How to Add or Remove Lock Screen Widgets on Windows 11

Step 1Turn On Lock Screen Widgets

Lock screen widgets let anyone who looks at your screen see key information, such as the weather or a calendar entry, before the PC is unlocked. That is the main benefit, and it is also the main risk.

Because Weather is now the only widget shown by default after update KB5120998, nothing else appears until you add it yourself. That gives you control over what is visible.

Step 2Open Windows Settings

• Click the Start button and then click Settings. If Settings isn’t pinned to the Start menu, click All apps and find it in the list. The Settings window opens with a list of categories on the left.
• Or press Windows key + I on your keyboard. This opens Settings straight away, with no menus to click through.

That’s it. Settings is now open, and you can move on to the Lock screen page.

Step 3Go to Lock Screen Settings

Open Settings, select Personalization, and click Lock screen. This page holds every lock screen option, including the background picture and the widgets. Microsoft lists it as the place to add widgets: Settings › Personalization › Lock screen.

1. Click on Personalization in the left menu. The right side now shows the personalization options, such as background, colors and themes.
2. On the right side, find and click Lock screen. The lock screen settings page opens, with a preview of your current lock screen at the top.

That’s it. You are now on the Lock screen page, where the widget options live.

If you can’t find Personalization in the left menu, widen the Settings window. When the window is narrow, the sidebar can shrink to icons only.

Step 4Add or Remove Widgets

The customization panel controls what information appears on the lock screen. Widgets are listed in an area called “Your widgets”.

1. Scroll down the Lock screen page until you see Your widgets.
2. Click Your widgets. An expandable list opens and shows the widgets you have already added.

That’s it. The list is open, and you can add or remove widgets from it.

On a fresh setup the list may hold only Weather. Since update KB5120998, Weather is the only widget shown on the lock screen by default, and Microsoft says the change is rolling out to existing users. If your PC still shows other widgets, or if you don’t see “Your widgets” at all, install pending updates from Settings › Windows Update and open the Lock screen page again.

To Add Widgets:

Once “Your widgets” is open, adding a widget takes three clicks. Remember the limit of four widgets on the lock screen at one time. Because Weather is the default, any other widget you want, such as Calendar, has to be added here.

1. Click the Add widget button. A list of the widgets you can use on the lock screen appears.
2. Choose the widgets you want from the list (such as Weather or Calendar). Pick the ones you check most often, since space is limited.
3. Click Add widget again to confirm your choice. The new widget now shows up under “Your widgets”, and the lock screen preview updates to match.

That’s it. The widget is added to your lock screen, and you can repeat the steps for other widgets until you reach four.

If Add widget is greyed out, you have probably reached the limit of four. Remove one first (see the next section), then try again.

To Remove a Widget:

Removing a widget is as quick as adding one, and it is also how you undo an addition you no longer want. If you closed the page, go back to Settings › Personalization › Lock screen first. This also works for Weather, if you would rather not show it.

1. Look at the list of your added widgets under Your widgets. Each widget you added has its own entry.
2. Click the X button next to the widget you want to delete. The entry disappears from the list, and the lock screen preview no longer shows it.

That’s it. The widget no longer appears on your lock screen, and you have a free slot for another one.

Removing a widget doesn’t uninstall anything. You can add it back at any time with Add widget.

Step 5Close Settings

Closing the configuration window applies the new layout. The display updates immediately to show the newly selected items.

1. Press Win+L to lock the PC. The lock screen appears with your widgets.
2. If the widgets don’t show right away, wake the screen with a key press or a mouse click.

That’s it. Your lock screen now shows the widgets you chose, and no restart was needed.

Why Use Lock Screen Widgets?

Windows 11 lock screen widgets let you see important updates at a glance without unlocking your computer. You can check the weather forecast, your next calendar appointment, or sports scores right from the sign-in screen. This puts the information you need most often right where you can see it immediately.

Since update KB5120998, Weather is the only widget shown by default, so the rest are your choice. Here is a quick summary of what makes them worth setting up:

• Quick InfoSee important information like the weather or your calendar without unlocking your PC.
• Simple to ChangeAdd or remove widgets anytime through Settings. Nothing is permanent, and no restart is needed.
• Make It YoursCustomize what information you want to see, within the limit of four widgets.
• Stay UpdatedKeep Windows updated to get the newest widget features. If an option in this guide is missing on your PC, a pending update is the most likely reason.
• Clear InterfaceThe Settings app keeps widget management in one place, under Personalization › Lock screen.

Summary

Controlling these glanceable displays takes three quick clicks inside the Settings app: open Lock screen, open “Your widgets”, then add or remove what you need. Check the lock screen once after each change, and keep privacy in mind when you choose what to display.