The MSN news feed, integrated into Windows Widgets and the Microsoft Start page, is a polarizing feature. While some appreciate the quick updates, many users find the content irrelevant, invasive, or poorly localized. As of September 2026, here is how you can take control.
Table of contents
Personalizing Your Feed
If you want to improve the quality of your feed rather than remove it, Microsoft allows for manual curation:
- Follow/Unfollow: Open the Widgets board (Win + W) or visit Microsoft Start. Click the three-dot menu (…) on any story to select “Hide story” or “Don’t see stories from [Source].”
- Interest Management: Navigate to your profile settings within the feed. You can select specific topics (e.g., Technology, Sports) to prioritize content you actually care about.
- New Experiences: In Windows 11 (24H2 and newer), Microsoft has introduced a more organized layout. Ensure your system is updated to benefit from these refinements.
Managing Regional and Language Issues
Many users report that the feed ignores their Windows region settings. Unfortunately, the MSN feed is heavily tied to your Microsoft account location and IP address. To mitigate this:
- Check your Microsoft Account profile region settings.
- Disable “Location” permissions for the News app/Widgets in Settings > Privacy & Security.
Disabling the Feed Completely
If you find the feed intrusive, the best course of action is to disable it entirely. This is often the preferred choice for those who find the content spammy or the redirection to “Microsoft Start” frustrating.
- For Windows Widgets: Right-click your taskbar, select Taskbar settings, and toggle off the “Widgets” button.
- For Browser Redirects: If you are tired of being forced into the Microsoft Start page on Android, use browser extensions like “Redirector” or switch to a browser that allows you to block specific domains entirely.
- Advanced Users: For Windows 10/11, community-driven scripts (often found on Reddit or GitHub) exist to disable news features via Group Policy or Registry edits. Use these with caution.
