Microsoft is secretly testing a revamped Widgets panel in Windows 11, called Copilot Discover, which replaces the old MSN news feed with personalized AI-powered content. In this preview phase (launched around July 24, 2025), select Windows Insider users are seeing a slimmer sidebar that features curated articles based on their interests and Copilot usage. The layout is intentionally cleaner, with larger cards and smoother scrolling for better readability and speed
Instead of being overwhelmed by headlines, users can now interact with content directly in the widget board—they can upvote or downvote stories, bookmark them for later, or choose to follow or mute specific news outlets. Hovering over media-rich posts may even trigger video previews. Clicking an article typically opens it on the MSN site, although Microsoft plans to introduce an in-panel reading experience to keep users within the widget itself.
A dedicated notifications tab has also been introduced, giving users fast access to alerts for breaking news, stock updates, and weather. These alerts are fully customizable, enabling users to receive only the content they care about. Widgets have moved into their own tab inside the interface, and the weather widget is now the only content that remains on the main Copilot Discover feed.
Behind the scenes, this redesigned interface appears tied to version 24H2 and newer builds of Windows 11, where Microsoft is enhancing the widget system, including the way Copilot content is presented. Some future updates may allow widgets to be pinned directly to the lock screen, opening the door for richer third-party integrations.
Microsoft first teased the Copilot Discover feed back in May, and now it’s rolling out live to early testers—pending user feedback, a broader release could follow soon. Features like in-widget reading and lock-screen pinning may land in stable releases later this year.
