Microsoft removes several widgets from the emptiest section of the Microsoft Store

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What you need to know

  • Microsoft removed its Calendar and To Do widgets from the Microsoft Store.
  • The Photos, Family and Microsoft 365 Feed widgets have also been removed in certain regions.
  • Microsoft plans to return the widgets to the Microsoft Store after improving them.

As a tech enthusiast with years of experience under my belt, I find myself both intrigued and slightly disappointed by Microsoft’s recent decision to remove its Calendar, To Do, Photos, Family, and Microsoft 365 Feed widgets from the Microsoft Store on Windows 11. While I applaud Microsoft’s commitment to continuous improvement, it seems a bit odd that they would pull the plug entirely rather than leaving them in place while new versions are finalized.

It turns out that one under-the-radar aspect of Windows 11 has experienced a small setback. Microsoft has revealed that they have taken down the Calendar and To Do widgets from their store on Windows 11. In addition, the Photos, Family, and Microsoft 365 Feed widgets have been removed in certain areas. For now, this appears to be a temporary move, but it certainly makes the widget section of the Microsoft Store seem even emptier.

Microsoft has temporarily taken down the Calendar and To Do widgets, along with some others like Photos, Family, and Microsoft 365 Feed widgets, from the Widgets collection on the Microsoft Store as part of their efforts to enhance the Widgets Board.

Microsoft announced on November 19, 2024, that they had sent a message, however, they didn’t provide any information about when the removed widgets would be reinstated.

It seems unusual that Microsoft chose to eliminate their widgets altogether instead of keeping them temporarily while they work on perfecting the newer versions. Maybe there are certain problems or concerns with these widgets that Microsoft’s development team is addressing.

How to use Widgets on Windows 11

It’s quite possible that a lot of users aren’t familiar with the widgets feature on Windows 11 yet, given its recent introduction and current simplistic state. The Microsoft Store offers some helpful widgets, but it’s evident that this functionality is still in its infancy. At present, you can find all the available widgets – a total of 34 – on a single page within the Microsoft Store.

frankly speaking, quite a number of gadgets from the Microsoft Store receive low ratings or don’t appear particularly useful to me. While it’s nice to have Tic-Tac-Toe accessible with a single click as a way to unwind, I still feel that essential options are lacking in the store. Even well-known apps like the official Spotify app lack crucial features (Spotify only displays a collection of popular playlists), which is disappointing. That being said, I do appreciate the Battery Meter widget and a few others. I can only hope that more developers will join the platform.

To use widgets on Widows 11, you need to enable them through the Settings app.

  1. Open the Windows 11 Settings app.
  2. Navigate to Personalization.
  3. Toggle Widgets to On.

Starting from now, you’ll notice a weather icon conveniently located in the lower-left corner of your PC screen. If you fancy checking out more features, simply click this icon to unveil the widgets panel. Alternatively, you can also access the widgets panel swiftly by pressing CTRL+W. Once opened, feel free to customize the panel by adding various widgets that catch your interest, adjust their sizes according to your preference, and rearrange them for a personalized layout. The user interface shares some resemblance with the Start menu on Windows 11 or the home screen of the old Windows Phone.

We have a full guide on how to use widgets on Windows 11 that dives further into the feature.

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2024-11-20 20:10