All 83 widgets
Media & Links

Now Playing widget for Windows

Reads the same system media session the Windows volume flyout uses, so it works with anything that reports playback - Spotify, YouTube in a browser, VLC, Apple Music. Title, artist, which app, and a progress bar, plus play/pause and skip controls right on the tile. Polling slows automatically while the dashboard is hidden.

Free · Windows 10 and 11 · No account required

Now Playing

Midnight City

M83

Spotify

1:324:03

The real Now Playing widget, running live. Drag it around.

What it’s for

What Now Playing is good for

The everyday jobs this widget was built to handle.

Skip a track from the dock without alt-tabbing to Spotify

Check what is playing in that browser tab you cannot find

Pause for a call from wherever your mouse already is

Settings

Every Now Playing setting

4 options, set per widget - so two copies of Now Playing on the same dashboard can behave completely differently. Highlighted values are the defaults.

Show controls

OnOff

Show app

OnOff

Show progress

OnOff

Advanced

Refresh seconds

3510
Setup

Getting Now Playing on your desktop

  1. 01

    Install

    Download and run the installer. No account, no sign-in.

  2. 02

    Add the widget

    Hit Add Widget, or press Ctrl+K and search for it by name.

  3. 03

    Make it yours

    Drag it where you want, resize it, and set the options below.

Same shelf

More Media & Links widgets

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Wallpaper RotatorPoint it at a folder and it cycles your desktop wallpaper on a schedule, shuffled or in order, even while the dashboard is hidden.Search BarA web search box on your desktop. Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing, Brave, Startpage or your own URL, with !yt, !gh and other bangs.ImageDisplay images.Web LinksQuick access to websites.

Now Playing is one of 83 widgets

They all live on the same customizable dashboard, with themes, multiple screens, and native Windows notifications. Free.

Download for WindowsPaul's Dashboard on Windows with clock, calendar, todo list and quick notes widgets arranged on one screen - Now Playing sits on the same canvas.