Windows 11 is finally making it easier to answer a deceptively simple question: “How much battery does everything have?”

Microsoft is testing a new Battery Status widget that brings the battery levels of your Windows PC and connected peripheral devices together in one place. The feature is rolling out to Windows Insiders with Experimental Preview Build 26340.9616, giving users a single view of their power status instead of making them check different parts of Windows—or separate accessory apps.

The new widget is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to make the Windows Widgets experience more useful for everyday tasks. And while a battery widget isn’t exactly a headline-grabbing Windows feature, this is one of those small additions that could become surprisingly handy.

One place for your PC and connected devices

Microsoft describes the new Battery Status widget as a unified view of battery levels for your PC and peripheral devices. Rather than checking your laptop’s battery from the taskbar and then looking elsewhere for information about connected accessories, the widget is designed to put those battery levels together.

That is particularly useful for anyone using a Windows laptop with several wireless accessories. A Bluetooth mouse, keyboard, headphones, controller or other battery-powered peripheral can otherwise have its battery information scattered across Windows and manufacturer-specific software.

Microsoft’s official release notes don’t specify exactly which accessories are supported, so it would be premature to assume that every wireless device will automatically appear. The widget’s usefulness will ultimately depend on which connected hardware exposes battery information that Windows can read.

The feature can be added through the Widgets board by selecting Add widgets > Battery Status.

It’s currently an Insider experiment

There is an important catch: this isn’t a feature regular Windows 11 users can start using yet.

The Battery Status widget is being introduced to Insiders on newer builds through the Experimental channel. Build 26340.9616 is based on Windows 11 version 26H2 and was released on October 7, 2026. Microsoft says features in these builds are being delivered using Controlled Feature Rollout, meaning even eligible Insiders may not necessarily receive every feature immediately.

Microsoft is also being unusually clear about the experimental nature of the software. Features tested through the Experimental channel can change, disappear or never make it into a future public Windows release at all.

So, for now, think of the Battery Status widget as a promising Windows 11 experiment rather than a confirmed feature for the next major update.

A small feature that could make Windows feel more coherent

Battery information is one of those areas where Windows can feel fragmented. The operating system knows about the PC’s own battery, while individual peripherals may expose their status through Bluetooth, Windows settings or proprietary companion applications.

Putting that information into one native Windows widget is a much cleaner approach.

It’s also an idea that feels increasingly obvious now that people routinely use laptops with wireless keyboards, mice, headphones, game controllers and other rechargeable accessories. Having to discover which app or settings page tells you that your mouse is at 12 percent isn’t exactly a great desktop experience.

Microsoft isn’t promising that the widget will replace every manufacturer’s companion app, either. The official description is simply that it provides a unified view of battery levels for the PC and peripheral devices.

That distinction matters. A native Windows battery overview could tell you when something needs charging, while a vendor’s application may still be necessary for firmware updates, button configuration, lighting and other device-specific controls.

Windows Search is getting attention in the same build

The battery widget isn’t the only notable experiment in Build 26340.9616.

Microsoft is also rolling out a redesigned Windows Search experience built with WinUI 3. The new Search interface introduces inline actions, allowing users to perform certain tasks directly from Search rather than opening Settings or another application. Examples include turning Bluetooth or dark mode on, changing screen brightness, muting the device and arranging windows.

Search is also being tuned to better understand typos and synonyms. Microsoft says English is the only supported language for the initial version.

Elsewhere in the build, Task Manager is getting expanded process grouping, with Microsoft Defender being the first application to use the capability. File Explorer also gains font preview and installation options through its context menus.

But the Battery Status widget might be one of the more immediately useful changes. It’s not flashy, it doesn’t require learning a new workflow, and it addresses a problem that becomes more annoying every time you own one more wireless gadget.

If Microsoft gets accessory compatibility right, Windows 11 could finally have the simple battery dashboard that laptop users probably assumed it already had.