Earlier this week, a Windows 11 build leaked online giving us the first look at the upcoming OS update. While, the new update comes with a visual overhaul, it also brings back a long lost feature. Tucked between the File Explorer and Task View sits the widgets option. If you have used Windows 7 in the past then you must be familiar with the widgets option. Unfortunately, the widgets option in the leaked Windows 11 build is just News and Interests which was launched for Windows 10 earlier this year.

However, reliable Microsoft insider, Walking Cat claims that Microsoft is planning to add support for third-party widgets that will allow users to customize the widgets menu as per their liking. However, initially, Windows 11 will support only first-party widgets, with third-party support rolling out later.

This is further confirmed by Rafael Rivera who did not find APIs related to third-party widgets in the leaked build indicating that the initial Windows 11 update will not ship with support for the third-party widgets.

Microsoft is expected to announce Windows 11 at an event next week. However, thanks to the recent leak, we were able to take a look at Windows 11 this week. You can check out our first impressions as well as hands-on articles for more information on Windows 11. In essence, the new update merges Windows 10 and Windows 10x while also bringing performance improvements as well as features such as the new window snapping assist.