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DashielQuinn's avatar
DashielQuinn
Iron Contributor
Jul 21, 2026

Windows 11 widget icons do not respond when clicked, and the widget panel cannot be opened

When I click the Widgets icon on the left side of the taskbar, no panel pops up, and the icon itself does not show any loading indicator.

Pressing the Win + W shortcut also fails to open the Widgets panel. Restarting File Explorer temporarily resolves the issue, but it recurs intermittently.

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2 Replies

  • Imansun's avatar
    Imansun
    Tin Contributor
    Jul 23, 2026

    This is the most direct way to "kick" the system back into action, which is similar to what your File Explorer restart does but targets the right component.

  • Jamony's avatar
    Jamony
    MCT
    Jul 21, 2026

    Both the taskbar button and Win+W failing, while an Explorer restart helps only briefly, points to Widgets components rather than the taskbar icon. Microsoft says Widgets depends on the Windows Web Experience Pack and Microsoft Edge being current. First, open Microsoft Store, select Library, search for Windows Web Experience Pack, and install the update. In the Store profile settings, ensure App updates is on. Then update Edge from Settings and more > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge, install Windows updates, and restart. Next, right-click the taskbar, open Taskbar settings, turn Widgets off, restart, and turn it on again. Test Win+W after each stage. Avoid repeatedly restarting Explorer because that only resets the shell and does not update the Widgets components. If the panel still fails with components current, press Windows+F, reproduce the problem, and submit diagnostics through Feedback Hub; include the intermittent Explorer workaround and your Windows build.