Microsoft Windows 11 Is Getting Third-Party Widgets Soon

Last Updated on May 26, 2022 by Anu Joy

Microsoft announced at its annual Build developer conference that it will soon allow third-party developers to make widgets for Windows 11. Currently, the OS only supports a limited collection of widgets created by Microsoft.

Microsoft had previously added a widgets button in the Windows 11 taskbar. It includes widgets that offer information about the weather, news, traffic, and more. One drawback of this system is that all the widgets were native to Microsoft. But now, that’s set to change with a future update.

Panos Panay, head of devices and Windows, explained how widgets made it easy for users to conveniently access data, “Widgets in Windows 11 provide a fresh, glanceable, and useful view into app content for users. We’re energized by the customer feedback on Widgets to date; people are enjoying the quick access to content most important to them seamlessly without breaking their flow”.

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Panay announced that it is working on extending its functionality by allowing third party developers to create their own widgets. He added, “Beginning later this year you’ll be able to start building Widgets as companion experiences for your Win32 and PWA apps on Windows 11, powered by the Adaptive Cards platform”.

There’s no word on how these widgets will work, except for the fact they will work in tandem with Windows applications or Progressive Web Apps. The tech giant also doesn’t say if third-party desktop widgets are in the pipeline. Although Microsoft did not reveal when exactly it will be adding third-party widgets, it’s heartening to see that such a functionality will be coming soon.