The Circuitry
THE CIRCUITRYYour one-stop source for all tech news
HOMETODAYNEWSFEEDEVENTS
BOOKMARKS
RSS
© 2026 The Circuitry
About UsSourcesContactCorrectionsPrivacy
  • Today
  • Feed
  • Events
  • Saved
Scroll for more
Verification
VERIFIEDConfidence: HIGH
Source identified
Claims cross-referenced
No discrepancies found
Sourcing
1source

via The Verge

The Verge · track record
71Stories
100%Verified
2630d
All sources →
Markets
MSFT···

Live quote · not investment advice

Home/Tech/Microsoft to Hide MSN Feed by Default in Windows 11 Widgets
VERIFIEDBy Xavier Rivera· ·1.5 min read

Microsoft to Hide MSN Feed by Default in Windows 11 Widgets

Microsoft will hide the MSN news feed in Windows 11 widgets by default to make the feature quiet and less distracting. The update disables hover-open behavior and taskbar badges while rolling out alongside other Windows 11 improvements throughout 2026.

Source:The Verge
Post
Microsoft to Hide MSN Feed by Default in Windows 11 Widgets
TL;DRAI · 60 sec read

Microsoft hides the MSN news feed by default in Windows 11's widgets panel, opening it directly to widgets instead. It disables auto-open on taskbar hover, turns off badges, and limits alerts to reduce distractions. These changes make widgets less overwhelming and more useful, as part of monthly Windows 11 improvements through 2026.

Microsoft is finally ditching the default MSN news feed in the widgets feature of Windows 11. The company will soon hide the feed by default, shifting the focus to actual widgets instead.

This move comes after Microsoft allowed users to disable the MSN feed more than two years ago. Now, the change is being implemented as a default setting to reduce distractions.

Microsoft stated that it is working to make Widgets feel less distracting and overwhelming by making the experience quiet by default. The company is testing a new set of default settings designed to reduce unexpected alerts and visual interruptions.

Several specific adjustments are planned. Microsoft will disable the widgets panel from opening automatically when users hover over its taskbar item. Distracting taskbar badges will be turned off by default as well.
From The CircuitryThe Feed — live briefs across tech, all day.See what’s happening →
The widgets panel will open directly to the widgets view rather than the MSN feed. Additionally, Microsoft will limit taskbar alerts until users decide to open and engage with the Widgets experience.

These updates address common annoyances with the taskbar. The widgets section previously showed notifications for stocks, weather, or MSN news by default, which often led users to avoid the feature altogether.

The goal is to transform widgets into a more useful component of Windows 11. By reducing interruptions, Microsoft hopes more users will find value in the widgets panel.
The changes form part of a broader initiative to enhance Windows 11. Microsoft is removing unnecessary Copilot buttons from apps, modernizing the Run prompt, fixing File Explorer performance issues, and improving the overall memory footprint. These improvements are being rolled out monthly throughout 2026.
Why this mattersAI · ~100 words

Tap a lens to see what this story means for you.

Reader-supported
DonateBuy me a coffee →Follow@thecircuitry_ →Follow@thecircuitry.to →

Reader-supported · Daily Brief

Daily brief at 7 AM ET. Top tech stories, every morning. Sourced and fact-checked.

HELP US IMPROVE
From The Circuitry

See what’s happening right now

The Feed runs all day — short, verified briefs the moment they break.

Open the Feed →
From The Circuitry

Follow @thecircuitry_

Every story we publish, as it happens. No noise between.

Follow on X ↗On Bluesky ↗

Reader-supported

The Circuitry is a passion project I've always wanted to build, and I love the work behind it.

Running it costs real money. APIs, hosting, time. To keep improving the site and growing this into something useful for everyone, those costs have to be covered.

Any contribution is appreciated. If not, no pressure. Thanks for reading.

Buy me a coffee
MicrosoftWindows 11Widgets
More fromThe Verge
  • Trump administration asks OpenAI to stagger GPT-5.6 rollout

    Tech · 14h
  • Meta revives Creator Studio as AI companion app

    Tech · 1d
  • DeepMind partners with A24 on AI film tools after Google invests $75 million

    Tech · 3d
More inTech
  • ON Semiconductor Strikes $7 Billion All-Stock Deal for Synaptics

    Tech · 13h
  • Trump administration asks OpenAI to stagger GPT-5.6 rollout

    Tech · 14h
  • Zoox Launches Updated Purpose-Built Robotaxi

    Tech · 14h
SupportThe Work

The Circuitry is reader-supported. If you find the daily brief useful, you can buy me a coffee to keep it going.

Buy a coffee →
SubscribeCircuitry Brief

Daily brief at 7 AM ET. Top tech stories, every morning.

MORE IN TECH

ON Semiconductor Strikes $7 Billion All-Stock Deal for Synaptics

ON Semiconductor agreed to acquire Synaptics in a nearly $7 billion all-stock transaction that accelerates its physical AI expansion and lifts its total addressable market to $243 billion by 2030. The deal, the company's largest to date, is slated to close in mid-2027 amid a surge in AI-related buyouts industrywide.

Trump administration asks OpenAI to stagger GPT-5.6 rollout

The Trump administration has reportedly asked OpenAI to stagger the release of GPT-5.6 in limited preview form to select enterprise customers, with the government approving access on a case-by-case basis. The move is described as more favorable than the export-control directive imposed on Anthropic earlier this month and highlights uneven federal oversight of frontier AI models.

Zoox Launches Updated Purpose-Built Robotaxi

Zoox unveiled an updated version of its purpose-built robotaxi with lighter interior colors, refined seating, improved visibility features, and enhanced audio capabilities based on rider feedback from half a million rides. The changes aim to deliver greater comfort and simplicity while the Amazon-backed company advances its fully driverless ride-hailing service.