Neowin News Feed for: Widgets

Apple Sports app gets new widgets and expands to these new countries

Aditya Tiwari — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:26:01 +0000

The Apple Sports app has been updated with new features and is expanding to eight new countries ahead of the football season. Read more...

Microsoft planning to replace MSN feed in Windows 11 widgets with Copilot Discover

Usama Jawad — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:44:01 +0000

It appears that Microsoft is testing a new UX for the Widgets board in Windows 11, powered by Copilot Discover. Read more...

Android 16 QPR1 to bring lock screen widgets to phones

Omer Dursun — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 17:04:01 +0000

Lock screen widgets are coming to Android phones with the Android 16 QPR1 update. Get instant access to information, smart home controls, and more without unlocking your phone. Read more...

Google Play gets enhanced widget discovery tools for Android developers

Fiza Ali — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:42:02 +0000

Google introduced a number of updates aimed at boosting widget visibility and engagement for Android developers. Read more...

Microsoft confirms you can't download some Windows 11 widgets now for the good

Sayan Sen — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:30:02 +0000

Microsoft has removed several Widgets from the Store, including To Do, Microsoft 365 Feed, Calendar, and more, but it's for the good. Read more...

Windows 11 might soon let you customize lock screen widgets

Taras Buria — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 17:42:02 +0000

Windows 11 has a bunch of lock screen widgets, but you can only have all of them or none. Fortunately, Microsoft appears to be fixing that. Read more...

Windows 11 also gets new Lock Screen widgets, here is how to enable them

Taras Buria — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 20:36:01 +0000

Microsoft pushed a new Release Preview build for Windows Insiders. One of its hidden features is the new Lock Screen widgets, which were spotted earlier in one of the recent Windows 10 updates. Read more...

Windows 11 will soon get a separate notification center for Widgets

Taras Buria — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 18:16:01 +0000

Microsoft is working on a bunch of new features for Windows Widgets, such as the ability to quickly toggle between widgets and feeds and a dedicated notification center for important messages. Read more...

WingetUI gets support for Widgets to easily update/install packages, PowerShell Gallery too

Sayan Sen — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 06:46:01 +0000

WingetUI's newest release brings multiple usability-related improvements as it improves in several areas including installing, updating, and exporting packages. PowerShell Gallery support is here too. Read more...

Microsoft finally allows turning off news in Windows Widgets, but beware of bugs

Taras Buria — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 13:36:01 +0000

Microsoft has started rolling out the updated widgets experience for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel, allowing them to turn off the news feed. However, the company also confirmed several bugs. Read more...

Windows 11 gets the option to permanently pin widget board, here is how to enable it

Taras Buria — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 12:04:02 +0000

Microsoft is testing a new feature for Windows 11 to allow customers to pin the widget board to the desktop permanently. The new option is now available for Windows insiders; here is how to enable it. Read more...

iPadOS 17 to bring all of iPhone lock screen features to the iPad, leaker claims

Aditya Tiwari — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 11:36:01 +0000

iPad users will soon enjoy advanced lock screen customization. An Apple leaker claims all iOS 16 lock screen features would trickle down to iPadOS 17 which is due for a release later this year. Read more...

Microsoft Weekly: Windows bugs, GPT integrations, and taking screenshots

Usama Jawad — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 20:38:01 +0000

This week has been quite busy when it comes to Microsoft news. We have a lot to unpack including Windows bugs and their respective fixes, new GPT integrations, and upcoming Windows features. Read more...

Spotify enables faster access on iPhone via a new lock screen widget

Aditya Tiwari — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 17:32:01 +0000

There is now a quick way to open Spotify on iPhone. As part of its latest update, Spotify has launched a new widget for iOS 16 that allows access to the app directly from the iPhone lock screen. Read more...

Microsoft Weekly: Windows 12 rumors, Windows 11 secrets, and Windows 7 support

Usama Jawad — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 16:20:01 +0000

The latest edition of Microsoft Weekly packs news items related to "Windows 12" leaks, some hidden capabilities in Windows 11, and a bunch of app updates, with a sprinkle of Windows 7 news. Read more...

Microsoft is testing animated Widgets icons in Windows 11, here is how to enable them

Taras Buria — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 07:42:02 +0000

Microsoft is working on adding a bit of motion and subtle animations when you interact with the taskbar in Windows 11. Here is how you can enable those animations in the latest Canary build. Read more...

Windows 11 Insider Preview Beta builds (KB5022914) launched with new widgets and more

John Callaham — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 23:28:01 +0000

The Windows 11 Insider Preview Beta include new widgets for Messenger, Spotify, Phone Link, and Game Pass, along with AI recommended content in the Start menu for Start Azure Active Directory devices. Read more...

Windows 11 Stable gets the updated Widgets that no longer require a Microsoft Account

Taras Buria — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 08:44:01 +0000

Microsoft has released an updated Windows Web Experience Pack, bringing the ability to use Windows Widgets without a Microsoft Account from Windows Insiders to all Windows 11 Stable users. Read more...

Microsoft updates Windows 11 Widgets and they're heading to 21H2 users too

Sayan Sen — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 07:40:02 +0000

First introduced in Dev Channel, Microsoft has begun rolling out a new update in the Widgets in Windows 11 to all users, whether you are on 22H2 or 21H2. However, you may not immediately get it. Read more...

Microsoft Weekly: New Windows 11 features, Edge upgrades, and Teams enhancements

Usama Jawad — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 18:16:01 +0000

This edition of Microsoft Weekly is full of news items about the latest Windows 11 features, updates to Microsoft Edge and its support policies, along with some items about Teams enhancements. Read more...

Windows App SDK 1.2 is now live, here is what's new

Usama Jawad — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 01:28:01 +0000

Microsoft has released version 1.2 of the Windows App SDK with a bunch of new features including support for third-party Widgets in Windows 11, updated media playback controls, and lots more. Read more...

Expanded View for Widgets and Energy Recommendations arrive in Windows 11 Beta

Steven Parker — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 23:53:39 +0000

Microsoft has made a new build (KB5020054) available in the Beta Channel for Windows Insiders with Energy Recommendations, Windows Studio Effects in Quick Settings, and Expanded Widget view. Read more...

Microsoft experiments with new Windows Widgets designs, here is how to enable them

Taras Buria — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 11:22:01 +0000

Windows 11 preview builds in the Beta and Dev Channel recently started receiving slightly changed Windows Widgets layouts with new buttons. Here is how to enable them on your computer. Read more...

Microsoft Weekly: Windows 11 22H2 issues galore, Widgets, and Outlook updates

Usama Jawad — Sat, 08 Oct 2022 18:02:01 +0000

This week's edition of Microsoft Weekly is full of interesting news related to lots of Windows 11 2022 Update bugs, some more details on third-party Widgets, and a bunch of app updates. Read more...

Microsoft details how to build good third-party widgets for Windows 11

Taras Buria — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 09:00:02 +0000

We are now one step closer to third-party widgets in Windows 11. Microsoft has published new documentation with guidelines describing how developers can build useful and enjoyable widgets for Windows. Read more...

Microsoft Weekly: Windows patches, Insider builds, and a Teams ringtone from TikTok

Usama Jawad — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 17:16:01 +0000

This week's edition of Microsoft Weekly is jampacked with news related to Patch Tuesday updates and patches in general, Insider builds, and a rather unconventional Teams ringtone, among other items. Read more...

How to enable full-screen Widgets in Windows 11 build 25201

Taras Buria — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 15:16:01 +0000

Windows 11 build 25201 brings a new full-screen view for Windows Widgets, providing more screen real estate for extra information. Here is how to force-enable full-screen widgets in build 25201. Read more...

Microsoft Weekly: Windows everywhere, BitLocker woes, and Edge gaming sidebar

Usama Jawad — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 17:16:01 +0000

This week's edition is chock-full of news related to Windows updates, issues, Edge enhancements, and an interesting item about a music video being an official exploit for old Windows PCs. Read more...

Microsoft brings Widget notifications to all Windows 11 users

Taras Buria — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 08:00:02 +0000

Microsoft has started rolling out an update for the Windows Web Experience Pack, enabling Widget notifications for all Windows 11 users, not only Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels. Read more...

Microsoft Weekly: Patch Tuesday, Outlook, and bugs

Usama Jawad — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 17:16:01 +0000

In a busy week in the world of Microsoft, we have news to recap for Patch Tuesday, Windows 11 Dev Channel build 25179, changes to Outlook, bugs, vulnerabilities, issues, and lots more! Read more...

Windows 11 build 25158: Microsoft confirms weather readings are all over the place

Sayan Sen — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 21:28:01 +0000

Microsoft has confirmed that the latest Windows 11 Dev Channel build 25158 breaks weather and temperature readings and reporting. The build added a couple of new widget features, among others. Read more...

Microsoft Weekly: Unsupported Windows 11 PCs, tabbed File Explorer, and app updates

Usama Jawad — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 15:16:02 +0000

In our latest weekly roundup of everything important that happened in the Microsoft-verse, we discuss the some wonky behavior around unsupported PCs, tabbed File Explorer, and lots of app updates. Read more...

Microsoft Weekly: Build excitement, Windows 11 22H2 RTM, and Linux XDP

Usama Jawad — Sat, 28 May 2022 17:16:01 +0000

This week's digest walks you through all the important stuff that occurred in the Microsoft-verse in the past few days including Build 2022, updates to apps, and details about Windows 11 version 22H2. Read more...

Developers will soon be able to build custom widgets for Windows 11

Usama Jawad — Tue, 24 May 2022 15:00:04 +0000

Microsoft has announced that developers will soon be able to build companion widgets in Windows 11 and leverage from Project Volterra and Hybrid Loop to build ARM-native AI solutions. Read more...

Windows 11 is getting a major update next month, Android apps in tow

Usama Jawad — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 15:11:13 +0000

Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 is getting "new experiences" next month, which includes a public preview of Android apps on Windows, taskbar improvements, and a revamped Notepad app. Read more...

Third-party widgets could soon arrive on Windows 11, suggests leak

Sayan Sen — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 06:06:02 +0000

It looks like third-party widgets are indeed coming to Windows 11 according to a new leak. The leak shows purported details regarding publishing, registering, and integration of third-party widgets. Read more...

Microsoft Weekly: AD woes, acquisitions galore, and Bingo was her name-o

Usama Jawad — Sat, 25 Dec 2021 18:16:01 +0000

While this week was relatively slow due to the holiday season, we do have some notable items to recap including Active Directory woes, a couple of acquisitions, and what almost became Cortana's name. Read more...

I actually miss News and Interests integration with Taskbar in Windows 11

Usama Jawad — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:16:01 +0000

After months of alternating between Windows 10 and Windows 11 on my primary machine, I feel like I kind of miss the News and Interests integration with the Taskbar that was offered in the former. Read more...

Windows 11 build 22518 brings some Context Menu and Widget changes, breaks update on ARM64

Sayan Sen — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 19:50:28 +0000

New Windows 11 Dev channel build brings Widgets changes, some Context Menu changes, and many more fixes and improvements. The build also breaks the update rollout process on Windows 11 ARM64 PCs. Read more...

Five things I hate about Windows 11

Usama Jawad — Sun, 21 Nov 2021 18:16:02 +0000

While Windows 11 arguably isn't the worst OS that Microsoft has ever released, it still contains a lot of missteps and apparent design oversights. Read on to find out five things I hate about the OS. Read more...