21 Ways to Fix Widgets Not Working on Windows 11 24H2

There are multiple reasons why widgets have become an integral aspect of my armory. For one, it amps up the customization game, adding a bit more personal touch to my PC. And the other, it provides instant access to the preferred information like weather and calendar events. For all being exceptionally optimized and efficient, Windows 11 widgets are not perfect and do go out of track once in a while. That’s the reason why I thought it would be great to talk about the best tips and tricks to fix widgets not working on Windows 11 24H2 like a pro. Keep reading to…

Best Tips and Tricks to Fix Windows 11 Widgets Not Working on Your PC

While some PC users have reported that the widgets aren’t responding, others have complained that they are crashing out at launch. Worse, for a good many folks, they are either displaying incorrect information or not showing anything at all. From what I have gone through, these are the major reasons why the Windows widgets tend to malfunction –

• Disabled Widgets Feature
• Corrupt System Files
• Outdated Windows Version
• Faulty User Profile
• Disabled Graphics Driver
• Taskbar Issues
• Group Policy Restrictions
• Network Connectivity Problems
• Background Apps Disabled
• Incorrect Region Settings
• Third-Party Software Conflicts
• Microsoft Account Issues

In this in-depth guide, I’m going to break down each one of these culprits and offer up the related solutions to bring them back on track.

1. Enable Widgets from Taskbar Settings

Note that widgets might be disabled in the taskbar settings on your Windows device, which could be preventing them from functioning. Hence, enabling them will ensure that they are accessible and functional without any hiccups.

1. To get it done, just right-click on the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings.
2. After that, you need to toggle the Widgets to the green On position.
3. Now, find out if the widgets panel has started working or not.

2. Enable Location Services

There are many widgets such as Weather and Traffic that need uninterrupted access to location in order to provide accurate and real-time data.

• Open Settings on your computer and head straight into Privacy & security > Location.
• Activate Location access for apps and services in question.

3. Restart Your PC

• If your widgets are misbehaving due to temporary software-related glitches, restarting your PC will be more than capable of resolving the issue and bringing the widgets back to life.

4. Check Internet Connection

A strong and stable internet connection is needed for widgets to fetch and show real-time data such as news, weather, and calendar updates.

1. Open Settings on your PC and dive into Network & internet.
2. Now, make sure you are connected to a stable network.
3. Press the Win+A to bring up the Action Center > Head into the Wi-Fi menu and turn it off > Restart your PC and turn the Wi-Fi back in action again.

5. Sign In to Microsoft Account

Keep in mind that widgets require a Microsoft account to sync personalized content and work seamlessly. Therefore, without signing in, your widgets may struggle to function.

1. Open Settings on your PC > Accounts > Your info.
2. Then, you have to sign in with a Microsoft account.
3. After that, restart the PC and figure out if the widgets have returned to normal.

6. Restart Windows Widgets Process

It’s worth pointing out that the Widgets process (WindowsWidgets.exe) might have stopped or encountered an error which could be hurting the performance. Hence, restarting the Windows widgets process can fix the temporary glitches.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch the Task Manager on your PC.
2. Now, click on the Processes tab and find Windows Widgets
3. Then, you have to right-click and hit End Task at the top.
4. Next, reopen the widgets panel to see whether or not you have overcome the hurdle.

7. Check for Conflicting Apps

Watch out for third-party apps that never shy away from meddling with widgets. Identifying and uninstalling naughty elements can let you fix the issue.

1. Open Settings and go to Apps > Installed apps.
2. Find the app in question and hit the ellipsis button next to it. Choose Uninstall in the menu and confirm.

8. Reset Windows Widgets

Resetting the widget components allows you to restore the default settings which often works wonders in resolving configuration-related issues.

1. Go to Settings app on your Windows 11 device and head over to Apps > Installed Apps.
2. Locate the Widget app in question and click on the triple-dot icon next to it.
3. Choose, Advanced options in the menu.
4. Click on the Reset button and confirm.

9. Change Default Browser

Windows widgets are dependent on the default browser to show the web content. If your default browser is malfunctioning, it will cripple the functionality of many widgets.

1. Go to Settings on your PC > Apps > Default apps.
2. Now, set a different browser as the default on your PC.

10. Enable Widgets Using Group Policy Editor

It’s also important to mention that the group policy settings could have disabled widgets at the system level, thereby harming their operation.

1. Press Win + R to fire up the Run dialog.
2. Type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
3. Navigate to Computer Configuration and choose Administrative Templates.
4. Click Windows Components and choose Widgets.
5. Next, make sure to set Allow Widgets to Enabled.

11. Restart Windows Explorer

Bear in mind that the ill-fated Windows Explorer process can severely impact taskbar functions, including widgets. Therefore, I’d recommend you restart it in order to resolve UI-related issues.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and head over to Windows Explorer.
2. Up next, right-click on the Windows Explorer and select Restart.

12. Run Windows Troubleshooter

Built-in troubleshooters have always been pretty helpful in detecting and fixing potential issues with system components, including widgets.

1. Navigate to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
2. Now, you need to “Run” the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter and follow the instructions to resolve the issue.

13. Enable Widgets via Registry Editor

Be fully aware of the fact that the misconfigured registry settings might disable widgets or make life very difficult for them.

1. Press Win + R to show the Run dialog.
2. Type regedit, and hit Enter.
3. Head over to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh.
4. Delete the key named AllowNewsAndInterests and reboot your PC.

14. Update Windows 11

Outdated Windows versions might be plagued by bugs that could be affecting the widgets feature.

1. Dive into Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates and proceed to install any pending updates.
2. Be sure to restart the computer once the software update has finished.

15. Clear Widgets Cache

A corrupted cache can cause widgets to malfunction and stop them from loading correctly. Thus, wiping out the cache may force the widgets to refresh and display the latest data.

1. Launch the File Explorer and navigate to: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Packages\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState
2. Then, you have to delete the cache files inside the folder and reboot the PC.

16. Check for Corrupt System Files (SFC Scan)

Keep an eye on the corrupted system files as they never miss any chance to prevent widgets from functioning correctly. But fret not, running the SFC scan can be incredibly helpful in restoring the missing or damaged files.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator on your Windows device
2. Up next, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. Be sure to let the scan complete and restart your PC.

17. Reinstall Widgets Using PowerShell

Windows PowerShell offers a native way to reinstall widgets. For times when you are dealing with corrupted widget components, it can prove to be very handy.

• Open PowerShell as Administrator and then run the following command:

Get-AppxPackage *WebExperience* | Remove-AppxPackage

• Next up, you need to restart and reinstall widgets from the Microsoft Store.

18. Check Monitor Scaling Settings

Botched-up display scaling can also stop the widgets panel from appearing correctly.

1. Dive into the Settings app > Display.
2. Now, fine-tune the scaling to 100% or 125% and reboot your PC.

19. Disable Third-Party Antivirus

Now is the right time to take your antivirus programs for a task as they could be blocking Windows components, causing widgets to malfunction.

1. Open your antivirus settings on your PC temporarily disable it and find out if widgets work.
2. If the issue has been sorted out, add widgets to the exclusion list.
3. Should the issue persist, either disable your Windows firewall or allow the specific widgets to work even when the built-in antivirus tool is in action.

20. Create a New User Account

It’s no secret that user profile corruption can plague widgets. Thus, creating a new profile could be helpful in bypassing this issue.

1. Open Settings > Accounts > Other users.
2. Hit Add account and go through the instructions.
3. After that, log into the new account.

21. Perform a System Restore

Did your widgets start malfunctioning after a recent update? If the answer is yes, restoring the system to an earlier point can help you resolve the issue.

1. Navigate to the Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore.
2. Now, choose the desired restore point and follow the prompts to perform a system restore.

Wrapping up…

There you have it, folks! I guess your personalized widgets have come back to life and so has the hassle-free access to essential information. As already mentioned above, you can fix this vexing Windows issue by checking off the requirements and taking the conflicting elements for a task. Should the problem continue to haunt your PC, tips like updating the software and rebooting Windows Explorer can let you flush out the glitch.