The widgets feature for the computer was introduced in Windows 11, which was launched in 2021. It is a new version of something similar to the old Windows Gadgets and Live Tiles from previous Windows versions. Windows 11 widgets and windows desktop gadgets are little apps that put live information on the screen for you to see at a glance.
Now you must be thinking of adding Windows desktop gadgets to the desktop. If you are interested in adding new, customizable blocks such as weather apps, other system monitors, clock, and many more to the desktop, you can do so with different third-party applications.
A desktop widget or a windows desktop gadget is a piece of application which is used to reside on a desktop screen and handle very simple functions like, calendar, activities, clock, alarms, climate, and so forth. It helps you stay informed by remaining visible at the top of your screen. If you want to enhance your desktop with useful free Windows desktop widgets and gadgets, this list can help.
In this blog, we’re about to checklist the very best windows desktop gadgets that you should utilize free of charge for Windows 11 and 10.
5 Best Desktop Gadgets for Windows 11/10
Here are 5 most easy-to-use windows desktop gadgets for windows 11 and 10, including options related to windows 10 desktop gadgets and windows 11 desktop gadgets:
- Rainmeter
- Widgets Launcher
- BeWidgets
- GadgetPack
- XWidget
Let’s see them all one by one.
1. Rainmeter
Rainmeter is easily one of the most robust windows desktop gadgets apps for customizing your desktop. It’s in my top three Windows apps of all time. Turn your bland desktop into a stunning yet practical one by designing and using skins that serve as widgets, displaying data about weather, RAM, and music controls.
Once you design your desktop setup with various widget skins, you can save it. This makes Rainmeter useful for creating personalized Windows desktop gadgets. This is a skin engine defined by plain text files.
Managing the app can feel slightly disoriented at first, especially when you get lost among all the technical parts and options. Still, the app is straightforward enough to learn very quickly, and it has some decent in-box widgets to choose from.
Rainmeter is not only free to download and use, but is a fully open-source program, making it the perfect app for individuals who want to make it as customizable and transparent as possible.
Pros
- It is free to use, so you don’t have to pay anything.
- The code is public, so anyone can change or improve it at any time.
- No limits. You can customize everything.
Cons
- It can take some time to learn.
- The look depends on the skins you choose.
- It doesn’t support modern OAuth integrations for email and calendar.
Visit- https://www.rainmeter.net/
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2. Widget Launcher
Widget Launcher is a commercial widget app with both a free but ad-supported and paid tier. It’s based on Windows 11 and 10 gadgets, making it relevant for windows 10 desktop gadgets and windows desktop gadgets, but uses a more modern-looking UI that’s friendlier on later versions of Windows.
Widget Launcher offers multiple different windows desktop gadgets which you can personalized and then launch. The widgets which it offers include calculator, weather, digital clock, calendar, CPU meter, notes slideshow, and world clock.
You have the freedom to choose any one of these widgets and restart and start using them. Go to its Home tab and then select the widget you want to use from the list. When you select a widget from the app of gadget, it allows you to customize multiple appearance parameters like the skin, transparency, border color, font color, accent color, background color, and more.
After that, you can go ahead and click on the Launch Widget button to launch the widget and use it. It also allows you to switch between two skins like dark and light. Besides that, you can buy additional extensions and skins also.
Pros
- Can be downloaded and installed on just one click from Microsoft store.
- It consists of a fresh design which looks much better than old Windows 11 or 10 widgets.
- This version is available for free.
Cons
- The free version includes ads.
- It has a smaller selection of widgets.
Visit- https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9wzdncrdqfbt
3. BeWidgets
BeWidgets is a third-party utility which allows you to attach windows desktop gadgets to the desktop. The existing widgets are fairly straightforward and have a clean design, and these can be customized in terms of fonts, position, and other individual widget settings. The app comes pre-installed with widgets for time, date, photos, apps, finance, and weather. It has fewer widgets than other widgets that are on the list, but all these widgets are stylish and elegant in their look, fitting perfectly with the default look of Windows 11. Widgets must be created and added manually, which means that it would be good to add all desired widgets in the desktop view and save this configuration. As this application is under development, the number of new features and updates is constantly increasing. BeWidgets is a good choice for those who seek something innovative.
Pros
- Simple and neat design with customizable size, fonts and other items.
- The application is free and has no advertisements in between.
- Consist almost all the useful widgets available at one click.
Cons
- It doesn’t have a third-party widget in the market for now.
- It offers less flexibility than others.
Visit- https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nq07fg50h2q
4. GadgetPack
If you wish to relive the Gadgets days of Windows 11 and 10, GadgetPack is the application to download. It is a sort of port of Microsoft’s outdated Gadgets platform to the current computer which allows you to very simply pin windows desktop gadgets both onto your desktop as well as a sidebar.
The app itself has several third-party Gadgets that can also be integrated into the system through the use of the Gadget file type. As you can imagine, GadgetPack is completely free to download and use, and it’s available directly from the developer here.
By default, you will receive nearly 50 pre-installed windows desktop gadgets which you can either pin to a sidebar or freely place at any place on your screen. There are many customization options such as changing the size of a sidebar and changing the color of gadgets. It’s easy-to-install and easy-to-use and does not use much of the CPU.
Pros
- Free to use. You do not have to pay anything to use it.
- It has a number of traditional gadgets built in.
- It gives an authentic Window 11 and 10 feels.
Cons
- The design feels a bit outdated.
- It relies on an older platform that is no longer actively supported.
- It doesn’t support OAuth or modern service widgets.
Visit- https://gadgetpack.net/
5. XWidget
XWidget is straddling the space between Rainmeter for power users and modern important apps for everyone else, making it another option for windows desktop gadgets. It includes a visual widget editor, a free gallery of widget skins and a Pro version which have some minimal charges. The style is all over the place because each author has its own way of showcasing, but the versatility is genuine.
Pros
- Easy interface to edit your design.
- Run smoothly on windows 10 and 11.
Cons
- The visual quality can be inconsistent.
- The UI feels a bit outdated.
- Some features require a Pro upgrade.
Visit- https://www.xwidget.com/
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is Rainmeter completely free?
Yes, Rainmeter is 100% free to download and use. It is also open-source software, making it perfect for the paranoid you.
Q2. Which widget app is best for me if I want a Windows 10 and 11 gadget experience?
GadgetPack makes it happen. It is essentially a port of Microsoft’s plugin aging Gadgets platform to modern computers. You get almost 50 pre-installed windows desktop gadgets that you can drag onto your desktop or pin to a sidebar.
Q3. What are the disadvantages of Widget Launcher?
The disadvantages of Widget Launcher include having ads on its free-tier, and relatively fewer widget choices.
Q4. Do BeWidgets and Rainmeter require a lot of setups?
Yes, to add the widgets to your desktop, BeWidgets has to be set up manually, and Rainmeter must be configured from scratch as it just uses plain-text skin files.
Custom widgets keep you connected to Windows 11/10, and windows desktop gadgets can bring style and functionality to your desktop with third-party widgets for windows 10 and Windows 11. Choose from rainmeter to control your PC down to the deep open-source levels or bewidgets for a modern experience. Or select gadget pack for the old school windows sidebar gadgets experience.
