Microsoft is not going to provide you with these desktop widgets, so I discovered a free app that does

Though Microsoft Windows affords extra methods to customise the Desktop, there’s an space the place it continues to disappoint: desktop widgets. Sure, some widgets on Windows 11 live on a pop-out menu, however they’re restricted or inconvenient, if not each.

I’ve tried options like Rainmeter however discovered them tough to navigate. Recently, nevertheless, I got here throughout a free app referred to as Layer that lets me carry desktop widgets to my Windows PC. The better part? It makes these widgets work as if they’re built-in.

No account, no sign-in, and no Microsoft nudge

Layer is a free app that permits you to carry and customise dozens of widgets to your Windows 11 desktop. You can obtain it from the Microsoft Store or the official web site; the latter affords extra options. The app is designed to make your desktop extra useful by displaying info that issues.

No matter the set up methodology, establishing Layer does not take various seconds. During the primary launch, you may see a bunch of widgets on the desktop. More importantly, the app does not require any account or sign-in shenanigans. It does not even immediate for Windows UAC.

To be fully clear, Layer does not help widgets from third-party apps. You can, nevertheless, customise some widgets to carry info from some apps. It’s additionally price noting that every thing you add to those widgets (notes or to-do entries) does not go away your machine.

I initially got here throughout the app whereas looking for an intuitive strategy to present community velocity and different statistics on my desktop. Since then, although, Layer has turn out to be an integral a part of my Windows expertise.

OS

Windows

Individual pricing

Free

Layer is a free app that permits you to add a layer of widgets to your Windows desktop.

I ran out of desktop earlier than I ran out of tiles

As I stated, Layer affords entry to about 22 widgets, and the record retains rising with every replace. You can discover widgets throughout classes like System, Utilities, Information and media, Time and planning, and Writing and seize. So, as a substitute of random clock widgets, you get truly helpful ones.

I additionally love that many widgets from Layer are interactive. For occasion, the Notes, To-do, and Sticky notes widgets allow you to kind down your notes or add to-do entries with out opening one other app. Similarly, the Volume Mixer widget controls how your PC manages sound output across different apps.

Each class of those widgets can be complete. For occasion, throughout the Time and planning class, you may select from Clock, World Clock, Calendar, Countdown, and Pomodoro. When you go to Utilities, you discover choices like Clipboard historical past, App launcher, Search, and Unit converter.

Equally spectacular is the gathering of System widgets constructed into Layer. For occasion, I’ve added the System stats widget to monitor my RAM and network resource usage. I’ve additionally locked the Disk data widget so I can get an summary of all my disks with out opening one other app.

Its Keep Awake and Quick Toggles widgets have additionally earned a everlasting house on my PC’s desktop. Both of those widgets truly scale back the time I’d in any other case spend navigating to settings pages. I additionally use the Web Embed widget to show an necessary webpage, reminiscent of my Meetings web page. Layer does extra than simply add widgets.

You can customise every thing and even add a screensaver

Adding some static widgets to your desktop can solely accomplish that a lot that will help you keep in workflow. Developers behind Layer appear to know this, they usually’ve added some helpful options. For starters, virtually each widget you add utilizing Layer is customizable.

For occasion, I get to resolve what parts are proven (and the way they’re proven) in a System statistics widget. I’ve the identical freedom to decide on which disk is proven within the Disk view widget. It’s additionally good that every one widgets are freely resizable and lockable. So, you may arrange layouts and keep away from unintended adjustments.

I additionally just like the idea of areas that Layer has launched. Imagine this: you employ your laptop for each work and private wants, and also you’d most undoubtedly want a distinct set of widgets for every. Well, Layer solves this downside by permitting you to create, customise, and change between areas. It ships with three preset areas: Minimal, Dashboard, and Command.

In addition to widgets, screensavers are also available by Layer. I’ve tried this feature, and they’re fairly respectable. These screensavers work in line with the Windows settings you have configured. As of now, Layer enables you to select between three screensavers: Ambient, Minimal, and Quote.

Read this earlier than you rebuild your desk round it

I’ve had a reasonably respectable expertise with Layer, and lots of widgets from this app are actually completely added to my desktop. For probably the most half, it performs effectively with out consuming many assets. While there are caveats, reminiscent of the shortage of third-party widgets and superior theming, Layer affords the best steadiness for making one’s desktop a command heart, dashboard, or only a useful house.