Windows Desktop Gadgets

Gadgets were removed back when Windows 8 was released and replaced by tiles in the Start Screen, Microsoft stating that the sidebar created vulnerabilities in the operating system, leaving room for remote code execution. Even so, many users enjoyed having small apps on their desktop to offer information at a glance.

For those who decided to upgrade their OS to Windows 8, 8.1, or 10 but still want their favorite gadgets on the desktop, an application named Windows Desktop Gadgets might do the trick.

This lightweight utility is capable of re-enabling gadget support on Windows 8 and later, enabling you to deploy and use sidebar gadgets just like you would on Windows 7 or Vista. You just have to go through a brief setup and gadgets are then supported by your PC again. The installer can detect the native language of your system and automatically deploy the corresponding pack.

Once Windows Desktop Gadgets is installed, just right-click on the desktop and choose the familiar 'Gadgets' item there to open the gallery.

Windows Desktop Gadgets comes with the standard set of Microsoft gadgets that were available on any Windows 7 computer, namely a calendar, an analog clock, a CPU meter, a currency exchange rate viewer, a feed reader, a puzzle, a slideshow viewer, and a weather forecast viewer.

In addition to these, you can assign Windows Desktop Gadgets as the default program to open GADGET files with, which will make it easier for you to deploy new gadgets you would like to have on the desktop.

To hide all the gadgets, you can choose the dedicated option in the 'View' section of the context menu. On top of that, a new item is added in the 'Appearance and Personalization' section of Control Panel.

If you want the old gadgets back without having to stick with Windows 7 or Vista, Windows Desktop Gadgets is worth a try. The installation is simple, and the only default gadgets that come along bundled in the package are signed by Microsoft. Nevertheless, please note that this is not an official Microsoft app and, therefore, you use it at your own risk.