Microsoft Gets Ready to Support Other Widget Feeds on Windows 11

Microsoft is testing some changes on Windows 11 to enable support for third-party widget feeds for users in the EU. These changes, which won’t be immediately visible to users, are included in the Windows 11 Insider build 22635.4000 that’s now available for Insiders on the Beta Channel.

After the EU Commission designated Windows as “core platform service” that needs to be regulated under the Digital Markets Act, Microsoft had to make some changes to how Windows works in the EU to comply with the new legislation. As a result, Windows 11 users in the EU can now uninstall Microsoft Edge like any other app.

The DMA also forced Microsoft to open up Windows Search to other search providers than Bing Search. Similarly, the Windows 11 Widgets Board will need to support other news providers than Microsoft Start. Microsoft explained back in March that developers will be able to create third-party “news feeds” that will plug into the Widgets Board, and today’s Beta build 22635.4000 is getting the plumbing ready for that.

“We are rolling out an update to the Widgets Board to improve security and the APIs for creating widgets and feeds for users in EEA regions,” the Windows Insider team explained today. “As part of this update, the Microsoft Start Experiences app will power the Microsoft Start widget and feed experiences. Also, as part of this update, some existing widgets will be removed and others will be modified, temporarily affecting their functionality. This update sets the foundation for new widgets and other features in development, set to roll out soon.”

This should all start to make sense at some point, but these Widget changes will roll out first to Beta testers who have turned on the Windows Update toggle to get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. Today’s build also includes an experimental change for the taskbar, which will now start showing jump lists when Insiders hover their mouse cursor over apps on the taskbar that have jump lists and are inactive. If you think this can be distracting, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts about this change in the Feedback Hub.

Microsoft is rounding up the week with another build for Insiders on the Dev Channel today. The Dev build 26120.1330 adds the option to duplicate tabs in File Explorer, a feature that also started rolling out on the Canary Channel earlier this week. The new Dev build also tweaks the System > Power Battery page to add the ability to set your Power Mode for both when your PC is plugged in and when it’s on battery.