Microsoft seems to be moving forward with its Widget master plan for Windows 11 recently, and here is yet another proof of that.
Zac Bowden, a well-known leaker of Windows headquarters (opens in new tab) Fame tells us that his sources at Microsoft have said that Windows 11 users will get the ability to pin widgets directly to the desktop.
Microsoft’s goal is to increase interaction with widgets, as they’re clearly being used more on the desktop – they’re right in front of you all the time, rather than being limited to the widgets panel (the one off the taskbar), like they currently are.
When will this move take place? Bowden can’t tell us that, but the leaker does point out that Windows 11’s widgets will be covered with a special session at Microsoft’s Build 2023 conference (later in May). So there seems to be a good chance that this move will be talked about then, and if so, it may not be long before we see the feature in testing for Windows 11.
All of this is because Microsoft introduced a new widget for testing earlier this week. but it’s a big one – Facebook.
If the guess above of a vague timeline works, we should see the functionality to move widgets to the desktop Windows11 appear later this year.
At least that’s our gut feeling, because Microsoft seems to be concentrating quite heavily on this area of the interface (widgets and file manager undergoing a few changes during testing, and currently quite large ones). Additionally, developers are highly encouraged by Microsoft to implement widgets for their apps.
Also, Bowden has previously mentioned the idea of moving widgets to the desktop (March), so it feels like the concept is progressing at Microsoft for the leaker to revisit now.
It would certainly be a useful additional functionality for those who find widgets useful – having them right on the desktop. And if you don’t like widgets, you can just ignore them. It’s not like they’ll come to the desktop on their own.
With the ability to push them to the desktop if you wish, Windows 11’s widgets will feel a lot more like Windows 7’s gadgets.