How to Restore Gadgets on Windows 7

Tricia Goss
Categories : Windows platform ,Computing
Tags : Computing windows platform topics windows 7

Page content

Overview

Windows 7 sidebar gadgets can be fun and helpful. If you currently have a gadget that you don’t use, you can remove it from your sidebar. You can also install new gadgets quickly and easily. Learn how to remove gadgets you don’t want, install gadgets you would like, and how to restore gadgets on Windows 7.

How to Remove Windows 7 Gadgets

To see a list of the gadgets currently running on your Windows 7 desktop, click the Start button and type gadgets into the Instant Search bar at the bottom of the Start menu. You can find out more about Instant Search by reading Searching for Folders in Windows 7.

Choose View List of Running Gadgets under Control Panel in the search results. The View Gadgets dialog box will open. You can remove a gadget from your Windows 7 desktop in the View Gadgets dialog box by clicking on the gadget that you want to remove and clicking the Remove Button. This will remove the gadget from your Windows 7 desktop but not from your computer.

If you want to completely uninstall a gadget, click the Start button and type gadgets into the Instant Search field. Select Desktop Gadgets to open the Gadget Gallery. Right-click the gadget you want to uninstall and click Uninstall.

Another way to remove Windows 7 gadgets is from the desktop. Right-click the gadget that you want to remove and click Close. This will remove the gadget from your Windows 7 desktop but not from your computer.

How to restore gadgets on Windows 7 - Disable Gadgets

You can also disable all gadgets from the Windows 7 desktop. To do so, click the Start Button and type Features into the Instant Search box. Choose Turn Windows Features on or off in the search results. Wait while the list of features is populated. Clear the check box next to Windows Gadget Platform. Click OK to turn off the Windows gadget feature.

How to Add Windows 7 Gadgets

How to restore gadgets on Windows 7 - Add Gadgets

Windows 7 includes a gallery of other desktop gadgets. To select other gadgets from the gallery, click the Start button and type desktop into the Instant Search field at the bottom of the Start menu. Choose Desktop Gadget Gallery from the result list to open the Gadget Gallery.

To place a gadget from the gallery on your desktop, right-click the gadget you want to add and select Add. If you do not see any gadgets that you like, you can download more. Click the Get More Gadgets Online link at the bottom right of the Gadget Gallery. This will take you to the Windows personalization gallery website. Here you can choose from a wide variety of desktop gadgets. Click the Download button under the gadget that you want to install. The gadget will automatically be added to your desktop.

You can also move gadgets on your desktop. To move a gadget, simply click on it and drag it to the position you want.