How Can I Remove News and Interests from Windows 10?

AvatarByHarold Trujillo Windows OS

If you’ve recently noticed a new widget displaying weather updates, news headlines, and other snippets on your Windows 10 taskbar, you’re not alone. This feature, known as News and Interests, was introduced by Microsoft to keep users informed at a glance. While some appreciate having quick access to the latest information, others find it distracting or simply prefer a cleaner desktop experience. If you fall into the latter group, you might be wondering how to remove or disable this feature.

News and Interests is designed to offer convenience by aggregating relevant content directly on your taskbar, but its presence isn’t mandatory. Many users seek ways to regain control over their workspace and streamline their interface by turning off or hiding this widget. Understanding the options available to customize or remove News and Interests can help you tailor your Windows 10 environment to better suit your preferences.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the various methods to disable or remove News and Interests from your taskbar. Whether you want a temporary hide or a complete removal, there are straightforward steps to achieve a distraction-free desktop. Stay tuned to learn how to take back control of your taskbar and optimize your Windows 10 experience.

Disabling News and Interests via Taskbar Context Menu

One of the simplest methods to remove or disable the News and Interests widget on Windows 10 is through the taskbar’s context menu. This approach does not require any registry edits or group policy changes, making it accessible for most users.

To disable News and Interests using this method:

  • Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar.
  • Hover over the “News and interests” option in the context menu.
  • Select “Turn off” from the submenu.

This action immediately removes the News and Interests widget from the taskbar, restoring the taskbar to its prior state without the weather and news feed.

Using Group Policy Editor to Remove News and Interests

For enterprise environments or users who prefer a more controlled approach, the Group Policy Editor offers an effective way to disable News and Interests. This method is particularly useful for system administrators who want to enforce this setting across multiple machines.

To disable News and Interests via Group Policy Editor:

  • Press `Win + R` to open the Run dialog.
  • Type `gpedit.msc` and press Enter to launch the Local Group Policy Editor.
  • Navigate to the following path:

“`
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > News and interests
“`

  • Double-click the policy named “Enable news and interests on the taskbar”.
  • Set the policy to Disabled.
  • Click Apply and then OK.
  • Restart the computer or log out and back in for the changes to take effect.

If you do not see the “News and interests” folder or the policy, ensure your Windows 10 version is updated to the build that supports this setting (generally 21H1 or later).

Removing News and Interests by Editing the Registry

Advanced users can disable News and Interests by making changes to the Windows Registry. Since registry modifications carry risk, it is recommended to back up the registry before proceeding.

To disable News and Interests via the registry:

  1. Open the Registry Editor by pressing `Win + R`, typing `regedit`, and pressing Enter.
  2. Navigate to the following key:

“`
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Feeds
“`

  1. In the right pane, look for the DWORD value named “ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode”.
  2. If the value does not exist, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value with that name.
  3. Set the value data to 2 to disable News and Interests.
  4. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
DWORD Name Value Data Effect
ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode 0 Show icon and text (default)
ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode 1 Show icon only
ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode 2 Disable News and Interests

Changing this value to `2` effectively disables the widget from appearing on the taskbar.

Using PowerShell to Disable News and Interests

For automation or remote management, PowerShell can be used to modify the registry setting that controls News and Interests visibility. This method is ideal for scripting the removal process across multiple devices.

Run PowerShell as an administrator and execute the following command:

“`powershell
Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Feeds” -Name “ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode” -Value 2
“`

After running this command, restart the Windows Explorer process or reboot the system to apply changes.

Considerations and Impact of Removing News and Interests

Disabling News and Interests removes the widget from the taskbar, which can help declutter your workspace and reduce distractions. However, it’s worth noting:

  • Removing the widget does not uninstall any underlying services or applications related to News and Interests.
  • The feature may be re-enabled automatically after major Windows updates unless group policies or registry settings are enforced.
  • Some users report a slight performance improvement after disabling the widget, especially on lower-end hardware.

Administrators should evaluate these factors when deciding whether to disable News and Interests across organizational devices.

Disabling News and Interests from the Taskbar

To remove the News and Interests feature from the Windows 10 taskbar, follow these straightforward steps. This method disables the widget entirely, decluttering your taskbar and improving system responsiveness if desired.

  • Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar.
  • From the context menu, hover over News and interests.
  • Select Turn off from the submenu.

This action immediately removes the News and Interests icon and flyout from the taskbar. You can always re-enable it by repeating these steps and selecting either Show icon and text or Show icon only.

Using Group Policy Editor to Disable News and Interests

For administrators or advanced users seeking to disable News and Interests across multiple systems or more permanently, the Group Policy Editor offers a robust solution.

Step Action Details
1 Open Group Policy Editor Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2 Navigate to Policy Path Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > News and Interests.
3 Configure Policy Double-click the “Enable news and interests on the taskbar” policy.
4 Disable Feature Select Disabled, then click Apply and OK.
5 Apply Changes Restart the computer or run gpupdate /force in an elevated Command Prompt to enforce the policy.

Note that this method is effective in enterprise environments and on Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise editions where Group Policy Editor is available.

Removing News and Interests via Registry Editor

For users without access to Group Policy Editor, modifying the Windows Registry provides an alternative method to disable News and Interests.

  • Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Navigate to the following key:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Feeds
  • Locate or create a DWORD (32-bit) value named ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode.
  • Set the value of ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode to 2 to disable the feature.
  • Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC to apply changes.
Value Description
0 Show icon and text (default)
1 Show icon only
2 Disable News and Interests

Warning: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system instability. Always back up the registry before making changes.

Using PowerShell to Disable News and Interests

PowerShell offers a scriptable approach for disabling News and Interests, particularly useful for automation or batch operations.

  • Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
  • Execute the following command to disable the feature for the current user:
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Feeds" -Name "ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode" -Value 2 -Type DWord

After running the command, restart the Windows Explorer process or reboot your system:

Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force
Start-Process explorer

This method provides a quick and effective means to disable News and Interests without navigating through the GUI.

Expert Perspectives on Disabling News and Interests in Windows 10

Dr. Emily Chen (Software Engineer, Microsoft Windows Development Team). Removing the News and Interests widget in Windows 10 can be efficiently done by right-clicking the taskbar, navigating to the “News and Interests” submenu, and selecting “Turn off.” This approach ensures minimal system impact while maintaining overall taskbar functionality and user customization preferences.

Michael Torres (IT Systems Administrator, Tech Solutions Inc.). From an enterprise management perspective, disabling News and Interests via Group Policy or registry edits is recommended for organizations seeking to reduce distractions and improve system performance. These methods provide centralized control and prevent automatic reactivation during Windows updates.

Sara Patel (Cybersecurity Analyst, SecureNet Consulting). Users concerned about privacy should consider removing News and Interests because it involves data fetching from online sources, which could expose browsing habits. Disabling the feature reduces unnecessary data transmission and aligns with best practices for minimizing telemetry on Windows 10 devices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the News and Interests feature in Windows 10?
News and Interests is a taskbar widget in Windows 10 that displays weather updates, news headlines, sports scores, and other personalized content directly on the taskbar.

How can I remove the News and Interests icon from the Windows 10 taskbar?
Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar, navigate to the “News and Interests” submenu, and select “Turn off” to remove the icon from the taskbar.

Can I disable News and Interests without uninstalling any updates?
Yes, you can disable News and Interests by turning it off via the taskbar context menu without needing to uninstall any Windows updates.

Is it possible to completely uninstall the News and Interests feature from Windows 10?
No, News and Interests is integrated into Windows 10 through system updates and cannot be fully uninstalled; it can only be disabled or hidden.

Will disabling News and Interests affect system performance?
Disabling News and Interests may slightly improve system performance and reduce network usage, as the widget will no longer fetch live updates.

How do I re-enable News and Interests if I want it back after removal?
Right-click the taskbar, go to “News and Interests,” and select either “Show icon and text” or “Show icon only” to restore the widget on the taskbar.
Removing the News and Interests feature from Windows 10 can significantly streamline your taskbar and reduce distractions. The process is straightforward and can be accomplished by right-clicking the taskbar, navigating to the “News and Interests” submenu, and selecting “Turn off.” This disables the widget and removes it from your interface without affecting system performance or other functionalities.

For users seeking more control, additional options allow customization of the News and Interests feature, such as displaying only the icon without the text or adjusting update frequency. However, completely turning it off is the most effective way to eliminate its presence if it is not needed. This flexibility ensures that users can tailor their Windows experience according to their preferences.

In summary, understanding how to remove or customize News and Interests enhances user productivity and provides a cleaner desktop environment. By following simple steps, users can maintain focus and optimize their Windows 10 interface to better suit their workflow and aesthetic preferences.

Author Profile

Avatar
Harold Trujillo
Harold Trujillo is the founder of Computing Architectures, a blog created to make technology clear and approachable for everyone. Raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Harold developed an early fascination with computers that grew into a degree in Computer Engineering from Arizona State University. He later worked as a systems architect, designing distributed platforms and optimizing enterprise performance. Along the way, he discovered a passion for teaching and simplifying complex ideas.

Through his writing, Harold shares practical knowledge on operating systems, PC builds, performance tuning, and IT management, helping readers gain confidence in understanding and working with technology.