How to Fix Windows 11 Widgets Not Working — Complete Troubleshooting Guide

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How to Fix Windows 11 Widgets Not Working, Blank, or Not Loading (Complete Guide)

Widgets in Windows 11 can sometimes appear blank, fail to load, or refuse to open. This friendly, step-by-step guide helps you restore Widgets using simple fixes and deeper troubleshooting — perfect for beginners and advanced users alike.

Estimated reading time: 6–8 minutes

Why Windows 11 Widgets Stop Working

Windows 11 Widgets are powered by a combination of system services, Microsoft Edge WebView2, background tasks, and your graphics driver. When any one of these components fails, Widgets may:

  • Open but show a blank or black panel
  • Refuse to open at all
  • Crash immediately after clicking
  • Load endlessly without content

Common causes include:

  • Corrupted Edge WebView2 runtime
  • Outdated or buggy graphics drivers
  • Disabled Widgets taskbar button
  • Broken Windows system files
  • Conflicts with third-party apps or antivirus software

The good news? In most cases, Widgets issues are software-related and easily fixable without reinstalling Windows.

How to Fix Windows 11 Widgets Not Working
Widgets blank or not loading? These steps will help.

Quick Summary — Try These First

  • Ensure the Widgets button is enabled on the taskbar
  • Restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager
  • Reinstall Microsoft Edge WebView2 (Evergreen Standalone x86)
  • Disable & re-enable your graphics driver
  • Update Windows and GPU drivers
  • Set Microsoft Edge as your default browser

If Widgets still don’t work, follow the detailed steps below.

Step 1 — Make Sure Widgets Is Enabled

Windows 11 Widgets live on the taskbar. If the Widgets icon is turned off, clicking the screen edge or shortcut won’t do anything.

  1. Right-click the taskbar
  2. Select Taskbar settings
  3. Toggle Show Widgets button to On
Turn on Show Widgets button

After enabling, click the Widgets icon. If it’s still blank, continue below.

Step 2 — Restart Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer controls the taskbar, Start menu, and Widgets panel. Restarting it refreshes all UI components.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
  2. Find Windows Explorer
  3. Click Restart
Restart Windows Explorer via Task Manager

Step 3 — Reinstall Edge WebView2 (Evergreen Standalone)

Windows 11 Widgets depend heavily on Microsoft Edge WebView2. If WebView2 is corrupted, Widgets won’t render content.

  1. Download WebView2 Evergreen Standalone (x86)
  2. Run the installer
  3. Restart your PC
Reinstall Edge WebView2

Step 4 — Disable & Re-Enable Graphics Driver

Graphics drivers play a crucial role in rendering Widgets. A driver reset clears temporary GPU glitches.

  1. Open Device Manager
  2. Expand Display adapters
  3. Right-click your GPU → Disable
  4. Wait a few seconds → Enable again
  5. Update driver if available
Update graphics driver

Step 5 — Set Microsoft Edge as Default Browser

Widgets integrate deeply with Edge services. Setting Edge as default avoids protocol conflicts.

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Default apps
  2. Select Microsoft Edge
  3. Assign HTTP, HTTPS, and .html defaults

Step 6 — Run System File Checker & DISM

Corrupted system files can break Widgets and other Windows UI components.

sfc /scannow

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Restart your PC after completion.

Advanced Fixes (Only If Needed)

  • Create a new local user account
  • Reset Windows (Keep files)
  • Check Event Viewer for ShellExperienceHost or WebView2 errors

If Widgets Are Still Blank

  • Disable third-party antivirus temporarily
  • Disable overlays (Discord, OBS)
  • Test Widgets in Safe Mode

Final Checklist & Conclusion

  1. Widgets enabled
  2. Explorer restarted
  3. WebView2 reinstalled
  4. Graphics driver reset
  5. SFC & DISM completed

If Widgets still don’t work, check your Windows build and Event Viewer logs for deeper diagnosis.

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