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Windows 11 Widgets Board Not Loading — Blank or Crash on Open

Informationalsystem

Overview

Fix Windows 11 widgets board showing blank content, failing to load news and weather, or crashing when opened from the taskbar.

Key Details

  • Windows 11 Widgets board is powered by Microsoft Edge WebView2 runtime
  • Widgets require a Microsoft account sign-in and active internet connection to load content
  • The board displays news, weather, stocks, sports, and third-party widget content
  • Widget data is fetched from Microsoft's MSN content services
  • Widgets run as a separate process (WidgetService.exe) that can crash independently

Common Causes

  • Microsoft Edge WebView2 runtime is corrupted or not installed
  • Not signed in with a Microsoft account (required for personalized widget content)
  • Widget service process crashed or hung in the background
  • Network proxy or firewall blocking Microsoft's widget content services

Steps

  1. 1Sign in with a Microsoft account: Settings > Accounts > ensure you are signed in
  2. 2Restart the widget service: Task Manager > find WidgetService.exe > End Task, then reopen widgets
  3. 3Repair Microsoft Edge WebView2: Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft Edge WebView2 > Modify > Repair
  4. 4Reset widgets: open PowerShell as admin and run Get-AppxPackage *WebExperience* | Reset-AppxPackage
  5. 5Check network connectivity to Microsoft services and ensure no proxy is blocking *.msn.com or *.live.com

Tags

widgetswindows-11webview2edgetaskbar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Right-click the taskbar > Taskbar settings > toggle off Widgets. Or via Group Policy: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Widgets > Allow Widgets = Disabled.