It’s been nearly four years since Windows 11 showed up on our desktops, and guess what? Microsoft just remembered the lock screen exists. Yeah, that thing you stare at while your laptop thinks about waking up? It’s finally getting some attention.
After silently dropping a new battery indicator into the lock screen a few days ago, another feature has now surfaced—one that flirts with actual usefulness. A fresh beta update reveals Microsoft is testing out something called “Discover widgets” on the lock screen. It’s the small stuff, but honestly, users will take any kind of attention at this point.
A Feature So Basic, It’s Kind of Embarrassing
Microsoft adding a battery indicator to the lock screen in 2025 is like putting a seatbelt in a car that’s been on the road since 2021. Sure, it’s welcome—but what took so long?
The feature rolled out with zero fanfare, no grand announcement, no blog post. Just a quiet whisper in a changelog. But users noticed. Battery-conscious laptop owners noticed. And many of them had the same thought: “Finally.”
It’s the sort of update that feels less like innovation and more like catching up. But let’s be real—if your lock screen doesn’t show battery life, especially on a mobile device, what are we even doing?
The kicker? This feature’s been standard on macOS and Android for years.
Widgets on the Lock Screen? Believe It.
Now, the second update is where things get… kinda interesting. As discovered by a well-known Windows enthusiast on X, @PhantomOfEarth, the new beta builds of Windows 11 include something called Discover widgets. And yeah, it does exactly what it sounds like: periodically updates your lock screen with suggested widgets.
Think of it like Windows 11 showing off widgets you might not have thought to add yet. You don’t have to go digging into the widget gallery—it shows them to you automatically.
At first glance, it’s experimental, maybe even a little invasive. But there’s a toggle. You don’t like it? Turn it off. No drama.
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The “Discover widgets” feature is tucked inside the lock screen personalization settings.
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It allows periodic display of new widgets, including weather, calendar events, traffic, and more.
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You can disable suggestions or widgets altogether if they feel distracting.
One user on Reddit likened it to a “test drive for widgets”—and that’s not a bad analogy. You get a taste of what’s out there, then decide if you want to keep it or toss it.
Lock Screen: From Forgotten Panel to Functional Real Estate
The lock screen hasn’t been high on Microsoft’s priority list—until now. But why the sudden interest?
Some speculate it’s connected to the upcoming 25H2 update for Windows 11, which Microsoft confirmed is on the horizon. With AI features slowly creeping into different parts of the OS, maybe the lock screen is next.
There’s no official statement tying the lock screen updates to 25H2, but the timeline lines up.
Another small paragraph here—just because.
The more likely reason, though? Microsoft is just checking boxes. Slowly cleaning up the operating system and polishing those neglected corners.
Beta Users Catching the Changes First
None of this would’ve come to light without the detective work of beta testers. In particular, PhantomOfEarth, who’s known for combing through the guts of Windows Insider builds and unearthing hidden features before they’re announced.
Their post about the new widget discovery feature made the rounds quickly.
Microsoft, true to form, hasn’t published much about it officially yet. That’s par for the course lately—many Windows 11 changes appear in Insider builds first and often stay in testing for weeks or months before showing up in public releases.
Insiders running the latest Canary and Dev channels are already seeing these updates. But for most users, it’ll be a little while.
Here’s What’s Changing—And What’s Still Missing
Here’s a quick snapshot of what’s on the lock screen now, what’s been added, and what’s still surprisingly absent.
| Feature | Present in Windows 11 | Recently Added | Still Missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clock & Date | ✅ | No | — |
| Notifications Summary | ✅ | No | — |
| Battery Indicator | ❌ → ✅ (Beta) | Yes | — |
| Suggested Widgets | ❌ → ✅ (Beta) | Yes | — |
| Calendar View | ✅ | No | — |
| Music Playback Controls | ✅ | No | — |
| App Notifications | ✅ | No | — |
| Custom Widget Support | ❌ | No | Still missing |
| Third-party Widgets | ❌ | No | Still missing |
It’s a mixed bag. And yes, users are still waiting on things like third-party widgets and more customization.
But we’re getting there—very, very slowly.
Reactions Are Mixed, but Hopeful
Reactions from the Windows community range from cautious optimism to straight-up sarcasm. Some are thrilled the lock screen is finally getting love. Others say it’s too little, too late.
“This should’ve been in Windows 8,” one user joked on X. Another said, “At this rate, we’ll get live wallpapers by 2030.”
Still, some see this as a good sign. Maybe Microsoft’s listening. Maybe these small updates are part of a bigger plan to make the operating system feel complete, polished—even pleasant.
A bit of hope never hurt anyone.
