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

 

[anas malas]

thanx

hi and thanx for every thing this worked good

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Anas Malas, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[WindowsStar]

Note: The registry change only seems to work in Vista. I could not get it to work in Windows 7.

Here is how to do it in Windows 7 :

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8114-gadgets-turn-off.htmlhttp://www.howtogeek.com/howto/3255/disable-sidebar-desktop-gadgets-on-windows-7/

 

[Brink]

Hello WindowsStar,

It still works fine for me. Did you log off and on, or restart the computer afterwards?

 

[WindowsStar]

Hello WindowsStar,

It still works fine for me. Did you log off and on, or restart the computer afterwards?

Yes I sure did (log off and back on as well as reboot).

The above Registry Modifications do not work in Windows 7, or at lest for me, I tried several machines. Howerver the replaced link pointing to uninstalling Gadgets does work perfectly in Windows 7.

Thanks for fixing my link. -WS

 

[Brink]

Hmmm, ok. Let's see if we can figure out why it's not working for you.

Is there any particular part that is or is not working? For example:

• Do you get the example message when you right click on the desktop and click on Gadgets after disabling gadgets?
• Is is that the currently loaded gadgets to not get turned off after log off or restart when set to disabled? If so, what gadgets?
• Does using the Group Policy option instead work for you?

 

[WindowsStar]

Humm; Picture worth a thousand words:

Forgot to say I did not try the Local Policy.

However the uninstall method works perfectly. -WS

 

[Brink]

Double check at the registry location below to see if you may have a TurnOffSidebar DWORD entry. If you do, delete it.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar


You might also use the Find and Find Next option in regedit to search for any TurnOffSidebar DWORD entries other than at the location below, and delete any found.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar

 

[Brink]

Forgot to say I did not try the Local Policy.

However the uninstall method works perfectly. -WS

Yeah, either method will basically do the same thing. It just bugs me that the REG files here will not work for you. Hopefully we'll find out why.

 

[WindowsStar]

A lot of work has gone into resolving this. I believe it works correctly and it has something to do with the Enterprise Load of Windows 7 and a Domain. On retail and upgrade Windows 7 this works correctly. -WS

 

[Brink]

I'll do some testing tonight on a a Enterprise VM, but I'm leaning toward a Domain as a reason as well.

 

[Brink]

Sorry WindowsStar. I some how lost track of this post.

I just tested this in a 32-bit Windows 7 Enterprise VM, and it worked just fine by disabling gadgets. It seems that it must be a domain issue.

 

[WindowsStar]

Sorry WindowsStar. I some how lost track of this post.

I just tested this in a 32-bit Windows 7 Enterprise VM, and it worked just fine by disabling gadgets. It seems that it must be a domain issue.

Not to worry I got very busy and have slacked on the forums myself. I think I discovered the issue by accident. There are 2 places in the registry that control this. On a Domain if you change one you need to change the other and then everything works as expected (just as the tutorial has listed). I cannot remember the keys but when I stumble on them again I will post it back her.

Thanks for being here for all of us and all the hard work you do to keep this forum up and running. Don't think we don't notice because we do. Huge Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Thank you WindowsStar. I'll update the tutorial with the registry settings when you do.

 

[Astrolama]

when i try to enable is says cannot import to registry? need help

 

[Brink]

Hello Astrolama, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Are you logged in as an administrator?

A standard user account will not be able to merge/import the REG files, and will get such a message that you got.

 

[Astrolama]

im on a school computer and i dont know my admins pass and i need help. thank you for responding to my message!

i went into registry editor and i found my self to the turn off slide bar should i delete it and can you tell my away to find my admins pass

 

[Brink]

Astrolama,

You will not be able to change this since you are not the school's system administrator.

 

[Astrolama]

the other students are able to turn the gadgets maybe its just mine do have any suggestions to fix it because its really bugging me. thankyou for ur time