Adding widgets in Windows 11 is a breeze. All you have to do is open the Widgets board, which you can find on your taskbar or by pressing the Windows key + W. From there, click the plus icon to see all the available widgets. Find one you like, click the plus sign next to it, and it will instantly appear on your board. You can then drag it around to organize your space. It’s that simple.
Tutorial – How To Add Widgets In Windows 11
This guide will walk you through the exact process of finding, adding, and arranging widgets on your Windows 11 Widgets board. Think of it as creating your own personal dashboard, filled with little windows of information that are important to you. Let’s get started.
Step 1: Open the Widgets board.
First, you need to access the Widgets panel itself by either clicking its icon on the taskbar or using a keyboard shortcut.
The Widgets icon usually looks like a square split into two rectangles, often showing the current weather. By default, it sits on the left side of your taskbar. If you prefer using your keyboard, just press the Windows key and the W key at the same time. This will slide the Widgets board into view from the left side of your screen.
Step 2: Find the ‘Add widgets’ button.
Once the board is open, locate the plus (+) button to open the widget gallery.
This button is your gateway to all the widgets you can add. You’ll typically find it in the top right corner of the Widgets board, right next to your profile picture. Clicking this plus sign opens up a new menu showing every widget available for you to install.
Step 3: Choose your widget.
Now, scroll through the list of available widgets and click the plus (+) sign on any widget you want to add to your board.
This menu displays widgets from Microsoft, like Calendar, Weather, and Photos, as well as widgets from other apps you have installed, such as Spotify or the Phone Link app. When you see one you like, just click that little plus sign, and it will instantly pop onto your main Widgets board.
Step 4: Position and resize your new widget.
After adding a widget, you can move it around and change its size to fit your layout perfectly.
To move it, just click and hold the widget, then drag it to a new spot on the board. Some widgets also offer different sizes. To see the options, click the three little dots in the top right corner of the widget. A menu will appear where you can select “Small,” “Medium,” or “Large” to change its footprint.
Once you’ve added your widget, it will stay on your Widgets board. Every time you press Win + W or click the icon, you’ll see your customized dashboard with live, updated information from your chosen apps. Your new Calendar widget will show your upcoming appointments, and your Photos widget will cycle through your recent memories.
Tips for Adding Widgets in Windows 11
- Personalize Your News Feed: The area below your widgets is a news feed. You can tell it what you like by clicking “Manage interests.” This lets you fine-tune the stories and topics that appear, making the entire board more relevant to you.
- Sign In for the Best Experience: Widgets work best when you are signed into a Microsoft account. This allows them to sync information across your devices, like your To Do list or calendar events, giving you a seamless experience.
- Discover More Widgets in the Store: In the “Add widgets” menu, you might see an option that says “Find more widgets.” Clicking this will take you directly to the Microsoft Store, where you can find and install third-party apps that come with their own cool widgets.
- Removing a Widget Is Easy: If you decide you no longer want a widget, just click the three-dot menu on that widget and select “Unpin widget.” It will disappear from your board, but you can always add it back later.
- Clean Up Your Taskbar: Don’t use widgets? You can remove the icon from your taskbar completely. Just right-click on the taskbar, go to “Taskbar settings,” and toggle the switch for Widgets to “Off.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put widgets on my desktop?
Unfortunately, you can’t place widgets directly on the Windows 11 desktop like you could with Gadgets in older versions of Windows. They are designed to live exclusively within the Widgets board, which slides out from the side of your screen.
Why are my widgets not updating?
If your widgets seem stuck, it’s usually due to one of a few things. First, check your internet connection, as they need to be online to refresh. Second, make sure you are signed into your Microsoft account. Sometimes, a simple fix is to close and reopen the Widgets board or restart your computer.
How do I get more widgets?
You can expand your collection of widgets by installing apps from the Microsoft Store that support them. When you install a new app, like a music player or a project manager that has a widget feature, its widget will automatically become available in your “Add widgets” gallery.
Can I turn off the news feed in the Widgets board?
You cannot completely disable the news feed, but you have a lot of control over what it shows you. By going into the “Manage interests” settings, you can follow and unfollow topics until the feed is tailored precisely to what you want to see, effectively hiding content you don’t care about.
Does the Widgets button slow down my computer?
The Widgets feature is designed to be very efficient. It runs as a background process but generally uses minimal system resources, so it shouldn’t have a noticeable impact on your computer’s performance. If you are concerned about resources, you can always remove the button from your taskbar, which will stop the process from running.
Summary of Steps
- Open the Widgets board with the taskbar icon or Win + W.
- Click the plus (+) button in the top corner.
- Choose a widget from the gallery and click its plus (+) icon.
- Drag the widget to position it and use the three-dot menu to resize it.
Final Thoughts
Mastering how to add widgets in Windows 11 is a simple yet powerful way to make your computer feel more like your own. It transforms a static operating system into a dynamic dashboard that brings the information you need right to your fingertips. Gone are the days of opening your browser for the weather, your calendar app for appointments, and your photo gallery for memories. Now, all of that and more can live in one convenient, accessible space.
This feature is more than just a gimmick. It’s a thoughtful evolution from the desktop gadgets of the past. By containing them in a dedicated board, Windows 11 keeps your desktop clean and uncluttered while still providing the at-a-glance utility that made gadgets so popular. It strikes a balance between functionality and a clean aesthetic. The real magic, however, begins when you venture beyond the default options. The integration with the Microsoft Store means that as more app developers create widgets, your customization options will only grow. Imagine having a widget for your favorite sports team, your stock portfolio, or your smart home controls. The potential is enormous.
I encourage you to spend a few minutes personalizing your Widgets board. Add a few, move them around, and see what works for you. Explore the Microsoft Store to see if any of your favorite apps offer a widget. You might be surprised at how much this small feature can streamline your day. By making information easier to access, you save clicks, you save time, and you reduce the mental clutter of jumping between a dozen different windows. It’s a small change that can make a big difference in how you interact with your PC every single day.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.