Windows 11 build 23521 introduces an option to pin the Widgets dashboard on the screen, and in this guide, you will learn the steps to enable it. Although it’s unclear the reasoning for this change, the development team is testing a new option that allows you to pin the Widgets board on the desktop. The option technically allows the board to stay open while you work on other apps, but the option will keep the dashboard always on the top, meaning apps can’t overlap, and using the board in full-screen mode won’t let you access any of the applications.
Since this option will clearly get in the way of the workflow, it’s likely this is part of a different implementation that Microsoft plans to integrate into Windows 11. In the past, there have been rumors of the company planning to allow users to pin widgets directly on the desktop, and perhaps there’s a connection with this new option.
If you want to get hands-on with the new “Pin” option, you can use a third-party tool called “ViveTool” to enable the experience (via @PhantomOfEarth) on your computer.
This guide will teach you the steps to enable the new Widgets pin option on Windows 11.
Enable new Widgets pin option on Windows 11
To enable the new Widgets pin option on Windows 11, use these steps:
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Download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file to enable the new pin option for Widgets.
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Double-click the zip folder to open it with File Explorer.
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Click the Extract all button.
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Click the Extract button.
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Copy the path to the folder.
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Open Start.
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Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following command to navigate to the ViveTool folder and press Enter:
cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool-v0.x.x
In the command, remember to change the path to the folder with your path.
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Type the following command to enable the Pin option for Widgets and press Enter:
vivetool /enable /id:43636169
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Restart the computer.
Once you complete the steps, the next time you open the Widgets board, you will find a new “Pin” button at the top-right. When you click the “Pin” button, the board will stay open even as you switch to another app. You can also pin Widgets when using the full-screen mode, but it won’t allow you to access any of the apps.
If you change your mind, you can revert the changes with the same instructions, but on step 10, make sure to use the vivetool /disable /id:43636169 command and then restart the computer.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].