KB5040546 to the Windows 11 Beta Channel introduces a new Widgets Board

Suppose the latest patch to the Dev Channel within the Windows Insider Program brought some huge changes to Windows 11’s Narrator capability. In that case, the patch to the Beta Channel, KB5040546, is bringing massive changes for those Windows users in the EEA.

According to Microsoft, the widgets on Windows 11 will receive dozens of changes and improvements tailored to suit the EEA’s policies.

More specifically, the Widget Board will be more secure, and the API will be enhanced to create better widgets and feeds for users in the EEA regions. The update will also impact the Microsoft Start Experiences app, powering the Microsoft Start widget to showcase new experiences.

It’s worth mentioning that for these users, installing KB5040546 will also remove some of the existing widgets, although Microsoft doesn’t specify which ones. Others will be modified or rendered unusable for a while.

However, the Redmond-based tech giant stressed that KB5040546 lays out the foundation for new widgets and other features in development, which will be released soon. Famous Insider, @phantomofearth, spotted the changes and shared some images on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The changes might not be available to everyone right away, as they are rolling out, but you can enable them by using a third party app such as ViveTool. Those who are not located in the EEA region can also enable the new Widgets board, according to the insider.

We are rolling out an update to the Widgets Board to improve security and the APIs for creating widgets and feeds for users in EEA regions. As part of this update, the Microsoft Start Experiences app will power the Microsoft Start widget and feed experiences. Also, as part of this update, some existing widgets will be removed and others will be modified, temporarily affecting their functionality. This update sets the foundation for new widgets and other features in development, set to roll out soon.

Microsoft

In addition to the new widgets, which are currently exclusive to EEA users, KB5040546 includes important fixes for the Notification Center, the emoji panel, the touch keyboard, and the File Explorer.

You can read the full changelog here.