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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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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 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