Disabling the Windows News and Interests fly-out widget through the registry
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/04/08
I could not find a reliable per-user setting that works with just logoff/logon for Windows 11 like I found for Windows 10 in Disabling the Windows 10 and Windows 11 news (and weather) feeds.
So (for now?) there is only a global Globally which needs admin rights and a logoff/logon sequence:
:: requires admin
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh" /v "AllowNewsAndInterests" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
echo logoff/logon to apply the change, or restart Explorer
Via:
- [Wayback/Archive] Mary Branscombe on Twitter: “glad to see I’m not the only journalist who thinks Microsoft is embarrassing themselves with this trash – and frankly, begging to get regulated in ways they will really regret”
- [Wayback/Archive] Mary Branscombe on Twitter: “@jpluimers @SwiftOnSecurity @JenMsft Awful isn’t it. I’ve got the regedit/GPE here (it’s a piece about Arm but the reg key is the same)”
[Wayback/Archive] FREE EDITION: Making Windows 11 on Arm less obnoxious @ AskWoody
If you have Windows 11 Home, you’ll need to use the Registry Editor. Navigate to
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoftand look for theDshkey; if it doesn’t exist, create it. Then make aDWORDcalledAllowNewsAndInterestsand set it to0. Despite the name, this does the same thing as the Group Policy — turns off the Widget bar completely rather than just removing the irritating news headlines.
- [Wayback/Archive] AllowNewsAndInterests “reg add” – Google Search
- [Wayback/Archive] Is there a way to fully disable Widgets processes? : Windows11
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh" /v "AllowNewsAndInterests" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f - [Wayback/Archive] windows-dev-box/customization.bat at main · dend/windows-dev-box
:: Disable News and Interests functionality. reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh" /f /v AllowNewsAndInterests /t REG_DWORD /d 0 - [Wayback/Archive] windows-dev-box/customization.bat at main · dend/windows-dev-box
:: Disable News and Interests functionality. reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh" /f /v AllowNewsAndInterests /t REG_DWORD /d 0 :: Disable widgets auto-launching. reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Dsh" /f /v IsPrelaunchEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0
The second one on the final batch file above fails, just as the ones below, even if combined, and will show the widget after logoff/logon:
- [Wayback/Archive] Windows/Windows Tweaks.bat at main · TairikuOokami/Windows
rem 0 - Disable Widgets reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\NewsAndInterests\AllowNewsAndInterests" /v "value" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
–jeroen
The Wiert Corner - irregular stream of stuff 
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