Windows 11 will now automatically hide the annoying MSN panel in newer versions.

Microsoft updated Windows 11: the widgets panel is now “quieter”

In new preview builds of Windows 11 Microsoft made several changes that make working with the system calmer and less intrusive.

What changed
The default behavior when opening the widgets panel used to show an MSN news feed (ads, headlines). The feed has been removed. Users now see only the widgets they have chosen: weather, OneDrive, calendar, etc. Hovering over the weather icon in the taskbar previously opened the widgets panel. Now the panel does not open automatically; the icon displays only the weather (unless the user configures other content).

Why Microsoft did this
In a company blog post it says the goal is to “make widgets less distracting and overwhelming.” According to developers, they are working on making the interface more “quiet” by default.

This measure is part of the Windows K2 initiative, which aims to address the main problems in Windows 11. Under K2 the company reduces advertising, unnecessary elements, and needless use of artificial intelligence.

What this means for users
- Fewer distracting news: when you open the widgets panel you immediately see only what you selected yourself.

- A simpler taskbar: the weather icon now shows only the weather unless another piece of information is set.

- The overall goal is to make the OS lighter and more user‑friendly by reducing “noise” from built‑in services.

Thus, Microsoft seeks to improve the user experience by removing excess advertising elements and making widgets more personalized.