Microsoft removes junk MSN feed from Windows widgets

Microsoft is finally phasing out the invasive MSN news feed in the widgets feature of Windows 11.

Following the option to turn off the MSN feed over two years ago, Microsoft now intends to hide it by default to ensure widgets remain “quiet by default.”

“We aim to make Widgets less distracting and overwhelming by keeping them quiet by default,” says Microsoft. “To achieve this, we’re testing new default settings to minimise unexpected alerts and visual interruptions.”

Microsoft plans to stop the widgets panel from opening when you hover over its taskbar icon and will turn off taskbar badges by default.

Initially, the widgets panel will open directly to the widgets instead of the MSN feed, and taskbar alerts will be limited until you decide to interact with the Widgets feature.

These modifications aim to make the taskbar less irritating, particularly since the widgets section often featured notifications for stocks, weather, or MSN news by default.

The goal is to make the widgets a more integral part of Windows, rather than something users tend to ignore.

This is part of Microsoft's ongoing strategy to enhance Windows 11. The company is removing redundant Copilot buttons, updating the Run menu, improving the performance of File Explorer, and optimising Windows' memory usage. These updates are gradually being released each month throughout 2026.