How to manage widgets in the Lock Screen on Windows 11 — customize your PC before you ever log in

On Windows 11, you can manage the widgets that appear on the Lock Screen, and in this guide, I'll outline the steps to complete this configuration.

When you start the computer, you'll probably notice up to four widgets in the Lock Screen (the screen before signing in to your account), which usually include details such as weather, sports, traffic, and finance.

Although this information may be helpful for some users, it's not for everyone and can cause unnecessary distractions, especially for people who use their computers for productivity.

If this feature isn't for you, Windows 11 lets you customize or completely disable widgets on the Lock Screen in the Settings app.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to manage the widget settings in the Lock Screen.

How to manage Lock Screen widgets on Windows 11

On Windows 11, you can show or hide widgets and manage the ones that appear on the Lock Screen.

Enable Lock Screen widgets

To enable widgets in the Lock Screen, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Lock Screen page from the right side.
4. Turn on the Widgets toggle switch.

Once you complete the steps, up to four widgets will appear in the Lock Screen.

It's worth noting that the system enables widgets automatically in the Lock Screen for new installations. However, if this isn't the case, you can use the above instructions to complete the configuration.

Configure Lock Screen widgets

To add, customize, and remove widgets from the Lock Screen, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Lock Screen page from the right side.
4. Click the Widgets setting.
5. Click the Add widget button to add more widgets.

6. Select one of the available widgets.

• Quick note: You can always use the "Find more widgets" option to download even more widgets from the Microsoft Store.

7. Click the Add widget button.

8. Click the menu (three dots) button and choose the Customize widget option (if applicable).

9. Change the available settings to customize the widget.

• Quick note: Customization options vary per widget.

10. Click the Save button.
11. Click the menu (three dots) button, then choose Remove to hide the widget from the Lock Screen.

12. (Optional) Click and drag each widget to change its order.

After you complete the steps, only the configured widgets will appear in the Lock Screen.

You can also turn on the "Suggest widgets for your lock screen" toggle switch to allow the system to fill unused slots of widgets in the Lock Screen.

If you don't want to show widgets but still want weather information, turn off all the widgets and add only the one that shows the weather. Also, make sure to turn off the "Suggest widgets for your lock screen" toggle switch.

Disable Lock Screen widgets

To completely hide the widgets from the Lock Screen, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Lock Screen page from the right side.
4. Turn off the Widgets toggle switch.

Once you complete the steps, the Lock Screen will no longer show widgets.

FAQs about managing Lock Screen widgets on Windows 11

These are common questions regarding resetting Windows 10 to its default settings.

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

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