Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 battery widget that could let users check their PC and connected wireless accessories from the Widgets Board and lock screen.
The new battery widget for Windows 11, which is already undergoing testing by Microsoft, will show the battery levels of a PC and its connected wireless devices. The feature has surfaced in recent Windows 11 preview builds, although Microsoft has not yet made it functional or announced a public release date.
Once available, the widget will give users a quick view of the battery status of supported devices from the Widgets Board. Microsoft also plans to make it available on the Windows 11 lock screen.
The widget will list the PC battery first, followed by connected accessories. Each device will have its own icon, name and battery percentage.
It will also show when an accessory is charging. The widget can indicate whether Energy Saver is active as well. That could make it easier to check several devices without opening separate settings pages or relying on third-party utilities.
Microsoft introduced the Windows 11 Widgets Board in 2021, but its usefulness has been limited for many users. Much of the content has focused on news, weather and other information rather than features tied directly to the PC.
Instead of simply displaying information, the battery widget gives users a quick way to monitor the devices they use with their computers. This includes wireless accessories such as mice, keyboards and headsets.
The change also follows other improvements Microsoft has made to battery information in Windows 11. Recent Windows 11 builds added an option to display the battery percentage directly in the taskbar. Users can turn on the setting so they no longer have to click the battery icon to see the exact percentage.
Windows already provides more detailed battery information through its settings. The battery page can show charge history and app power usage, while the battery flyout provides information such as the current charge level, estimated remaining time and power options.
However, those tools require users to either interact with the taskbar or open Settings. The new widget would put the information in a single, persistent view.
The idea is not new across consumer devices, as Apple’s battery widget already lets users check the charge levels of an iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods and other connected accessories from one place. Android devices also offer battery widgets that can display the charge levels of connected accessories.
Windows 11 has offered battery information for years, but it has not provided the same convenient overview of multiple connected devices. Microsoft’s new widget would bring that functionality closer to what users already get on other platforms.
For now, however, the feature is still in development. References to the widget, including its design and functionality, have appeared in preview builds, but users cannot yet rely on it as a working Windows feature.
Microsoft could also expand the idea beyond batteries. System widgets showing CPU or memory usage, for example, could give the Widgets Board more practical uses.
For the moment, the battery widget appears to be the next step as Microsoft tries to make Windows 11’s Widgets Board more useful for everyday PC tasks.
