Microsoft admits Windows 11 widgets are 'distracting and overwhelming,' announces fixes

No more accidental launches, no more MSN feed, fewer alerts, and other changes.

When Microsoft introduced Windows 11 Widgets in 2021, the idea was to give users quick access to glanceable information about weather, calendar events, stocks, etc. However, the implementation turned out to be, let's say, questionable. Windows Widgets are full of irritating practices like auto-open on hover, constant alerts and nags, and, the worst of them all, MSN feed full of low-quality stuff.

All of that is far from what users want from Windows Widgets. Many think Microsoft should go back to Windows 7 gadgets or to what Apple offers in its recent macOS releases. While the ability to place widgets on the desktop is still somewhere in Microsoft's labs (there were rumors about Microsoft bringing that feature), the company is improving the current experience by getting rid of all the Windows Widgets irritations.

In the latest Windows 11 preview builds, Microsoft announced a "Spring cleanup" for the widget experience. The company openly admitted that Windows 11's widgets feel distracting and overwhelming. To fix this, Microsoft announced a set of improvements designed to "reduce unexpected alerts and visual interruptions."

As such, Windows Widgets will no longer open when you accidentally hover the cursor over them. You won't see any taskbar badges or alerts, and there will be no MSN feed enabled by default. Just your widgets, ready to appear whenever you want. Here is a quick before-and-after comparison:

It is worth noting that Microsoft is not removing taskbar badges or the newsfeed. You can still enable those features, but by default, Windows Widgets will be much quieter and less annoying. The current Windows 11 version also lets you disable the news feed and "open on hover," but that requires manual changes.

Changes to Windows Widgets are yet another user-oriented improvement Microsoft is bringing to Windows 11 to regain consumer trust. In April 2026, Microsoft introduced plenty of such changes, and you can check out a recap here to learn more about what Microsoft is doing to fix its operating system.

Source

Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.

Posted Sunday 3 May 2026 at 7:26 am AEST (my time).

News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of April) 1,700

RIP Matrix