Even before the release of Windows 8, Microsoft stopped the support of desktop gadgets, also eliminating the page to download new ones. Currently you can still use gadgets in Windows 7 and Vista, but they are not supported by Windows 10 and 8.1.
For the uninitiated, Desktop Gadgets are applications similar to Android widgets, which allow you to view interactive information such as the clock, calendar, unit converter, remaining battery, weather and other information on the desktop background .
In Windows 8 and Windows 10 the Start screen is already made of interactive tiles, but if you still prefer to have gadgets on the Windows 8.1 desktop, you can download a free program to get almost the same ones present in Windows 7 and also something in more.
8Gadgetpack is the program to download and install on Windows 10 and 8.1 to have the possibility to put gadgets on the desktop.
Then proceed with the installation and run the program to make a sidebar appear on the right side where the gadgets are collected.
The sidebar is similar to the Vista sidebar, but it is a gadget itself that functions as a collector.
If you prefer, you can close the sidebar and place the gadgets where you want on the desktop.
To add a gadget to the desktop, right-click on the desktop at any point and select the gadget menu item, as is also the case in Windows 7.
From the window that opens you can choose to add some gadgets such as the clock, calendar, computer resource meter, Windows clipboard and other useful things.
Each added gadget has options that can be accessed by right clicking on it.
In addition to those pre-installed with the program, it is also possible to download and add new gadgets from the same site 8gadgetpack.net or even downloaded from other sites.
Gadgets compatible with this program must have a .gadget extension and to install them just double click.
To uninstall any gadget, just open the list and press on the one to be deleted with the right button, right click on a gadget and select Uninstall.
A program similar to 8GadgetPack is Gadget Revived which brings the classic Windows 7 widgets to Windows 10.
Finally, thanks to the Widget HD app for Windows 10 it is possible to obtain different types of gadgets to add to the desktop, optimized and fully functional without having to install patches or other software.
