How to pin the Weather Widget to the taskbar in W11?

The news feeds are being studied at Microsoft.

A reshuffle!

Subject that was discussed on CCM.

Maybe deployed in a future update.

But nothing says how to move them at the moment, hence this missing configuration; an option would be welcome.

A recent publication (November 27, 2023) draws a parallel between the Widgets W10 and W11.

In summary, Microsoft is tuning its instruments for both systems, especially for W10, which W11 has already taken a step forward with its Widgets.

Certainly, a small revolution, but there is still a long way to go to satisfy the users.

This is point 3 in the publication, section ''The taskbar gets a makeover too''.

Widget Summary:

 Another interesting new feature: the News and Interests function, integrated in the 21H1 build of Windows 10, now appears in the form of a Widget. Therefore, Windows 10 no longer continuously displays the temperature on the relevant icon. Instead, rather than appearing in a small frame on the right side of the screen, interests, sports scores, stock prices, and weather are now presented in a window on the left side of the screen. This window takes up half the screen and is significantly more visible (and readable) than the somewhat ridiculous frame at the bottom right of Windows 10. Finally, the fact that Microsoft titles this section “Widgets” suggests that other small modules may be added. A reorganization of this section is underway, and users signed up for the Preview channel of the Microsoft Insider program can notice that the advanced widgets are distributed across three columns, making them much more readable and usable on a large screen. As always, the displayed information will adapt to your habits and interests. It is even possible to add parental controls if you are an administrator. For example, a Widget can tell you who has used the PC, where, and for how long. Microsoft has also given developers the ability to request a new permission from users: that of pinning their application to the taskbar.

The rest of the article discusses the ''lifting'' to come.

Read more ==► W11: new features, release date, everything to know about Microsoft's new OS

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Given that the Web Experience Pack is the prerequisite for this, it doesn't make any sense.

ViveTool:

There could be a workaround with ViveTool, but I won't edit the procedure, as it would be too complicated for non-experts!

Which would translate to PowerShell as

  .\vivetool /enable /id:45393399

Or as it would translate to the Command Prompt (CMD):

 vivetool /enable /id:45393399

So with or without the little dot at the start of the command.

Not having tried it and without any feedback from what I've seen, you will understand that the adventure stops here for ViveTool.

Haven't found any GPO or other workarounds for the moment.

I hope to get back to you with some good news if, despite everything, the next update doesn’t help.

Have a good day.

Hello,

Try this procedure:

Open Widget.

Click on the Weather Forecast Widget (full forecast).

The Widget opens to an MSN page in the Microsoft Edge browser.

Click on the three horizontal dots at the top right. (Settings and more).

Click on the line =►Additional Tools

Click on =► Pin to taskbar

Notification:

Click YES in the notification that appears.

Once on the taskbar, you can move the icon (unlock the taskbar with right-click, and remember to lock it after the procedure) or leave it as is, depending on how the taskbar is arranged (Centered or to the left).

Centered:

To the left:

Notification to be alerted:

And if you wish, and if you haven't already done so, Allow notifications to be alerted about changing weather conditions.

....

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Thank you very much for this detailed reply, pistouri!

I misspoke: what I would like is for the thumbnail in the bottom left corner of my screen, on the taskbar, to permanently display the weather thumbnail. This is the area I indicated in this screenshot with a blue arrow: https://imgur.com/a/PhFdBQs

At the time I took this screenshot, it was displaying the CAC 40. Now it shows the weather. I would like it to permanently display the weather.

Add Widgets to the Taskbar:

Go to Settings (Keyboard shortcut Windows + i )

(i for inconsolable)

Go to =► Personalization (left menu)

Right menu =► Taskbar

Check or highlight =► Widgets

The icon will immediately appear on the left side of the taskbar.

...

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Absolutely: it allows you to show or hide the widgets icon on the left side of the taskbar.

But I don't see how to set which of the many widgets should appear in this icon. Maybe it's just not possible...

Got it, thank you for this information!

Thank you very much, it's greatly appreciated!

Hello,

To answer your question:

 But I don't see how to set which of the many widgets should appear in this icon. Perhaps it simply isn't possible...

To add news feeds or others:

For the Widgets feed, open the Microsoft Edge browser and copy and paste:

 https://www.msn.com/fr-fr/feed/personalize?ocid=winp2fptaskbar

Add the topics of interest of your choice from the proposed categories (Sports, Auto, Travel, Shopping, Entertainment...).

One click on + adds a Widget feed.

One click on the checkmark in V removes a feed.

Then open the Widget icon on the taskbar to check your added selections.

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To answer myself:

 But nothing says how to move them currently, hence this missing configuration, an option would be welcome.

It is possible, but only for custom Widgets.

Open the Widget icon on the taskbar.

Optional:

Maximize the Widgets board.

Click on the double arrow located at the top right.

Move a Widget:

On the Widgets board, it is divided into two parts.

The right part contains the Widgets, with news feeds.

The left part contains the custom Widgets that have been chosen and added.

And it is only these Widgets that can be moved vertically, either up or down (Move up or down).

The procedure consists of holding down the left click without releasing it on the small dots of the Widget (but the entire upper part of the Widget is also valid) and moving it.

In summary:

Hold the Widget without releasing,

Move the Widget either up or down according to choice.

Release the left click.

That's all.

Example:

Image example where I moved the weather forecast icon.

Before:

After:

Message to move a Widget:

And furthermore, it's indicated, one just needs to see it!!!

This is below the Tips Widget.

To check:

It seems after 30 minutes that the Widgets change places, this is due to the addition of the updated news feeds, or the addition of new news.

But this remains to be verified, and if that is the case, the Widget must be moved again.

.

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Hello,

Following message 8:

As soon as information is available about Widgets, news feeds for example or the layout of the Widgets display, I will not hesitate to get back to you.

Moment 5 Update:

Everything comes to those who wait.

Since February 2024, it is possible to disable news feeds in the W11 Widgets panel.

This is thanks to the Moment 5 update KB5034765 from February 13, 2024.

This will disable the entire news feed in the Widgets panel.

This brings the W11 version to Build 22631.3155

Build 22621.ni-release.220506-1250
For those who have Explorer Patcher installed.

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Disable/Hide news feeds.

Now let's move on to the practical part of hiding the news feeds in the W11 Widgets panel.

1) Open the Widgets panel by clicking on the icon in the taskbar.

2) Click on the gear icon in the top right corner to open the options.
Scroll down and click on the line ==► Show or hide feeds

3) Disable the highlighted toggle =► Microsoft Start

4) Click ==► Disable

5) The news feeds are now hidden.

A restart may be necessary if requested by a notification.

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Fun fact:

The KB5034765 update allows you to uninstall the Microsoft Edge browser.

If the option is not present (Settings=►Installed apps=►Microsoft Edge=►Uninstall) it shouldn't take long in a future cumulative W11 update.

Same for the much-anticipated Copilot icon in the European Union.

Which will replace ''Show Desktop'' in the right corner of the taskbar, not very fortunate on this one Microsoft, but there's an option to restore the ''Show Desktop'' option in Settings=►Personalization=►Taskbar=►Taskbar behavior.

So if you uninstall Microsoft Edge, you will get a blank widgets panel.

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Bye-bye.

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Thank you for the follow-up!

I have the same build... but I don't have access to the same options, and in particular, I don't have the ability to show or hide the feeds...

See this screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/W2dT7Q8

Hello,

Microsoft Account:

Sign out of your Microsoft account.

Go back to the gear icon to see if the option is there.

                                                            -----------------------------

Microsoft Store:

If not, open the Microsoft Store.

At the bottom left ==►Library

Search for updates =► Get updates

An update for Windows Web Experience Pack might help.

Essential to make W11 Widgets and associated options work.

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Automatic Store Updates:

If everything is up to date, it should be automatic:

Open the Store and click on your avatar (Account) then on =►Settings

You would need to wait for the next cumulative update to unlock the option.

Still strange that you don't have the option.

Workaround:

I will check in my toolbox if a .reg file, or a .bat file or a modification in the Windows registry is possible, even if it's not the recommended solution.

See you later

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So so:

After signing out of the Microsoft account, the option still wasn't there on the gear icon.

The Windows Web Experience Pack was indeed already up to date, and the auto-update for the Store was enabled.

Don't bother with the registry, I will wait for a cumulative update to unlock the option ;)

Thanks again for your help!