, and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced. Right-click the Advanced key, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it TaskbarDa if it doesn’t already exist. Set it to 0 to disable or 1 to enable, then restart your PC to apply the change. Method 4: Using Powershell Finally, PowerShell gives advanced users even more flexibility. Open Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin). To disable widgets, run the command... this uninstalls widgets, which are part of the Windows Web Experience Pack (WWEP). To reinstall widgets, run... Managing Lock Screen Widgets Windows 11 also displays widgets on the lock screen in newer builds and certain regions. To disable them, go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen, and set Lock screen status to None. In enterprise environments, Group Policy can disable them system-wide. Windows 11 gives you multiple ways to manage widgets, whether you want to free up resources, reduce distractions, or enforce company policies. For more information, check out our official blogpost on enabling and disabling widgets in Windows 11, linked in the description below. Be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne's IT Video Hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this.