How to Remove Weather, News, and MSN Tracking Apps from Windows

What Causes This?

Windows often comes with preinstalled Microsoft apps like Weather, News, Start feeds, and MSN-powered content panels. These apps and features can collect diagnostic data, content interests, app usage, and personalization signals to show recommended stories, ads, and widgets. Even if they are not heavily used, they may still run in the background, sync preferences, and reappear after updates.

Common Symptoms

• Weather, News, or MSN content keeps showing on the taskbar, lock screen, or Start menu
• Microsoft apps you do not use are still installed after a fresh Windows setup
• You see personalized news, suggested stories, or content based on browsing or usage habits
• Background activity, notifications, or network usage from apps like Widgets, News, or MSN Start
• Removed apps seem to come back after a Windows update

How to Fix It Manually

1. Uninstall Weather, News, and other Microsoft apps from Settings

   1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
   2. Go to Apps > Installed apps.
   3. In the search box, look for apps such as MSN Weather, Microsoft News, Microsoft Start, or other Microsoft content apps you do not want.
   4. Click the three dots next to each app and choose Uninstall.
   5. Repeat for each app you want removed.

2. Turn off Widgets and taskbar news content

   1. Right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
   2. In Windows 11, turn Widgets to Off.
   3. If you are on Windows 10, right-click the taskbar, point to News and interests, and choose Turn off.

3. Disable lock screen tips and content suggestions

   1. Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
   2. If the background is set to Windows spotlight, change it to Picture or Slideshow.
   3. Turn off any option related to fun facts, tips, tricks, or content on the lock screen.

4. Turn off Start menu recommendations and suggested content

   1. Open Settings > Personalization > Start.
   2. Turn off options such as Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more.
   3. Also disable recently added apps or suggested content if you want a cleaner Start menu.

5. Limit diagnostic and personalization tracking

   1. Open Settings > Privacy & security.
   2. Select Diagnostics & feedback and turn off optional diagnostic data.
   3. Go back and open General under Windows permissions.
   4. Turn off options related to advertising ID, suggested content, and app launch tracking if you do not want Microsoft using that data for personalization.

6. Remove stubborn apps with PowerShell

   1. Click Start, type PowerShell, then choose Run as administrator.
   2. To remove Microsoft News, run:

      Get-AppxPackage *bingnews* | Remove-AppxPackage

   3. To remove Weather, run:

      Get-AppxPackage *bingweather* | Remove-AppxPackage

   4. To check whether they are gone, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps again.
   5. Be aware that some Windows updates may reinstall certain built-in apps.

7. Stop them from running in the background

   1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
   2. Click the three dots next to an app, choose Advanced options if available.
   3. Under Background apps permissions, set it to Never.
   4. This is useful if you do not want to uninstall an app but want to reduce tracking and background activity.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can scan your PC for preinstalled Microsoft apps, content features, and privacy settings that commonly enable Weather, News, Widgets, and MSN-style tracking. Instead of hunting through Settings and PowerShell one item at a time, Kudu helps simplify the cleanup and apply the safer settings faster.

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