Windows 10: How to Customize the News and Interests Widget

Tame Your News Feed: A Guide to Customizing the Windows 10 News and Interests Widget

Stay informed, stay entertained! Discover how to personalize your Windows 10 News and Interests widget with our easy-to-follow guide. Tailor your news, weather, and more to fit your life.

Hey There, News Junkies and Info Seekers!

Ever feel like your Windows 10 News and Interests widget is more like a source of annoyance than actual useful information? It's throwing random articles at you that you couldn't care less about, displaying weather for a city you've never even visited, and generally cluttering up your taskbar with digital noise? Yeah, we've all been there. It's like having a well-meaning but completely clueless friend constantly recommending things you have zero interest in.

Think about it: you fire up your computer, ready to tackle the day, and BAM! You're bombarded with celebrity gossip, political rants, and stock market updates that feel utterly irrelevant. Maybe you're a tech enthusiast who wants to stay on top of the latest gadget releases, or a foodie craving delicious recipes, or a sports fanatic needing your daily dose of scores. But instead, you're getting... cat videos (okay, some cat videos are good, we admit it ), but still! It's not your news.

The good news, friends, is that you're not stuck with the default, generic, "one-size-fits-all" news feed. Windows 10 offers a surprising amount of customization options, allowing you to transform that chaotic widget into a personalized hub of information tailored to your specific interests and needs. Imagine a world where your news feed actually delivers news you want to see, weather updates for your location, and stock market insights that actually matter to you. Sounds pretty sweet, right?

We're talking about taking control of your digital information stream, filtering out the noise, and creating a personalized experience that enhances, rather than detracts from, your daily routine. No more wasted screen real estate, no more irrelevant headlines, just pure, unadulterated information bliss .

So, how do you go about taming this beast and turning it into a helpful companion? How do you transform that chaotic clutter into a curated collection of news, weather, and interests that actually matter to you ? Well, buckle up, because we're about to dive deep into the world of Windows 10 News and Interests customization. Get ready to say goodbye to information overload and hello to personalized enlightenment!

Ready to unlock the secrets to a perfectly tailored news experience? Keep reading, because we're about to reveal everything you need to know!

Taking Control: Personalizing Your News and Interests Feed

The Windows 10 News and Interests widget, while potentially annoying in its default state, actually boasts a surprising level of customization. The trick is knowing where to look and how to tweak the settings to reflect your personal preferences. Think of it as sculpting a personalized information experience. Let's break down the key areas you can customize.

Hiding the Widget Entirely (Sometimes Less is More)

Okay, sometimes customization just means getting rid of something altogether. If you find the News and Interests widget a complete distraction, and no amount of tweaking seems to help, you can simply hide it. Here's how:

Right-click on an empty space on your taskbar. This is the first step to any taskbar manipulation. Hover over "News and interests" in the context menu. This will expand a submenu. Select "Turn off." Boom! Gone. Peace and quiet restored to your taskbar. Pro Tip: If you later decide you miss it, just repeat the steps and select "Show icon and text" or "Show icon only" from the same menu.

Managing Your Interests: The Heart of Customization

This is where the real magic happens. You can tell the News and Interests widget exactly what you're interested in, and it will (attempt to) tailor its content accordingly. Here's how to dive into the interest management settings:

Click on the News and Interests widget on your taskbar. This will open the main News and Interests panel. Click on the three dots (ellipsis) in the top right corner of the panel. This opens a menu. Select "Manage interests." This will open a new page in your default web browser (usually Microsoft Edge). Pro Tip: Alternatively, you can directly access your interests page by visiting `msn.com` and logging in with your Microsoft account.

Exploring and Adding Interests

Once you're on the "My interests" page, you'll see a variety of categories and subcategories to choose from.

Browse the categories: Explore different topics like "News," "Sports," "Entertainment," "Finance," and more. Click on a category to expand it and reveal subcategories. Add interests: When you find a topic that interests you, click the "+" button next to it to add it to your personalized feed. A checkmark will appear to confirm it's been added. Pro Tip: Be as specific as possible. Instead of just adding "Sports," add "NBA," "NFL," or your favorite team. The more specific you are, the more relevant your feed will be.

Removing Interests

Just as important as adding interests is removing topics you don't care about.

Review your followed interests: On the "My interests" page, you'll see a section listing all the topics you're currently following. Unfollow unwanted interests: Click the checkmark next to any topic you no longer want to see in your feed. The checkmark will disappear, and the topic will be removed from your interests. Pro Tip: Be ruthless! If you're not genuinely interested in something, remove it. Don't be afraid to prune your interests regularly to keep your feed fresh and relevant.

Customizing the News Sources You See

Beyond specific interests, you can also influence the types of news sources that appear in your feed.

Feedback on articles: When you see an article in your News and Interests feed, you can provide feedback by hovering over it. Options include "More stories like this," "Fewer stories like this," and "Don't show stories from [Source]." Block sources: If there's a particular news outlet you consistently dislike, you can block it entirely from appearing in your feed. This is a great way to filter out biased or unreliable sources. Pro Tip: Take advantage of the feedback options! The more you interact with your feed, the better it will become at understanding your preferences.

Weather Customization: Location, Location, Location!

Seeing weather updates for a city you've never heard of? Annoying, right? Here's how to make sure you're getting accurate weather information for your location:

Click on the News and Interests widget. This will open the main panel. Look for the weather section. It usually displays the current temperature and a brief forecast. Click on the three dots (ellipsis) within the weather section. This opens a menu. Select "Edit location." Enter your city or zip code. Make sure it's accurate! Pro Tip: You can also set multiple locations if you want to keep an eye on the weather in other cities (maybe where family lives or where you're planning a vacation).

Understanding the Visual Clutter

Sometimes, the problem isn't the content of the News and Interests widget, but the way it looks . Too much text, too many images, too much everything can be overwhelming. Here's how to manage the visual presentation:

Choose Icon and Text vs. Icon Only: As mentioned earlier, right-clicking the taskbar, hovering over "News and interests," allows you to choose between "Show icon and text" (which displays a brief headline) or "Show icon only" (which just shows a weather icon). "Show icon only" provides a cleaner look. Consider Hiding the Search Bar: The search bar also takes up taskbar space. Right-click on the taskbar, select "Search," and then "Hidden" to reclaim that space. Pro Tip: Experiment with different taskbar configurations to find what works best for you .

Privacy Considerations

The News and Interests widget collects data about your interests and browsing habits to personalize your feed. If you're concerned about privacy, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Microsoft Privacy Dashboard: Visit the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard (search for it online) to review and manage the data Microsoft collects about you. You can delete browsing history, location data, and other information. Disable Personalized Ads: Within your Microsoft account settings, you can disable personalized advertising. This will limit the extent to which Microsoft uses your data to target you with ads. Pro Tip: Regularly review your privacy settings and make adjustments as needed.

By taking the time to customize your Windows 10 News and Interests widget, you can transform it from a source of frustration into a valuable tool for staying informed and entertained. It's all about taking control, defining your interests, and shaping your digital information experience. Ready to dive in and personalize your feed?

Fine-Tuning for Optimal Performance

So you've hidden the widget, managed your interests, customized the weather, and tweaked the visual settings. You're feeling pretty good about your personalized news experience, right? But wait, there's more! To truly optimize the News and Interests widget, you need to consider a few more advanced settings and troubleshooting tips. Let's dive in and ensure you're getting the best possible performance.

Refresh Rate: Keeping Your Feed Up-to-Date

One common complaint about the News and Interests widget is that the information can sometimes be outdated. To address this, you need to understand how the widget refreshes its content and how you can influence the refresh rate.

Automatic Refresh: The News and Interests widget automatically refreshes its content periodically. The exact frequency isn't officially documented, but it's generally believed to be every few hours. Manual Refresh: You can manually refresh the widget by clicking on the three dots (ellipsis) in the top right corner of the News and Interests panel and selecting "Refresh." This will force the widget to fetch the latest information. Pro Tip: If you rely on the widget for time-sensitive information, such as stock prices or breaking news, consider manually refreshing it more frequently.

Dealing with Glitches and Errors

Like any software feature, the News and Interests widget can occasionally experience glitches and errors. Here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them:

Widget Not Loading: If the widget isn't loading at all, or displaying an error message, try restarting your computer. This often resolves temporary glitches. Blank Content: If the widget is loading but displaying blank content, check your internet connection. The widget requires an active internet connection to function properly. Incorrect Information: If the widget is displaying incorrect information (e.g., wrong weather forecast), try clearing the cache and cookies for Microsoft Edge. This can sometimes resolve data synchronization issues. Reinstall the Feature: In extreme cases, you may need to reinstall the News and Interests feature. To do this, run the following command in PowerShell as an administrator: `Get-AppxPackage -Name "Microsoft.ZuneVideo" | Remove-AppxPackage` Then, restart your computer and reinstall the feature from the Microsoft Store. Pro Tip: Keep your Windows 10 installation up-to-date. Microsoft regularly releases updates that include bug fixes and performance improvements for the News and Interests widget.

Optimizing Performance: Reducing Resource Usage

The News and Interests widget, while convenient, can consume system resources, especially if it's constantly refreshing in the background. If you're experiencing performance issues, here are some ways to reduce the widget's resource usage:

Disable Background Refresh: While you can't completely disable background refresh, you can minimize its impact by closing the News and Interests panel when you're not actively using it. Limit Active Interests: The more interests you follow, the more data the widget needs to fetch and process. Reduce the number of active interests to only the topics you're truly interested in. Use Icon Only Mode: Displaying only the icon instead of the icon and text reduces the amount of text rendering and image loading, which can improve performance. Pro Tip: Monitor your system's resource usage using Task Manager to see how much memory and CPU the News and Interests widget is consuming.

Exploring Alternative News Aggregators

If, despite your best efforts, you're still not satisfied with the News and Interests widget, consider exploring alternative news aggregators. Numerous apps and websites offer customizable news feeds and personalized information experiences.

Microsoft Start: Microsoft Start is a customizable news feed available online and as a mobile app. It offers similar features to the News and Interests widget, but with more customization options. Google News: Google News is another popular news aggregator that allows you to personalize your feed based on your interests and preferences. Feedly: Feedly is a powerful RSS reader that allows you to subscribe to your favorite news sources and blogs and create a highly customized news feed. Pro Tip: Experiment with different news aggregators to find one that best suits your needs and preferences.

Connecting with Your Community

Don't be afraid to seek help and advice from the Windows 10 community. Online forums, social media groups, and technical support websites are great resources for troubleshooting issues and learning new tips and tricks.

Microsoft Community Forums: The Microsoft Community Forums are a great place to ask questions and get help from other Windows 10 users and Microsoft support staff. Reddit: Subreddits like r/Windows10 are active communities where you can discuss Windows 10 features and troubleshoot problems. Pro Tip: When seeking help online, be sure to provide as much detail as possible about your issue, including your Windows 10 version, hardware specifications, and any troubleshooting steps you've already taken.

By mastering these advanced settings and troubleshooting tips, you can ensure that your Windows 10 News and Interests widget is running smoothly, efficiently, and providing you with the personalized information experience you deserve. Now go forth and conquer your digital information stream!

Wrapping Up: Your Personalized News Oasis Awaits

Congratulations, friend! You've reached the end of our comprehensive guide to customizing the Windows 10 News and Interests widget. You're now armed with the knowledge and tools to transform that potentially annoying taskbar feature into a personalized oasis of information, tailored precisely to your interests and needs.

We started by acknowledging the common frustrations with the default, generic news feed, highlighting how it can often feel irrelevant and cluttered. Then, we dove deep into the customization options, showing you how to hide the widget, manage your interests, customize the weather, adjust the visual settings, and even troubleshoot common glitches and errors. We also explored advanced settings like refresh rates and resource optimization, ensuring your news experience is both informative and efficient. Finally, we encouraged you to explore alternative news aggregators and connect with the Windows 10 community for ongoing support and inspiration.

The key takeaway here is that you're not stuck with the default experience. Windows 10 gives you the power to take control of your digital information stream, filter out the noise, and create a personalized experience that enhances your daily routine.

Now, your call to action: take 15 minutes today to customize your own News and Interests widget! Don't let it sit there, spewing out irrelevant headlines and outdated information. Dive into the settings, prune your interests, adjust the visual presentation, and create a news feed that truly reflects your passions and priorities.

Imagine the feeling of opening your computer each day and being greeted by a curated collection of news, weather, and interests that actually matter to you. Imagine the time you'll save by not having to sift through endless articles you couldn't care less about. Imagine the peace of mind knowing that you're in control of your digital information stream.

The power is in your hands. So go forth, personalize your news, and create a digital environment that empowers, informs, and inspires you . You've got this!

And remember, the world of technology is constantly evolving, so stay curious, keep learning, and never be afraid to experiment. What news interests do you plan to add?

Last updated: 6/19/2025