Widgets not loading/showing in Windows 11 - Install required dependencies

[kiddingguy]

I have reinstalled my Windows 11 notebook.

But when I hover over the Widget taskbar item I get the message:

and after clicking 'Install' nothing happens.

I also have tried to uninstall Widgets through Command Prompt and reinstall afterwards (see this guide from the Microsoft community).

Do you have any idea how to get it working or how to install these "required depencencies" (for whatever they are)?

[hellowalkman Reporter]

have you tried this? https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-update-the-windows-web-experience-pack-a16c9bf1-f042-4dc9-a523-740cca1e1e60

[kiddingguy]

On 14/03/2025 at 06:52, hellowalkman said:

have you tried this? https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-update-the-windows-web-experience-pack-a16c9bf1-f042-4dc9-a523-740cca1e1e60

Yes. That's also one of the steps on the guide.

Auto-updates are on (default setting I guess).

Still no widgets...

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Clean install and no 3rd party tools to mess with the OS?

[kiddingguy]

On 14/03/2025 at 10:39, Dick Montage said:

Clean install and no 3rd party tools to mess with the OS?

I already clean installed… 😳

Plus, I reinstalled everything I previously did (and in the previous installation the widgets did work); so no real/other 3rd party tools than I already had. Strange I'd say....

Edited March 14, 2025 by kiddingguy

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

No, I am asking if this was a clean install and with no tools that mess with the OS.

[kiddingguy]

On 14/03/2025 at 15:44, Dick Montage said:

No, I am asking if this was a clean install and with no tools that mess with the OS.

Yes. A clean install.

Not that I know of that other software is interfering. Like I said... it's the same programs as was before.

[kiddingguy]

On 14/03/2025 at 15:44, Dick Montage said:

No, I am asking if this was a clean install and with no tools that mess with the OS.

Yes. A clean install.

Not that I know of that other software is interfering. Like I said... it's the same programs as was before.

 

EDIT:

I looks like there's some corrupt thingy on my computer. I guess it's better to reinstall again, instead of encountering issues later and then be totally scr*wed up.

[adrynalyne]

I think this is a bug with the store. I had this happen on a clean install of 24H2 a few days ago, except Install actually worked.

[kiddingguy]

On 14/03/2025 at 17:34, adrynalyne said:

I think this is a bug with the store. I had this happen on a clean install of 24H2 a few days ago, except Install actually worked.

A (clean) install of Windows did the trick you mean?

Or something else? (and if so, what?)

[adrynalyne]

On 14/03/2025 at 09:38, kiddingguy said:

A (clean) install did the trick you mean?

No, I saw this same issue on a clean install, after the first or second reboot.

[kiddingguy]

I have reinstalled Windows. Again, with all the same software. And as it looks now - fingers crossed - the widgets are (still) working... luckily.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

You keep referring to the same software. What?

[kiddingguy]

On 14/03/2025 at 22:51, Dick Montage said:

You keep referring to the same software. What?

Just the "regular" MS Office, Adobe, Brave browser, print software, ESET, SnagIt, Intel drivers, other email clients like eM Client, nvidia drivers, Steam & games, EA & games, Ubisoft & games etc etc.

"Fact" is nothing is really new and different, yet this newly installed Windows with "the same software" has now widgets still running. And the other installation set didn't.

Strange huh?

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Gotcha. I was just wondering if there were some random app interfering with the OS.

[kiddingguy]

On 14/03/2025 at 23:44, Dick Montage said:

Gotcha. I was just wondering if there were some random app interfering with the OS.

No, no 'exotic' apps if you meant that.

[kiddingguy]

Sure..... after a start earlier today (and an update to the Microsoft Store app) there's now a blank/black Widget screen .

Why o why o why?!

(reinstalling widgets and experience pack didn't help...)

 

Going back via System Restore to an earlier point in time didn't make a difference though.

[kiddingguy]

Re-newed installation. Once again. So far, so good...

[kiddingguy]

I guess there's something seriously wrong with this Widgets-thing. Yesterday it was working, today not anymore 
Even a couple of minutes ago, and after a reboot it went rogue. Nothing serious with the reboot, just a check on something.

Seeing also that Microsoft is having issues with its own update, this might be one of them too?!

Blank/black screen again with no widgets, temperature and all:

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Have you at any point looked at your Events Log?  Something should be reported there

[kiddingguy]

There are some error listed.

4 of these kind around the same time the widgets stopped working:

Where else to look for? And which kind of errors, in what section?

Also here... now again... if my Windows installtion OK, corrupt?
Does it need to be reinstalled again?

[don't know what causes it, but things not starting up/working anymore is also not okayish]

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

You have to be doing SOMETHING to mess with a clean install for this.  There's something you're not telling us?

[kiddingguy]

For some reason the WebView2 is not there anymore on my system.

I found this article and the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime cannot be found via Command Prompt.
Also reinstalling via Microsoft's official site, with full installer and 'run as administrator' did not work.

Looks there there is something wrong and deleted, but how can this be? What has happened?

EDIT:
Or has the WebView2 kit somehow updated itself and got corrupted?

Edited March 16, 2025 by kiddingguy

[kiddingguy]

Reinstalled once again.

This time with total deletion of partitions and reformat of a complete drive  (and put the partitions back in place after installation).

Also, this time [though it has worked previously for a long time with widgets showing] with no defragmention tool and without CCleaner.

The widgets do work. Still. Hopefully this time longer than a day.

Edited March 16, 2025 by kiddingguy

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

So when I asked what you were running and you didn’t mention CCleaner…