Microsoft Windows 11 users are finally getting more widgets. the Messenger app recently became the first third-party widget to enter the Microsoft Store, and now Microsoft is offering a new widget for users who use the Phone Link app in the Dev channel.
Once the Phone Link app version 1.23011.73.0 or higher is installed from the Microsoft Store, users can add the Phone Link widget, which offers three sizes to view notifications and various status indicators such as battery level, network, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Clicking on a message on the widget will launch the Phone Link app and take you to the notifications section.
Microsoft is starting to add more useful widgets to the OS, rather than just using the area to promote MSN and various campaigns. However, the substantive problem remains the same: accessing widgets requires additional actions such as clicking, shortcutting, or hovering the cursor over the widget icon. Some users see no difference between opening a Windows widget to view Phone Link notifications and launching the app from the taskbar.
While Microsoft is still reluctant to turn Windows 11 widgets into Windows 7-era gadgets, the company is at least trying to make the Windows widget ecosystem better with third-party support and more first-party widgets.
