Although Google Reader is probably one of my favorite RSS (Really Simple Syndication) readers, Windows 7 also has a clean and straightforward RSS Reader/Gadget built-in. The Windows 7 Feed Reader gadget runs very lightly, and you shouldn’t notice any performance issues, unlike old Windows Vista gadgets. Although it’s not as robust as Google Reader, it’s good enough for keeping track of just a few feeds real-time which can be handy for news sites or groovyPost! :)
Unlike the gadget from Windows Vista, the new Feed Reader does not manage its own list of RSS feeds. Instead, feeds are pulled directly from your Internet Explorer Feed Subscriptions. Make sense? Let’s take a closer look!
How To Manage and Organize Windows 7 Feed Reader
1. First, let’s bring the gadget to the visible desktop. To do this Right-Click any open space on the Desktop. Then Click Gadgets.
2. The Gadgets window will appear; Right-Click Feed Headlines and then Click Add.
3. On the top-right of your desktop, your feed reader gadget opens up. You’ll see the toolbar for it appear on the right-hand side if you hover over the gadget. Click the wrench (Options).
Note: For the dedicated RSS fan, the Larger size feature is very handy and makes your RSS feeds much easier to read.
4. Now in the Feed Headlines window, Click the Display this feed: drop-list menu. You can select to display all of your subscribed IE feeds or just one of your favorites.
All done!
It’s sleek, its minimalist, and it keeps you updated. Very Groovy!
28 Comments
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staples
Thanks so much for this, it’s is exactly what I’ve been looking for!
Peter
Very usefull thank you!
MrGroove
Yeah… not the greatest decision in the world by uncle balmer.
Qu
Thats not correct seb , i just add a feed through my Windows live mail app and it works (:
no need for IE (: thx for this solution i was wondering is there a way to tell the app what to show in the feeds like make the feeds smaller ? with restriction of what to feed?
Sean Murphy
THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!
MrGroove
Your welcome Sean!!!!! – Oh, and welcome to the site! I see that’s your first comment here!
pk
I CANT UNDERSTAND HOW TO ADD NEW RSS FEED FROM MOZILLA TO DESKTOP WINDOWS 7 RSS GADGET.COULD YOU CLARIFY IT.
Ciel
Is there anyway that I can view the feeds shown here in order of date? Since mine shows it in alphabetical order.
masgalz
thanks… its very helpful
its my first comment
Sherry Cain
Thanks for the info! This is perfect for what I need. GROOVY!
Emily
So, you can’t link it to feedly or firefox? Goodbye Microsoft.
MrVulcan
So I can add feeds to the feed reader gadget through Windows Live Mail, but what if I have neither Internet Explorer, nor Windows Live Mail?
islandmountain
How to add a feed from Firefox??? Isn’t that possible with the win7 gadget? :(
MrVulcan
Not in any way that I know of.
MrVulcan
First of all, Africa, please be a little more careful with the Caps Lock and Shift keys.
I hope that your solution is useful for someone else. As for me…my problem is not that I don’t know how to *find* a URL of an RSS feed, but rather that I don’t know how to enter it into the feed reader gadget.
Live long and prosper,
MrVulcan
Africa
You have to use Windows Live Mail. That is what I’m using.
When you are on Windows Live Mail, go on the tab feeds on the left hand side. Then on the top left there’s another logo that says FEED, click on It and finish by placing the URL in the required space and Voila ! the job is done.
I hope that was clear enough.
I still don’t understand the Caps Lock and shift key thing that you said. o.O
MrVulcan
I understand your instructions, but I’m not planning on using Windows Live Mail just for this RSS feed reader.
I made that remark about the Caps Lock and Shift keys, because you had put a line in all capital letters, except for the first letter.
Ryan
how r u stuppose to kno the url??i opened windows live maild did what usaid but how r u suppose to kno the url//
Africa
Oh, that was the Caps lock remark, alright mate, noted ! :)
If you don’t want to use Windows Live Mail then i don’t know how to help you. That is what I use.
Eddie
To Add this you can import XML from your GOOGLE READER. FANTASTIC! I used to hate Gadgets…
MrVulcan
I was just wondering…
Internet Explorer saves short-cuts as plain text, right? Would it save RSS feeds the same way? If so, then all we need is the format, location, and name of the file(s). Does anyone know?
Mia
Sometimes Chrome,IE and mozilla crashed.But still, you can use RSS ad ons.
gadget
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a enjoyment account it. Glance advanced to far introduced agreeable from you! However, how can we be in contact?
Mr. Osom
this does not work with google chrome…only IE
clear
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who had
been doing a little homework on this. And
he in fact ordered me dinner simply because I found it for him.
.. lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!
! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to talk about this issue here on your web site.
haaly88
I’m not use windows 7 gadget, because slow down my computer
http://www.beritagadget.ga
asan
im not using gadget coz of trobling and slow