The Windows Sidebar is a widget for Desktop Gadgets, which is placed on either the left or right side of the desktop depending on where you like it. The Sidebar was first introduced as a part the new operating system Windows Vista, and is not an option on other versions of Microsoft Windows such as XP, Millenium Edition, or 2000. Windows Sidebar is a pane on the side of the Microsoft Windows Vista desktop where you can keep all of your gadgets. The Windows Sidebar feature comes standard with home basic, home premium, business, and ultimate versions of Windows Vista.



Gadgets on the sidebar can show various different types of tasks. The gadgets that come pre-installed on Windows Vista are a calendar, a clock, contacts list, a cpu usage meter, a currency exchanger, headline feeds, notes page, a picture puzzle, a slideshow of your pictures, stock updates, and the weather.

Of all the gadgets available, the clock, slide show and headline feeds are displayed by default on a new installation of Windows Vista. Microsoft provides a hyperlink to their Windows Live Gallery website where additional sidebar gadgets can be downloaded. You can visit other various websites to download additional gadgets if you desire, as well as create your own. There are online tools to help you create your own gadgets if you wish to.

The different options for placement of the Windows Sidebar include being able to move it to the left or right of your screen, moving the sidebar to a different monitor if you have a multiple monitor setup, and starting the Windows Sidebar automatically when Windows starts.

There are also options to keep your gadgets together all on the Windows Sidebar, you can take them off, hide the sidebar altogether, or place them anywhere on your desktop you wish. If you accidentally remove any of your factory gadgets you can always restore them by going to your computer's properties section. If you remove any gadgets that you downloaded online, you will have to find the website, and then download and reinstall that gadget.

Users can run the same gadget multiple times if desired, such as running two clocks and setting different time zones. A user might also want to view slideshows of pictures from two or more different folders at the same time. Some users of Macintosh products have pointed out the Sidebar's similarities to Apple's Dashboard.