Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft that comes with many new AI features and improvements. One of these features is Windows 11 widgets, which show personalized and relevant information on your desktop. You can access widgets by clicking on the icon in the taskbar or by pressing Win+W. Widgets can help you stay updated with news, weather, traffic, sports, stocks, and more. However, at times you may notice Widgets not opening in Windows 11. Users reported that widgets are not working properly, or Windows 11 Widgets Not Displaying, display blank or greyed out content. This article explores some common reasons why Windows 11 widgets not working or greyed out and how to fix them.
widgets panel is not opening. Even the information (text) appearing on the widget button like temperature, stocks, etc is not showing.
Why Windows 11 Widgets are Not Displaying
One of the common reasons behind this problem is that widgets depend on the Edge browser engine and the EdgeWebView2 component to render their content. If these components are missing, outdated, or corrupted, widgets may not work correctly. Therefore, you need to make sure that Edge is set as your default browser and that EdgeWebView2 is installed and updated on your device.
Again Recent updates to Windows 11 might have caused compatibility issues with the widgets, leading to malfunctions. Issues with internet connectivity can prevent widgets from fetching real-time information, resulting in failures to display content.
Conflicts with third-party applications or software can interfere with the proper functioning of Windows 11 widgets. Problems with the widget service itself, such as errors in the background processes responsible for updating and maintaining the widgets, can cause malfunctions.
Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can impact the rendering of widgets on the desktop, leading to display issues. Problems with the Windows Store, where widgets are often updated, can result in failures to download or install the necessary updates for widgets.
Whatever the reason, here are some possible solutions that you can try to fix widgets not working on Windows 11.
Disable and Re-enable Widgets
Disabling and re-enabling widgets can refresh their settings and resolve any temporary glitches. This process essentially resets the widget functionality on your desktop.
- Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
- Look for Widgets under the Taskbar Items section.
- Toggle off the “Widgets” button, then toggle it back on to see whether the widgets are working.
Restart the Widget Process
Restarting the widget process and File Explorer is a comprehensive approach to clear any underlying issues and reload the widgets. File Explorer is integral to the functioning of widgets, and restarting it ensures a thorough refresh of the desktop environment.
If the widgets process has crashed or isn’t responding for some reason, restarting it should fix it.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch the Task Manager.
- Make sure the Processes tab is selected, Scroll down to locate Windows Widgets, right-click on it select Endtask.
- Next, Locate and select “Windows Explorer” Right-click the process and select Restart.
- Launch the widgets panel again and, hopefully, the widgets should now work.
Log in to Your Microsoft Account
Widgets require you to be logged in to your Microsoft account to show personalized and relevant information. Logging in with your Microsoft Account can synchronize your settings and preferences, potentially resolving widget opening issues tied to account information. This ensures that widgets access the correct data associated with your account.
If you are not logged in or have switched to a local account, widgets may not work properly.
- Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
- Go to “Accounts” and select “Sign in with a Microsoft account.”
- Provide your username and password then click Sign in or create a Microsoft account if you don’t have one.
Set Edge as the Default Browser
Widgets use the Edge browser engine to render their content. Setting Microsoft Edga as the default browser ensures proper integration, allowing widgets to fetch and display data seamlessly.
To set Edge as your default browser
- Press the Windows key + X and select settings
- Go to Apps then Default Apps, Scroll through the list of apps and click on your current default browser.
- Here, you’ll see all file types that open in a browser. Click on each file type one by one and select Microsoft Edge to set it as default.
Update Windows 11 and apps
Keeping Windows 11 up to date ensures that you have the latest bug fixes and improvements, which can resolve widget-related issues. Regular updates address system vulnerabilities and enhance overall stability.
- Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
- Go to “Windows Update” and click “Check for updates.”
- If updates are available, click “Download and install” to initiate the update process.
In addition, open the Microsoft Store and click the ” Library ” icon in the left pane. Click the ” Get Updates ” button in the upper corner of the right pane to manually check for app and game updates in the Microsoft Store.
Reinstall Microsoft EdgeWebView2
EdgeWebView2 is a component that enables web content hosting in native applications such as widgets. If this component is missing or corrupted, widgets may not work properly. Reinstalling it can fix potential corruption or missing files, ensuring that widgets can access and display content properly.
The widget table uses Microsoft Edge Webview2 Runtime to display widget contents
Press the Windows key + R, type appwiz. cpl and click ok, right-click on“Microsoft Edge WebView2” click the “Change” option. Select repair and on-screen instructions to repair Microsoft Edge WebView2.
If you find that Microsoft Edge Webview2 Runtime is missing from the list of installed applications on your device, download it from the official Microsoft website, and install it on your computer.
- Download the latest version of EdgeWebView2 from the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime page.
- Install the downloaded package following the on-screen instructions.
Update Graphics Driver
An outdated or incompatible graphics driver can affect widget rendering. Updating it can resolve compatibility issues and ensure smooth rendering of widgets on your desktop.
- Right-click on the Start button and select “Device Manager.”
- Expand the “Display adapters” category.
- Right-click on your graphics card and select “Update driver.”
- Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software” and follow the prompts.
Also, you can visit the official website of your computer or graphics card manufacturer to download the latest graphics driver and install it.
After updating your PC’s graphics card driver, restart your computer, and check if the issue with widgets is resolved.
Enable Widgets using Group Policy
Enabling widgets through Group Policy ensures that they are allowed to run on your system. This step is essential if there are policy restrictions preventing widgets from opening.
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type “gpedit.msc” and press Enter.
- Navigate to “User Configuration” -> “Administrative Templates” -> “Start Menu and Taskbar.”
- Double-click on “Allow widgets” and set it to “Enabled.”
If none of the previous solutions fixed your issue with the widget table not displaying or working properly, try uninstalling and reinstalling Windows Web Experience Pack to fix widgets in Windows 11.
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