Solved: How to Fix "Something Went Wrong" Error on Windows 11 Widgets Board

The comprehensive guide to troubleshooting and restoring full functionality to your Windows 11 Widgets panel when it displays the frustrating "Something Went Wrong" message.

Keywords: Windows 11 Widgets not working, Something Went Wrong error, fix Windows 11 widgets, Widgets board blank, personalize widgets, reset Windows 11 cache

Contents 📋

1. Understanding the Widgets "Something Went Wrong" Error
2. Method 1: Sign Out and Sign Back into the Widgets Board
3. Method 2: Check Regional Settings and Microsoft Account Sync
4. Method 3: Reset or Repair the Windows Widgets App
5. Method 4: Clear the Widgets Cache Folder (The Deep Fix)
6. Method 5: Re-register the Widgets App using PowerShell
7. Method 6: Verify Internet Connection and Proxy Settings

---

Understanding the Widgets "Something Went Wrong" Error

The Windows 11 Widgets Board is designed to give you quick access to news, weather, stock updates, and more. However, many users encounter a persistent issue where opening the panel (usually via the taskbar button or Windows Key + W) results in a blank window or a stark message: "Something Went Wrong."

This error typically indicates a communication breakdown between the Microsoft Edge WebView2 runtime (which powers the Widgets) and your Microsoft Account services. Common causes include:

• Corrupted user profile data or cached files.
• Disrupted Microsoft Account synchronization.
• Incorrect regional or language settings that interfere with news feeds.

⚠ PRO TIP: The Widgets Board relies heavily on the Microsoft Edge browser components, even if you use Chrome or Firefox as your default browser.

Method 1: Sign Out and Sign Back into the Widgets Board

Since the error is often account-related, a simple sign-out/sign-in cycle is the quickest fix.

1. Open the Widgets Board (Windows Key + W).
2. Click on your Profile Picture in the top-right corner of the Widgets panel.
3. In the profile menu, scroll down and click Sign out.
4. Close the Widgets Board.
5. Re-open the Widgets Board and click the Sign in button. Enter your Microsoft account credentials.
6. Check if the content now loads correctly.

Method 2: Check Regional Settings and Microsoft Account Sync

If your regional settings conflict with your account location, the personalized news feed can fail to load.

1. Check Time and Region

1. Go to Settings (Windows Key + I) > Time & language > Language & region.
2. Ensure the Country or region matches your actual location.
3. Check Date & time settings and ensure Set time automatically is toggled On.

2. Check Account Sync

Make sure your Microsoft account is syncing correctly with Windows.

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info.
2. If you see a prompt like "Verify your identity," click it and follow the steps.

Method 3: Reset or Repair the Windows Widgets App

Windows allows you to reset or repair built-in apps, which is crucial if the app's installation files are corrupted.

1. Go to Settings (Windows Key + I) > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Search or scroll down to find the app named Windows Widgets or simply Widgets.
3. Click the three-dot menu (...) next to it and select Advanced options.
4. First, click Repair. Test the widgets.
5. If the error persists, return to the Advanced options and click Reset.
6. Note: Resetting will delete local app data, including your widget personalization, but it often resolves deep issues.

Method 4: Clear the Widgets Cache Folder (The Deep Fix)

Sometimes, simply deleting the local cache files forces the app to download fresh, uncorrupted data.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type the following path and press Enter: %localappdata%\Packages\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings
3. This opens the folder for the Widgets app (which is often named "MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience").
4. Inside this folder, you will see a file named settings.dat.
5. Right-click on settings.dat and select Delete.
6. Restart your computer for the change to take full effect, then try opening the Widgets Board.

Method 5: Re-register the Widgets App using PowerShell

This method forcibly reinstalls the Widgets app package, clearing any registration errors within the operating system.

1. Search for PowerShell, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator.
2. Paste the following command and press Enter: Get-AppxPackage *MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience* | Reset-AppxPackage
3. You may see some text appear in the PowerShell window; wait until the command executes fully and you see a new prompt line.
4. Close PowerShell and Restart your computer.

Note: If the above command returns an error, use the Add-AppxPackage command instead (advanced step):

Add-AppxPackage -Register -DisableDevelopmentMode "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy\AppxManifest.xml"

Method 6: Verify Internet Connection and Proxy Settings

Because the Widgets Board pulls live data from the internet, network connectivity issues, especially those caused by VPNs or proxy servers, can trigger the "Something Went Wrong" error.

1. Disable VPN/Proxy: Temporarily disconnect from any active VPN or proxy server.
2. Check Internet Properties: Press Windows Key + R, type inetcpl.cpl, and press Enter.
3. Go to the Connections tab and click LAN settings.
4. Ensure "Automatically detect settings" is checked and "Use a proxy server for your LAN" is unchecked (unless you specifically need a proxy).

After checking your network settings, restart your computer and test the Widgets Board again.

---

The "Something Went Wrong" error on the Windows 11 Widgets Board is usually a simple sign-in or corrupted cache problem. By following these methodical steps, especially clearing the settings.dat file or running the PowerShell command, you should restore the full, dynamic functionality of your widgets panel.

Last Updated: December 2025