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Windows 11 does not have a built-in option to place widgets directly on the desktop. Its widgets appear as cards in the Widgets board, which opens from the taskbar or with Windows + W.
You can still add, pin, move, resize, and customize widgets in that board. If you mean floating widgets permanently visible over your wallpaper, Windows 11 does not provide a native desktop-placement feature for them.
How to open Windows 11’s Widgets board
Use any of these methods:
- Select or hover over the Widgets area on the taskbar.
- Press Windows + W.
- Swipe from the side of the screen if your taskbar is aligned to the center and your device supports the gesture.
If the Widgets entry is missing from the taskbar, enable it first:
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- Right-click an empty area of the taskbar.
- Select Taskbar settings.
- Under Taskbar items, set Widgets to On.
Removing this button later does not disable Widgets. The Windows + W shortcut will still open the board.
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How to add a widget in Windows 11
- Open the Widgets board.
- Use Microsoft’s Widgets page in the Microsoft Store to find widgets supplied by supported apps.
- Install the app or widget package you want, if prompted.
- Return to the Widgets board and add or pin the widget from the available widget list.
Availability depends on the app and service. Not every Microsoft Store app supplies a widget.
How to pin a widget
- Open the Widgets board.
- Find the widget you want to keep in the pinned section.
- Select the widget’s More button, shown as three dots in its upper-right corner.
- Select Pin widget.
A pinned widget displays a pin icon in its upper corner. Pinning keeps it in the board’s pinned section; it does not place the card on the Windows desktop.
Manage the widgets you have added
| Task | What to do |
|---|---|
| Move a widget | Select and hold the widget header, then drag it to another position in the pinned section. |
| Resize a widget | Select More → choose Small, Medium, or Large. Some widgets offer only one or two sizes. |
| Change its settings | Select More → Customize widget. For example, change the city used by Weather or the watchlist used by Stocks. |
| Unpin a widget | Select More → Unpin widget. |
| Remove it from the board | Select More → Hide this widget. |
Unpinning and hiding are different. An unpinned widget may still appear elsewhere on the board when it is relevant to your interests. Hide this widget removes it from the board and signs you out of its associated app or service. It will not return unless you pin it again through the Widgets gallery.
Make the Widgets board larger
Open Widgets and select the board’s Expand button. The control changes to Collapse when the board is expanded.
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Stop Widgets opening when you hover over the taskbar
- Open the Widgets board.
- Select Settings.
- Set Open Widgets board on hover to Off.
You can continue opening it with Windows + W or the taskbar button.
Hide the news feed
The news and interest feed is separate from your pinned widget cards. To hide the feed:
- Open Widgets and select Settings.
- Select Show or hide feeds.
- Set Feed to Off.
This does not remove individual pinned widgets.
Control taskbar widget notifications
From the Widgets board, select Settings → Notifications. You can configure:
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- Show announcements on the taskbar
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Change widget topics, publishers, language, or account
Widgets are personalized by default using the Microsoft account signed in to Windows.
Manage interests and publishers
- Open Widgets.
- Select the user-account button.
- Use the Discover, Following, and Blocked tabs to manage topics and publishers.
Use a different Microsoft account
- Open Widgets and select the user-account button.
- Select Sign Out.
- On the opening banner, select Sign in and use the other account.
Change language and content
Open Widgets, select the user-account button, and use the Language and content drop-down. Windows display language and Country or region settings also influence the content shown.
Fix Windows 11 widgets that do not load or update
Widgets rely on two separately updated components: the Windows Web Experience Pack and Microsoft Edge. An outdated Web Experience Pack or Edge installation can result in widgets that fail to load, show stale information, or lack newer features.
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- Open the Microsoft Store.
- Select Library in the lower-left corner.
- Search for Windows Web Experience Pack.
- Select it, then select Update if that button is available.
If the Store does not show an Update button, Microsoft says the installed version is current.
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Turn on automatic Store app updates
- Open the Microsoft Store.
- Select your user profile icon.
- Select Store settings.
- Set App updates to On.
The Web Experience Pack normally updates through the Store in the background. Also make sure Microsoft Edge is current.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Windows 11 cannot do natively
Windows 11’s built-in widgets cannot be dragged onto an empty area of the desktop, placed over wallpaper, or configured as permanently visible desktop gadgets. Microsoft’s current Windows 11 documentation describes them as cards inside the Widgets board and does not provide a native desktop-placement path.
Therefore, instructions claiming that you can right-click the desktop and add a built-in Windows 11 widget are outdated or refer to third-party software. The supported Windows 11 method is to use the Widgets board.
FAQ
Can I put Windows 11 widgets directly on my desktop?
No. Windows 11’s built-in widgets appear in the Widgets board, not directly on the desktop. Microsoft does not provide a native option to place these cards over the wallpaper.
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How do I open Widgets without the taskbar button?
Press Windows key + W. Turning the Widgets taskbar item off removes the button but does not disable the Widgets board.
Why is a widget still appearing after I unpinned it?
Unpinning removes it from the pinned section, but Windows may still show it elsewhere when it is relevant to your interests. Select More → Hide this widget to remove it from the board.
Why did my widget disappear after I hid it?
Hide this widget removes the widget and signs you out of its associated app or service. To restore it, find it in the Widgets gallery and pin it again.
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Check that both Microsoft Edge and the Windows Web Experience Pack are current. In Microsoft Store, go to Library, search for Windows Web Experience Pack, and select Update if available.
Can I remove the news feed but keep my widgets?
Yes. Open Widgets → Settings → Show or hide feeds, then set Feed to Off. This hides the feed without removing individual pinned widgets.
The Bottom Line
Windows 11 does not support placing its built-in widgets directly on the desktop. Open the Widgets board with Windows + W, install supported app widgets through the Microsoft Store, and use More → Pin widget to keep them in the board. For missing or outdated content, update the Windows Web Experience Pack and Microsoft Edge.
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