MSN News: What Happened to It and How to Fix It

MSN News is not a traditional newsroom anymore; it is Microsoft Start, an algorithmic aggregator built directly into Windows and the Edge browser. If you see it popping up on your desktop or new browser tabs, it is pulling licensed headlines from outside publishers rather than writing its own reporting.

Key takeaways

• MSN News was officially rebranded as Microsoft Start in September 2021, though the msn.com web address still hosts the feed.
• The service writes zero original journalism, relying entirely on syndication deals with hundreds of global media outlets.
• You can turn off the feed completely in Microsoft Edge with three clicks, or hide the taskbar widget in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
• Microsoft uses automated algorithms to personalize your feed based on your browsing habits, Microsoft account activity, and manual topic selections.

What is MSN News today?

MSN News exists today primarily as the content engine for Microsoft Start. Microsoft retired the standalone MSN News brand name in September 2021 to unify its media products across mobile apps, Windows widgets, and browser homepages.

When you land on msn.com/news, you are viewing a content licensing hub. Microsoft pays publishers through revenue sharing models to republish their full-text stories or link out to them. The outlet list includes legacy names like The Associated Press and Reuters alongside regional newspapers, lifestyle blogs, and entertainment portals.

The service does not employ traditional beat reporters. Instead, editors and automated algorithms select which partner stories hit the main feed. Because algorithms favor engagement, the feed often tilts toward sensational crime, viral social clips, and celebrity updates unless you aggressively train it otherwise.

Why does MSN News keep appearing on your screen?

Microsoft hardwired the feed into two of its most common desktop surfaces: the default New Tab page in Microsoft Edge and the taskbar in Windows.

If you run Windows 10, the feed lives inside the News and Interests widget on the bottom right of your screen. If you run Windows 11, it sits inside the Widgets board on the left side of your taskbar. Every time you open a clean tab in Edge, the MSN portal loads stories under your search bar by default.

Microsoft pushes this layout because it creates massive inventory for programmatic display ads. Every impression and click on an MSN News card generates ad revenue. For casual web users, it acts as an ambient gateway to daily events, but for people who want a clean desktop, it can feel like visual clutter.

How do you fix or customize your MSN News feed?

You can train the feed to show better sources if you want to keep the convenience of desktop headlines without the low-grade clickbait.

1. Click the three dots on any headline card you dislike.
2. Select "Hide stories from [Publisher]" to block that specific outlet permanently.
3. Select "Fewer stories like this" to tell the algorithm to downrank the broad topic.
4. Click the "Personalize" button near the top right of the feed to manually follow trusted topics like technology, local sports, or personal finance.

The catch is that the algorithm has a short memory. Even after blocking several tabloid domains, new ones will cycle in to take their place because the feed relies heavily on click-through rates. You have to prune it regularly if you want high-quality news.

How do you turn off MSN News completely?

If you prefer an uncluttered screen, you can shut off the feed entirely across both Edge and Windows.

To remove it from Microsoft Edge:

1. Open a new tab in Edge.
2. Click the gear icon located in the upper right corner of the page.
3. Find the "Content" dropdown menu at the bottom of the layout panel.
4. Select "Content off". Your new tabs will now load a blank background with just a search box.

To remove it from Windows 11:

1. Right-click an empty space on your Windows taskbar.
2. Select "Taskbar settings".
3. Toggle the "Widgets" switch to the "Off" position.

To remove it from Windows 10:

1. Right-click anywhere on the taskbar.
2. Hover your cursor over "News and interests".
3. Click "Turn off".

Who is MSN News actually good for?

MSN News works fine for casual readers who want a quick, zero-effort glance at weather, financial indexes, and major breaking events while checking their work email. The integration with Microsoft Weather and stock watchlists is responsive and genuinely convenient.

If you care about deep investigative reporting, balanced media diets, or clean visual layouts, MSN News is not for you. You are better off setting your browser homepage to a direct wire service like Reuters or using an RSS reader to pull the exact journalists you trust.