Gadgets - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable Gadgets in Windows 7 and Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to enable or disable all currently running gadgets, and from being able to add new desktop gadgets for specific or all users in Vista and Windows 7.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Warning

For you to be able to use and add gadgets to your desktop, you must:

• Have gadgets enabled below.
• Show Desktop Items needs to be checked in order to see the gadgets.

EXAMPLE: "Desktop gadgets are managed by your system administrator."
NOTE: When gadgets is disabled, this will be the message all users will get when they try to add a gadget.

OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download

1. To Enable Gadgets for Current User
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Gadgets.reg

Download


B) If not already, make sure that you have Windows Gadget Platform checked in Windows Features.

C) Go to step 3.
2. To Disable Gadgets for Only Current User
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Gadgets.reg

Download


3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to completely apply.
NOTE: Gadgets that are currently running may not be disabled until you do this step.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg files on the desktop if you like.

OPTION TWO

Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Desktop Gadgets. (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Turn off desktop gadgets and click on Edit. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable Gadgets
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (See screenshot below step 6)

B) If not already, make sure that you have Windows Gadget Platform checked in Windows Features.

C) Go to step 6.
5. To Disable Gadgets
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (See screenshot below step 6)
6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to completely apply.
NOTE: Gadgets that are currently running may not be disabled until you do this step.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Turn Windows 7 Gadgets Feature On or Off
• 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 User Installed Gadgets in Windows 7
• How to Allow or Prevent Installation of Unsigned Gadgets in Windows 7
• How to Restore the Default Windows 7 Gadgets
• 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
• How to Add or Remove "Gadgets" from Desktop Context Menu in Windows

 

[Brink]

Sorry, buy you're going to have to get your teacher or administrator to be able to enable this since you do not have and cannot get administrator access.

 

[richc46]

Shawn,
Thank you for the excellent tutorial. It not only helped me to eliminate the threat exposure, but, also, minimally increased by download speed.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Rich. Thank you.

 

[abredt]

Or you can go here to the Microsoft Knowledge Base and click "Enable" to enable the fix.
Then you must reboot your system.

If MS finds a safe way to run gadgets, you can go here again to disable the fix.

I loved my gadgets - especially the clock.

Microsoft Security Advisory: Vulnerabilities in Gadgets could allow remote code execution

cb

 

[Brink]

Hello CB,

Yeah, it does the same thing as in the tutorial, but through a Fix it instead of manually.

 

[redmerc]

Fix it. Many thanks

I had a strange problem with desktop gadgets that started a couple of days ago. They would not load on start up or restart. Under "view" all the proper boxes were ticked, but the gadgets would not load. I did find that if I unticked "show gadgets" then re-ticked show gadgets, they showed up as normal and stayed that way until a restart. Every single time I restarted the computer they were gone and I had to go through the same routine.

I checked many sources looking for an answer for this and nothing worked until I found your .reg file. Many thanks for your work, and fixing the problem.

I'm still wondering why it happened in the first place though. Any ideas?

 

[redmerc]

Update

This problem is weirder than I thought. The .reg file works after ONE restart, then it goes back to the same old thing. If I do the .reg file again, it works, but again only for one restart. Any ideas on this.

 

[Brink]

Hello Redmerc, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Double check your group policy settings in both the User Configuration and Computer Configuration locations to see if it may still be set in them, and getting reapplied after each restart.

In addition, use the Find and Find Next feature in regedit to search for any and all TurnOffSidebar DWORD entries in your registry. If any are found, then delete them.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[redmerc]

I had checked the registry before, but I did it again, and no such entries were found.
In the group policy settings: I can find and access both User and Computer configuration, but I do not know what to look for. Almost everything does say "not configured".

If you could tell me what I need to check, in those setting, I will do so.

Thanks for your fast reply.

Hello Redmerc, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Double check your group policy settings in both the User Configuration and Computer Configuration locations to see if it may still be set in them, and getting reapplied after each restart.

In addition, use the Find and Find Next feature in regedit to search for any and all TurnOffSidebar DWORD entries in your registry. If any are found, then delete them.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Brink]

In group policy, you would go to both locations (User & Computer) in OPTION TWO of the tutorial to make sure that they are both set to "Not Configured". They would be by default unless previously changed.

 

[redmerc]

OK, I just checked them and they are Not Configured, just as they are supposed to be. Would you suggest disable turn off windows gadgets, or leave it alone?

In group policy, you would go to both locations (User & Computer) in OPTION TWO of the tutorial to make sure that they are both set to "Not Configured". They would be by default unless previously changed.

 

[Brink]

Personally, I would not use gadgets anymore since they could pose a security breach risk.

 

[redmerc]

Well, that may be, but I want them to work, and they should be working. Something just went wrong with Windows and I won't give up until I find the fix or re-install the whole thing. The real issue is, this should not be happening.

Thanks for your help though.

Personally, I would not use gadgets anymore since they could pose a security breach risk.

 

[Brink]

That's fine. I was just giving you my opinion you asked about.

Since this started a few days back, you could do a system restore using a restore point (if available) dated before this started to hopefully undo the unknown cause and fix this for you.

 

[redmerc]

Just wanted to thank you for trying, which was the reason that I joined the forums actually. However, I did solve my problem. In the past few days there were more than a few Windows updates and IE 10. I didn't want to go through that again, just to the same problem come back. I also had a program update to Avast free VS. On a hunch, I uninstalled it, and everything is fine. I've done repeated restarts and it's still fine. So, Avast was the problem, not Windows.

I made the switch to AVG Free and I have no problems at all with the gadgets. Things are as they should be. I thought you might like to know.

And, thanks again.

That's fine. I was just giving you my opinion you asked about.

Since this started a few days back, you could do a system restore using a restore point (if available) dated before this started to hopefully undo the unknown cause and fix this for you.

 

[Brink]

Redmerc,

I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted. Thank you for posting back with your findings.

 

[pbdrmmr]

Option 1 Worked Great

I tried Option 1 and it worked perfectly for me. Thank you!

 

[newpgm]

Personally, I would not use gadgets anymore since they could pose a security breach risk.

Well Brink if you're not using gadgets anymore guess I'll remove them too. Bummer , kinda like the weather & CPU gadgets but certainly not worth the risk. Upgraded to IE11 & looks like that is even less gadget friendly. @ least IE11 auto pops the Outlook pswd, wouldn't that be a security risk too?

thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello newpgm,

Yeah, it's all moving to apps from the Windows Store in Windows 8/8.1 now. Gadgets have been dropped like a hot potato.

The AutoComplete of the Outlook password would be more of a security risk if someone else has access to your computer and account.

 

[Night Hawk]

That's for sure! Once 8 was out things got very different in a hurry!

Gadgets have been discontinued






Gadgets are no longer available on our website because the Windows Sidebar platform in Windows 7 and Windows Vista has serious vulnerabilities. Microsoft has retired the feature in newer releases of Windows. Gadgets could be exploited to harm your computer, access your computer's files, show you objectionable content, or change their behavior at any time. An attacker could even use a gadget to take complete control of your PC. If you're concerned about the safety of gadgets you’ve downloaded, find out more about gadgets and steps you can take to protect your PC.











Apps do more, and are more secure

Gadgets aren't available anymore. Instead, Windows 10 now comes with lots of apps that do many of the same things and much more. You can get more apps from the Windows Store for everything from games to calendars. Some apps are better versions of the gadgets you love, and many of them are free.
Find out more about apps for Windows

That's what you run smack into at the former downloads page at the Windows site. Gadgets have been discontinued - Microsoft Windows


Solution? Yes there is one! Intended for Windows 8 you may be surprised that one 3rd party element came up with a working option suitable for 7 as well!



When having a folder full of gadgets but could only get the original defaults to work and not able to add any more from the folder I ran into first the "7 sidebar" gadget by chance not when just looking for how to get things working on 7 again but actually tried this out on W10 lately. 7 Sidebar Gadget - Vista-Sidebar for Windows 7



That replaces the need to copy files over from any Vista installation with the replacement gadget form of sidebar seen there. Then when continuing on to see what would work on the newer versions I came across the 8GadgetPack intended for 8, 8.1, and 10 but works like a champ on 7 for anyone having problems adding or wanting additiional gadgets. 8GadgetPack - Gadgets for Windows 8 / 8.1 / 10


Once installed you simply right click on the desktop and select the Windows gadgets option as always but instantly find four screens full of gadgets which still includes the default gadgets that came with 7. The 8GadgetPack also has it's own sidebar that was used here.