Windows 11 offers several features designed to keep you updated on the latest news, weather conditions, sports scores, and other interests. However, not everyone wants these updates appearing on their desktop or taskbar. If you prefer a cleaner interface and fewer distractions while working, disabling the News and Interests feature can help.
Although Microsoft commonly refers to this experience as Widgets in Windows 11, you can manage related functionality through the Windows Registry. The Registry stores important configuration settings that control how Windows behaves. By changing the appropriate registry value, you can restrict access to widgets and prevent the news feed from appearing through that interface.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to disable News and Interests on Windows 11 using Registry Editor, create a backup before making changes, apply the correct registry setting, and verify whether the change worked.
Disable News and Interests on Windows 11 Using Registry
To disable the Windows 11 Widgets experience through the Registry, follow these steps:
- Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open Registry Editor.
- Select Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh.
- Create the Dsh key if it does not already exist.
- Create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named AllowNewsAndInterests.
- Set its value to 0.
- Restart your computer or sign out and sign back in, then check whether the Widgets experience is disabled.
Important: Registry policies and supported values can vary by Windows 11 version. The AllowNewsAndInterests value is not a universally documented policy for disabling Windows 11 Widgets, so creating it may not have any effect on your system.
The steps below explain how to edit the Registry safely and how to use a supported alternative if the setting does not work.
Step 1: Open Registry Editor
First, open Registry Editor, the Windows utility used to view and modify system configuration settings. Because an incorrect registry change can cause unexpected behavior, take your time and follow the instructions carefully.
Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type regedit into the text field and press Enter. If Windows displays a User Account Control prompt, select Yes to allow the application to make changes.
Once Registry Editor opens, you’ll see a navigation panel on the left and registry values on the right. The left panel contains folders called keys, while the right panel displays the settings associated with the selected key.
Avoid changing unrelated entries. For this task, you’ll only need to work with a specific location under the Microsoft policy settings.
Step 2: Back Up the Registry Before Making Changes
Before modifying any registry setting, create a backup of the area you’ll be working with. This precaution gives you a way to restore the original configuration if something goes wrong.
In Registry Editor, select File > Export. Choose a convenient location, such as your Desktop, and enter a recognizable name such as Registry-Backup-Before-Widgets. Under Export range, select All if you want to save the entire Registry, or select Selected branch if you have already navigated to the relevant key and only want to back up that section.
Click Save to create the backup file. Keep it somewhere safe and avoid deleting it until you’ve confirmed that your changes have not caused problems.
Remember that importing a registry backup can overwrite settings that have changed since the backup was created. For a single setting, restoring the original value or deleting the specific key you created is often more appropriate than importing an entire registry backup.
Now, locate the registry path associated with the Windows policy settings.
In Registry Editor, click the address bar at the top of the window. Copy and paste the following path into it, then press Enter:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft
If your version of Registry Editor does not have an address bar, expand the folders manually in this order:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft
The Microsoft key contains policy-related settings for Windows and other Microsoft software. You may see several subkeys beneath it, depending on your Windows version and installed applications.
Look for a subkey named Dsh. If it exists, select it. If it does not exist, you can create it by right-clicking the Microsoft key and selecting New > Key. Name the new key Dsh.
Make sure the spelling is exact. Registry key names must match the intended configuration, and creating a key alone does not guarantee that Windows will recognize a particular policy.
Step 4: Create the Registry Value
With the Dsh key selected, look at the right panel of Registry Editor. If it is empty, don’t worry. You can create a new value there.
Right-click an empty area in the right panel and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the value AllowNewsAndInterests.
Be careful not to create a key instead of a value. A registry key appears as a folder in the left panel, while a DWORD value appears in the right panel. For this instruction, you need a DWORD value.
If a value with that name already exists, do not create a duplicate. Select the existing value and inspect its current data before making any changes.
Keep in mind that AllowNewsAndInterests may not be honored by current Windows 11 versions. If your goal is to disable the Windows 11 Widgets board, the existence of this value does not prove that the setting is supported.
Step 5: Set the DWORD Value to Zero
After creating AllowNewsAndInterests, double-click it to open the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value window.
Find the Value data field and enter 0. Leave the base set to Hexadecimal or Decimal because zero has the same meaning in both formats. Click OK to save the change.
The value should now appear in the right panel with its data set to 0.
For policy values that Windows recognizes, zero commonly represents a disabled or disallowed state. However, the meaning depends on the specific policy. Because this registry value is not a universally supported Windows 11 Widgets policy, setting it to zero may not disable the news feed or Widgets board.
Do not change other registry values just to make the feature disappear. If this adjustment does not work, use the supported Windows settings described in the next step instead of experimenting with unrelated entries.
Step 6: Apply the Change and Check the Result
Close Registry Editor after saving your changes. Restart your computer to give Windows an opportunity to reload the relevant configuration. If you prefer, you can first sign out and sign back in, although a full restart is a straightforward way to test the result.
After signing back in, look at your taskbar and check whether the Widgets button is still visible. If it remains there, select it to see whether the Widgets board opens.
If the Widgets board still works normally, Windows is probably ignoring the registry value you created. This does not necessarily mean you made a mistake. It may simply mean that the value is not supported for the feature on your version of Windows 11.
You can remove an unsupported value you created by returning to Registry Editor > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft > Dsh, right-clicking AllowNewsAndInterests, and selecting Delete. Only delete the value you added for this task, not other keys or values.
Disable Widgets Through Windows Settings if Needed
If the Registry change does not work, use Windows 11’s taskbar settings to remove the Widgets button. This is the simplest supported option for users who want to keep the taskbar free of the news and weather interface.
Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. You can also open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar to reach the same page.
Find the Taskbar items section and locate the Widgets switch. Turn it Off to remove the Widgets button from the taskbar.
This change hides the button, but it does not necessarily disable every related Windows component or remove Widgets from the operating system. If you only want to stop seeing news and weather content while using your computer, this option is usually sufficient.
If you manage multiple computers or use a Windows edition with Group Policy support, you can also investigate the relevant administrative policies for your Windows version. Policy availability depends on the edition and release, so confirm that a policy explicitly applies to Windows 11 Widgets before using it.
FAQs
Can I disable News and Interests on Windows 11 permanently using the Registry?
It depends on the registry policy and Windows version. The AllowNewsAndInterests value described above is not a universally supported Windows 11 Widgets policy. For a reliable way to hide the interface, turn off Widgets under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
Is it safe to edit the Windows Registry?
Editing the Registry is generally safe when you change a verified setting and follow the correct instructions. However, modifying the wrong key or value can cause system problems. Always back up the relevant registry section and avoid changing settings you do not understand.
Do I need to restart my PC after changing the Registry?
A restart is recommended when testing a registry-based configuration change because it gives Windows an opportunity to reload relevant settings. Some policy changes may take effect after signing out and signing back in, but the result depends on the setting.
Will disabling Widgets improve Windows 11 performance?
Hiding the Widgets button may reduce unwanted interruptions, but it does not guarantee a noticeable performance improvement. The effect depends on your system, background activity, and how the Widgets experience is being used.
Can I restore Widgets after disabling them?
Yes. If you turned off Widgets through taskbar settings, return to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and switch Widgets back on. If you changed a registry value, restore the original configuration or remove the unsupported value you created, then restart your PC if necessary.
Does this method work on Windows 10?
Windows 10 uses a different News and interests taskbar feature, and its available policies and registry settings can differ from Windows 11. Do not assume that a registry path or value intended for one version will work on the other.
Final Words
Disabling News and Interests on Windows 11 through the Registry may seem like a convenient way to customize your desktop, but the correct registry policy matters. The AllowNewsAndInterests value is not a universally supported method for disabling Windows 11 Widgets, so creating it may not produce the expected result.
For most users, the easiest option is to open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and turn off Widgets. This removes the Widgets button without requiring changes to the Registry.
If you still want to experiment with registry-based configuration, back up your settings first, modify only the intended entry, and verify the result after restarting.