This guide will show you how to easily add widgets to your Mac desktop and customize it, with a focus on using the cool features that Apple has to offer. If you want to improve your desktop experience, learn step-by-step how to add widgets that you like and find out how Apple can make your Mac environment more useful and attractive.
Whether you’re a seasoned Mac user or a beginner, this guide will make sure that adding widgets goes smoothly. With the trusted help of EveryReview, you can customize and improve your desktop.
Table of Contents
How to Add Widgets to Your Mac’s Desktop
It’s important that your Mac has at least macOS 14 Sonoma installed. This update adds a useful function that makes your desktop look more like you. If you want to easily add buttons using either the Notification Center or a desktop shortcut, just follow these steps:
- The menu on the desktop, press and hold on your desktop.
- Choose “Edit Widgets” from the menu that appears.
- In the upper right corner, click on the time and date.
- Click on “Edit Widgets” at the bottom of the screen.
You can quickly get to your messages by using the Notification Center Gesture.
- From the right edge of your screen, swipe left with two fingers.
- Hit the “Edit Widgets” button near the bottom of the screen.
An icon menu will show up along the bottom edge of your screen after you do these things. You can look through the different widgets and easily add them to your screen by clicking and dragging them.
Keep in mind that dragging an icon to the right edge of the screen will put it in the Notification Center by itself. Start the drag somewhere else on your desktop, then close the widget picker to place a widget along the right edge of your screen.
Now you can arrange widgets on your screen however you want without the Notification Center getting in the way. You can easily and quickly change how your Mac works.
Remove and customize widgets on your Mac desktop
You can make your Mac screen more unique by using the powerful widget feature added in macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Install Apple’s October 2023 release to make sure your Mac is up-to-date, then follow these easy steps to add widgets using either the Notification Center or a desktop shortcut:
- Right-click on your screen to start the process.
- Choose “Edit Widgets” from the menu that comes up.
- To change the time and date in the top right area of your screen, click on the widget that says “Top-Right Date and Time Access”
- Click on “Edit Widgets”, which is near the bottom of the screen.
- You can quickly get to your messages by using the Notification Center Gesture.
- Use two fingers from the right edge of your screen to make a swipe-left motion.
- Click “Edit Widgets” at the bottom of the screen to see the widget customization choices.
A widget menu will smoothly unfold along the bottom edge of your screen when you do these things. Browse through the different widgets that are available and easily add them to your screen with a simple click-and-drag action.
When you drag widgets along the right edge of your screen, they will instantly move to the Notification Center, so be careful where you put them. If you want to put a widget on the right side of the desktop, drag it somewhere else on the desktop first and then close the widget picker.
Now you can enjoy the freedom to order widgets on your desktop in any way you want, without the Notification Center getting in the way. Customizing your screen with widgets is an easy and quick way to improve your Mac experience.
Optimize Your Workflow with Interactive Widgets on Mac
Use the engaging features of widgets, which are similar to those on iPhones and iPads, to make your Mac more productive. In contrast to traditional desktop apps, Mac widgets let users do different things right from the desktop, so they don’t have to open separate apps.
You can easily do things like crossing things off of lists of things to do, using tools, starting home scenes, and more without having to open specific programs. These widgets make you more productive by letting you do quick things and get information with just a click.
For a quick look and go method, look into apps like Find My that let you show the location of people or things, like AirTags, right on your desktop. Use the “Show Desktop” shortcuts in macOS to get the most out of your widgets. To do this, spread your fingers out four times on a trackpad or press Command+F3 on a computer.
Even though there are clear benefits, it’s important to note that most of the widgets on Mac come from Apple, with a few for Microsoft Outlook and other apps. Because the Mac App Store doesn’t have a dedicated filtering tool, it can be hard to find widgets. You can expect the number of widgets to grow, giving Mac users more tools to make their experience better. Keep an eye out for new developments as the Mac environment changes to meet the growing demand for widgets that can do many things and make you more productive.
FAQs
1. How do I move a widget to my home screen on a Mac?
To add a widget to your desktop in macOS Sonoma or later: Drag the widget from the widget gallery to a location on your desktop. You can also drag widgets to and from the Notification Center.
2. How do I customize my Mac desktop?
On your Mac, use Desktop & Dock settings to change the appearance of the Dock, and to choose settings for the desktop, Stage Manager, widgets, windows, and Mission Control. To change these settings, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.
3. Can widgets stay on a Mac desktop?
If you use widgets on your Mac and want to see them all the time-not just hidden in the Notification Center-you now put them right on your desktop if you’re running macOS Sonoma update (version 14 if you’re keeping track). For example, you might want your to-do list or a calendar to always be visible