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After the last Windows update (21H1), I got this weather icon on the taskbar and clicking on it shows the news, weather and traffic information.

How can I remove it?

Weather icon on the taskbar1

Peter Mortensen
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P.Haka
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    Does this answer your question? [How can I disable the “News and Interests” Widget on the Windows 10 Taskbar?](https://superuser.com/questions/1649169/how-can-i-disable-the-news-and-interests-widget-on-the-windows-10-taskbar) – MendelG Jun 09 '21 at 16:36
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    I found [this](https://www.groovypost.com/howto/disable-the-news-and-interests-widget-on-the-windows-10-taskbar/) as a first search result after installing update. Didn't associate "weather" with "news and interests" as the dozens of other users it seems, thanks to microsofts wording. – Sinatr Jun 10 '21 at 14:26
  • A Group Policy approach: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/group-configuration-news-and-interests-on-the-windows-taskbar/ba-p/2281005?s=09 – Doug Deden Jun 10 '21 at 15:26

1 Answers1

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After the last Windows update, I got weather icon on the taskbar and clicking on it shows some celeb news and traffic info


That is the News and interests taskbar widget.


To turn it off:

  • Right-click on the taskbar, select News and Interests, then click Turn off:

Enter image description here



You can also disable the "News and interests" taskbar widget in Group Policy using either of these methods:

  • In Computer Configuration > Administative Templates > Windows Components > News and interests set the policy Enable news and interests on the taskbar to Disabled.
  • Registry (open cmd as admin)
    • REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Feeds" /V EnableFeeds /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F


You'll need to kill explorer.exe and relaunch it or reboot for the policy to apply.

Paul π
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John
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    Can you also uninstall it? Is there the risk that after some updates or configuration changes it is reactivated if it is not uninstalled? – FluidCode Jun 09 '21 at 11:18
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    There is a powershell script here: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/bing/forum/bing_apps-bing_install-bing_appdev_win8/remove-news-feed-from-task-bar/6ec30157-33a8-4908-9363-a25e74bf0677?auth=1 but there is probably more risk it will be reinstalled instead of just re-enabled. – John Jun 09 '21 at 11:38
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    @FluidCode - This particular feature cannot be uninstalled. However, Taskbar settings are respected, once disabled, it should be enabled with an update. You can just [disable](https://www.neowin.net/news/how-to-turn-off-the-news-and-interest-widget-on-taskbar-in-windows-10/) through the group policy. (I don’t submit actual answers based on questions asked within a temporary comment – Ramhound Jun 09 '21 at 11:53
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    It gets re-activated with every update. I maintain seven machines, and all of them have it back on after each update... same if you de-install it, it comes back. Microsoft... – Aganju Jun 09 '21 at 12:34
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    It will get fixed. I have done both production and Insider updates and it is not returning. Once you are fully up to date it should be fine. – John Jun 09 '21 at 12:44
  • @John that powershell script removes just one key from the registry. If it were only one group of keys you could remove them manually, but I suspect that things are a little bit more complex than that. – FluidCode Jun 09 '21 at 20:26
  • @FluidCode I have flagged this question as a duplicate. In the provided link, I have posted an answer how to fully remove it. – MendelG Jun 09 '21 at 20:38
  • @MendelG I had a look at the linked question and I found again a simple hack for a single registry key. Did I miss something? I still suspect that thing are actually more complex than that. – FluidCode Jun 09 '21 at 21:03
  • I am suspected it's implicatedin the random complete disapperance of my taskbar. Now you see it, now you don't... I oculd be wrong though. – ColeValleyGirl Jun 10 '21 at 16:38
  • @Aganju - It should not be enabled after the next feature, note my original comment had a typo when it said it should be enabled; In either case the GPO will keep it disabled permanently – Ramhound Jun 11 '21 at 11:26
  • @John What software do you use to take your screenshots? – MendelG Jun 21 '21 at 22:27
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    Stuff that pops up (as the screen shot in the post) is best captured with Snip 'n Sketch. It will capture a open window flyout where SnagIt will usually not. But when I complete the capture, SnagIt takes over and I edit the final image in SnagIt. SnagIt editing is more polished than Snip 'n Sketch. – John Jun 21 '21 at 22:30