If Windows 11 Widgets panel is not working or appearing from the left side of the screen, here is how you can fix the issue. Whether you encounter this issue on a touch device or any other desktop/laptop computer, these solutions will help you fix the issue.
Microsoft introduced revamped Widgets in Windows 10, and Windows 11 got a much better version of it. It is possible to add or customize Widgets in Windows 11 easily so that you can show or hide a specific item. However, you can do all those things only when it appears on your screen. If it is not coming out from the left side, you need to fix the issue by following the mentioned solutions.
Why are my widget not working?
The reason why the Widgets panel is not working or opening on your Windows 11 system could be because it is disabled by the system tool (Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor). Or else, there might be a problem with the keyboard shortcut used to open the Widgets panel.
Widgets Panel not working in Windows 11
If your Windows 11 Widgets panel is not working or opening, follow these suggestions to resolve the issue:
- Check your keys
- Restart Widgets
- Enable Widgets using Group Policy
- Turn on Widgets using Registry
- Run SFC scan and DISM tools
To learn more about these suggestions, continue reading.
1] Check your keys
It is the first thing you need to do when the Widgets panel is not working in Windows 11. It is handy for those who use the keyboard shortcut to open the Widgets in Windows 11. Let’s assume that you use the Win+W hotkey to access Widgets, but the “W” or “Win” key has some issues. This tiny thing can cause huge problems on your computer. Therefore, ensure that all your keyboard keys are working or not.
2] Restart Widgets
Whenever you try to use the Widgets, a background service or process starts automatically. However, if any of those services malfunction, you may get the aforementioned issue. Therefore, it is better to restart the Widgets or Windows Widgets service using Task Manager.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager on your computer.
- Find out the Windows Widgets process in the Processes tab.
- Select it and click on the End task button.
Then, try to open the Widgets panel in Windows 11.
3] Enable Widgets using Group Policy
It is possible to enable or disable Widgets using the Local Group Policy Editor. If you mistakenly disabled Widgets using GPEDIT, you won’t be able to open the Widgets panel even if you use the keyboard shortcut. Therefore, follow these steps to enable Widgets using Group Policy:
- Press Win+R to open the Run dialog.
- Type gpedit.msc and hit the Enter button.
- Navigate to
Computer Configuration > Administrator Templates > Windows Components > Widgets. - Double-click on the Allow widgets setting on the right side.
- Select either Enabled or Not Configured option.
- Click the OK button.
Then, you can open the Widgets panel without any problem.
4] Turn on Widgets using Registry
Like Group Policy, it is possible to turn on or off Widgets using the Registry Editor. If you used Registry Editor to disable Widgets in Windows 11, you need to enable it from there only. To turn on Widgets using Registry Editor, follow these steps:
- Press Win+R to open the Run prompt.
- Type regedit and hit the Enter button.
- Click on the Yes option.
- Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh - Double-click on the AllowNewsAndInterests REG_DWORD value.
- Enter the Value data as 1.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart your computer.
After rebooting, you will be able to use Widgets on your computer.
Related: Windows 11 Widgets not opening, showing or are blank
5] Run SFC scan and DISM tools
At times, this problem might occur due to internal file corruption. If that happens running the System File Checker and DISK tool are the only solutions. In this case, if none of the aforementioned solutions worked for you, you need to run the System File Checker and use the DISM tool in Windows 11.
How do I reset Widgets in Windows 11?
Windows 11 doesn’t come with an option to reset Widgets. Instead, you can restart the Widgets process if it is not working properly. Look for Widgets.exe (or Windows Widgets) process in the Task Manager and end that process to restart Widgets. Apart from that, if you aren’t able to use Widgets at all, then the last thing you can do is re-install Widgets in your Windows 11 system.
How do I fix widgets in Windows 11?
You must right-click on the taskbar, then select Taskbar Settings. Look to the Taskbar Items section and click the toggle next to Widgets to turn it Off. Click it again to turn it On, then check to see if that fixes the issue relating to your taskbar. If all goes well, the widgets will return.
How to add more widgets to Windows 11
Hover your mouse cursor over the Widgets icon to reveal the panel. From there, click on the plus icon, then select from a list of available widgets that appear. You can also click the Find More Widgets button to get new widgets but bear in mind this will carry you to the Microsoft Store.
