July has come to an end, and as we start a new month, it's a good time to look at the new features and changes that Microsoft has been working on in the second half of the month for Windows 11.

In the last two weeks of July, the company has delivered several new features, but many of those improvements were features that we have already seen in other builds as Microsoft continues to align each channel more closely together.

As part of the improvements, we have seen new customization options for the Start menu, new gestures for the touchpad, an updated interface for the Account Control menu, and improvements for File Explorer.

In addition, we have seen the company pushing changes to Widgets, Windows Search, and more.

In the Experimental channel, Microsoft released builds 26300.9032, 26300.8935, 28120.2630, and 28120.2546, while the Beta channel introduced builds 26220.9022, 26220.8925, 28020.2623, and 28020.2539 for versions 26H2, 26H1, and 25H2.

In this recap, I'll highlight the latest and most noteworthy changes available through the Windows Insider Program.

Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in July 2026

These are the most significant changes Microsoft has unveiled since my last roundup.

Windows Search automatic locations

Starting with the release of build 26300.9032, the operating system ships with an updated version of Windows Search that can now automatically find and search other folder locations based on your activity.

The new feature uses signals, such as files and frequently accessed locations. According to the company, this helps to make relevant files easy to find without requiring manual indexing.

The feature is known as "Automatically find additional relevant locations," and it's located on Settings > Privacy & security > Search.

In addition, Microsoft didn't mention this, but I've noticed a new "Search the contents of online files" on the same page, which allows you to decide whether Windows Search can search online content.

Phone Link changes

The Phone Link companion flyout that appears in the Start menu is getting an update on build 26300.9032 that allows you to hover over a recent message or notification in the "Recent" section to preview the content without extra steps.

This improvement requires the Phone Link app version 1.26021.3.0 or higher.

Adaptive hibernate policy update

In the Experimental channel, build 26300.9032 (version 25H2) also introduces changes for the adaptive hibernate policy to prevent hibernation when the battery is above 80 percent and to hibernate when the battery falls below 10 percent.

Microsoft accomplishes this by increasing instances of instant-on resumes from Modern Standby and increasing battery preservation at the low end of the battery.

This change is also available on builds 28120.2630 and 28020.2623 for version 26H1.

File Explorer performance boost

On build 26300.8935, File Explorer received three specific improvements. First, the company made file deletion faster when deleting large and fragmented files.

This update also makes the Home page faster, and finally, the "Recommended" section on the Home page now supports touch scrolling to make it easier to browse files from the carousel.

In addition, starting with build 26220.8925 for version 25H2, the "Details" view now shows file sizes with appropriate units, such as KB, MB, and GB, instead of only showing KB.

Furthermore, on the "Home" page, you can now use a middle mouse click to open folder locations in new tabs.

Widgets improvements

The preview build 26300.8935 also updates the animated icons for the Widgets entry point in the Taskbar.

First, the icon now matches the system accent color instead of the red color. Also, the animated icons can now show more dynamic content if notifications are enabled in the Widgets dashboard.

Windows Update changes

On build 28120.2630 (Experimental channel for version 26H1), Microsoft is making system updates less disruptive by reducing the number of restarts users face each month.

This is possible thanks to a new unified update experience that coordinates driver, .NET, and firmware updates with the monthly quality update, consolidating updates into a single monthly reboot instead of multiple interruptions.

The company is also expanding update pause controls, allowing users to extend update pauses as many times as needed.

These improvements are also available for build 28020.2623 in the Beta channel for version 26H1.

Touchpad gestures

Builds 28120.2630 and 28020.2623 for version 26H1 add new gesture controls for Precision Touchpads through the Settings app.

The new options will work across most apps, although apps built with WinUI 3 will require updated WinAppSDK 1.8 or 2.0 support before they can take full advantage of the changes.

The new controls include scroll and zoom speed, which lets you adjust the default speed for scrolling and pinch-to-zoom gestures. Also, accelerated scrolling will allow you to increase scrolling speed the longer you continue scrolling, making it easier to move quickly through long documents and webpages.

These improvements are also available for build 26220.8925 in the Beta channel for version 25H2.

Smart card policy

Starting with build 28120.2546, Microsoft is adding support to remove smart card policies in Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365 sessions that use Microsoft Entra ID authentication.

As a result of this change, administrators can configure remote sessions to automatically disconnect when a redirected smart card is removed, helping improve security and meet compliance requirements.

This improvement is also available for build 29639 in the Experimental channel for version Future Platforms.

Narrator changes

Microsoft is making refreshable Braille displays easier to use with Narrator in build 28120.2546.

Windows 11 now supports HID-compatible Braille displays, allowing users to connect supported devices instantly over USB with no additional setup, or wirelessly through Bluetooth. The feature also works during the initial Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE), enabling you to configure a new computer independently.

These improvements are also available for build 28020.2539 in the Beta channel for version 26H1, for build 26220.8925 for version 25H2, and for build 29634 for version Future Platforms.

Taskbar positioning

Starting with build 26220.9022 for version 25H2 in the Beta channel, the operating system introduces the ability to change the position of the Taskbar to the top, left, right, and bottom of the screen.

The new setting is known as "Taskbar positions," and it's available from Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors.

When using this new functionality, Taskbar tooltips, flyouts, and animations continue to work in any of the positions, while most customization options, including never combining Taskbar icons, remain available.

This flight also introduces the ability to make the Taskbar smaller. The option is available from this page. However, in the Beta channel, the option works when configuring the "Show smaller app icons" option. In future releases, the company will add a dedicated button under the "Taskbar behaviors" setting, as it's currently available in the Experimental channel.

It's worth pointing out that these changes are still under development, and they may not work as intended.

Start menu new customization

On Windows 11 build 26220.8925, Microsoft is rolling out new Start menu customization options, including the ability to choose which sections appear in the menu and adjust its size.

The new customization settings are available on Settings > Personalization > Start. On this page, you can show or hide any of the sections, and you'll also notice that the "Recommended" section has been renamed to "Recent."

In addition, there's a new option to change the Start menu size, which means you can make the menu larger or smaller, or use the automatic option to let the system choose the size based on the configuration.

Finally, at the bottom of the page, under the "Other" section, you can enable the "Hide your name and profile picture on Start" setting to improve your privacy when projecting your screen to other people.

Account Control menu redesign

Microsoft is also refreshing the Account Control flyout in the Start menu with a more modern design and clearer Microsoft account information.

The updated interface adds a subscription badge, making it easier to check your account state, view available benefits, and explore upgrade options.

It also surfaces account benefits and storage details, giving users a centralized place to manage their Microsoft account without opening the Settings app.

This improvement is also available for build 29634 in the Experimental channel for version Future Platforms.

Voice Isolation for Voice Access

On build 29634 in the Experimental channel for version Future Platforms, Windows 11 also introduced Voice Isolation for Voice Access to improve speech recognition in noisy environments and shared spaces.

According to the company, the feature uses on-device processing for filtering background noise and nearby conversations.

In addition, Voice Access now includes three speech recognition models, including "Voice Isolation," "Remove background noise only," and "No filtering."

Windows Central's Take

Looking back at the second half of July, I don't think this was Microsoft's most exciting set of Insider releases. A lot of what landed in the Beta and Experimental channels wasn't entirely new. Instead, it felt like the company was catching those channels up with features that had already appeared in other Insider channels as it continues to align the program.

I don't think that's a bad thing. It suggests Microsoft is getting closer to offering a more consistent experience across the Insider channels while focusing on improvements that people will actually notice.

I'm still waiting to see how quickly these features make it into the stable release. Microsoft has been moving faster recently, but Insider builds are still a preview of what's planned, not a guarantee of what will eventually ship.

What are your thoughts about these latest Windows 11 Insider changes? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Microsoft’s Build conference focused heavily on the future of Windows and computing. There, the tech giant unveiled new tools and hardware to help developers make native Windows apps and AI agents. Microsoft is also working to improve Windows 11 and its first-party apps as part of Windows K2. But there was one part of Windows 11 entirely ignored throughout Build: the Widgets panel.

If you click the weather icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen, the Widgets panel will open up. You may have accidentally summoned it by pressing WIN+W or hovering your mouse in the corner of your desktop.

Unfortunately, the mild surprise of discovering Windows 11 has a Widgets panel is probably the most joy the feature will ever bring you. The selection of Widgets available makes the Windows Phone app store look like the Google Play Store.

There are 56 widgets available through the Microsoft Store, and only a few of them are useful. Shout out to the makers of MagicPods, who released a widget for their app that makes AirPods feel at home on Windows 11. Calendar Flyout and a handful of utilities are also nifty additions. But let's be serious, the state of the Widgets panel is embarrassing.

Microsoft is building a team of app developers to fix Windows 11's app situation. The company held sessions at Build focused on two different types of native apps. Microsoft even announced the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box to help developers make AI agents. But the tech giant is basically radio silent on the Widgets panel.

Microsoft's remaining app gap

Microsoft has done a tremendous amount of work to fix the Microsoft Store. That store is in a much better place than it was just a few years ago and now includes a massive library of must-have apps.

The ongoing push to create native apps and Arm-optimized apps keeps a stream of apps trickling in or being improved on Windows 11.

But the Widgets panel appears to be a forgotten part of Windows 11. Microsoft has made some improvements to the panel itself, such as separating the MSN feed, but those are almost meaningless if the panel lacks useful widgets.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Windows 11's Widgets Board, launched in 2022, faces scrutiny as only 50 widgets clutter the space while a cumbersome news feed dominates. With Microsoft testing an AI-curated experience, users may be left questioning the board's true purpose.

And now Windows 11 users have another reason to be jealous of those on macOS. Apple just announced a new sports widget that extends the iOS and iPadOS experience to the desktop.

While the new sports widget on macOS is nice, it's not what taunts me and other Windows 11 users. Microsoft has actually had a sports widget available for quite some time on Windows 11. What's frustrating is that Apple has made an effort to promote widgets on macOS, which is a stark contrast to what Microsoft has done over the years and of late.

Microsoft first launched the widgets board on Windows 11 in 2022. Shockingly, it took until the end of 2023 for the tech giant to start testing the option to disable the news feed within the widgets board.

The widgets board doesn't feel like a dedicated section for useful tools. It feels like a billboard for MSN. For over a year it wasn't even possible to use widgets without seeing a news feed.

The most meaningful update to Widgets Board this year is the addition of an AI curated news feed that replaces the MSN feed — because that's what a Widgets Board needs, AI and more news. That update actually requires an extra click to even get to widgets.

The tabbed layout is still in testing, so Microsoft has a chance to shift back to presenting widgets first when you open the widgets panel. If the layout that's in testing ships to everyone, Microsoft should just rename the Widgets Board to "News Board." What kind of Widgets Board opens to everything except widgets by default?

A new app gap

Long-time readers are familiar with the app gap that plagued Windows Phone for years. A similar issue affected Windows 11, though the Microsoft Store is great in 2025 — with one glaring exception. The widgets section of the Microsoft Store looks like a shopping mall that's about to close down.

There are 50 widgets in the Microsoft Store. That's it. Many of those widgets are for niche use cases or variations of already existing widgets.

Even the widgets from well-recognized companies are poor. The Spotify widget just presents trending playlists. It doesn't even let you control the Spotify app on your PC.

There are some nice widgets available, including a handy package tracker. But overall, the selection is an embarrassment. HowToiSolve has a list of the 21 best widgets for macOS. A similar roundup for Windows 11 would include over 40% of all widgets available.

Considering there are several clock and calendar apps among the 50 widgets available, I doubt you could find 21 widgets worth trying at all.

What you need to know

• Microsoft will soon let you disable the news feed within the widgets board on Windows 11.
• The change is in testing among Windows Insiders, though it is rolling out gradually.
• Despite initial concerns of the option being limited to Europe, Microsoft confirmed that "the new settings experience is not limited by region."

A Windows 11 update made its way to Insiders in the Beta Channel yesterday. The build is relatively minor, but it has a welcome change that I can't wait to see make its way to all users. Starting with Windows 11 Build 22635.2841, you can turn off the news feed in the Windows 11 widgets board.

Microsoft didn't herald the new option as the welcome addition that it is. Instead, the company briefly mentioned it in a note about the new widgets board settings page.

"We’ve updated the widget settings experience, providing more ways for users to customize their widgets board experience.  One of the new settings enables you to just show widgets on your widgets board and another makes it easier for you to discover how to personalize your feed content," Microsoft explained (emphasis added).

Later in its blog post, Microsoft clarified that "the new settings experience is not limited by region." There was some concern that the ability to turn off the news feed in the Windows 11 widgets board would be limited to EU countries because European legislation is what caused the change.

Further inspection of Microsoft's image of the widgets settings page shows a section to "Show or hide feeds." That section isn't expanded, so it's unclear how granular options will be.

I have the latest Beta build on my PC but do not see the option yet. I'll update this post with a screenshot once the option rolls out to my system.

Just a widgets board

The widgets board has always been a bit of a strange thing on Windows 11. When Microsoft first announced the feature, many got excited. Widgets are useful on Android and iOS. They used to be on Windows back in the day as well. But things quickly turned sour when it was clear Microsoft planned to use the widgets board as another way to force content on users.

I'm not sure how Microsoft missed the mark by so much. It's called the widgets board, not the widgets and news feed board. A widget for MSN News would have fit in as an optional widget to enable or disable but an entire news feed that you couldn't hide never made sense.

Microsoft appears to have listened to feedback and relented on its push to put MSN content everywhere on your PC and browser.

What you need to know

• The new Dev Home app announced during the 2023 Build Conference adds new monitoring widgets to Windows 11
• You do not need to be a part of the Windows Insider program, but Dev Home is still in its early preview stage.
• Users will be able to set up widgets for monitoring CPU, GPU, RAM and Network utilization.

Whether you’re the type of power user to push your Windows 11 PC to the limit in hopes of getting the most power out of your hardware as possible or you’re a habitual link-clicker who frequently stumbles onto malware chances are good you’ll want to monitor your computer’s system resources at some point.

Monitoring system resources can be a useful tool with which to draw awareness to potential problems like hardware failure, malware, or bugs in software. There are multiple ways to keep an eye out on your system, including Windows’ built in Task Manager, Resource Monitor, and Game Bar or through third party apps.

During the 2023 Microsoft Build conference a new app called Dev Home was announced to help users monitor projects via customizable widgets on an easy to navigate dashboard. Windows 11 users can monitor their CPU, GPU, RAM and Network performance with widgets on the Dev Home dashboard without the need to join the Windows Insider program.

While Dev Home is primarily geared toward developers who want to manage their workflow, the app is free and available to download via the Microsoft store for anyone. It is still in its early preview stages, however, and many users have reported that the app crashes frequently. If you don’t mind the potential bugginess of pre-release software here are the instructions on how you can turn on system monitoring widgets in Dev Home:

1. Download the Dev Home Preview app from the Microsoft Store or GitHub.
2. Press WIN + W to open Windows Widgets.
3. A notification will alert you that there are new widgets. 
4. Press Add it now or press + and select a widget from the menu to add widgets you would like to monitor on your dashboard.
5. Click the + to add the widgets you would like to monitor to the taskbar.

If you're interested in giving yourself more opportunities to do as you wish in Windows 11 but want a more stable app, its worth looking into Microsoft PowerToys, another free app with a multitude of add-on features geared toward Windows 11 power users.

What you need to know

• Microsoft has unveiled new features coming to Windows 11 users starting today.
• New features include Bing Chat in Windows Search, a new tablet-optimized Taskbar, and many other features and enhancements.
• Users can manually download the update today, or have it automatically installed with the March 2023 security update.

Microsoft has unveiled the first big Windows 11 feature drop for 2023, which brings with it a handful of new features and changes that are designed to enhance the Windows 11 user experience. The update is available starting today and will roll out to all users as part of the March 2023 security update on March 14.

Microsoft's Chief Product Officer, Panos Panay, unveiled the new update in a blogpost earlier today:

"It’s an exciting time in technology, not just for our industry but for the world. The Windows PC has never been more relevant in our daily lives, and this is increasingly the case as we approach the next wave of computing led by the mass adoption of AI. Today’s major update to Windows 11, that I am pumped to introduce meets this new age of AI and reinvents and improves the way people get things done on their PCs."

Microsoft touts several new features as part of this release, including an optimized Taskbar for tablets and 2-in-1 devices, an updated Teams Chat interface, full-screen Widgets, tabs in Notepad, and screen recording in Snipping Tool, among many other additions. The company has also announced Phone Link for iOS, which will roll out later in the year but is available in preview for Windows Insiders starting today.

Microsoft is also highlighting a new search box interface on the Taskbar, which ties in with Microsoft’s recent Bing Chat AI launch. The search box can now display the Bing Chat icon, and the Search panel now features the new Bing with the ability to launch into a chat session with suggested chat prompts quickly.

For business customers with PCs managed by Active Directory, the Start menu is being updated with AI that will better surface files and content that it thinks might be most relevant to the user. There’s also the new Cloud PC app, which lets businesses create PCs in the cloud for employees to connect to.

These new features arrive as part of Microsoft's commitment to "continuous innovation" on Windows 11, which lets the company regularly update the OS with new features and enhancements. The last feature drop arrived in October and introduced Tabs in File Explorer along with other minor additions.

Microsoft's next feature drop for Windows 11 is internally scheduled for sometime in May or June. For now, here's what's new in today's feature drop:

What's new in the Windows 11 February 2023 feature drop?

Here's a quick rundown of what's new in this second feature drop for Windows 11:

• Bing Chat in Windows Search
• New search bar options for the Taskbar
• Touch-optimized Taskbar for tablets and 2-in-1 devices
• Modernized Taskbar system tray overflow menu
• Phone Link for iOS (preview)
• Tabs in Notepad
• Screen recording in Snipping Tool
• Search in Task Manager
• Energy recommendations in Settings
• Voice access improvements
• Redesigned Quick Assist app
• Full-screen Widgets panel with third-party widget support
• AI powered file recommendations in Start for AAD joined devices
• Windows Studio Effects in Quick Settings

How to get the Windows 11 February 2023 update

If you'd like to install this update now, you can head to Windows Update and install the optional cumulative update that should be waiting. If you don't see the update, it might still be rolling out, so you'll have to wait a short while. (The update is now live as of 1 PM ET.)

All users will automatically get these new features as part of the March 2023 security update rolling out on March 14.

What you need to know

• Microsoft released Windows 11 Build 22621.1325 and Build 22623.1325 to Insiders in the Beta Channel this week.
• The builds bring new widgets to those in the Beta Channel, including Messenger, Spotify, Phone Link, and Xbox Game Pass.
• Build 22621.1325 has features off by default while Build 22623.1325 has features enabled by default.

Microsoft released a pair of builds to Insiders in the Beta Channel this week. Windows 11 Build 22621.1325 and Build 22623.1325 are now available to download. The former has features turned off by default while the latter has new features enabled by default.

The biggest addition is the rollout of widgets for Facebook Messenger, Spotify, Phone Link, and Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft is working to make the Widgets Panel more functional by adding support for third-party widgets. The blog post announcing this week's builds also includes details on how to create widgets for Windows 11.

Microsoft also shipped a Windows 11 build to Dev Channel Insiders this week.

Build 22621.1325 & 22623.1325: What's new

New Widgets: Messenger, Spotify, Phone Link, and Game Pass

We are beginning to roll out support for new preview widgets for Messenger, Spotify, Phone Link, and Xbox (Game Pass) to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel. To give them a try, go to the widgets collection in the Microsoft Store and update to the latest version of the apps. Then open the widgets board and navigate to the widgets picker by clicking the “+” button at the top-right of the board to pin your widgets.

New commercial policy: Enable features introduced via servicing that are off by default

This new policy enables commercial customers to enable features introduced via servicing (outside of the annual feature update) that are off by default for devices that have their Windows updates managed. Windows update managed devices are those that have their Windows updates managed via policy; whether via the cloud using Windows Update for Business or on-premises with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). Learn more about this new policy here.

Build 22623.1325: Changes and Improvements

Start menu

For devices that are Azure Active Directory (AAD) joined, we are personalizing your experience by delivering AI-powered recommended content within your Start menu. When you open the Start menu, you will find related content to help you prepare for upcoming meetings, quickly access files you’re collaborating on, and more.

Build 22623.1325: Fixes

Taskbar & System Tray

Fixed an issue that was causing taskbar to be cut off after resolution changes.

Build 22621.1325 & 22623.1325: Fixes

• We fixed compatibility issues that affected some printers. Those printers used Windows Graphical Device Interface (GDI) printer drivers. Those drivers did not completely adhere to GDI specifications.
• We fixed a reliability issue that occurred when you used Task View.
• We fixed an issue that affected copying from a network to a local drive. Copying was slower than expected for some users.
• We provided support for the United Mexican States’ daylight-saving time change order for 2023.
• We fixed a date information issue. It affected the format of dates sent between Windows and some versions of the Heimdal Kerberos library.
• We fixed an issue that affected provisioning packages. They failed to apply in certain circumstances when elevation was required.
• We fixed an issue that affected which folders appeared in the Browse for Folder picker.
• We fixed an issue that affected File Explorer. When you used Shift + Tab or Shift + F6, the input focus did not move.
• We fixed an issue that affected the user interface (UI). The volume up and volume down commands from a Bluetooth keyboard did not display.
• We improved the reliability of Windows after you installed an update.
• We fixed an issue that might have affected lsass.exe. It might have stopped responding when it sent a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) query to a domain controller that had a very large LDAP filter.
• We fixed an issue that affected Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Using a provisioning package for bulk provisioning failed.
• We fixed an issue that affected the software keyboard. It did not appear in the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) after a Push-button reset (factory reset). This type of reset required an external keyboard to be attached to provide credentials.
• We fixed an issue that affected AppV. It stopped file names from having the correct letter case (uppercase or lowercase).
• We fixed an issue that affected Universal Print’s Configuration Service Provider (CSP). A command prompt window appeared when you installed a printer.
• We fixed an issue that might have affected the touch keyboard and the PIN entry keyboard. You might not have been able to use them to enter text when you signed in to your device.
• We fixed an issue that displayed a blue screen during video playback. This occurred after you set high dynamic range (HDR) on your display.
• We fixed an issue that affected parity virtual disks. Using Server Manager to create them failed
• We fixed an issue that affected IE mode. The text on the status bar was not always visible.
• We fixed an issue that affected the Color filters setting. When you selected Inverted, the system set it to Grayscale instead.
• We fixed an issue that affected Microsoft Edge. The issue removed conflicting policies for Microsoft Edge. This occurred when you set the MDMWinsOverGPFlag in a Microsoft Intune tenant and Intune detected a policy conflict.
• We fixed an issue that affected the Appx State Repository. When you removed a user profile, the cleanup was incomplete. Because of that, its database grew as time passes. This growth might have caused delays when users signed in to multi-user environments like FSLogix.

What you need to know

• Windows 11 has a Widgets Panel that allows you to interact with content and browse information.
• Until recently, a Microsoft account was required to a use the Widgets Panel.
• That is no longer the case, as it is now possible to use and customize the Widgets Panel without a Microsoft account.

Windows 11 now allows you to use the Widgets Panel without signing into a Microsoft account. Until recently, those using local accounts or not signed in could not use the Widgets Panel at all. Microsoft started testing the option to use the Widgets Panel without a Microsoft account in December 2022 with Windows 11 Insider Build 25262. Now, that functionality is generally available.

The change was spotted by Twitter user @PhantomOfEarth. They noted that to use the Widgets Panel without a Microsoft account, your PC needs to have the most recent version of the Windows Web Experience Pack installed.

Following the change, those that are not signed in can see the weather and news through the Widgets Panel. They can also pin widgets from third-party apps, which is more important now that Spotify and Phone Link widgets are available in preview. More third-party widgets are expected to roll out in the future.

Windows Central take

The Widgets Panel in Windows 11 is still relatively new. It has the potential to be a powerful tool for controlling apps and browsing information but at the moment it's quite limited.

In its present form, the Widgets Panel feels more like a form of monetization than a useful feature. It's not possible to remove news from the panel, which is quite frustrating. Additionally, very few third-party widgets are available. The rollout of Spotify could lead to a wave of new widget experiences on Windows 11, but we'll have to see if developers decide to use the feature.

Microsoft appears to be listening to feedback about the Widgets Panel. The option to use the tool without a Microsoft account is a welcome change. Hopefully, the company will continue to improve the feature based on user feedback.

What you need to know

• Microsoft recently shared guidelines and advice for creating widgets for Windows 11.
• At the moment, the widgets panel of Windows 11 is limited to first-party content from Microsoft, but that is set to change soon.
•  Developers will be able to build widgets as companion experiences to Win32 apps and PWAs later this year.

Windows 11 includes a widgets panel that lets you easily digest and interact with content from the web. At the moment, that panel is limited to first-party apps from Microsoft, but that is set to change later this year. Microsoft confirmed back in May 2022 that developers will be able to create widgets as companion experiences for Win32 and PWA apps. Now, the company has shared guidelines and advice for creating widgets.

Microsoft's widgets overview page breaks down the benefits of using widgets, explains how they work, and defines the terms developers need to know to create them (via Neowin). For example, some developers may not know that it's possible to create multiple widgets for a single app.

Microsoft's widget principles

• Glanceable
  • Users can take a quick peek to get the most value out of the widget. They only need to click on it if they want richer details or deeper interactions.
• Dependable
  • Surface frequently used information instantly to save users time in repeating those steps. Drive consistent re-engagement to your app.
• Useful
  • Elevate the most useful and relevant information.
• Personal
  • Provide personalized content and build an emotional connection with customers. Widgets should never contain ads. Customers are in control of their widget content and layout.
• Focused
  • Each widget should generally focus on one main task or scenario. Widgets are not intended to replace your apps and websites.
• Fresh
  • Content should dynamically refresh based on available context. It is up to date and provides the right content at the right time.

Third-party widgets will be powered by Microsoft's Adaptive Cards platform. Widgets will work even when an app is closed. Microsoft hasn't shared a release date for third-party widget support apart from saying that it will come "later this year."

What you need to know

• More evidence has emerged that indicates Windows 11 will soon support third-party widgets.
• Previous leaks and reports already claimed that third-party widgets were on the way to Microsoft's OS.
• Now, a screenshot of alleged code from the Widget manifest that mentions downloading Widgets through the Microsoft Store has been shared online.

Microsoft appears to be making preparations to support third-party widgets on Windows 11. A screenshot of alleged code from the Widget manifest that mentions downloading new widgets through the Microsoft Store was recently shared by Twitter user FireCube.

"Widget manifest update shows more evidence of being able to download third party widgets and updates from the Microsoft Store," stated the tweet.

We've known that support for third-party widgets was on the way to Windows 11 for quite some time. Our senior editor Zac Bowden discussed the feature in his piece covering what to expect from Surface and Windows in 2022.

"Microsoft is also expected to expand the Widgets panel with new features and support for third-party widgets," said Bowden in December 2021. "I'm told some developers have already been briefed on how third-party widgets will work."

Assuming plans have not changed, users will be able to download widgets through the Microsoft Store. Unpackaged apps from outside of the store should be able to have widgets as well.

The newly spotted code aligns with previous reports as well as separate leaks from earlier this year.

While Microsoft did not show any third-party widgets during its recent Windows 11 event, the company did provide a glimpse of a fullscreen Widgets Panel. That expanded panel was initially announced in June 2021 but has not shipped at this point, even in preview form. Microsoft also showed the ability to sign into the Widgets Panel with both work and personal accounts.

It's clear that Microsoft has plans for widgets on Windows 11. The company will potentially share more details at Build 2022, which will run from May 24-26.