The Breaking News Feed in Windows 11 usually appears through the Widgets panel, which is connected to Microsoft Start. It can show news headlines, weather cards, sports updates, finance stories, entertainment articles, and other recommended content.
Some people like it, but a lot of Windows users find it distracting. The good thing is that you do not have to keep it the way it is. You can either reduce the news content, turn off breaking news notifications, hide Widgets from the Taskbar, or disable Widgets completely.
Below are all the practical methods to do this!
Understanding the News Feed in Windows 11
The Windows 11 News Feed is not a separate app in most cases. It is usually part of the Widgets experience. When you click the weather icon or press Windows + W, Windows opens the Widgets board and shows personalized content.
This feed is powered by Microsoft Start, so it may show articles based on your location, language, interests, and Microsoft account activity. That is why you may still see news even after removing the Widgets icon from the Taskbar. Hiding the icon only removes quick access. To fully reduce the news experience, you may need to adjust notifications, feed settings, and Widgets settings.
How to Disable Breaking News Feed in Windows 11: Step-By-Step
- To disable the Breaking News Feed in Windows 11, open Settings, go to Personalization, select Taskbar, and turn off Widgets.
- You can also open the Widgets panel, go to Widget settings, disable notifications, personalize your interests, hide unwanted stories, or use Group Policy Editor to disable Widgets completely on supported Windows editions.
Method 1: Turn Off Widgets from the Taskbar
Step 1: Open Windows Settings
Press Windows + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app. You can also right-click the Start button and choose Settings from the menu. This is the main control center for changing how Windows 11 looks and behaves.
Step 2: Go to Personalization
Inside Settings, click Personalization from the left-side menu. This section controls visual features like the Taskbar, Start menu, lock screen, themes, and other appearance-related options.
Step 3: Open Taskbar Settings
Now, click the Taskbar. This page lets you control which built-in Windows items appear on the Taskbar. You should see options such as Search, Task View, Widgets, and sometimes Copilot, depending on your Windows 11 version.
Step 4: Turn Off Widgets
Find the Widgets option and switch it to Off. The weather or Widgets icon should disappear from your Taskbar right away. This is the easiest method if you simply want to stop seeing the news feed while using your desktop.
Step 5: Check the Result
Look at the left side of your Taskbar. If the Widgets icon is gone, the change worked. You will no longer accidentally open the news feed from the Taskbar.
Method 2: Disable Breaking News Notifications
Step 1: Open the Widgets Panel
Press Windows + W on your keyboard, or click the Widgets icon if it is still visible on your Taskbar. This opens the Widgets board, where the news feed usually appears.
Step 2: Open Widget Settings
In the Widgets panel, click your profile icon or settings icon near the top-right corner. This opens the settings area for Widgets and Microsoft Start content.
Step 3: Find Notification Settings
Look for options related to Notifications, Announcements, Breaking News, or Widget notifications. The exact wording can vary depending on your Windows 11 build.
Step 4: Turn Off Breaking News Alerts
Disable any setting that sends Breaking News notifications or news-related alerts. This stops Windows from pushing news pop-ups or attention-grabbing updates while you are working.
Step 5: Confirm the Change
After turning off the setting, continue using your PC normally. If the change worked, you should no longer receive breaking news pop-ups from Widgets.
Method 3: Hide or Personalize News Stories in Widgets
Step 1: Open Widgets
Press Windows + W to open the Widgets panel. You will see cards for weather, finance, sports, traffic, and news stories.
Step 2: Find an Unwanted News Story
Scroll through the feed and locate a story you do not want to see. This could be a political story, an entertainment article, a sports headline, or any topic that feels irrelevant.
Step 3: Open the Story Menu
Click the three-dot menu on that story. Windows usually shows options that let you control what kind of content appears in the future.
Step 4: Choose a Feed Control Option
Select options like Hide this story, Not interested, Show fewer stories like this, or Block source, depending on what appears on your screen. These choices tell Microsoft Start that you do not want similar stories.
Step 5: Repeat for Other Stories
Do the same thing for other unwanted stories. This method takes a little time, but it helps train the feed to show less unwanted content.
Method 4: Manage Interests in Microsoft Start
Step 1: Open the Widgets Panel
Press Windows + W to open Widgets. This is where Windows connects your feed preferences to Microsoft Start.
Step 2: Open Personalization
Click your profile icon or the settings icon, then look for Manage interests or Personalize your feed. This opens the area where you can control topics.
Step 3: Review Your Topics
You may see categories like News, Sports, Money, Entertainment, Technology, Travel, and Health. These topics affect what appears in your Windows 11 feed.
Step 4: Remove Unwanted Interests
Unfollow topics you do not want. For example, if you do not want breaking news, remove or reduce general news categories where available.
Step 5: Save and Refresh
Close the settings page and reopen Widgets. The feed may not change instantly, but over time, Windows should show fewer stories from the categories you removed.
Method 5: Turn Off Widgets Using Group Policy Editor
Step 1: Open Run
Press Windows + R to open the Run box. This method is best for Windows 11 Pro, Education, and Enterprise editions.
Step 2: Open Group Policy Editor
Type gpedit.msc and press Enter. This opens the Local Group Policy Editor, which gives you deeper control over Windows features.
Step 3: Go to Widgets Policy
In Group Policy Editor, go to Computer Configuration, then Administrative Templates, then Windows Components, and then Widgets.
Step 4: Open Allow Widgets
Double-click Allow widgets. This policy controls whether Widgets are allowed on the device.
Step 5: Disable the Policy
Select Disabled, then click Apply and OK. This turns off Widgets at the system policy level.
Step 6: Restart Your PC
Restart your computer so Windows can fully apply the policy. After the restart, Widgets should be disabled more firmly than just hiding the Taskbar icon.
Method 6: Disable Widgets Using Registry Editor
Step 1: Open Registry Editor
Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter. If Windows asks for permission, click Yes. Be careful here because the Registry Editor controls important system settings.
Go to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh. If the Dsh key does not exist, you may need to create it manually under Microsoft.
Step 3: Create or Edit AllowNewsAndInterests
Inside the Dsh key, look for AllowNewsAndInterests. If it is not there, right-click in the empty space, choose New, select DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it AllowNewsAndInterests.
Step 4: Set the Value to 0
Double-click AllowNewsAndInterests and set its value to 0. This tells Windows to disable the news and interests experience connected to Widgets.
Step 5: Restart Windows
Restart your PC. After the restart, Widgets and related news feed behavior should be disabled according to the registry setting.
Method 7: Use Do Not Disturb to Stop News Interruptions
Step 1: Open Settings
Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Step 2: Go to Notifications
Click System, then select Notifications. This area controls alerts from apps and Windows features.
Step 3: Turn On Do Not Disturb
Enable Do Not Disturb. This stops most notifications from interrupting you while you work.
Step 4: Set Automatic Rules
Open, turn on do not disturb automatically, and choose when Windows should silence notifications. You can use it during specific hours, while duplicating your display, or while playing games.
Step 5: Keep Widgets Hidden
This method does not remove the news feed completely, but it prevents news alerts from disturbing you during focused work time.
Additional Tips
If you want the cleanest setup, use Method 1 and turn off Widgets from the Taskbar. If you want stronger control, use Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor.
If you still want weather information but not news, try personalizing the feed first before disabling Widgets completely.
After major Windows updates, check your settings again because some features may return or new Widget options may appear.
If you are using a work or school computer, some settings may be controlled by your organization.
FAQs
Why does Windows 11 show breaking news on my desktop?
Windows 11 shows breaking news through the Widgets panel, which is connected to Microsoft Start. It is designed to show personalized news, weather, sports, and other quick updates.
Can I remove only the news feed but keep the weather?
In some Windows 11 versions, you can reduce news content and personalize interests, but completely separating weather from news depends on the Widget options available on your system.
Does turning off Widgets uninstall anything?
No. Turning off Widgets only hides or disables the feature. It does not uninstall Windows components or damage your computer.
Is Group Policy better than Taskbar settings?
Yes, Group Policy gives stronger control. Taskbar settings only hide Widgets from the Taskbar, while Group Policy can disable Widgets more completely.
Is it safe to edit the Registry?
Yes, but only if you follow the steps carefully. The Registry Editor is powerful, so avoid changing unrelated settings.
Summary
Disabling the Breaking News Feed in Windows 11 can be done in several ways. The easiest method is to turn off Widgets from Taskbar Settings. If you only want fewer interruptions, disable breaking news notifications or use Do Not Disturb. If you want deeper control, use Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor.
For most beginners, the best choice is to start with Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Widgets > Off. It is simple, safe, and quick.
If the news feed still bothers you, move on to notification controls, feed personalization, or advanced system-level methods.