Classic Windows gadgets for modern versions
GadgetPack is a free utility program for PC by developer Helmut Buhler. Formerly known as 8GadgetPack, it’s a personalization app that is inspired by the classic Gadget Platform that was first introduced with Windows 7. It offers a collection of desktop widgets that provide all sorts of functions and essential system information at a glance.
Top Recommended Alternative
Utilitarian desktop
In a word, GadgetPack is a modern revival and spiritual successor to the classic Windows 7 feature called gadgets, which are essentially desktop widgets that provide additional functionality and info straight from your home screen. It works with both Windows 10 and 11, and actually uses the same code base as the original Gadget Platform.
There are currently more than 40 gadgets included, ranging from different clock and calendar styles to weather reports and a system monitor. The catalog is continually growing, with works being submitted by users, and you can also create your own and add the corresponding .gadget file to the program. All that being said, some of the icons and widget designs could be improved to be more in line with modern standards and aesthetics.
A welcome revival
If you were a fan of the original gadgets feature and want it back, GadgetPack is as close as it gets to the original. It’s based on the same code and platform, and improves upon the core experience with more widgets that provide enhanced functionality and convenience. Suffice it to say, this is a must-try, so check it out now and see for yourself.
