Windows 11, the newest version of the Windows operating system, ships with a feature called Widgets. Widgets feature is not a new one. Instead, it’s an evolved version of the News & Interests feature available in Windows 10.
As per Microsoft, Widgets bring you closer to the information you both need and want. With default settings, when you open the Widgets board, it displays weather, news, stocks, sports, and other information that you might be interested in. Needless to say that you can customize what you want to see on the Widgets board. In addition to default widgets, you can add Microsoft To Do, Outlook Calendar, and Traffic widgets.
As you might have noticed by now, unlike in Windows 10, the Widgets feature does not show a weather information button on the taskbar. Instead, it has a dedicated icon that sits immediately next to the Start button. You can click on the Widgets icon on the taskbar to open the Widgets board.
Since the Widgets board can also be accessed using the Windows logo + A keyboard shortcut, you can easily hide the Widgets icon from the taskbar to free up some space. Yes, Widgets can be accessed and continues to function even when the Widgets icon is hidden from the taskbar.
On the other hand, those who have previously removed the Widgets icon from the taskbar might want to add it back to the taskbar.
This guide will show you how to add or remove the Widgets icon on Windows 11 taskbar.
Add Widgets to Windows 11 taskbar
Step 1: Perform a right-click on an empty spot on the taskbar and click Taskbar settings to open the Settings > Personalization > Taskbar page.
Step 2: In the Taskbar items section, click on the toggle button next to Widgets to add the Widgets icon to the taskbar. A click on it again will hide the Widgets icon from the taskbar.
The Widgets board can still be accessed using the Windows + W hotkey. If you want to disable that as well, refer to our how to completely remove Widgets board from Windows 11 guide.
Hide Widgets icon from Windows 11 taskbar
The Widgets board can be opened using the Windows logo + W keyboard shortcut even after removing the Widgets icon from the taskbar.
Step 1: To remove the Widgets icon from the taskbar, right-click on the Widgets icon and click the Hide from the taskbar option.
Another way to remove the Widgets icon from Windows 11 taskbar
Step 1: Open the Settings app. Go to Personalization > Taskbar.
Step 2: Toggle off the Widgets to remove it from the taskbar.
Jerry C Kindstrom says
I have a shadow of widget on left side of taskbar on my Windows 11 taskbar. It does not click on like it is supposed to. How do I fix this problem