How to enable 3-column widget panel in Windows 11

Microsoft noticed this and introduced a new 3-column Widget panel to a small group of Windows Insider users on the Canary and Dev Channel.

However, using a few tricks, any Canary and Dev Channel user can enable the revamped Widgets panel. Here's how to enable the 3-column Widget panel on your Windows 11 Dev and Canary builds, even if you're not in the select few to experience this feature from Microsoft.

How to Enable the New Widget Panel in Windows 11

How to enable 3-column widget panel in Windows 11 Picture 1

ViveTool is a third-party application that helps you enable features that many Windows Insiders or regular users cannot use in Windows 11. In other words, this tool allows you to enable hidden features in Windows 11. TipsMake has detailed instructions on how to download and use ViveTool to enable unreleased features.

After successfully setting up ViveTool on your PC, you can go straight to the steps required to enable specific Feature IDs for the 3-column Widget view.

1. Open Command Prompt with admin rights.

2. Type the command mentioned below, and then press Enter on the keyboard.

cd C:ViVeTool

3. Copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter .

vivetool /enable /id:43028164

Note : After pressing Enter , Command Prompt will display "Successfully set feature configuration(s)" indicating you have ID enabled. If you see another message, you did something wrong.

4. Restart the PC for the change to take effect.

Now, launch the Widgets panel from the Taskbar. If there is no Widget icon on the taskbar, you can adjust the taskbar settings and include the icon in your taskbar.

Is the Widget Panel available to other Insider channels?

Any features that Microsoft is testing in the Canary Channel build may or may not be available on other Insider channels. The new Widgets panel is no exception.

But since Microsoft has officially confirmed that it will be available to more Insider users in the coming days, expect it to reach other channels and eventually a stable Windows 11 release.

Will the Widget Panel always have 3 columns in the future?

How to enable 3-column widget panel in Windows 11 Picture 2

Most likely the new Widgets panel will completely replace the old 2-column option. After you enable the 3-column Widget with ViveTool, there is no way to go back to using the old Widget panel.

However, it is not excluded that Microsoft will create a larger Widgets panel option in the future, allowing users to decide which is best for them.

Samuel Daniel

Update 12 May 2023