Does Windows 11 Have Desktop Widgets | Recent • 2025 |

: You can pin/unpin specific widgets, resize them (Small, Medium, Large), and rearrange them by dragging headers within the board. Adding Widgets Directly to Your Desktop

Since native desktop pinning is missing, reviewers and power users often recommend third-party tools available via the Microsoft Store to get true "desktop" functionality: How to Use Laptop and Desktop Widgets | Microsoft Windows

Instead of small, draggable icons sitting freely on your desktop background, Windows 11 utilizes a that acts as a personalized information hub. does windows 11 have desktop widgets

You can rearrange, resize (small, medium, or large), and pin/unpin individual cards.

: Click the widgets icon (often showing live weather) on the left of the taskbar. Keyboard Shortcut : Press Windows + W . Touch Gesture : Swipe from the left edge of a touchscreen. : You can pin/unpin specific widgets, resize them

If you find the Widgets button annoying or you accidentally open it frequently, you can remove it from the taskbar entirely:

Users can now customize widgets on the Lock Screen , including weather, stocks, and news. Desktop Pinning via Third-Party Apps : Click the widgets icon (often showing live

This design choice reflects a modern philosophy of operating system design. Classic desktop gadgets were eventually discontinued by Microsoft due to security vulnerabilities (some were used as vectors for malware) and performance drag. The current widget board acts as a secondary home for glanceable information, much like the Notification Center on macOS or the Google Feed on Android. It is intentionally separate from the primary workspace to minimize clutter and system resource use.

Windows 11 features a dedicated , a slide-out panel providing at-a-glance information like weather, news, and calendar events . However, unlike the "gadgets" found in older versions like Windows 7, these native widgets cannot be pinned permanently to the open desktop by default; they reside within their own overlay. Native Windows 11 Widgets: Features and Access