Third-party tools have been around for over a decade to help PC users display weather information right on the Windows taskbar. PC users who have used Windows 7 for a long time know that there was a software called Weather Bar (it is still around) to show weather information on the taskbar. Needless to say, that the built-in desktop gadgets were also present to display weather information on the desktop.
Windows 10 now displays (version 2004 and later) weather information on the taskbar by default. The weather information on the taskbar is part of the new “News and interests” feature. Upon hovering over the weather information on the taskbar, a flyout pops up showing weather, news, traffic updates, and more.
NOTE: Version 2004 and 20H2 users need to install KB5001391 optional update to get this feature.
For most PC users, this is a welcome feature as they can glance at the weather information without requiring to open the Weather app. Besides, the flyout also shows relevant news, and you can customize the feed to show what you want.
That said, a section of PC users might like to have a clean and clutter-free taskbar. Or perhaps, you want to save the taskbar space. If you are one of them, you might want to remove the weather information from the taskbar and disable the flyout, which shows up upon hovering over it.
The team behind Windows 10 knows this very well. That is why they have provided an option to hide weather information from the taskbar. Unfortunately, Windows 10 does not offer a way to completely remove this new feature. You can only disable it.
Turn on or off weather info on Windows 10 taskbar
Step 1: Perform a right-click on an empty spot on the taskbar, select News and interests and then click the Turn off option to remove the weather information as well as the News and interests.
Stop News & widgets flyout from opening upon hovering on taskbar weather information
With default settings, whenever you hover the mouse cursor over the weather information on the taskbar, News & interests flyout shows up. If you would instead like to see the News & interests flyout upon clicking on the weather information (rather than hovering on it), there is an option.
Step 1: Right-click on a vacant spot on the taskbar, select News and interests and then deselect the Open on hover option by clicking on it. That is it! From now onwards, you need to click on it (rather than hovering on it) to see the News and interests flyout.
NOTE: Windows 11 does not display weather information on the taskbar. If you like to get the same, refer to our how to display weather info on Windows 11 taskbar guide.
How to display battery percentage on Windows 10 taskbar guide might also interest you.
Paul says
Hi. I’m not too concerned with the news icon but for some reason I used to have the sky conditions and current temperature appearing on my task bar on Windows 10. No I just have the news icon. Anybody have a fix?
Rob says
There is no “News and Information” entry in the taskbar right-click menu in my Win 10 Home. None of this information is useful or relevant.
Suck my **** Michaelsoft says
Seriously. I loved the icon with the weather. I turned off the hover since I am not interested in their propaganda (news). But right now it’s only showing the newspaper icon! Jesus Christ why does Microsoft force their propaganda (news) so much. I am not interested. I like seeing the weather in one glance.
David S. Firestone says
Thank you.
I did not prefer for the News and Interests in the lower right taskbar to appear
when I hovered over the taskbar, even accidentally. I’ve disabled it.
admin says
Thank you for sharing the useful information.
Nun-ya says
If you have multiple monitors, make sure you’re right-clicking on the primary monitor’s taskbar. Otherwise the menu won’t have the New/Interest options.
mahd says
Thanks that’s helpful
Peter says
13 juli 2021—KB5004237 (os builds 19041.1110, 19042.1110 en 19043.1110) just switched the weather thing on. It really has that Windows XP era malware look to it which made me doubt it’s origin.
Apparently there’s more people annoyed by this shit.
Ah well, soon enough all of us will be using a “workstation as a service” kind of computer with lot’s of cool stuff to buy from stores with subscription fees. Oh, and probably a weather app you can’t disable.
Geoff says
Strange that it goes away and also the “news and interest” task bar menu option disappears if you put the task bar top, or left or right side of screen. Then re-appears if you put the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.
Sean says
Who asked me to add a weather report to my taskbar??? WTF MS ????? Stop adding and intruding.
SK says
Yes, I really wanted this big unrequested tool on my already crowded taskbar with irrelevant news and other advertising crap no-one asked for. It also accesses your location even if location is turned off. I don’t remember telling it to find the weather at my location. Get lost MS.
Mary Mary says
I agree with everyone else. I didn’t ask for this add-on, I don’t want it and I don’t need it. More shite from MS. I wish there was a way to uninstall it rather than just disable it. MS should ask if we want to opt-in rather than forcing customers to waste time finding out how to opt-out.
doug says
I thought I had downloaded something nefarious. I had no idea this weather thing was from an update. At first I found just the weather part to be nice, but then I clicked on it, thinking I’d see a forecast for the next few days, and nope! Just useless news garbage. I tried and tried to figure out a way to turn off the news feed, but couldn’t do it. I am glad I can hide it, but I really look forward to uninstalling this thing I did not want or ask for.
John L says
Thank you for helping me GET RID OF THIS… I didn’t ask for it, didn’t want it, but it showed up after an automatic update. I appreciate your help, which I found after an internet search for a solution. ?
admin says
Jiri, you are too good!
admin says
Ryder, unfortunately, you cannot uninstall it. As of now, you can only disable it.
admin says
Thank you, AJ. Regarding, the “most find it useful” words, I thought most PC users might find this feature useful.
Mark says
This stupid little addition covered up my show hidden icons tab. If it had done that I might have kept it – wait no, just extra bloatware from Microsft.
AJ says
Thank you! Very helpful.
I agree with other comments about the idea that ‘most’ find this useful – I am guessing if that were accurate the incredibly helpful info you provided wouldn’t have so much traffic :). Seriously, thank you so much.
I also agree with others that MS has this clear need to ensure that everyone is always flooded with news media….that is exactly what is highlighted as the cause of so many problems today with any ‘tech’ – the obsession and inability to go offline and disconnect…I can be happy as a clam shopping online but once the media outlets get ahold of me my day is ruined….I don’t want that incessant media noise every time my mouse reaches the task bar. I need to be able to control what I see, when I see it and how often I see it…I mean if we all did that we wouldn’t have people feeling overwhelmed by the media – because they could turn it off. Unfortunately, MS comes along and likes to pretend they have the ability to take away our right to disconnect….kind of like they feel like they have the right to hijack my PC and update it….maybe I don’t want the patch, maybe I just have a million windows open and I don’t want to reboot for a few weeks….either way I don’t like it when they try to take away rights…it’s like being micromanaged by a software company?
Anyway, thank you so very much for posting this information. SO helpful. I will certainly be back to your site.
k bryan says
Windows knows I hate it. No matter where I right-click I cannot get the menu you show. There must be some other way to kill this piece of crap. Thanks for anything you can suggest!
Ryder says
I don’t want it running in the background either. Can it be uninstalled as well? Maybe run a survey instead of just thinking that you ‘know’ users? Isn’t it clear yet after years of bad decisions?
Pacocito says
How annoying !
Jiri Hadamek says
“without requiring to open the Weather app” – Are you completely MAD??? I think correct wording is “without requiring to open the window” – the REAl window.
60544286 says
Honestly thought this was a virus, Fuck you microsoft.
Jim L says
Another unwanted tracking tool. If you notice, it also captures your email and is sharing that with all the news site and advertising sites. Junk mail to my private email account has doubled recently because Microsoft keeps auto logging me.
Ben Hur says
Well they could have asked. I don’t want or need this annoying widget. More time wasted getting rid of the thing.
Shawn Wells says
Seems from your comments you’re wrong about how “most PC users” think this is a “useful feature.” This su-ucked. Every time my cursor floated down to that corner of the screen, this useless noise popped up to block whatever I was trying to work on. I tried every way I could think of to undo it, and the only reason I found your article was because I was searching for the solution to TURN IT OFF.
Thank you for posting this, it was very helpful.
Dan says
Thanks for the info. I hate it when Microsoft thinks they know better and add stuff that you do not want. Also I do not like it when it pops up when your near it and do not want it displayed. Thank you.
Johannes van Raamt says
Thanks, it was annoying when it popped up as soon the cursor strayed from intended icon
Javier says
Is there’s a way to just uninstall the useless gadget?
Will says
I’m on 20H2 and have the update but there is no News and Weather option. Seems this is a problem other people are also having.