8 Fixes for Widgets Not Working on Windows 11

Widgets on Windows 11 are one of the most remarkable features on board. These widgets let you access information, news, weather updates, and incoming updates at a glance. However, some users took to forums to complain about widgets not working on Windows 11, which literally takes the fun out of using Windows 11.

There are a million reasons why this could happen, such as malware attacks, internet issues, bugs, and issues preventing widgets from updating automatically. Here are some methods you can use to fix the “widgets not working on Windows 11 issue.”

1. Turn the Widgets ON

For most users, widgets were not turned ON by default, so there may be a chance that’s the main reason why they are not showing or working.

1. Right-click on the taskbar and click on Taskbar Settings.
2. On the next windows, you will see the taskbar items list; turn the toggle ON for Widgets.

2. Restart Your Computer

As simple as it can get, restarting a PC will resolve widgets not working on Windows 11 for many users. This is because temporary software glitches or bugs can prevent a system from rendering widgets, and thus, a quick reboot takes all away and fixes this temporary glitch for good.

3. Restart Windows Explorer

Another potential method to fix the said issue is to restart Windows Explorer using Task Manager. Here’s how it goes.

1. First, press Ctrl + Alt + Del on the keyboard to summon Task Manager.
2. Proceed to the Processes tab on Task Manager.
3. Scroll to find Windows Explorer and tap on it to highlight it.
4. Next, press the Restart button on the bottom-right section.

4. Fix Corrupt System Files

Both Android and Windows OS have issues with corrupted files that can occur after installing a malicious application.

An issue with the software corrupted some system files, prompting widgets to stop working for a while. Follow the instructions below to fix it.

1. Search for the command cmd on Windows Search without using quotation marks.
2. Launch Command Prompt.
3. Next, use the command sfc/scannow and press enter.

The system will automatically search files for any corruption due to XYZ reasons and fix it up. This method comes in handy if corrupted system files trigger the problem with widgets on Windows 11. 

5. Update Windows OS

You are using Windows 11, which is the latest update available. However, Microsoft releases minor and incremental updates now and then to kill bugs and update OSes with new features.

You could be using an outdated version of Windows 11, which caused problems with widgets in the first place. Here are some instructions for updating the system.

1. Press Windows + I on the keyboard and go to Settings.
2. Next, scroll to find Windows Update on the bottom-right section of the screen.
3. You need to press the button that says Check for updates, which is when the system will scan for updates and return results accordingly.
4. If there’s an update available, tap on Download Now and install it.
5. Reboot the Windows PC and check if the “widgets not working on Windows 11” issue is fixed. 

6. Restart Widgets

Since restarting features that aren’t running as they should, why not restart widgets on your Windows 11 PC? Here’s how you can do it.

1. Hover on the taskbar and right-click on it.
2. Select Taskbar Settings.
3. Next, expand the list on the screen and check out the toggle against Widgets. Flick it to turn Widgets off. 
4. Wait for a few minutes and flick it again to turn it ON.
5. Go back to Widgets on PC and check if everything is working properly or not.

7. Use Your Microsoft Account

You can create a Microsoft and local account to use your PC with Windows 11. However, most of the features on Windows 11 require a Microsoft account, including widgets.

If you haven’t signed in using a Microsoft account, you will face issues with widgets. If you have already signed in using a Microsoft account and yet facing the same issue, you can sign out and sign in again. That should do the trick.

1. First up, open Taskbar Settings using the same method you used initially before restarting widgets.
2. Tap on your profile. Go to Emails & accounts.
3. Tap on your Microsoft Account and sign out, only to sign in again after a few seconds.
4. If you haven’t signed up with a Microsoft account, check out the Add account button under Add a new account to add your new account.

8. Terminate Widgets Using Task Manager

This method lets you terminate or kill off a Widgets app right away so that any issues it was facing are also killed off. There is a higher chance that it will work as usual once the Widgets service is back online.

1. Use the Ctrl + Alt + Del button to open Task Manager.
2. Under the Processes tab, search for Windows Widgets and press the End Task button.
3. When you want to restart the service, go to the Widgets Dashboard on the taskbar and restart it.

Closing Words

That’s the end of our post on how to fix the Widgets not working issue on Windows 11. You should try each method one by one before fixing widgets on your PC. If you have any other method for widget fix, let us know in the comment section.