Windows 11 now has two different lock-screen configuration interfaces. On newer installations, you can add, remove, reorder, and sometimes customize individual widgets such as Weather, Watchlist, Sports, and Traffic. Older installations still show the Lock screen status menu, where you choose one app or select None.
Use Settings > Personalization > Lock screen to see which interface is available on your PC.
Change lock-screen widgets in the new Windows 11 interface
If your settings page contains a Widgets toggle or button, use these steps:
- Open Start and select Settings.
- Go to Personalization > Lock screen.
- Turn on the Widgets toggle if it is turned off.
- Select Widgets.
- Select Add widget.
- Choose a widget from the available list.
- Select Add widget again to place it on the lock screen.
Depending on the apps and services available on your PC, the list can include widgets such as Weather, Watchlist, Sports, and Traffic. Microsoft’s newer lock-screen design can display up to four widgets at once, provided the widgets support the small size.
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Reorder lock-screen widgets
- Return to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Widgets.
- Drag a widget to a different position in the list.
- Close Settings and lock Windows by pressing Windows key + L to check the result.
Remove a lock-screen widget
- Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Widgets.
- Open the widget’s three-dot menu.
- Select Remove.
If a removed widget returns, turn off Suggest widgets for your lock screen. When this option is enabled, Windows can automatically fill empty widget positions.
Customize an individual widget
Some widgets have a Customize widget command in their three-dot menu:
- Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Widgets.
- Select the widget’s three-dot menu.
- Select Customize widget, if the option is shown.
- Change the available preferences and save them.
The command is not available for every widget. Its presence depends on the widget’s layout and data source, so its absence does not indicate a problem with Windows.
Install more supported widgets
Select Find more widgets in the widget management screen to open the Microsoft Store. Any additional lock-screen widget must support Windows’ lock-screen widget requirements; installing an ordinary Windows widget does not necessarily make it available on the lock screen.
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On systems that expose the newer interface directly on the lock screen, open a widget’s menu and select Manage widgets. This takes you to the controls where you can add, remove, and rearrange widgets.
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To test the changes without waiting for the display to time out, press Windows key + L. You may need to click the lock screen or press a key to display the configured information.
What to do if you only see “Lock screen status”
Some Windows 11 PCs still use the older interface. On those systems, the page contains a Lock screen status section instead of the newer widget manager.
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Personalization > Lock screen.
- Under Lock screen status, open the app selector.
- Choose an app for detailed status, or select None.
Microsoft may label these controls as:
- Choose one app to show detailed status on the lock screen
- Choose which apps show quick status on the lock screen
In the legacy interface, selecting None disables the detailed lock-screen status, including the bundled Weather and more experience. That older experience can show weather, finance, sports, traffic, and related information, but its individual list cannot be edited from the lock-screen settings page.
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Why lock-screen weather may be wrong
Weather and other location-based information can differ between users. Windows may use the Location service to determine the location. If that service is unavailable, Microsoft says it may estimate the location from the IP address of the internet connection.
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For more accurate results, check Settings > Privacy & security > Location and make sure location access is available to Windows. An IP-based estimate can still be inaccurate, particularly on VPNs, corporate networks, mobile connections, or connections routed through another city.
Widgets missing after Windows Update
If the Widgets control is not present, your PC may still have the legacy interface. The newer feature was introduced through a phased rollout, so being fully updated does not guarantee that every system has received it.
Check Settings > Windows Update and install available updates, then restart the PC. If the page still shows only Lock screen status, use that interface rather than expecting the new widget manager to appear immediately.
Optional: enable the feature with ViveTool
ViveTool is an unofficial feature-enablement utility. It is not the normal Windows Settings procedure, and enabling an unreleased or partially rolled-out feature can produce inconsistent behavior. Create a restore point or ensure you have a current backup before trying it.
- Download ViveTool from its trusted project source and extract it to a known folder.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Change to the extracted folder. For example:
cd C:folderpathViveTool-v0.x.xReplace the example path with the actual folder on your PC. Then run:
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vivetool /enable /id:50179255,53672489- Restart Windows.
- Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and check whether the Widgets control is available.
To reverse the change, run the following from the ViveTool folder in an elevated Command Prompt:
vivetool /disable /id:50179255,53672489Feature IDs and behavior can change between Windows builds. If the command does not work, or the Settings page behaves unexpectedly, remove the forced configuration and wait for Microsoft’s supported rollout.
Do not confuse lock-screen widgets with taskbar Widgets
The lock-screen widget settings are separate from the Widgets button on the taskbar. Changing the taskbar button does not add or remove widgets from the lock screen.
To change taskbar Widgets visibility, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar items > Widgets. You can also open the normal Widgets board with Windows key + W. Neither action configures the widgets shown before you sign in.
Quick comparison
| What you see | What you can do |
|---|---|
| Widgets | Add, remove, reorder, and sometimes customize individual lock-screen widgets. Up to four can be displayed. |
| Lock screen status | Select one app for detailed status, configure quick-status apps, or select None. |
| Taskbar Widgets | Show or hide the Widgets button and use the separate Widgets board. This does not configure the lock screen. |
FAQ
Why do I not have the Widgets option in Windows 11 Lock screen settings?
Your PC may still use the older Lock screen status interface, or Microsoft may not have enabled the newer feature for your Windows build or rollout group. Look for the Widgets toggle under Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. If it is absent, use the Lock screen status controls instead.
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How many widgets can Windows 11 show on the lock screen?
The newer interface can show up to four widgets simultaneously. A widget must support the small size to be eligible for the lock screen.
Why do removed lock-screen widgets keep coming back?
Turn off Suggest widgets for your lock screen. With that setting enabled, Windows can automatically fill unused positions after you remove widgets.
Can I customize every Windows 11 lock-screen widget?
No. Customize widget appears only when the individual widget supports customization. Widgets without that command cannot be configured through the lock-screen widget manager.
Does hiding Widgets from the taskbar remove lock-screen widgets?
No. Taskbar Widgets and lock-screen Widgets are separate features with separate settings.
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On the legacy interface, go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and set Lock screen status to None. On systems with the newer Widgets interface, remove the individual widgets you do not want and disable Suggest widgets for your lock screen if Windows keeps filling empty positions.
The Bottom Line
Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and use the interface Windows provides. If you see Widgets, select Add widget to build the lock-screen layout, drag widgets to reorder them, and use each three-dot menu to remove or customize them. If you see only Lock screen status, your PC is still using the legacy controls; select an app or choose None.
Quick Recap
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