Declutter Microsoft Windows — remove Copilot, Widgets, and News and Interests from the taskbar

Microsoft has rolled out a range of features aimed at enhancing user experience on its operating systems, including “News and Interests” and the “Copilot” AI assistant. While these tools are designed to facilitate quick access to information and productivity enhancements, they have not won universal acclaim. Many users express a preference for a more streamlined taskbar reminiscent of the simplicity found in Windows 7.

Streamlining Your Desktop Experience

For those looking to declutter their desktop interface and potentially boost system performance, disabling these features can be a practical solution. Below is a straightforward guide to removing News and Interests on Windows 10, as well as disabling Copilot and the Widgets feature on Windows 11.

Disable News and Interests on Windows 10

1. Find an empty space on the taskbar and right-click to open the context menu.
2. Hover over the News and Interests option in the menu.
3. Select Turn Off to disable the widget.

If you wish to re-enable it later, simply follow the same steps and choose the Show icon and text option.

Disable Copilot on Windows 11

1. Open the Group Policy Editor by pressing Win + R, typing gpedit.msc, and hitting Enter.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Copilot.
3. Double-click on the Turn off Windows Copilot setting, select Enabled, and apply the changes.

For users without access to the Group Policy Editor, the Registry Editor can be utilized instead. Navigate to:

HKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows

Create a new DWORD value named TurnOffWindowsCopilot with a value of 1. Restart your PC to apply the changes.

If your only concern is having Copilot on the taskbar, you can simply right-click its button and select Unpin from taskbar.

Disable Widgets on Windows 11

The “Widgets” feature in Windows 11 operates similarly to “News and Interests” in Windows 10. To disable it, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Taskbar.
2. Select Taskbar Settings.
3. Toggle the switch next to Widgets to turn the feature off.

By following these steps, users can tailor their desktop experience to better suit their preferences, creating a more efficient and personalized workspace.

Image Credit: Roman Samborskyi / Dreamstime.com