macOS Sonoma has brought widgets to the desktop, which is a game-changer! Now, you can see key info and even interact with apps without leaving your main screen. It really changes how you use your Mac and it’s easy to personalize things.
Widgets have been super handy on iPhones and iPads for ages. Now, having them on macOS feels like a natural extension, and you can put them wherever you want on your desktop. The cool part? You can even use widgets from your iPhone through Continuity.
How desktop widgets work in Sonoma
In Sonoma, widgets aren’t just static displays; they are interactive. Having them right on your desktop lets you quickly glance at things like the weather, news, or reminders. They blend in nicely with your wallpaper too, using transparency and tints so they don’t distract.
When you’re using an app or have Stage Manager on, widgets smoothly fade into the background. This keeps your focus where it should be, but they’re still there when you need them. And if that wasn’t enough, Continuity means you can use widgets from your iPhone, even for apps you don’t have installed on your Mac, which seriously expands your customization options.
Adding widgets to your Mac desktop
Method 1: Using the desktop context menu
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To get started adding widgets, you can access the Widget Gallery. Right-click (or
Ctrl+Click) anywhere on your desktop, then choose ‘Edit Widgets’ from the menu that pops up.
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The Widget Gallery will show up, presenting all available widgets. You can go through ‘All Widgets’ or pick a specific app from the sidebar to see just widgets from that app.
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Pick the widget you want. As an example, if you pick ‘Calendar’, you’ll find options like ‘Date’, ‘Month’, and ‘Up Next’. Drag the widget you like onto your desktop and drop it where you think it works best.
Method 2: Using widgets from the Notification Center
You can also drag widgets straight from the Notification Center to your desktop, which is a faster way to do it if you already have some setup there. Just know that doing this removes the widget from the Notification Center.
Using iPhone Widgets on Your Mac
The ability to use widgets from your iPhone directly on your Mac is one of the coolest features in macOS Sonoma. This is super useful for apps you have on your phone but not on your Mac.
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Make sure your iPhone is close by and both devices are on the same Wi-Fi. Continuity needs this to work properly.
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In the Widgets Gallery, you’ll see widgets from your iPhone apps. For apps that you have on both your Mac and iPhone, you can switch between versions of the widget by clicking ‘From iPhone’ which is located at the top right corner of the widget preview.
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If you’re using a widget that’s only from an iPhone app, you can just drag it to your desktop like any other widget. This makes using the two platforms together feel more unified.
Customizing and rearranging widgets
Moving widgets around is a breeze, just click and drag them to new places on your desktop whenever you want - no need to go into any kind of editing mode for it.
If you decide you want a widget back in the Notification Center, here’s how:
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Open the Notification Center by clicking the ‘Date and Time’ in the Menu bar, and then click ‘Edit Widgets’ down at the bottom.
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Drag the widget from your desktop back to where you want it in the Notification Center.
Removing Widgets from Your Desktop
If you want to remove a widget completely from your desktop, here’s how to do it:
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Start by entering edit mode. You can either right-click on the desktop and choose ‘Edit Widgets,’ or you can do the same from the Notification Center if you prefer.
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Locate the widget you want to get rid of and click the ‘Remove’ icon. It’s the little minus sign at the top right of the widget.
With desktop widgets on your Mac, you can really make your setup more efficient and tailored to how you work. Whether you want to keep tabs on your schedule, control your smart home devices, or get the latest news, widgets in macOS Sonoma bring it all right to your screen.