How to Add Desktop Widgets in Mac and Use iPhone Widgets?

Earlier days, macOS was having a Dashboard which shows all your widgets in one place. However, later Apple removed the Dashboard app in favor of Notification Center. As of macOS version 13 (Ventura), you can add and manage all widgets from the Notification Center that appears when clicking on the clock showing on top right corner of the screen. Widgets got huge updates in macOS version 14 (Sonoma) and here is how you can use them on your Mac.

Widgets in Mac

Here are the new things you can with widgets in macOS Sonoma or later versions:

• Possible to add widgets anywhere on your desktop screen.
• Certain widgets are interactive that you can use to directly do the task without opening the app.
• You can use widgets from iPhone on your Mac without installing the apps.

Creating Widgets in Mac

The process is somewhat similar to old macOS versions:

• Click the clock on top right corner of the screen.
• You will see the Notification Center opens showing all existing widgets.
• Go to the bottom and click on “Edit Widgets” button. You can also click on the “What’s New” notification about the new widgets features in macOS.

• Previously this used to open the widgets in a full screen view. However, now you will see widgets gallery open from bottom of the screen hiding all other open app windows.

• Search and filter the widget that you want to add to your desktop.
• Hover over any widget and click on the + icon or simply click on the widget. This will add it to your Notification Center.
• For adding the widget to your desktop, drag it and drop on the desktop. After dropping, you can hold the widget and move to any desired position on the screen.

• Now that you have added the widgets, click on the desktop to hide the widgets gallery and show any open apps if you are working with previously.

You can add as many as widgets depending on the screen area and adjust their positions for quick access.

Widgets are Interactive and Fading

When you open any app, Stage Manager and when not highlighting the desktop, widgets will seamlessly blend with the background color. This will help you to focus on the open app without getting distracted by the widgets.

Importantly, widgets like Reminders are interactive that you can click on a task to complete it without opening the app. You can add Reminders widget to desktop and select the folder that you want to show the tasks. Only select the item to mark it as completed or click on the widget header or footer area to open the app.

This is also useful when playing a music or turn on a device with Home Controls widget.

Using iPhone Widgets on Mac

Mac will automatically show all your iPhone widgets in the widgets gallery even though you do not have the corresponding apps installed on your Mac. You will see a “From iPhone” notification on top right corner of the widgets gallery indicating the items are from your iPhone. For example, I have the Facebook widget though I don’t have Facebook app in my Mac.

I can add that widget and check the latest updates without opening Facebook app on my iPhone. However, if you click on the widgets, you will see a message “Open Facebook on iPhone to continue”.

Though interactivity is not there, you can still use for activities like tracking your McDonalds delivery, reading news or checking social feeds.

Deleting Widgets from Mac Desktop

If you have added too many widgets on the desktop, simply right-click on any widget and select “Remove Widget” option. You can also edit the widget or change the size/style from the right-click context menu.

For bulk deleting the widgets, go to Notification Center and click on “Edit Widgets” button. When the widget gallery opens with all your widgets showing, click on the minus icons showing on the widgets that you want to delete from desktop or Notification Center.