Guide to Using Widgets in Windows 11

Windows was the last major operating system without widget support. Microsoft used Live tiles to present real-time information in the Windows start menu. The company gave us a glimpse of widget support with the News and Weather widget on the taskbar. But everything became crystal clear when Microsoft showed off widget support in its Windows 11 announcement. Here’s how to access, use, and master widgets in Windows 11.

The previous Live tiles feature has completely disappeared and widgets have finally arrived in the Windows operating system. Microsoft didn’t add a widget panel just to mark a feature in Windows 11. Widgets in Windows 11 have been carefully implemented, and they’re definitely better than what Apple offers on macOS.

Where Are Widgets in Windows 11?

Unlike macOS, Microsoft has added a Widgets shortcut to the new taskbar in Windows 11. So after you upgrade to Windows 11 properly, you will see the Widgets button next to the Task view.

Click on it and Windows 11 will welcome you with a special section of Widgets floating from the left side. The widget panel takes up almost half of the viewing area and gives you a better look at the latest information via widgets.

What Widgets Are Available in Windows 11?

Currently, widget support is limited to a handful of Microsoft apps such as Microsoft To-Do, OneDrive, Calendar, Weather, Traffic, and Tips.

Microsoft promised to provide developers with the necessary APIs to integrate their applications via widgets. As a result, we can expect to see widgets from WhatsApp, Telegram, Spotify, Evernote and more soon.

Microsoft also integrates the MSN News section in the widget panel. The worst part is that the news tabs are set to open in the Microsoft Edge browser instead of the browser of your choice.

How to Add or Remove Widgets in Windows 11

By default Microsoft has added a handful of widgets to the Widget panel. However, you can always customize it according to your preference.

Stage 1: Open the widget panel from the taskbar.

Step 2: Scroll down and select Add widget.

Stage 3: Select the ones you want to add and press the ‘x’ at the top to close the menu.

You will see newly added widgets in the panel.

To remove any widget, click the three-dot menu on the widget and select Remove widget from the context menu.

How to Change Widget Size in Windows 11

Microsoft offers three widget sizes for developers to apply: Small, Medium, and Large. After that, it’s up to the developers how they want to use the widget with their apps.

Stage 1: Open the widget panel from the taskbar.

Step 2: Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of a widget.

Stage 3: Choose from Small, Medium or Large and you will see the operating system change the widget size instantly.

How to Change Widget Position in Windows 11

Depending on your preference, you may want to keep certain widgets at the top and less useful ones at the bottom. You can easily change the current widget location in Windows 11.

Open the widget panel and move the mouse cursor over the top of the widget. You will notice that the mouse pointer has changed from a pointer to a small hand. Click the mouse or trackpad and this widget will now be portable.

Place the widget where you want and repeat the same process for other widgets to arrange them.

News Widgets

News widgets are nothing more than a list of top stories and news articles powered by Microsoft News. Microsoft has integrated some neat touches to make it more personal for you.

For example, you can react to a news by using the like button. You can also save it for later reading using the save for later button.

Users can click the three-dot menu next to a news story to share the post, block the post, hide the story, and customize the entire reading experience with a thumbs up/down option.

How to Disable Widgets in Windows 11

Microsoft has integrated the Widgets shortcut directly into the taskbar. You can disable it from the Settings menu if it unnecessarily interferes with your workflow. Here’s how to do it.

Stage 1: Move the mouse pointer over the taskbar and right-click on it.

Step 2: Open the taskbar settings menu.

Stage 3: Disable Widgets under the Taskbar items menu.

You won’t see the Widgets icon in the taskbar. However, you can enable it again from the same menu.

Use Widgets Like a Pro in Windows 11

The widget is one of the best features Microsoft borrowed from macOS. The application is promising. With Microsoft’s aggressive approach to the new Windows Store in Windows 11, we can expect more developers to use the Widget functionality to appeal to more users.

Which app would you like to use with widgets in Windows 11? Share your opinion in the comments below.

Next: Is your computer giving the error ‘This PC Cannot Run Windows 11’? Read the post below to know why this happens and how to fix the problem.