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Microsoft Updates Windows 11 Widgets to Default Without MSN Feed
Microsoft announced changes to make the Windows 11 widgets feature less distracting, including hiding the MSN feed by default. The updates also involve disabling automatic panel openings and taskbar badges. These adjustments are part of broader improvements to Windows 11 rolling out monthly in 2026.
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Microsoft will soon hide the MSN feed by default in the Windows 11 widgets feature, following the option added over two years ago for users to disable it. The company is testing a new set of default settings aimed at reducing unexpected alerts and visual interruptions in widgets.
Microsoft plans to disable the widgets panel from opening when users hover over its taskbar item and to turn off distracting taskbar badges by default.
The widgets panel will open directly to widgets instead of the MSN feed. “We’re working to make Widgets feel less distracting and overwhelming by making the experience quiet by default,” Microsoft stated. The company will also limit taskbar alerts until users choose to open and engage with the Widgets experience.
These widget changes are part of Microsoft's ongoing efforts to improve Windows 11. The company is removing unnecessary Copilot buttons from apps, modernizing the Run prompt, fixing File Explorer performance, and improving the memory footprint of Windows. The Verge reported these developments in an article published by Tom Warren on May 5, 2026, at 9:46 AM UTC.
Warren, a senior correspondent who has been covering Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years, detailed how the updates aim to make widgets quieter by default. The changes to Windows 11 are rolling out each month throughout 2026, building on Microsoft's earlier decision more than two years ago to let users disable the MSN feed manually.
