How To Turn Off News And Interests In Windows 10

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How to Turn Off News and Interests in Windows 10

So, you're looking to get rid of that News and Interests thingy on your Windows 10 taskbar, huh? No worries, I got you! It can be super handy for some, but for others, it's just another distraction. Let's dive into how you can disable it and reclaim your clean taskbar. Trust me, it's easier than you think!

Why Turn Off News and Interests?

First off, let's chat about why you might want to turn off News and Interests. This feature, which Microsoft introduced, is designed to keep you updated with the latest news, weather, sports scores, and more, right from your taskbar. Sounds cool, right? But here's the thing: not everyone finds it useful.

  • Distraction: The constant updates and flashy headlines can be a major distraction, especially when you're trying to focus on work or other important tasks. It's like having a little news ticker constantly vying for your attention.
  • Clutter: Some users prefer a clean and minimalistic taskbar. Adding the News and Interests widget can make the taskbar feel cluttered, especially if you already have several icons and pinned applications.
  • Resource Usage: Although it's designed to be lightweight, the News and Interests feature does use some system resources. If you're running an older or less powerful computer, disabling it can free up those resources and potentially improve performance.
  • Privacy Concerns: News and Interests collects data about your interests and location to provide personalized content. If you're concerned about privacy, disabling the feature can prevent this data collection.
  • Irrelevant Content: Sometimes, the news and information displayed just isn't relevant to you. Seeing a bunch of sports scores when you're not a sports fan, or weather updates for a city you don't live in, can be annoying.

For all these reasons, turning off News and Interests can be a great way to customize your Windows 10 experience and make it work better for you. Now that we've covered the "why," let's get to the "how!"

Step-by-Step Guide to Disabling News and Interests

Alright, let's get down to business. Here’s how you can turn off News and Interests in Windows 10. There are a few ways to do it, and I'll walk you through each one so you can pick the method that works best for you.

Method 1: Right-Click on the Taskbar

This is the easiest and most straightforward way to disable News and Interests. Here’s how you do it:

  1. Right-Click: Find an empty space on your taskbar and right-click. This will bring up a context menu with a bunch of options.

  2. Navigate to "News and Interests": In the context menu, look for the option labeled "News and Interests." Hover your mouse over it, and a submenu will appear.

  3. Select "Turn Off": In the submenu, you’ll see a few options:

    • Show icon and text: This displays both the icon and a brief snippet of news or weather.
    • Show icon only: This just shows the icon without any text.
    • Turn off: This completely disables the feature.

    Click on "Turn off." Poof! The News and Interests widget should disappear from your taskbar immediately. You’ve successfully disabled it using the quickest method.

Method 2: Using Group Policy Editor (for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education)

If you're running a Pro, Enterprise, or Education version of Windows 10, you can use the Group Policy Editor to disable News and Interests. This method is a bit more advanced but gives you more control.

  1. Open Group Policy Editor:
    • Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
    • Type gpedit.msc and press Enter. This will open the Local Group Policy Editor.
  2. Navigate to the Correct Policy:
    • In the left pane, navigate through the following folders:
      • Computer Configuration
      • Administrative Templates
      • Windows Components
      • News and interests
  3. Edit the Policy:
    • In the right pane, you should see a policy named "Enable News and interests on the taskbar."
    • Double-click on this policy to open its settings.
  4. Disable News and Interests:
    • In the policy settings window, you’ll see three options:
      • Not Configured: This is the default setting.
      • Enabled: This enables the News and Interests feature.
      • Disabled: This disables the News and Interests feature.
    • Select "Disabled" and click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.
  5. Restart Your Computer: For the changes to take effect, you’ll need to restart your computer. Once it’s restarted, the News and Interests widget should be gone.

Method 3: Using the Registry Editor (for All Windows 10 Versions)

If you're using Windows 10 Home, you won't have access to the Group Policy Editor. But don't worry, you can still disable News and Interests using the Registry Editor. This method involves making changes to your system registry, so it’s important to be careful and follow the instructions closely. Incorrectly editing the registry can cause serious problems, so make sure you back up your registry before proceeding.

  1. Open Registry Editor:
    • Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
    • Type regedit and press Enter. This will open the Registry Editor.
    • If prompted, click "Yes" to allow the app to make changes to your device.
  2. Navigate to the Correct Key:
    • In the left pane, navigate through the following folders:
      • HKEY_CURRENT_USER
      • Software
      • Microsoft
      • Windows
      • CurrentVersion
      • Feeds
    • If the Feeds key doesn't exist, you'll need to create it. To do this, right-click on CurrentVersion, select "New," and then click "Key." Name the new key Feeds.
  3. Create a DWORD Value:
    • Right-click in the right pane, select "New," and then click "DWORD (32-bit) Value."
    • Name the new value ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode.
  4. Modify the DWORD Value:
    • Double-click on the ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode value to open its settings.
    • In the "Value data" field, enter 2 and click "OK."
      • 0 : Enable icon and text
      • 1 : Enable icon only
      • 2 : Disable completely
  5. Restart Your Computer: For the changes to take effect, you’ll need to restart your computer. Once it’s restarted, the News and Interests widget should be gone.

Important: Before making any changes to the registry, it's a good idea to back it up. To do this, in the Registry Editor, go to File > Export. Choose a location to save the backup file and give it a name. If anything goes wrong, you can import this file to restore your registry to its previous state.

Re-Enabling News and Interests

Okay, so you've turned off News and Interests, but what if you decide you want it back? No problem! Re-enabling the feature is just as easy as disabling it. Here’s how you do it, using the same methods we discussed earlier.

Method 1: Right-Click on the Taskbar

  1. Right-Click: Right-click on an empty space on your taskbar.

  2. Navigate to "News and Interests": In the context menu, hover your mouse over "News and Interests."

  3. Select Your Preferred Option:

    • To show both the icon and text, click "Show icon and text."
    • To show only the icon, click "Show icon only."

    The News and Interests widget will reappear on your taskbar, displaying the latest updates.

Method 2: Using Group Policy Editor

  1. Open Group Policy Editor:
    • Press the Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the Policy:
    • Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > News and interests.
  3. Edit the Policy:
    • Double-click on "Enable News and interests on the taskbar."
  4. Enable News and Interests:
    • Select "Enabled" or "Not Configured" and click "Apply" and then "OK."
  5. Restart Your Computer: Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Method 3: Using the Registry Editor

  1. Open Registry Editor:
    • Press the Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the Key:
    • Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Feeds.
  3. Modify the DWORD Value:
    • Double-click on ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode.
    • To show both the icon and text, enter 0 in the "Value data" field and click "OK."
    • To show only the icon, enter 1 in the "Value data" field and click "OK."
  4. Restart Your Computer: Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, things don’t go exactly as planned. Here are a few common issues you might encounter when disabling or re-enabling News and Interests, along with some troubleshooting tips.

  • News and Interests Doesn't Disappear:
    • Restart Your Computer: This is the simplest and often most effective solution. A restart can help apply the changes you made.
    • Check Group Policy/Registry: If you used the Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor, double-check that you followed the steps correctly and that the settings are applied.
    • Update Windows: Make sure your Windows 10 is up to date. Sometimes, older versions of Windows can have issues with feature settings.
  • News and Interests Reappears After an Update:
    • Reapply Settings: After a major Windows update, some settings might revert to their defaults. Reapply the steps to disable News and Interests.
    • Check Group Policy: If you’re using Group Policy, an update might have changed the policy settings. Verify that the policy is still set to disabled.
  • Missing "News and Interests" Option in Taskbar Menu:
    • Update Windows: Ensure your Windows 10 is fully updated. The News and Interests feature was introduced in a later update, so you might not have it if you're running an older version.
    • Check for Conflicting Software: Some third-party software might interfere with Windows features. Try disabling recently installed programs to see if that resolves the issue.

By following these troubleshooting tips, you should be able to resolve most issues you encounter while managing the News and Interests feature on your Windows 10 taskbar.

Conclusion

Alright, guys, that's pretty much it! You now know how to turn off (and back on) the News and Interests feature in Windows 10. Whether you're looking to declutter your taskbar, reduce distractions, or just customize your Windows experience, these steps should help you get the job done. Remember, you can choose the method that works best for you, whether it's the quick right-click option, the Group Policy Editor, or the Registry Editor. Happy customizing!