Windows Desktop Gadgets

Windows Desktop Gadgets (called Windows Sidebar in Windows Vista) is a widget engine for Windows Vista and Windows 7, part of the now discontinued Microsoft Gadgets widget platform. Its gadgets can perform various tasks, such as displaying the time and date, gathering RSS feed or Email information, allowing users to use tools such as sticky notes or timers, among other tasks.

Windows Sidebar was introduced with Windows Vista, in which it features a sidebar anchored to the side of the desktop. The gadgets can either be placed on the sidebar or anywhere on the desktop. In Windows 7, the sidebar was removed, but gadgets can still be placed on the desktop.

Windows Desktop Gadgets was discontinued in Windows 8. The Windows 8 Live Tiles can perform a similar function, but they are only visible when the Start menu is visible. They run in a more restrictive environment, making them less risky, but also less useful for some purposes, like system monitoring. Live Tiles too, was discontinued in Windows 11 in favor of the widgets panel.