21

How do I gracefully prevent Widgets.exe from starting automatically on my Windows 11?

By "gracefully", I mean I don't like deleting it or messing with the filesystem security.

It's already turned off in my Task bar settings:

enter image description here

I've tried Autoruns but Widgets isn't listed in any of the typical autoruns locations.

It isn't a big deal, but I don't like the fact that a heavy WebView2-based app is setting there in the memory and doing nothing useful to me as a user:

enter image description here

Moab
  • 58,769
noseratio
  • 2,963

2 Answers2

40

I have the answer! Very simple in fact when you know. run PowerShell as administrator and winget uninstall "windows web experience pack". And voilà!

If you want to reinstall it for some x or y reason. You can install it again from the Microsoft Store https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/windows-web-experience-pack/9mssgkg348sp

Now enjoy your extra RAM and off fans!

Brouilles
  • 616
2

Removing with PowerShell

This worked for me:

Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -online -PackageName MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_424.1301.450.0_neutral_~_cw5n1h2txyewy

The suffix in the full name of the package may differ. The following commands show installed apps:

Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Format-Table

or

Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -eq 'MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience' }

winget commands fails for me

winget source reset does not help.

Failed when opening source(s); try the 'source reset' command if the problem persists.
George Sovetov
  • 256