How to enable new Widgets (three-column) on Windows 11

Here are the steps to try an early preview of the new Widgets interface with a third column on Windows 11.

Avatar for Mauro Huculak
@Pureinfotech
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Widgets with three columns
Widgets with three columns

On Windows 11 build 23424, you can now enable an early preview of the experimental interface for the Widgets board on the latest preview available in the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program.

In this preview, Microsoft is working on a redesigned Widgets board with three columns that will make it easier for users to differentiate between the widgets and news feed.

If the three-column Widgets board isn’t already available on your installation, you can use a third-party tool called “ViVeTool,” created by Rafael Rivera and Lucas on GitHub, to enable the new experience on your computer.

This guide will teach you the steps to turn on the updated version of the Widgets board on Windows 11.

Enable new three-column Widgets UI on Windows 11

To enable the new Widgets interface with three columns on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open GitHub website.

  2. Download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file to enable the new Widgets interface feature.

  3. Double-click the zip folder to open it with File Explorer.

  4. Click the Extract all button.

    Extract ViveTool files

  5. Click the Extract button.

  6. Copy the path to the folder.

  7. Open Start.

  8. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  9. Type the following command to navigate to the ViveTool folder and press Enter:

    cd C:\Folder\Path\ViveTool

    In the command, remember to change the path to the folder with your path.

  10. Type the following command to enable the new Widgets interface on Windows 11 22H2 and press Enter:

    vivetool /enable /id:43028164

  11. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the next time you open the Widgets board, you will notice a third column with your widgets on the left and two columns on the right with your personalized feed.

If you change your mind, you can revert the changes with the same instructions, but on step 10, make sure to use the command vivetool /disable /id:43028164 and restart the device.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

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 15 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 21 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].