Trends

Windows 11 to bring floating Live Tiles-like widgets to Start menu

AuthorFiona Huang

Reading Time2 min

PublishedMay 10, 2024

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Headline

Context

For Windows 11, Microsoft is experimenting with a new Start menu design that includes a side panel to display adaptive cards, which is a fancy term for widgets like Windows 10 Live Tiles. User @thebookisclosed on X has observed the “Companions” feature, which is a part of the Windows 11 build 26212 release in the Canary Channel. Although it is still in its early stages and is unusable, the screenshots indicate that the Start menu Companions will eventually get a floating side panel that will display widgets from various apps. Users will also have the option of docking the panel to the left or right.

Evidence

Pending intelligence enrichment.

Analysis

Developers will, of course, need to incorporate this functionality into their apps. You will be able to adjust it from the Settings app’s “Personalisation” section’s “Start” settings page. Furthermore, users will have the same level of customisation options for each widget as they do with the Widgets dashboard. With the release of Windows 11, the Live Tile feature for the Start menu design was taken out of the operating system. However given that these widgets will show dynamic content from apps, it appears that Microsoft is attempting to bring back the Live Tile interface. Also read: What is Web3 gaming? Also read: AI: The opportunities and the threats

Key Points

The Start menu will get a new version of Live Tiles in the form of a floating panel with widget displays.
The Canary Channel version of Windows 11 build 26212 contains the feature hidden within.
This release also includes improvements to the Share UI, adjustments to the sign-in process, and a new Copilot integration hidden inside the Settings app.