How to Add or Remove "Gadgets" from Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7
Information
This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Gadgets from the desktop context menu for all users without turning off or disabling Gadgets in Windows 7.
You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
EXAMPLE: "Gadgets" in Desktop Context Menu
NOTE: This is when you right click on a empty area of the desktop.
OPTION ONE
To Remove "Gadgets" from Desktop Context Menu
1. Press the Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit and click/tap on OK.
Note
If you have already previously done steps 1-4, then you can just skip them and only have to do step 5 below instead.
2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.
3. In regedit, go to the registry key location below, take ownership of set permissions to Allow your user account Full control of the Gadgets registry key. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Gadgets
4. In regedit, go to the registry key location below, take ownership of set permissions to Allow your user account Full control of the command registry key. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Gadgets\command
5. Click on the Download button below to download the .reg file below.
NOTE: This will delete the Gadgets and command registry keys above for you automatically instead of you having to manually doing it.
Remove_Gadgets_from_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg
Download
A) Save the .reg file to the desktop.
B) Double click on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
C) If prompted, click on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK.
D) When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION TWO
To Add/Restore "Gadgets" to Desktop Context Menu
1. If you have not already, double check to make sure that Gadgets is turned on and enabled first, or the .reg file below will not work.
2. Click on the Download button below to download the .reg file below.
NOTE: This will restore the default Gadgets and command registry keys and their entries that were deleted from above.
Add_Gadgets_to_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg
Download
3. Save the .reg file to the desktop.
4. Double click on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
5. If prompted, click on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK.
6. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Turn Windows 7 Gadgets Feature On or Off
- How to Enable or Disable Gadgets in Windows 7
- How to Add or Remove Desktop Gadgets in Windows 7
- How to Reinstate the Vista Sidebar on Windows 7
- How to Hide or Show Desktop Gadgets in Windows 7
- How to Allow or Prevent Installation of Unsigned Gadgets in Windows 7
- How to Allow or Prevent User Installed Gadgets in Windows 7
- How to Restore the Default Windows 7 Gadgets
- Trick to Moving Gadgets in Windows 7 Closer Together
- How to Customize Existing Windows 7 Gadgets
- How to Create a "Gadgets" Shortcut in Windows 7
- How to Change the "Get more gadgets online" Link in Windows 7
- How to Fix Gadgets not Displaying Correctly in Windows 7
Last edited:
