diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php
index 0fe5c62064b64..e3d13c8766868 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ function wp_dashboard_setup() {
  *
  * @since 2.7.0
  * @since 5.6.0 The `$context` and `$priority` parameters were added.
+ * @since 7.2.0 The `$enqueue_callback` parameter was added.
  *
  * @global callable[] $wp_dashboard_control_callbacks
  *
@@ -184,12 +185,29 @@ function wp_dashboard_setup() {
  *                                   Accepts 'normal', 'side', 'column3', or 'column4'. Default 'normal'.
  * @param string   $priority         Optional. The priority within the context where the box should show.
  *                                   Accepts 'high', 'core', 'default', or 'low'. Default 'core'.
+ * @param callable $enqueue_callback Optional. Function that enqueues the scripts and styles for the widget.
+ *                                   Only called when the widget is not hidden via Screen Options, so assets
+ *                                   for hidden widgets are not loaded. Default null.
  */
-function wp_add_dashboard_widget( $widget_id, $widget_name, $callback, $control_callback = null, $callback_args = null, $context = 'normal', $priority = 'core' ) {
+function wp_add_dashboard_widget( $widget_id, $widget_name, $callback, $control_callback = null, $callback_args = null, $context = 'normal', $priority = 'core', $enqueue_callback = null ) {
 	global $wp_dashboard_control_callbacks;
 
 	$screen = get_current_screen();
 
+	/*
+	 * Only enqueue the widget's assets when the widget is actually visible.
+	 * A widget hidden via Screen Options is removed from the DOM, so loading
+	 * its scripts and styles wastes resources. Collapsed (closed) widgets are
+	 * still present in the DOM, so they are intentionally treated as visible.
+	 */
+	if ( is_callable( $enqueue_callback ) && $screen instanceof WP_Screen ) {
+		$hidden_widgets = get_hidden_meta_boxes( $screen );
+
+		if ( ! in_array( $widget_id, $hidden_widgets, true ) ) {
+			call_user_func( $enqueue_callback );
+		}
+	}
+
 	$private_callback_args = array( '__widget_basename' => $widget_name );
 
 	if ( is_null( $callback_args ) ) {
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/admin/includesTemplate.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/admin/includesTemplate.php
index 4b9b8bc68034e..18149cbf8bfa6 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/admin/includesTemplate.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/tests/admin/includesTemplate.php
@@ -495,6 +495,178 @@ public function test_wp_add_dashboard_widget() {
 		remove_meta_box( 'dashboard2', 'dashboard', 'normal' );
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Tests that the enqueue callback runs when the widget is visible.
+	 *
+	 * @ticket 55344
+	 *
+	 * @covers ::wp_add_dashboard_widget
+	 */
+	public function test_wp_add_dashboard_widget_enqueue_callback_called_when_visible() {
+		set_current_screen( 'dashboard' );
+
+		if ( ! function_exists( 'wp_add_dashboard_widget' ) ) {
+			require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php';
+		}
+
+		$called = false;
+
+		wp_add_dashboard_widget(
+			'dashboard_enqueue_visible',
+			'Visible',
+			'__return_false',
+			null,
+			null,
+			'normal',
+			'core',
+			function () use ( &$called ) {
+				$called = true;
+			}
+		);
+
+		$this->assertTrue( $called, 'The enqueue callback should run for a visible widget.' );
+
+		remove_meta_box( 'dashboard_enqueue_visible', 'dashboard', 'normal' );
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Tests that the enqueue callback does not run when the widget is hidden
+	 * via Screen Options.
+	 *
+	 * @ticket 55344
+	 *
+	 * @covers ::wp_add_dashboard_widget
+	 */
+	public function test_wp_add_dashboard_widget_enqueue_callback_not_called_when_hidden() {
+		set_current_screen( 'dashboard' );
+
+		if ( ! function_exists( 'wp_add_dashboard_widget' ) ) {
+			require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php';
+		}
+
+		wp_set_current_user( self::$editor_id );
+		update_user_option( get_current_user_id(), 'metaboxhidden_dashboard', array( 'dashboard_enqueue_hidden' ), true );
+
+		$called = false;
+
+		wp_add_dashboard_widget(
+			'dashboard_enqueue_hidden',
+			'Hidden',
+			'__return_false',
+			null,
+			null,
+			'normal',
+			'core',
+			function () use ( &$called ) {
+				$called = true;
+			}
+		);
+
+		$this->assertFalse( $called, 'The enqueue callback should not run for a hidden widget.' );
+
+		remove_meta_box( 'dashboard_enqueue_hidden', 'dashboard', 'normal' );
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Tests that the enqueue callback runs for a collapsed (closed) widget,
+	 * because a collapsed widget is still present in the DOM.
+	 *
+	 * @ticket 55344
+	 *
+	 * @covers ::wp_add_dashboard_widget
+	 */
+	public function test_wp_add_dashboard_widget_enqueue_callback_called_when_closed_but_not_hidden() {
+		set_current_screen( 'dashboard' );
+
+		if ( ! function_exists( 'wp_add_dashboard_widget' ) ) {
+			require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php';
+		}
+
+		wp_set_current_user( self::$editor_id );
+		update_user_option( get_current_user_id(), 'closedpostboxes_dashboard', array( 'dashboard_enqueue_closed' ), true );
+
+		$called = false;
+
+		wp_add_dashboard_widget(
+			'dashboard_enqueue_closed',
+			'Closed',
+			'__return_false',
+			null,
+			null,
+			'normal',
+			'core',
+			function () use ( &$called ) {
+				$called = true;
+			}
+		);
+
+		$this->assertTrue( $called, 'The enqueue callback should run for a collapsed (closed) widget.' );
+
+		remove_meta_box( 'dashboard_enqueue_closed', 'dashboard', 'normal' );
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Tests that a null enqueue callback is accepted without error,
+	 * preserving backward compatibility for existing callers.
+	 *
+	 * @ticket 55344
+	 *
+	 * @covers ::wp_add_dashboard_widget
+	 */
+	public function test_wp_add_dashboard_widget_null_enqueue_callback_no_error() {
+		global $wp_meta_boxes;
+
+		set_current_screen( 'dashboard' );
+
+		if ( ! function_exists( 'wp_add_dashboard_widget' ) ) {
+			require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php';
+		}
+
+		wp_add_dashboard_widget( 'dashboard_enqueue_null', 'Null', '__return_false', null, null, 'normal', 'core', null );
+
+		$this->assertArrayHasKey( 'dashboard_enqueue_null', $wp_meta_boxes['dashboard']['normal']['core'] );
+
+		remove_meta_box( 'dashboard_enqueue_null', 'dashboard', 'normal' );
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Tests that the enqueue callback runs on a first visit, when no user
+	 * preference for hidden meta boxes has been stored yet.
+	 *
+	 * @ticket 55344
+	 *
+	 * @covers ::wp_add_dashboard_widget
+	 */
+	public function test_wp_add_dashboard_widget_enqueue_callback_called_when_no_user_pref() {
+		set_current_screen( 'dashboard' );
+
+		if ( ! function_exists( 'wp_add_dashboard_widget' ) ) {
+			require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php';
+		}
+
+		wp_set_current_user( self::$editor_id );
+		delete_user_option( get_current_user_id(), 'metaboxhidden_dashboard', true );
+
+		$called = false;
+
+		wp_add_dashboard_widget(
+			'dashboard_enqueue_no_pref',
+			'No Pref',
+			'__return_false',
+			null,
+			null,
+			'normal',
+			'core',
+			function () use ( &$called ) {
+				$called = true;
+			}
+		);
+
+		$this->assertTrue( $called, 'The enqueue callback should run when no hidden-widget preference is stored.' );
+
+		remove_meta_box( 'dashboard_enqueue_no_pref', 'dashboard', 'normal' );
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Tests that get_post_states() handles a null value gracefully.
 	 *