During the Build 2022 developer conference, Microsoft confirmed
that the Store in Windows 11 might soon let you download
third-party widgets. The web widgets or tiny apps are
accessible via the Windows Widgets board only and provide
at-a-glance info, such as headlines from Microsoft MSN or
weather updates.
Widgets is one of the flagship features in the operating system
and users can either launch it by swiping from the left-hand
side of the screen or pressing Windows + W on your keyboard.
Microsoft has confirmed that developers can submit their
widgets in the Microsoft Store later this year. Once submitted
by developers, users will be able to download widgets from the
Store and find them next to the native widgets on the widgets
board.
Right now, the Widgets board can only give you details from
native apps, such as Microsoft To Do, Microsoft Stores, Movies
& TV, etc.
Microsoft has been promoting widgets board in Windows 11
advertisements and the feature might sound useful on the paper,
but the main problem with its current implementation is that
there aren’t many widgets available.
Microsoft doesn’t want users to forget the Widgets panel and is
working on third-party APIs to help developers submit their
widgets in the Store. During one of the sessions at Build 2022,
Microsoft also teased a new widgets board with all third-party
widgets, including Slack.
As you can see in the above screenshot, third-party widgets
could allow users to access their service right from the board.
For example, there is a widget similar to Slack and it lets you
view messages from different channels or conversations. Widgets
like this could allow for a more diverse, and potentially
useful Widgets panel experience.
Microsoft is apparently already in touch with third parties and
has been sharing details of how devs will be able to submit
widgets through the Microsoft Store.
