Widgets Platform Runtime
Widgets Platform Runtime is a runtime component of the Windows 11 Widgets platform.
since 0.9.8.11
Purpose
Identifier: Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime
Setup Foundry removes the package by default for existing user accounts and from provisioning for new accounts.
Widgets Platform Runtime is a runtime component of the Windows 11 Widgets platform. It provides the connection between a widgets host—most notably the Widgets Board—and widget providers registered by installed apps.
Widget providers use the Widgets platform to supply items such as widget presentation, current data, and saved state. The host uses this information to display and update widgets and to pass user actions to the appropriate provider. The package is not itself a news, weather, or financial-information app.
Notes
Additional effects
Apps can register widgets as an additional user experience. Removing the platform runtime does not uninstall those apps or their regular application features, but their widgets can no longer be managed or displayed reliably by the widgets host.
This package is also distinct from the Windows Web Experience Pack. Microsoft treats the two as separate components. The distribution of Widgets functionality between packages varies with the Windows build and the versions delivered through the Microsoft Store.
Privacy and security
The platform processes the templates, display data, and state supplied by widget providers. The personal data involved depends on each provider. Examples can include a selected weather location, watched securities, calendar information, or photos. The Widgets Board’s news experience can also be personalized from preferences associated with a signed-in Microsoft account.
Microsoft does not document Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime as a separate content service or publish a package-specific inventory of transmitted diagnostic data. Removing it stops widget-specific exchanges through this runtime. It does not erase information that a provider app processes independently or data already stored in an online account.
Effects of the change
On Windows 11 versions that use this package as the Widgets runtime, installed widgets can no longer be initialized, enumerated, refreshed, or operated correctly. The Widgets Board might remain empty, fail to finish loading, or display an error. Weather, news, and other widget content on the taskbar or in the board might consequently stop updating.
The Widgets button can remain on the taskbar because its visibility is controlled by Windows rather than solely by this app package. Apps that provide individual widgets are not removed and remain available outside the Widgets Board.
The package has no documented document-type associations, so removing it does not remove personal files. If Microsoft continues to offer the package, Widgets Platform Runtime can be installed again from the Microsoft Store.
Notes
Microsoft began rolling out the separate Widgets Platform Runtime to Windows Insiders in 2024. Package composition and the resulting effects can therefore differ between Windows builds. Older or differently serviced systems might still obtain parts of the Widgets platform from other Windows packages.
Microsoft does not publish a standalone technical component reference for this package.
Microsoft documentation
Microsoft Learn: Widgets overview
Microsoft Learn: Implement a widget provider in a C# Windows app
Microsoft Store: Widgets Platform Runtime
Microsoft Dev Home: Rollout of WidgetsPlatformRuntime on Windows 11