Unlocking Windows 10's News and Interests: Personalize Your Taskbar

Windows 10 users, buckle up—it’s time to give your taskbar a whole new dimension! Microsoft’s "News and Interests" feature on the taskbar is here to serve you. It’s like having your favorite newspaper, local meteorologist, and stock market ticker right at your fingertips, with zero need to switch between apps or web browsers. Whether you're a weather aficionado, a breaking news junkie, or just someone who wants a simpler way to manage information flow on their desktop, this feature’s got something for everyone.
Let’s unpack everything you need to know to personalize, troubleshoot, and make the most of Microsoft’s News and Interests feature!

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What is the News and Interests Feature on the Taskbar?​

First introduced in Windows 10, version 1909, News and Interests is a taskbar widget that keeps you up-to-date on topics you care about. Think of it as your customized information pipeline, delivering real-time content—from the weather and traffic updates to stocks, sports, and local or international news.
Hovering over the weather icon provides a quick preview of your feed, and clicking on it unveils a full suite of information cards tailored to your interests. It’s perhaps one of the most underrated tools in Windows 10, offering utility without demanding additional software or tabs to be constantly open.

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Getting Started: Activating News and Interests​

How to Turn It On or Off​

Activating the feature takes just a few clicks:

• Right-click any blank space on your taskbar.
• Navigate to News and Interests, and select Show icon and text (or Show icon only for a minimalist look).

Want it gone? Select Turn off in the same menu, and the widget disappears. This toggling is perfect for users who like their taskbars distraction-free but might return to this functionality later.

Tip: If you don’t see this option, make sure you’ve installed the latest Windows 10 updates by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

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Customizing the Weather Display​

Who doesn’t love a splash of meteorological data? By default, the weather card will show the conditions for your current location and update regularly. You can customize it further:

• Click on the weather icon.
• Select the "Edit location and unit" symbol (a pencil or settings gear in some cases).
• Choose your location manually or opt for your device’s location-based services for automatic updates.
• Switch between Fahrenheit (°F) and Celsius (°C) to pick your preferred temperature scale.

If you wish to save taskbar space, you can show only the weather icon (sans text) by selecting the News and interests > Show icon only option.

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Tailoring Your Feed: Make It Truly Yours​

Here’s where News and Interests truly shines—it’s not one-size-fits-all. Personalization options abound, allowing you to curate your feed for maximum relevance.

Adding or Removing Interests​

Your feed is built around interests that you define through Microsoft’s ecosystem. Add interests via:

• Open the news and interests from the taskbar.
• Click Settings > Manage interests to access the "My Interests" page.
• Browse categories like sports, science, technology, or local news.
• Add topics, select publishers, and refine your feed preferences.

If a particular card or story type (say, a stock ticker or sports update) doesn’t interest you, use the More options (⋯) menu to hide or remove it.

Controlling News Stories​

Not every story earns your "must-read" badge, and Microsoft accounts for this:

• Select the More options (⋯) button on a news story.
• Choose More stories like this or Fewer stories like this based on relevance.
• Use the X to remove an article entirely, tagging its baselessness or irrelevance.

Note: Personalization deepens over time. The more actions you take to refine content (like hiding certain publishers or reacting to specific stories), the smarter the feed gets.

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Manage Information Cards​

News and Interests organizes the essentials—such as weather, sports, stocks, and traffic—into nifty "cards" in your feed. Want more control over which cards show up?

• On the desired card, click More options (⋯) and choose whether to show or hide it.
• Hidden cards can be restored via Manage interests > Experience Settings.

This modular approach ensures you're not bogged down by clutter in your feed.

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Edge Integration: One Browser to Rule Them All​

Microsoft Edge plays a critical role here. While you can use News and Interests without signing in, connecting it to your Microsoft Edge account unlocks deeper personalization:

• Profiles: Sign in through Edge to manage different profiles (work, personal, etc.).
• Syncing preferences: Edge ensures that your feed, interests, and sources sync across devices seamlessly.

Heads-Up: If you don’t see Edge profiles integrated, check to ensure you have the latest version of Edge installed.

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Troubleshooting Common Issues​

News and Interests is a well-oiled machine—when it works. But if something feels out of sync, try these tips:

What If It Doesn’t Show Up?​

• Ensure your Windows device is updated (version 1909 or later required).
• Taskbar space constraints can prevent the widget from launching; clearing unnecessary items can fix this.

Why Isn’t Personalization Working?​

• For new users, personalization requires some time to adapt. Keep tweaking your feed for a couple of weeks to see noticeable changes.
• Refresh the feed manually by selecting the refresh icon in the upper-right corner.

Hiding Annoying Publishers​

Bothered by clickbait outlets? Block unwanted publishers by selecting Hide stories from... via the More options (⋯) menu during the feed curation process.

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Privacy & Location Settings​

Not everyone’s comfy with handing over their geolocation details, so Microsoft allows customizing the location detection process:

• Explicitly set your primary location in Settings > Location.
• If you’re adamant about avoiding location services, the feed will estimate your general area using IP-based location tech (though it might lack precision).

For added peace of mind, the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard lets you control what’s shared via Microsoft Edge > Settings > Privacy.

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Is It Worth Your Time? Final Thoughts​

The News and Interests feature is a stellar addition to Windows 10, catering to everyone from casual users to data enthusiasts. It’s built for seamless multitasking, helping you stay informed without disrupting productivity.
The key is personalization—spend time tweaking your feed, cutting out fluff, and emphasizing what matters to you. And if Edge integration suits your workflow, the enhanced syncing power makes it undeniably better.
So, if your taskbar feels a little “meh,” give News and Interests a spin. You might just find your new favorite Windows tool—discreet, useful, and refreshingly simple.
Stay tuned for more Windows wisdom right here on WindowsForum.com! What interests do you want to see in your feed? Share below, and let’s get the discussion going.

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Source: Microsoft Support Stay Up to Date With News and Interests - Microsoft Support