For those who don’t know, Windows 11 offers a selection of widgets that are available using the Windows key + W shortcut. Unfortunately, only Microsoft widgets are available at the moment (such as weather, traffic, To Do list, etc.).
According to FireCube, a reliable leaker, this situation is about to change. He shared a supposed screenshot of Windows 11 code on Twitter which indicates that users will soon be able to download and update third-party widgets from the app store.
Widget manifest update shows more evidence of being able to download third party widgets and updates from the Microsoft Store.#Windows11#FluentDesignpic.twitter.com/RgBYCq7sgZ
—FireCube (@FireCubeStudios) April 13, 2022
A long-standing rumor
Microsoft has been rumored to be working on this feature for a while now, and this is the first time there’s been any concrete evidence supporting it. If it is impossible to verify the authenticity of the code, updating the widget manifest would show “more evidence of the possibility of downloading third-party widgets”.
Microsoft has yet to officially announce the feature, but Windows Central previously reported that the company briefed developers on how a third-party widget might work.
Operation very similar to that of mobile OS
If this turns out to be true, Windows 11 could bring an experience similar to that offered by iOS or Android. Besides the ability to download a widget directly, some installed programs might offer their own widgets.
We can imagine an Epic Games widget highlighting the free games of the moment, Notepad++ offering a kind of instantly accessible post-it, the list of Spotify playlists accessible in one click, as well as the latest TikTok trending videos.
Anyway, this openness to third-party widgets would announce promising new features for Microsoft’s OS. With Microsoft’s annual Build developer conference taking place May 24-26, there may be an announcement regarding widgets there. Case to follow.