Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Products

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The best widgets on Windows 11

Arif Bacchus
By

One of the cool features of Windows 11 is its widgets. With widgets, you can peek at some of the things that matter to you most via a small space at the side of your desktop, without opening a dedicated app associated with that content, or even going on your phone. You can summon it at any time with Windows Key and W on your keyboard, or hover to the left side of the Taskbar, and click on the weather icon.

From there, new widgets can be added with the Add widgets button. You’ll even be able to add multiple widgets or drag widgets around, too.

Currently, Microsoft doesn’t support third-party widgets in Windows 11 as it did in Windows Vista or Windows 7. However, there are still some great official Microsoft widgets you can use, and there’s also a third-party alternative to widgets, too.

Related

Here are some of the best widgets on Windows 11 you can download right now.

Best Widgets on Windows 11

Weather widget

The weather widget in Windows 11
Image used with permission by copyright holder

At the top of our list is the weather widget in Windows 11. This is one of the most customizable widgets, as it can automatically use your location, or allow you to enter a custom location to show you the weather. This can be done with the three-dot Customize widget option. There are various sizes, including, Small, Medium, and Large.

Each size will show you more weather stats. Small is a compact card with current weather conditions only. The medium size, meanwhile, will show you a five-day forecast on top of existing conditions. Finally, the large will show a line graph with precipitation probabilities and hourly temperatures. All three sizes make this a great way to peek at the weather without having to go to your web browser or open an app on your phone.

Sports widget

The sports widget showing mets scores.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Being a sports fan means always wanting to keep in touch with your favorite team’s scores. Well, there’s a widget for that in Windows 11, and it is the appropriately named sports widget. Just like the weather widgets, this widget has a lot of customization options and sizes. You can choose various sports, too.

Some of the sports supported by this widget include MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA, and other major sports leagues. You can add one of these leagues, or a specific team in the league to the widget by going to the three-dot customize widget option. Once you add a league, you’ll see the schedule for the league or team. The Small, Medium, and Large options will add more results to your widget.

Outlook calendar widget

The outlook calendat widget on Windows 11
Image used with permission by copyright holder

With the work-from-home lifestyle becoming more popular than ever, you might be having more virtual meetings. That means you’ll need a calendar to keep in touch with meeting appointments. Well, in Windows 11, there’s the Outlook widget for that. When added, it shows you the current month, as well as any events planned for your day. It also will let you create an event directly from the widget, linking you out to your web browser. The various sizes will add more preview days of the week to your widget, so play around and check it out!

OneDrive Photos widgets

The OneDrive Widget on Windows 11 showing photos.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Last on our list of best Windows 11 widgets is the OneDrive Photos widgets. This widget, as named, will surface some of the photos from your OneDrive account, and quickly link you out to the OneDrive web experience to see more. It’s a handy way to see your favorite photos from years past, in one central hub. Unlike the others on our list so far, there are only two sizes, medium and small. So, keep that in mind.

Adding third-party widgets

The Widget launcher app running on Windows 11.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

So far, everything in our list has been the official widgets that are supported by Microsoft through the widgets feature in Windows 11. Yet, if you want to expand your options a bit, you can also add third-party widgets to other areas of Windows 11, like the desktop.

There are many great apps that can do this, and the apps bring back the true look and widgets experience you might be familiar with from Windows Vista or Windows 7, where widgets surface on the right side of your desktop space.

At the top of our suggestions is the free Widget Launcher App on Windows 11. This app can put a CPU monitor, sticky notes, or conversion widget on your desktop. The color and transparency of these widgets can all be customized, too.

Other third-party apps that can add widgets to Windows 11 include ClocX, which is a clock widget, Crypto Price Widget, which can let you track cryptocurrencies on your desktop, as well as Desktop Ticker, which lets you add an RSS feed to your desktop as a scrollable ticker. Just be warned, these are largely legacy apps for older versions of Windows, so they might not work right on Windows 11.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus
Computing Writer
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Great for school: This 15-inch Windows 11 laptop is on sale for $199
The Asus VivoBook Go L510MA with the Windows 11 interface on the screen.

If you're planning to buy a new laptop for school but all you need is a device that can handle basic tasks, there's surely something that will catch your eye among all of the laptop deals that are available online. Here's an eye-catching offer from Walmart -- the Asus VivoBook Go L510MA, which is already pretty affordable at its original price of $249, is on sale with a $50 discount that pulls it down even further to $199. There's a chance that this bargain ends quickly, so if you want to take advantage of it, you're going to have to complete the purchase right away.

Why you should buy the Asus VivoBook Go L510MA
The Asus VivoBook Go L510MA is powered by the Intel Pentium Silver N5030 processor and 4GB of RAM, which are nowhere near the specifications of the best laptops. However, if you only need the device for relatively simple schoolwork such as doing online research, typing reports, and making presentations, these components are more than enough. The Asus VivoBook Go L510MA also comes with a 128GB eMMC for storage, which should be plenty of space for all the documents that are needed for classes.

Read more
The best wireless mouse for 2023: top wireless mice tested and compared

It has been over 40 years since the first computer mouse shipped, and since then, we’ve learned to cut the cables. Wireless mice are a dime a dozen and are much more common now, but only a select few make our list of the best wireless mice. It doesn’t matter if you’re shopping on a budget, focused on gaming, or have ergonomic needs — there’s a wireless mouse for you.

We’ve rounded up the top wireless mice available in 2023, from a large trackball mouse like the Kensington Expert to an inexpensive portable powerhouse like the Microsoft Mobile Mouse. Our top pick, however, is the Logitech MX Master 3S. It’s comfortable, has excellent battery life, and comes with simultaneous multi-device support.

Read more
Best Buy just knocked $230 off the Surface Pro 7+ with Type Cover
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ on a desk, with a monitor behind it.

A tablet is a great way to go about your daily computing routines, and right now you can land a deal on a good one. The Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ is going for just $700 at Best Buy, which makes for a savings of $230 from its regular price of $930. It even comes with a free Type Cover and one free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which offers even more savings. Free shipping is included and in-store pickup is available in most locations.

Why you should buy the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+
Whether you’re looking to take home a computing device that competes with the best tablets, or you’re looking for an alternative to the best 2-in-1 laptops, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ should be a top consideration. While Microsoft’s newest option, the Surface Pro 9, is meant to take on the Apple iPad Pro, the Surface Pro 7+ is meant for tablet users looking for some great features on a budget. With an Intel i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid state drive, the Surface Pro 7+ is a great value option. All of these combine to provide a responsive, speedy experience, and to provide plenty of storage space for all of your favorite games, apps, and digital content.

Read more