Gadgets are a very useful feature of Windows. If you use Gadgets in Windows 7 and in Windows 8/8.1 using this installer, you may be minimizing your open apps by clicking the Show Desktop button or Win+D/Win+M hotkeys to see the gadgets. There is actually a keyboard shortcut in Windows to bring Gadgets to the top of other windows.
Although you can make individual gadgets show always on top by right clicking them and choosing "Always on top", that is not very convenient as they interfere with maximized apps.
In Windows 7 as well as in Windows 8, and Windows 8.1, the Win+G keyboard shortcut brings gadgets temporarily to the top of other windows, even if other windows are maximized and always on top. Try it now.
- For Windows 8/8.1, install the Gadgets from GadgetsRevived.com. For Windows 7 they are already pre-installed.
- Turn on the Sidebar by right clicking an empty area of the Desktop -> View menu -> Show desktop gadgets. If you haven't added any gadgets, add them.
- Now start any program such as Windows Explorer or your web browser and maximize its window.
- Press the Win+G keys together. The gadgets will show on top of the maximized window. You can keep pressing Win+G repeatedly to cycle the keyboard focus between each active gadget. To hide gadgets, click anywhere inside the window or on its taskbar button.
Now you know that you don't have to use Aero Peek or Win+D to show the desktop, then interact with gadgets and again restore minimized windows. You can just press Win+G.
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