Want widgets on your Mac but can't find where to add them? The widget gallery lets you place them on your desktop or in Notification Center in just a few clicks. Here's how to add, customize, and remove widgets on macOS Sonoma 14, Sequoia 15, and Tahoe 26, including compatible widgets from your iPhone.
Add your first desktop widget
Control-click an empty area of your wallpaper.
Choose Edit Widgets to open the widget gallery.
Find a widget by searching for its app or selecting a category.
Drag the widget to the spot you want on your desktop.
Click Done to finish.
Tip: Click a widget or its Add (+) button to let your Mac place it automatically.
Show hidden desktop widgets
A disabled desktop visibility setting hides widgets even after you've added them.
Open Apple menu > System Settings.
Select Desktop & Dock.
Under Widgets > Show Widgets, enable On Desktop.
Enable In Stage Manager too if you want widgets visible while using Stage Manager.
These controls change visibility. They don't add another copy of a widget.
Keep widgets in Notification Center
Prefer a desktop without widgets? Put them in Notification Center and open it when you need them.
Click the date and time in the menu bar to open Notification Center.
Choose Edit Widgets.
Search for an app or select a category in the gallery.
Drag your chosen widget to the upper-right corner to place it in Notification Center.
Click Done.
To move an existing Notification Center widget onto the desktop, drag it out of Notification Center and drop it where you want it.
Bring your iPhone widgets to the Mac
You don't need the corresponding Mac app to use compatible iPhone widgets. Your iPhone needs iOS 17 or later, must use the same Apple Account as your Mac, and must be nearby or on the same Wi-Fi network.
On your Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock.
Under Widgets, enable Use iPhone widgets, also labeled iPhone Widgets.
Find the iPhone app's widget in Edit Widgets.
Drag the widget to your desktop or Notification Center.
Click Done to finish.
If the widget is still missing, check your iPhone against the account, software, and connection requirements above. For a work-managed iPhone, ask your administrator to review the iPhone or iPad Widgets on a Mac restriction.
Customize widget content, size, and appearance
Control-click a widget and choose Edit [widget name] to adjust its available options, then finish with Done. Widgets without an Edit option don't offer configurable content.
For a different size, Control-click the widget and select an offered size.
To change its position, drag the widget to another spot.
On macOS Tahoe 26, open Apple menu > System Settings > Appearance > Icon & widget style and choose Default, Dark, Clear, or Tinted. This changes the look of both icons and widgets.
Find more widgets by adding apps
Installing an app that provides Mac widgets gives you more choices in the gallery.
Open the App Store.
Search for an app that explicitly offers Mac widgets.
Check the app's compatibility requirements.
Check whether its widget features cost extra.
Click Get or the app's price to download it.
After installation, return to Edit Widgets.
Select the app in the gallery to see its widgets.
Drag a widget to your desktop or Notification Center.
Click Done.
Remove widgets you no longer need
Control-click the widget you want to remove.
Choose Remove Widget.
Tip: With Edit Widgets open, click a widget's Remove (−) button to remove it without uninstalling the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open Notification Center with a keyboard shortcut?
Yes. Press Fn-N to open Notification Center, then choose Edit Widgets to access the gallery. The shortcut opens Notification Center; it doesn't add a widget.
How do I open widgets with a trackpad?
Swipe left with two fingers starting at the trackpad's right edge to open Notification Center. Select Edit Widgets to access the gallery.
Can I stop desktop widgets from dimming?
On macOS Tahoe 26, open Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock. Under Widgets, set Dim widgets on desktop to Never.
Can a Shortcuts widget automatically install other widgets?
A Shortcuts widget runs existing shortcuts. Apple's Shortcuts guide documents running shortcuts from a widget, not an action that adds widgets for you.