PowerToys is a collection of tools designed to enhance the experience on Windows with new functions: among the features we also find numerous add-ons for File Explorer, the system for always pasting as normal text from the clipboard, file locking and the automatic resizing system of the images.
Among the innovative functions of PowerToys on Windows 11 we also find Crop and blockwhich allows you to crop a part of the window to transform it into a small widget or in a dedicated windowthus unlocking the possibility of adding small web app windows that become desktop widgets (such as ChatGPT).
READ ALSO -> Scarica Microsoft Powertoys per Windows 10 e Windows 11
1) How to crop sites and windows with PowerToys
To crop sites and windows, open the website to crop on our favorite browser (Edge or Chrome), open the PowerToys app on our PC with Windows 11, open the item on the left side Crop and blockwe click on Open settings and make sure the switch next to the button is active Turn on crop and freeze.
Now that the function is active we can use one of the following keyboard shortcuts to use the function:
- WIN+CTRL+SHIFT+T: This shortcut creates a link to a preview of another window. The application is not controllable but it is the function that offers the greatest compatibility with any site or app that is particularly difficult to control in a small window.
- WIN+CTRL+SHIFT+R: This shortcut creates a cropped window from a full window. The application inside the box will be perfectly usable as if it were a widget.
This last shortcut is certainly the most interesting to use for websites, since we can use it to create on the fly widget meteowidget for stocks and the widgets in ChatGPT simply cutting out the small portion of the window.
Create the ChatGPT widget
To use ChatGPT as a widget on Windows 11 we recommend opening the ChatGPT site are Microsoft Edgemore compatible with the tool shown above.
After opening the ChatGPT site on the Microsoft browser, reduce it to a simple window (by pressing the square icon at the top right of the window) and resize the browser window to the smallest possible size for visualize all the contours of ChatGPT wellplacing the small window at the top right or anywhere else on the screen.
Now all we have to do is press the shortcut WIN+CTRL+SHIFT+R: The screen will go black around the Edge window, and using the+-shaped indicatorwe draw a square with a red border inside the site, excluding all elements of the browser interface.
If we did everything correctly we will see the ChatGPT widget appear without any graphic element around; the site also works perfectly in this mode, being able to log in without problems, respond to our requests and show previous chats.
This widget can be very convenient to use every day for work or study, especially if placed on a second monitorusing the function Extended di Windows.
For further information we can read our guide on Dual screen settings in Windows 10 and 11 to use two monitors.
Conclusions
With function Crop and Lock by Microsoft PowerToys we can create small previews or small widgets of any site or app, using simple keyboard shortcuts. As shown in this guide, the trick can also be used on a site like ChatGPT, so as to convert the latter into a widget that can be freely positioned on the PC screen or on the second connected monitor.
To install other convenient widgets on Windows 11 we invite you to read our guides on Windows desktop widget with information and buttons come on how to add Widget and Clock to the background of Windows 11.