Microsoft plans to bring the classic Windows Vista feature to Windows 11

Apparently, Microsoft has decided Relive the same experience of Windows Vista gadgets in Windows 11 via desktop widgets. According to the documents from the website Latest WindowsSoon it will be possible to pin various resources to the operating system (OS) desktop, including third-party tools.

Windows 11 widgets are very similar to the deprecated Gadgets in Windows Vista. However, unlike gadgets, these widgets will be pinned to the left side of the screen and have more limited functionality.

In case you don’t remember too well: With Gadgets, Microsoft allowed users to expand the capabilities of their desktops with features like weather, news, and more. Something similar should now be seen in the new version of the software.

According to the report obtained by the site, Microsoft is committed to improving the functionality and appearance of widgets in Windows 11, which should appear in the next update of the operating system. This means that soon it will be possible to pin the desired gadgets to the desktop and access them via the widget panel.

In this way, Microsoft aims to reshape the way widgets work on a PC. For example, the possibility of pinning them to the desktop can significantly increase user productivity, and the company is working in partnership with developers to even allow third-party widgets on the desktop.

How will the “new” widgets work?

Like the existing widgets, the new ones will be programs that can be downloaded and will stay on the Windows desktop, providing users with instant information. In this context, Microsoft not removing widget panel in Windows 11. Instead, it will be possible to pin widgets directly to the desktop. This functionality will be similar to what we see on the iPad or Android.

If you unpin a desktop widget, it’s still available on Windows via the widget panel, it’s no longer a fixed feature on the desktop. In other words, the widgets will still exist on your device, but there will be no direct shortcuts to them. To change this, you need to right click or tap and hold any widget in the panel and select “pin to desktop”.

It’s worth remembering that last year Microsoft added support for third-party widgets in Windows 11 and provided information to help developers create their own widgets. These third-party apps are powered by the Adaptive Cards platform, which leverages Chromium web technology to provide a complementary experience to Win32 and PWA apps.