Windows 11 currently only supports Microsoft-developed widgets, but that’s about to change.
Do you find Windows 11’s widget offerings to be a little lackluster? If so, you’ll want to keep an eye out on the operating system in the future, as Microsoft has just confirmed that it’s planning to allow third-party developers to create and distribute their own widgets for the operating system.
As spotted by Softpedia, Microsoft really wants to expand the range of Windows 11’s widgets. Right now, there is a handful that came along for the ride when Windows 11 debuted; however, there was a distinct lack of support for third-party developers that wanted to make handy gadgets for the operating system.
Now, Microsoft really wants to give those developers the helping hand they need. In a post on the Windows Developer Blog, Microsoft broke down the basics:
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. Beginning later [in 2022] 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.
A Big Boon for Windows 11
When someone wants to customize their copy of Windows, it’s essential for Microsoft to allow third-party developers to add their own offerings to the operating system. Failure to do so will often mean that users resort to using tools and hacks to get their way anyway, so it’s a good idea to support third-party devs to prevent people from needing to tinker with the system to get something running.
As such, this is welcome news to people who want to get the most out of Windows 11. No longer will they need to rely on Windows widgets or workarounds to get their way; soon, they can use Windows 11’s third-party widget base to tweak the operating system how they want.
Microsoft allowing third-party widgets on Windows 11 is a big boon for people who like to optimize their operating system to their needs. Now we’ll just need to wait and see when this new feature will release in full.
