Uninstall a gadget in Windows 7 (Delete / permanently remove from your computer)

A certain number of gadgets come with Windows 7, and you can also download and install new gadgets you found online; both built-in gadgets and those you installed yourself can be uninstalled and removed from your computer at any point. In this tutorial, we will explain how to uninstall a gadget from your computer, and other options to consider before you permanently remove a gadget from Windows 7.

Uninstall gadgets in Windows 7

Follow these steps to completely remove a gadget from your computer:

First, minimize all open program windows to see your gadgets (unless you have configured that particular gadget to stay on top of other windows).
Once you see the gadget in question, move your mouse over and click on the close button ("x") - this removes the gadget from your desktop, but doesn't uninstall it from your computer.
To uninstall this gadget and permanently remove it from your computer, open the start menu, and type "gadget gallery" in the search field, and click on the "Desktop Gadget Gallery" link:
When Windows 7 opens the Gadget Gallery, locate the gadget you want to uninstall; if you do not see it, just navigate with the arrow buttons through screens of gadgets installed on your PC (located in the top left corner of the Gadget Gallery window).
Once you see the gadget you want to remove, right-click on it, and choose "Uninstall" from the context menu, as shown on the screenshot below:
After you chose Uninstall from the menu, Windows 7 will give you one last chance to change your mind, and display a "Do you want to uninstall {Gadget Name}" confirmation message.
Click "Don't uninstall" to keep the gadget on your computer, or click on the "Uninstall" button to completely remove this gadget from Windows 7.
As soon as you do, the Gadget Gallery removes the gadget from the listing: the gadget is gone, and successfully uninstalled from your PC!

Note: if the gadget you want to uninstall is running on your desktop, Windows 7 will automatic close it before uninstalling it. While you can re-install uninstalled gadgets later on, keep in mind that you will have to re-configure any custom settings you had: in some cases, rather than removing gadgets from your computer, it can be simpler to just close / hide the gadget from your desktop - which removes it from the desktop, but retains it inside the Gadget Gallery.

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