Mastering Mac Widgets: A Step-by-Step Guide

Some Noticeable Information

Add widgets to your Mac desktop for faster access to app interactions and information. Update your Mac to macOS 14 Sonoma for this feature.

To add widgets, simply right-click on your desktop and choose "Edit Widgets" or swipe left from the right edge of your trackpad to access Notification Center and click on "Edit Widgets."

Personalize your widgets by effortlessly dragging them across your desktop. If you wish to remove a widget, just right-click on it and select "Remove Widget." Additionally, you can customize various settings such as size, album selection, and appearance. We are always eager to receive more widgets from talented developers.

Adding Widgets to Your Mac Desktop

Placing widgets on your desktop can provide a convenient way to interact with apps and gather information without needing to open the specific app. This guide will demonstrate how to add widgets to your desktop, enabling you to access them more quickly.

To ensure you have access to the widgets feature, ensure that your Mac is running macOS 14 Sonoma or a later version, updated with Apple's October 2023 update. You can conveniently add widgets to your Mac desktop either through the Notification Center or by utilizing a desktop shortcut. Simply right-click on your desktop and select "Edit Widgets" from the context menu.

Click the time and date in the upper-right corner of the screen, then select "Edit Widgets" at the bottom.

Swipe two fingers from the right edge of your trackpad towards the left to uncover the Notification Center, and click "Edit Widgets" at the bottom.

Upon performing this action, a widget menu will emerge along the lower edge of the screen, enabling you to explore the assortment of widgets at your disposal. Merely click and drag a widget of your choice to any location on your desktop.

It is important to note that when clicking and dragging a widget towards the right edge of the screen, it will be automatically placed in the Notification Center instead of the right edge of the desktop. If the intention is to position a widget along the right edge of the screen, the recommended approach is to first drag it to another location on the desktop and subsequently close the widget picker.

You are now free to drag the widgets around your desktop and place them anywhere without interference from the Notification Center.

Remove and Customize Widgets on Your Mac Desktop

To remove a widget, simply right-click (or Control+click) on it and choose the "Remove Widget" option. In the same context menu, you will find other options such as adjusting the widget's size (if applicable) or modifying its settings.

For instance, if you add a Photos album widget, you can easily change the displayed album by right-clicking on the widget and selecting "Edit Photos." Similarly, you can customize various aspects of widgets such as folders within Notes, specific forecast locations in Weather, preferred Reminders list, highlighted stocks, and more.

Observe how the appearance of widgets alters based on the presence of an active window. To modify their visual attributes, proceed to System Settings > Desktop & Dock and navigate to the "Widgets" section. Here, you can switch the "Widget style" toggle from monochrome to full color.

Additionally, this menu offers the option to deactivate desktop widgets entirely by unchecking the “Desktop” button in the “Show Widgets” section. It also allows you to specify the preferred web browser for opening web content from a widget. Furthermore, you can activate the feature “Use iPhone Widgets” to incorporate any accessible widgets that are currently being utilized on your iPhone into your Mac.

Save Time with Interactive Widgets

Similar to the iPhone and iPad, the Mac widgets offer a great deal of interactivity. This enables you to perform various actions such as marking off items from Reminders lists, initiating Shortcuts, activating Home scenes, and more, all without the need to open the respective app.

The Mac Needs More Widgets

There are numerous widgets available that are specifically designed for quick and easy access, such as the Find My widget. This widget allows you to conveniently locate people or items (AirTags) directly from your desktop. To maximize the effectiveness of this feature, remember to utilize the macOS “Show Desktop” shortcuts, which can be achieved by either performing a four-finger spread on a trackpad or pressing Command+F3 on a keyboard.

Apple offers the majority of widgets on Mac, with only a limited selection available for apps like Microsoft Outlook. Unfortunately, locating widgets in the Mac App Store can be challenging as there is no filtering option for widgets. Let's hope that more developers start offering widgets in the near future.

To enhance the appearance of your desktop, consider complementing it with a Windows Vista wallpaper.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of Apple products, I am thrilled about the introduction of widgets on the Mac. Widgets have been a staple of the iOS and iPadOS experience for years, and their arrival on the Mac is long overdue. I believe that widgets will greatly enhance the productivity and efficiency of Mac users, allowing them to quickly access information and perform tasks without having to open specific apps.

The process of adding, customizing, and removing widgets on the Mac is incredibly simple and intuitive. Right-clicking on the desktop and selecting "Edit Widgets" or swiping left from the right edge of the trackpad to access the Notification Center and clicking on "Edit Widgets" brings up the widget menu, from which users can drag and drop widgets to their desired locations on the desktop. I appreciate the ability to personalize the size, album selection, and appearance of widgets, as it allows me to tailor them to my specific needs and preferences.