Desktop gadgets and the Windows Sidebar were a big hallmark feature in Windows Vista and Windows 7. But Microsoft removed desktop gadgets, and you won’t find them in Windows 8 or 10.
Bring Windows Gadgets back to Windows 8 with 8GadgetPack. 8GadgetPack is a lightweight utility that emulates the functionality of the Sidebar and Windows Gadgets that were found in Windows Vista and 7. Gadgets were removed in Windows 8, but 8GadgetPack brings them back fully functional. 8GadgetsPack comes with various gadgets such as All CPU Meter, Calendar, Clock, and more. Bring Windows Gadgets back to Windows 8 with 8GadgetPack. 8GadgetPack is a lightweight utility that emulates the functionality of the Sidebar and Windows Gadgets that were found in Windows Vista and 7. Gadgets were removed in Windows 8, but 8GadgetPack brings them back fully functional.
Windows Desktop Gadgets Were Discontinued Because They’re a Security Risk
There’s a reason these were discontinued in Windows 8 and 10: Microsoft’s desktop gadget platform has a variety of security problems. That’s not just our opinion–that’s what Microsoft says.
Microsoft’s official security advisory on the subject explains two big problems. First, Microsoft says it’s aware of legitimate desktop gadgets that contain security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Attackers could exploit a vulnerability in a gadget to gain control over your entire computer, if you’re signed on as a user account with administrator privileges.
Second, your computer could be compromised if an attacker creates a malicious gadget and gets you to install it. Install a gadget and it can run any code it wants on your computer with your full system permissions.
In other words, the desktop gadgets aren’t just a lightweight gadget platform. Gadgets are full Windows programs with full access to your system, and there are third-party gadgets with known security vulnerabilities that will never be fixed. But many Windows users may not realize installing a gadget is just as dangerous as installing a program.
That’s why Windows 8 and 10 don’t include desktop gadgets. Even if you’re using Windows 7, which includes desktop gadgets and the Windows Sidebar functionality, Microsoft recommends disabling it with their downloadable “Fix It” tool.
Yes, Microsoft is trying to push its own live tiles instead of desktop gadgets. But, if live tiles aren’t good enough for you, there’s a better desktop gadget platform.
What You Should Do: Get Rainmeter for Modern Desktop Gadgets
RELATED:How to Use Rainmeter to Customize Your Windows Desktop
There is a way to re-enable desktop gadgets on Windows 8 and 10 if you really want to. However, we strongly advise against it. Not only are there security concerns, but Microsoft’s desktop gadgets are a dead platform, so it will be difficult to find solid gadgets for it.
Instead, we recommend downloading Rainmeter. While other desktop wiget platforms like Microsoft’s desktop gadgets, Google Desktop gadgets, and Yahoo! Widgets (formerly known as Konfabulator) have all been axed by their parent companies, Rainmeter is still going strong. Rainmeter is a free, open-source desktop widget platform with a large community of people making desktop gadgets, known as “skins”. Frankly, it’s better looking and more customizable than the other options ever were. You’ll find a ton of skins available that are customizable right down to every nook and cranny.
Installing and configuring Rainmeter is a tad more complex than using Windows desktop gadgets, but it’s worth if if you want a modern desktop gadget platform that’s much more customizable than anything Windows itself ever offered.
How to Re-Enable Desktop Gadgets (If You Absolutely Must)
If you really want to restore the original desktop gadgets to Windows 10 or 8.1, you can use one of two third-party programs: 8GadgetPack or Gadgets Revived. Both are very similar, but 8GadgetPack seems to be more widely recommended and includes more gadgets.
After installing 8GadgetPack or Gadgets Revived, you can just right-click your Windows desktop and select “Gadgets”. You’ll see the same gadgets Window you’ll remember from Windows 7. Drag and drop gadgets onto the sidebar or desktop from here to use them. You can configure gadgets just as you could on Windows 7–right-click a gadget and select “Options” to access any configuration options the gadget may have.
It’s good that 8GadgetPack includes a variety of desktop gadgets, because it’s difficult to find them online at this point. Microsoft took down its own desktop gadget gallery website years ago. If you’re hunting for more desktop gadgets, just watch out for third-party desktop gadgets that may be malicious.
You won’t find as many third-party gadgets for this dead platform as you will for Rainmeter, though. Even when Windows desktop gadgets were supported, Rainmeter was the superior alternative–and now that holds true more than ever. Give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.
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When Microsoft did away with desktop gadgets to replace them with Windows Store apps, it was a bittersweet moment for Windows 10 users. Most users have obviously grown comfortable with desktop gadgets and completely taking them off the user’s system was a major change. They were introduced with Windows Vista and were pretty popular with all further versions. Microsoft took away the gadgets as they made the system and its contents vulnerable. A hacker could even access your PC through a gadget. However, for the irreplaceable entity they were, people kept downloading and using them through third-party vendors.
Desktop Gadgets for Windows 10
Although the desktop gadgets in Windows 10 are not officially supported, you can install them via some apps. Have a look!
8GadgetPack
This tool lets you use the most popular and the commonest apps on Windows 10. It just introduced an advanced version called 8GadgetPack takes care of several errors and glitches that were reported in its earlier version. It was also updated for the much talked about Anniversary Update of Windows 10, and most of the gadgets work on that. Some of the gadgets include App Launcher, Clipboard, CPU Meter, Drives Meter, Currency, Reminder, etc., You can even delete the unnecessary gadgets from the package.
Gadgets Revived
Gadgets Revived lets you get the gadgets which you require and works in a pick-your-own-thing fashion. You download Gadgets Revived installer and you select the gadgets you want to install. It does not exactly work like in a package fashion, and the gadgets are grouped into more than 16 categories. Each category is designed to cater to various kinds of the same gadget. It has some of the most crucial gadgets like Clipboard Manager, Calculator, MusicRadio, Counters, and Timers.
Win10 Widgets
Win10 Widgets is futuristic for more reasons than one. Mainly because it caters to your most obvious basic needs like music, battery, WiFi, and also works on responsiveness. It also has provisions for customizing wallpapers or adjusting the screen size. The makers have also worked hard to make sure it fits in with the Windows 10 theme. One thing which might bug you is that this tool does not have an auto-update function. You will actually need to visit their website and keep tabs on the latest updates.
This tool also works on the Rainmeter program and is highly efficient. You can install Rainmeter and Win10 Widgets in one package. Since this is also a gadget editor, you can customize your system with it, and it’s also one of the most effortlessly designed widgets. From mail to weather, to clock, and of curse the advanced gadgets, they are all coordinated according to necessity, and if you want to change then, you can do so very easily.
Rainmeter
Rainmeter is one of the most used gadgets installers and has an incredible number of apps and gadgets collection. It also has a lot of provisions for customization and storing media files.
XWidget
This XWidget platform is very popular with designers and creative sector employees. It’s also a widget editor and has pro level animations. It also has the most stability as a widget, but it is so in demand for its graphics. It has been applauded for updating its user experience with every edition and is one of the best alternatives to 8GadgetPack. This gadget could be downloaded from here.
Avedesk
Avedesk, too, sticks to the basics when it comes to gadgets. This program lets you have icons on your Windows 10 desktop screen, just like old days. But the icons are different and much advanced – they come with little plug-ins which can multitask. Basically, these desklets act as shortcuts to the necessary gadgets, like Mail, calculator, etc. The new updates features on Avedesk have given the tool a sleeker and more accomplished look. The makes have also relentlessly worked to improve the user experience, and if you want a gadget tool for Windows 10, Avedesk is highly recommended. This gadget could be downloaded here.
Network Meter
One of the most widely used gadgets of the last two years, Network Meter is spectacularly designed to tell you exactly how connectivity issues. From details of your hotspot connection to Ethernet, Network Meter is not just a necessary tool, but also the most helpful one, if you’re working from off-site. One of the major features of the Meter is that it lets you keep tabs on your download speed. It has recently been updated for high res visibility. This gadget could be downloaded from here.
App Launcher
Desktop Gadgets For Windows 8.1
One of the most user-friendly widgets, App launcher basically works like a launch bar. You can just drag whichever apps or gadgets you need to the screen, and it is also available for free download. This gadget could be downloaded from the Chrome Store here.
Desktop Gadgets For Windows 10
Margu-NotebookInfo2
One of the most underrated tools. This lets you keep tabs on several things at once – from your battery to your power to your network strength, and even your RAM usage, this shows you everything. In many ways, this can just be your go-to widget as it is a serious multitasker. This gadget can be downloaded from here.
While choosing a gadget, be careful about your priorities. Install the necessary ones first, and only use the recommended ones if possible. Random or unknown gadget installer can sometimes make your system vulnerable.
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