Third-party widgets coming to Windows 11 in a few months

Third-party widgets are coming soon to Windows 11. Win32 and PWA apps will be supported.

Widgets in Windows 11 could get a lot more useful in the coming months. Indeed, Microsoft announced at its developer-focused Build conference that the operating system will begin supporting widgets for third-party apps later this year. Thus, developers will be able to create widgets for their Win32 applications and Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) using the Microsoft Adaptive Cards platform.

Third party widgets coming soon to Windows 11

“We are encouraged by the many feedback our users have about the widgets. People like to have quick access to the content that matters most to them in a very convenient way without interrupting their activities,” said Panos Panay, product manager for Microsoft Windows and Devices.

Microsoft re-integrated the widgets that appeared in Windows 7 when the Redmond-based firm released Windows 11 last year. At the same time, these widgets are stuck behind a special button. And even without this, it turns out that these widgets are not so useful in everyday life.

Win32 and PWA applications will be supported

Opening widgets to third parties so that they can display information that Microsoft does not support can be very interesting. This makes it possible, for example, to view your Twitter feed or WhatsApp messages in a simple widget.

The American giant put an end to widgets (gadgets) in Windows 7 for several reasons, in particular because they could be used for evil purposes. Microsoft has yet to provide too many details on how these third-party widgets will work in Windows 11, but chances are the Redmond-based firm will take steps to prevent such bad behavior.