How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Edge Web Widget in Windows 10


Microsoft has adopted the Chromium open source project in the development of Microsoft Edge on the desktop to create better web compatibility. This new Microsoft Edge runs on the same Chromium web engine as the Google Chrome browser, offering you best in class web compatibility and performance.

The new Chromium based Microsoft Edge is supported on all versions of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server (2016 and above), Windows Server (2008 R2 to 2012 R2), and macOS.

The Microsoft Edge Web widget allows you to easily access information that’s important to you. Quickly check in on the latest headlines, weather, sports, and more in a way that’s easy to observe at-a-glance and without the distraction of switching between apps, websites and devices.

If you turn on the Web widget, it will remain open even if you close Microsoft Edge until you close the Web widget.

The Web widget is similar to news and interests on the taskbar in Windows 10.

See also: Get started with the Web widget | Microsoft News Blog

This tutorial will show you how to turn on (open) and turn off (close) the Microsoft Edge Web widget for your account in Windows 10.

The Web widget is currently only available as part of controlled feature roll-outs in the Microsoft Edge Canary channel, so not everyone will have this feature yet.

If you disable the WebWidgetAllowed policy: The Web widget will be disabled for all users. The option to launch the widget from Microsoft Edge Settings will be disabled. The option to launch start the widget at Windows startup (auto-start) will be disabled. The option to launch the widget from Microsoft Edge "More tools" menu will be disabled.



Contents

  • Option One: Turn On and Open Web widget in More Tools menu
  • Option Two: Turn On and Open Web widget in Microsoft Edge Settings
  • Option Three: Open Web widget from Notification Icon
  • Option Four: Turn Off and Close Web widget from Notification Icon
  • Option Five: Open Web widget from Web widget Floating Button
  • Option Six: Turn Off and Close Web widget from Web widget Floating Button
  • Option Seven: Turn Off and Close Web widget from Web widget Settings



EXAMPLE: Web widget with default vertical layout
How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Edge Web Widget in Windows 10-microsoft_edge_web_widget.jpg






OPTION ONE

Turn On and Open Web widget in More Tools menu


1 Open Microsoft Edge.

2 Click/tap on the Settings and more (Alt+F) button (3 dots). (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on More tools.

4 Click/tap on Launch Web widget.

How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Edge Web Widget in Windows 10-microsoft_edge_launch_web_widget_more_tools_menu.png






OPTION TWO

Turn On and Open Web widget in Microsoft Edge Settings


1 Open Microsoft Edge.

2 Click/tap on the Settings and more (Alt+F) button (3 dots), and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)

How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Edge Web Widget in Windows 10-microsoft_edge_settings.png

3 Click/tap on Start, home, and new tabs on the left side, and click/tap on the Launch Web widget now to see how it works link on the right side.

If you do not see a left pane, then either click/tap on the 3 bars menu button towards the top left OR widen the horizontal borders of the Microsoft Edge window until you do.

How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Edge Web Widget in Windows 10-open_web_widget_in_microsoft_settings.png

4 You can now close the Settings tab if you like.






OPTION THREE

Open Web widget from Notification Icon


This option is only available if the Web widget has already been turned on in Option One or Option Two.


1 Click/tap on the Web widget icon on the taskbar notification area, and click/tap on Open Web widget. (see screenshot below)

How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Edge Web Widget in Windows 10-open_web_widget_notification_icon.png






OPTION FOUR

Turn Off and Close Web widget from Notification Icon


This option is only available if the Web widget has already been turned on in Option One or Option Two.


1 Click/tap on the Web widget icon on the taskbar notification area, and click/tap on Quit. (see screenshot below)

How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Edge Web Widget in Windows 10-close_web_widget_notification_icon.png






OPTION FIVE

Open Web widget from Web widget Floating Button


This option is only available if the Web widget has already been turned on in Option One or Option Two.


1 Click/tap on the Web widget floating button on the border of your desktop. (see screenshot below)

The floating button is seen when the Web widget has either been minimized or completely covered by another window.

How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Edge Web Widget in Windows 10-close_web_widget-1.png






OPTION SIX

Turn Off and Close Web widget from Web widget Floating Button


This option is only available if the Web widget has already been turned on in Option One or Option Two.


1 Right click or press and hold on the Web widget floating button on the border of your desktop. (see screenshot below)

The floating button is seen when the Web widget has either been minimized or completely covered by another window.


2 Click/tap on Close Web widget.

How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Edge Web Widget in Windows 10-close_web_widget_from_floating_button.png






OPTION SEVEN

Turn Off and Close Web widget from Web widget Settings


This option is only available if the Web widget has already been turned on in Option One or Option Two.


1 Open the Web widget using Option Three or Option Five.

2 Click/tap on the Settings and more (gear) icon in the Web widget, and click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)

How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Edge Web Widget in Windows 10-close_web_widget-2.png


That's it,
Shawn Brink


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