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Error "Windows Sidebar is managed by your system administrator" when you try to open the Windows Sidebar
- Copyright © 2008 Ramesh Srinivasan
- Error messages
Question
When I try to open the Windows Sidebar in my Windows Vista system, I get the following error, and the Sidebar does not open:
Windows Sidebar is managed by your system administrator.
Answer
If your system is connected to a domain, the network administrator may have enforced the Turn off Windows Side bar Policy.
(For standalone systems) If you are using an edition of Windows Vista (Windows Vista Business, Enterprise and Ultimate editions) which includes the Group Policy Editor, follow these steps to remove the Turn off Windows Side bar Policy:
- Click Start, type gpedit.msc in the Search box, and press ENTER
- Navigate to the following branch:
Computer Configuration | Administrative Templates | Windows Components | Windows Sidebar
- Double-click Turn off Windows Sidebar
- Set it as Not Configured
- Repeat the same in the following branch:
User Configuration | Administrative Templates | Windows Components | Windows Sidebar
- Close the Group Policy Editor window.
Important: If it's already set to Not Configured, set it to Enabled and click Apply. Then repeat the steps and revert the setting back to Not Configured. This removes the registry based policy if set already.
Registry edit
Click Start, type regedit.exe and press ENTER
Navigate to the following branch:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Windows \ Sidebar
In the right-pane, delete the value named TurnOffSidebar (if found)
Repeat the same in the following branch:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Windows \ Sidebar
Exit Registry Editor.
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Attachments
26 Responses to "Error "Windows Sidebar is managed by your system administrator" when you try to open the Windows Sidebar" 
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said this on 03 Jun 2007 6:34:45 AM PDT
This was an excellent article. I was struggling with this and your answer was perfect. This must be contributed to Microsoft since it is not there on MS.
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said this on 26 Nov 2007 10:52:56 AM PDT
Small and easy article! Perfect answer! Thank you.
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said this on 27 Nov 2007 1:19:29 PM PDT
thank u very much! after trying to find a solution for more then a week. this suddenly worked!
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said this on 11 Dec 2007 5:53:44 PM PDT
Perfect. An absolutely mind numbingly simple to use article! Thanks!
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said this on 12 Dec 2007 1:25:50 PM PDT
Absolutely perfect solution to an annoying problem.
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said this on 17 Dec 2007 7:39:26 AM PDT
Thank you very much.
It was very helpful.
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said this on 25 Dec 2007 9:50:17 AM PDT
i've been having problems with my missing sidebar for about two weeks now (coz i can't brag my gadgets :D) , this article did the trick!
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said this on 29 Dec 2007 9:23:24 PM PDT
Thank you sooooo much! Really easy to follow.
I dont remember ever disabling though...
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said this on 29 Dec 2007 10:44:50 PM PDT
i was having the same problem, download the atachment and started to work right away. thanks!
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said this on 11 Jan 2008 11:58:33 AM PDT
Thanks,I was starting to go crazy!Microsoft site no help at all.Used the regedit, as I'm on Home Premium.
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said this on 18 Jan 2008 7:13:12 AM PDT
This doesn't seem to work with Vista Home Premium. The policies bit is missing on mine.
Alan.
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said this on 01 Feb 2008 5:04:19 AM PDT
Perfect solution thanks, although I did not have group policy or an entry for HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Windows \ Sidebar on my Vista Home Premium system, doing just the first registry edit worked. I have a Sony VAIO laptop that had Google Toolbr and its sidebar installed. Removing the Google toolbar triggered this error message. Thanks, great website
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said this on 03 Mar 2008 5:53:46 AM PDT
thanks!!!!this is the only page that solve the problem!
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said this on 03 Mar 2008 6:24:34 PM PDT
Same with me, followed the instructions and it worked a treat.
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said this on 07 Mar 2008 5:49:23 AM PDT
followed instructions...they are clear and easy thanks very much
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said this on 09 Mar 2008 4:51:19 PM PDT
thanks you very much!!!!!!!!i followed the instructions and worked right away!! I've been trying to solve it for about a month!!!!excellent instructions THANKS!!!
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said this on 11 Mar 2008 6:12:19 PM PDT
This is an amazing fix!!! I have tried for 4 days every site on the web and GOD provided me with this one!!! My wife has not spoke to me for 4 days as I lost this application!!! Now she wants my babies!!! This is the fix. Use it you wont be dissapointed. You may not need to use both reg edits I as only could do one, dont be disheartened you are on the right page!!!!
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said this on 19 Mar 2008 4:36:01 PM PDT
Works really easy fix :) Big thanks for this one!
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said this on 31 Mar 2008 11:13:20 PM PDT
thank you so much 4 the .reg file :)
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said this on 01 Apr 2008 2:01:35 PM PDT
Thank you sooooooooooooo much!
This has been annoying me for weeks on end, and now its fixed within 2 minutes. Great person;)
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said this on 05 Apr 2008 12:18:07 PM PDT
Thank you mates! God bless you
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said this on 21 Apr 2008 1:56:13 PM PDT
This sounds like an easy tweak but I have a Vista Premium Edition and none of those suggestions are helpful. Anybody know another way to solve the problem for Premium edition?
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said this on 14 May 2008 3:43:09 PM PDT
So easy but I couldn't find the answer myself. :) Thnx!!
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