The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If Windows 11 Widgets went blank or stopped responding right after System Restore, first update the Windows Web Experience Pack and Start Experiences App, then check Microsoft Edge. The timing is a useful clue: Microsoft documents temporary problems with some apps after System Restore, but does not name Widgets as an affected app. That makes the documented issue a possible lead, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Why Widgets might fail after System Restore
System Restore returns system files, registry settings, and installed programs to their state at the selected restore point. Personal files are left alone, but software state can change. Microsoft’s explanation of System Restore describes this distinction.
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Microsoft’s KB5023152 describes temporary problems affecting some Windows apps that use the MSIX package format after System Restore. Symptoms can include an app failing to open, multiple Start menu entries, or an app that “may not respond when you try to start the app.” Microsoft gives Notepad, Paint, Office, Cortana, and Terminal as examples and says its list is not complete. Widgets is not named, and the article does not establish that this is the cause of a blank Widgets board.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsUpdate the components Widgets depends on
Microsoft says Widgets and Discover dashboards need the latest updates for both Windows Web Experience Pack and Start Experiences App. Its Widgets guidance identifies these update requirements.
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Update Windows Web Experience Pack
- Open Microsoft Store.
- Select Library.
- Search for Windows Web Experience Pack.
- Select Update if that button appears. If it does not, Microsoft says the latest version is already installed.
To enable automatic Store app updates, open Microsoft Store settings and turn on app updates. Microsoft’s Web Experience Pack instructions give the direct Library search and update path.
Check Start Experiences App updates
Because Microsoft lists Start Experiences App alongside Web Experience Pack as a requirement, make sure Store app updates are enabled and install any offered updates. The precise availability of an update can vary; do not assume that an absent Update button means this component is missing.
Check Microsoft Edge
Some widgets and the News Feed depend on Microsoft Edge. Microsoft says weather, sports, stocks, calendar, and Progressive Web App-backed widgets can require Edge; Edge-backed widgets stop working if Edge is uninstalled. Keep Edge installed and updated, then reopen Widgets. This is a dependency check, not proof that Edge explains every blank or unresponsive board. See Microsoft’s Widgets requirements.
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Retry or reinstall only if the affected component supports it
For the MSIX apps covered by KB5023152, Microsoft suggests trying to start the app again, reinstalling it from Microsoft Store or its original installation source, or running Windows Update. Those are general workarounds for affected packaged apps, not a guaranteed Widgets repair procedure. Use a reinstall option only when it is offered for the affected app or component; do not remove packages blindly.
Try Repair or Reset if Windows offers the controls
Windows has built-in app troubleshooting controls, but availability depends on the app. To check:
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Select the More options menu beside the relevant app, then choose Advanced options if shown.
- Select Repair if available. If it is unavailable or does not help, Reset may be offered.
Microsoft notes that not every app exposes Repair or Reset. Do not assume these controls will appear for Widgets or its underlying packages. See Microsoft’s app repair guidance.
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Escalate only after the lower-risk checks
If the problem followed a recent Windows update, uninstalling that update is one option Microsoft lists. Its recovery guidance says this does not affect personal files or apps. For supported Windows 11 versions, reinstalling Windows through Windows Update is another option that keeps files, apps, and settings. Availability depends on the Windows version.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteReset this PC and reinstalling Windows from installation media are more disruptive alternatives; what is kept or removed depends on the option chosen. Before any recovery process, back up important files and review the specific option’s effects. Microsoft’s Windows recovery options explain the differences.
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