
That said there are subtle differences between the sidebar.exe components, dependant on the version of Windows you’re using. This way, you can work, while keeping tabs on what’s happening in the greater world. Displaying news headlines while using a program is a prime example of what I’m talking about. Sidebar is a component designed to make those tools you readily use, accessible to you at all times. For example, you may choose to select a gadget that enables you to look up contacts, display a picture slideshow or show new headlines. In this Windows Sidebar component are gadgets which offer the end user access to tools that they may frequently use, or information at a glance. Sidebar.exe is the Windows component that appears on the side of your screen as a vertical bar. So continue reading for those step-by-step instructions, in addition to various other known solutions. Windows Desktop Gadgets has Stopped Workingįortunately repairing these errors is possible by making modifications to the Windows setting file something I intend to explain in detail, in this post. But with the return to a dominant desktop on Windows 10, widgets, gadgets, and similar tools can be restored.Are you having problems with Windows Sidebar constantly crashing after you’ve attempted to add a gadget to it? When the sidebar.exe file typically crashes, it’s accompanied by one of the following error messages: After all, the desktop was replaced with a Start screen. This continued in Windows 10 with integration of improved notifications and Cortana.ĭropping Windows desktop widgets in Windows 8 makes sense in hindsight. Instead, this sort of information was combined into live tiles on Windows 8. Suddenly, you couldn't instantly see the time in your Hong Kong office, or get RSS feeds on the desktop. Unfortunately, with the arrival of Windows 8, these Windows widgets were abandoned. They would also hide behind your main apps, acting as if part of the desktop background. Like any Windows applications, desktop gadgets could be positioned around the desktop, but mostly down the right-hand side.

Capable of displaying the time, weather, sticky notes, and even CPU speed, these widgets were essentially mini apps.

It might seem difficult to appreciate all these years later, but desktop gadgets were once extremely popular. Hold On, What Are Windows 10 Widgets and Gadgets? They're long gone, but don't worry-you can add desktop widgets to Windows 10 using these third-party tools. Desktop gadgets were useful widgets that could be added to the Windows Vista and Windows 7 desktop to improve productivity.
