Enable 3-Column Widgets Board in Windows 11

Windows 11’s widgets board normally shows a single narrow column of cards, which can feel cramped on wide monitors. This guide shows you how to enable a three-column layout so you can see more widgets at once—weather, calendar, news, and your custom feeds—without scrolling. You’ll need to edit a system settings file, so make sure you’re comfortable with basic file operations and have a backup plan.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 11 PC with the widgets feature enabled (build 22621 or later)
• Administrator access to modify system files
• A text editor like Notepad (built-in) or Visual Studio Code
• Optional: a backup location for the file you’ll edit

Step-by-Step

1. Close the widgets board if it’s open. Click anywhere on the desktop or press Esc to dismiss it.
2. Open File Explorer by pressing Win + E or clicking the folder icon in the taskbar.
3. Navigate to the WindowsApps folder. In the address bar, paste the following path and press Enter:
   C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState
   Replace [YourUsername] with your actual Windows username. If you can’t find it, make sure hidden items are visible: in File Explorer, go to View → Show → Hidden items.
4. Locate the settings file. Look for a file named settings.json in that folder. If it doesn’t exist, you may need to open the widgets board once and close it again to generate it.
5. Back up the file (recommended). Right-click settings.json and select Copy, then paste it in a safe folder like Documents. Rename the copy to settings_backup.json.
6. Open the file in Notepad. Right-click settings.json, choose Open with → Notepad (or any text editor).
7. Find the right section. Press Ctrl + F and search for "WidgetsBoard" or "Widgets". You should see a block of JSON with properties like "ColumnWidth" or "NumberOfColumns".
8. Change the column count. Look for a line that says something like "NumberOfColumns": 1 or "ColumnCount": 1. Change the number from 1 to 3. If you can’t find that exact key, look for "ColumnWidth" and set it to a value that allows three columns—for example, "ColumnWidth": 300 (in pixels) might work if your screen is wide enough. If neither key exists, you may need to add a new line: "NumberOfColumns": 3 (make sure to add a comma after the previous line if needed).
9. Save the file. Press Ctrl + S or click File → Save.
10. Restart the widgets process. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find Widgets in the list (under Background processes), right-click it, and select End task. This will close the widgets board.
11. Reopen the widgets board. Click the widgets icon in the taskbar or press Win + W. The board should now display three columns. If it doesn’t, try restarting your PC.

Common Mistakes

• Editing the wrong file: Some guides mention a different path like Microsoft.Windows.Widgets—that’s for the old widgets app, not the current one. Stick to the WebExperience path.
• Forgetting to back up: If you make a syntax error, the widgets board may fail to open. Always keep a backup.
• Setting too many columns: On a 1080p screen, three columns might be too wide, causing widgets to be cut off. Start with 2 or 3 and adjust.
• Not restarting the process: Simply closing the board isn’t enough—you must end the Widgets task in Task Manager to reload the settings.

Tips

• Use a high-resolution or ultrawide monitor for the best experience—three columns need at least 1200px of width to look good.
• Experiment with column width: If the widgets look squished, increase the ColumnWidth value (e.g., 350 or 400) and reduce the number of columns to 2 if needed.
• Keep the JSON valid: Always check that commas and braces are correct. A free online JSON validator can help if you’re unsure.
• Check for updates: Microsoft occasionally changes the settings schema, so the exact key name might differ. If you can’t find NumberOfColumns, search for "Columns" or "Layout".

Troubleshooting

Widgets board doesn’t open after editing: This usually means the JSON is invalid. Restore your backup file (copy the backup over the original) and try again, being more careful with commas and quotes.

Still shows one column: The setting might be overridden by a newer version of Windows. Try adding both "NumberOfColumns": 3 and "ColumnWidth": 300 (adjust the width to your screen). Also, make sure you restarted the Widgets process properly—end the task and then reopen.

Widgets are cut off or overlapping: Your screen may be too small for three columns. Reduce the column width or switch to two columns. Also check your display scaling—if it’s above 100%, the effective width is smaller.

Settings file is missing: Open the widgets board once, close it, and then check the folder again. If it’s still missing, you might be looking in the wrong user profile—ensure you’re using the correct username path.

Changes revert after restart: Windows may overwrite the settings file on update. You’ll need to reapply the change after each major update. Consider keeping a note with the exact steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this supported by Microsoft?
A: No, it’s an unofficial tweak. Microsoft doesn’t document this setting, and it may change or break with updates.

Q: Can I set it to 4 or 5 columns?
A: Technically you can edit the number, but the board may not render correctly beyond 3. Stick to 2–3 for stability.

Q: Will this affect my other widgets or the news feed?
A: No, it only changes the layout. Your widgets and their data remain intact.

Q: Do I need to be an administrator?
A: Yes, because you’re modifying a file in the system’s app data folder. You’ll need admin rights to save changes.

Q: What if I don’t see the settings.json file?
A: Make sure hidden files are visible. If it still doesn’t appear, open the widgets board once and close it—this generates the file.

Q: Can I revert to one column later?
A: Yes, just change the number back to 1 and restart the Widgets process. Or restore your backup file.

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