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Windows 11 lock-screen widgets show compact information before you sign in; desktop Widgets appear in a dashboard you open from the taskbar or with Windows key + W. They use the same broader Widgets ecosystem, but differ in where they appear, what you can configure, and how you access them.
How the two Windows 11 widget experiences differ
| Feature | Lock-screen widgets | Desktop Widgets |
|---|---|---|
| Where they appear | On the lock screen, before sign-in. Microsoft’s lock-screen instructions | In the Widgets dashboard, opened from its taskbar entry or with Windows key + W. Microsoft’s Widgets guide |
| What they’re for | Glance at weather and other available information without unlocking. | Browse and interact with cards such as weather, news, stocks, and photos. |
| Available sizes | Only widgets that support a small size can be added. | Small, Medium, or Large, where the widget supports those sizes. |
| Where to manage them | Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen | In the Widgets dashboard and its settings. |
| What happens when you select one | To see more detail, you sign in and go to the provider’s selected landing page. | You can use dashboard controls to manage cards, with available options varying by widget. |
Microsoft describes Widgets as a convenient way to access important information and perform quick actions without launching the associated app or website. The dashboard is a collection of cards, not free-floating desktop gadgets. Microsoft’s Widgets guide also distinguishes the Widgets dashboard from Discover, a curated news stream.
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Show, hide, or arrange lock-screen widgets
- Open Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
- Under Widgets, review the listed items. Their order in Settings matches their reading order on the lock screen.
- To change an item, open its more-options menu. You can remove it or customize it if its provider offers customization.
- Select Add widget to view the available catalog. Only widgets that support a small size can be added to the lock screen.
- Switch Widgets off to hide lock-screen widgets.
Microsoft’s lock-screen “Weather and more” experience can show current weather and dynamic updates such as finance, sports, and traffic. Its list cannot currently be customized within that app. Instead, its location, language, region, and temperature units use the Widgets app configuration. See Microsoft’s lock-screen guidance.
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- Open the dashboard by selecting Widgets on the taskbar or pressing Windows key + W. Microsoft also documents a side-swipe gesture on supported devices.
- To add a card, use the dashboard’s add-widget control and choose from the installed widgets.
- Use a widget’s more-options menu to remove or customize it. You can move cards and resize them where those options are supported.
You can show or hide the taskbar Widgets entry in Taskbar settings. Hiding that entry does not disable the Windows key + W shortcut. Microsoft’s taskbar guide covers taskbar controls.
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What appears on the lock screen—and what stays private
Lock-screen widgets are for brief, glanceable information, not full app functionality. Selecting one for more detail takes you through sign-in to the provider’s selected landing page. The “Weather and more” list itself is not customizable there, though its location, language, region, and temperature units follow the Widgets app configuration. Microsoft documents these lock-screen behaviors.
Microsoft says lock-screen content may use an estimated location. Windows Location may provide that estimate when enabled; otherwise, the internet connection’s IP address may be used. Widgets and dashboards can be powered by different apps or services, and their data practices may differ. Check a widget’s Powered by information in its more-options menu rather than assuming every widget handles data the same way. Microsoft’s Widgets guide explains provider and privacy context.
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Which should you use?
- Choose lock-screen widgets when you want supported information visible before sign-in and are comfortable with the limited small-widget catalog.
- Use the Widgets dashboard when you want to browse cards and manage their position, size, or settings where supported.
- Use both if you want a quick lock-screen glance as well as a dashboard for more browsing and control.
These instructions reflect Microsoft’s current documented Windows guidance; the available catalog and interface wording may change with Windows updates.
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