When Windows 11 was launched, one of the new features called Widgets had some restrictions. Initially, users were only able to use Microsoft-created widgets and had to have a Microsoft account to access them.
Now, Microsoft has made some changes to these limitations. Third-party widgets are now available in developer builds of Windows 11, and users no longer need to sign in to their Microsoft accounts to use widgets, according to a recent Twitter post.
Previously, users were automatically signed in to Widgets when they signed in to Windows 11. This meant that users with a local Windows account or those who were signed out couldn’t access the Widgets panel.
Tip: Check out Ashwin’s guide on how to uninstall widgets in Windows 11.
Anonymous Windows 11 Widgets
Microsoft introduced these changes in Windows 11 Insider builds in December 2022. For users to access these new features, they need to have the latest Windows Web Experience Pack installed on their device, specifically build 423.3000.10.0 or newer, which is available on the Microsoft Store.
Once the pack is installed, Widgets can be used without the need for a Microsoft Account. Users who are signed in can also easily sign out by clicking on their profile icon in the Widgets interface.
Users can still customize widgets, even when signed out, and any changes made on the webpage will be reflected on the widgets area, even when using Microsoft Edge while signed out. Widgets can also be managed directly on the Windows 11 system.
Users can enable or disable individual widgets by clicking on the plus icon in the Widgets interface. While some features may still require an account for data display, overall, widgets can now be customized without the need for an account. However, customizations will not be synced across devices for users who are not signed in.
Microsoft has addressed some of the main criticisms of the Widgets feature, but it took nearly 18 months to do so. It remains to be seen if these changes will significantly improve the use of widgets. The addition of third-party widgets like Spotify and Meta may help attract more users to the ecosystem.
Additionally, a full-screen mode is currently in development and will be available in stable builds of Windows 11 soon.
Image Source: The Art of Pics / Shutterstock
