Windows 11 Update Enables Using Widgets Without Microsoft Account

A new update for Windows 11 Web Experience Pack is available which allows users to use Widgets board with a local user account without any need of Microsoft Account (MSA). Also a new option to use Widgets board in Full Screen Mode has been added. You can now expand the size of your widgets board by using the expand and collapse button present in the top right corner of the board.

Windows 11 operating system comes with Widgets board feature which displays live weather forecast information at the lower-left side of the Taskbar and when the user hovers mouse cursor over weather information or clicks on it, Windows 11 launches Widgets Board showing latest news stories, weather forecast and many more widgets as shown in following screenshot:

In past, widgets board and weather forecast required users to sign in using their Microsoft Account (Outlook, etc email IDs) to be able to use these features. If a Windows 11 user wanted to access widgets feature, he had to sign in using Microsoft Account. There was no way available to use widgets feature with an offline or local user account.

Now Microsoft has removed the Microsoft Account sign-in requirement from Widgets feature in Windows 11. Any Windows 11 user can now use widgets feature without using Microsoft Account. The full screen or expanded view has also been added to Widgets board.

Last year, Microsoft started testing these features in Windows 11 23H2 Insider Preview builds. The Microsoft Account sign-in requirement was removed in Windows 11 build 10.0.25262 which was released on December 09, 2022 and the full screen view in widgets board was added in Windows 11 build 10.0.25201 released on September 14, 2022. You can check the full changelog of Windows 11 Insider Preview builds in our following exclusive article:

Windows 11 23H2 Insider Preview Builds Changelog

Now Microsoft has added the same features to Windows 11 public stable versions. All Windows 11 users having Windows 11 22H2 build 22621 or later with Web Experience Pack version 423.3000.10.0 installed will be able to use Widgets feature without Microsoft Account.

You can check the installed Windows 11 version using winver command as described in following article:

How to Check Which Windows Version is Installed in My Computer?

The Web Experience Pack is automatically updated by Windows 11. You can manually update it using Microsoft Store app. Go to following download page and click on “Get in Store app” button:

Update Windows Web Experience Pack from Microsoft Store

It’ll open the download page in Microsoft Store app and you’ll be able to update Web Experience Pack to latest version.

Once the Web Experience Pack is updated, you’ll be able to use Widgets and weather forecast features in your Windows 11 device without using Microsoft Account.

PS: If you want to disable or remove widgets and weather information from Windows 11 Taskbar, you can turn it off using Taskbar Settings as shown in following screenshot:

Following article contains detailed instructions:

[Tip] Disable or Remove Weather Widget on Windows 11 Taskbar

Also Check:

How to Restore or Enable Classic Taskbar in Windows 11 (All Versions)

Disable or Remove Extra Icons and Buttons from Windows 11 Taskbar

[Tip] Customize Date and Time in Windows 11 Taskbar Clock, Add Your Name, Day, Month Names