Turn off desktop gadgets
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Vista
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Desktop Gadgets Description
This policy setting allows you to turn off desktop gadgets. Gadgets are small applets that display information or utilities on the desktop. If you enable this setting, desktop gadgets will be turned off. If you disable or do not configure this setting, desktop gadgets will be turned on. The default is for desktop gadgets to be turned on.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar Value name: TurnOffSidebar
Enabled: TurnOffSidebar = 1
Disabled: TurnOffSidebar = 0
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Turn off desktop gadgets
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Vista
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar]
"TurnOffSidebar"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off desktop gadgets
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'TurnOffSidebar' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off desktop gadgets
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Vista
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar' -Name 'TurnOffSidebar' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off desktop gadgets
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'TurnOffSidebar' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off desktop gadgets
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Vista
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off desktop gadgets
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Vista
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar' -Name 'TurnOffSidebar' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off desktop gadgets
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'TurnOffSidebar' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.