How to use desktop widgets in macOS Sonoma

Widgets (those compact tiles that provide instant updates at a glance) have been a feature of the Mac for quite some time. Previously, these app widgets remained within Notification Center. However, if you've upgraded, you now have the flexibility of using desktop widgets in macOS Sonoma to mirror functionality on your iPhone or iPad home screen.

Want to start customizing your desktop with these beautiful widgets? Here's everything you need to know!

How to add widgets to your Mac desktop

Control-click or tap with two fingers on the wallpaper to see the context menu. Select Edit Widget. Search for widgets in the widget browser by scrolling through the widgets in the right pane, selecting a specific app from the left pane, or typing app in the search field. Select a widget and choose your preferred widget style from the right pane. Click the Add ( ) button on a widget to automatically place it on your desktop or drag it to any part of your desktop. Change the position of the widget by dragging it anywhere on the desktop. When finished, click Done on the widget browser.

Note: To enable desktop widgets on Mac, you must disable Stage Manager.

How to add widgets to Notification Center on Mac

If you don’t like having widgets on your desktop, you can still put them in Notification Center so they are only visible when Visible only when needed. To do this:

Open Notification Center. Click the Edit widget at the bottom. Find widgets from the widget browser. To automatically add and place a widget in the Notification Center, click the Add ( ) button that appears when you click it or hover your cursor over it. You can also manually drag it to the right side of the desktop. Note that dragging it elsewhere on the desktop will place the widget on the desktop instead of in Notification Center. Change the widget's position by dragging it up or down. Click "Done" when finished.

How to Customize Widgets on Mac

You can always customize desktop widgets by changing their size.
To do this, just Control-click the widget → choose one of them: Small, Medium or Large. For some widgets, you can change the information they display.
Control-click the widget → select Edit [app name] and change the information it displays.
If you don't see this option, you can't modify what the widget displays.

How to change widget settings in macOS Sonoma

In addition to their size, you can also customize their appearance and where widgets appear.

To do this, go to Apple Menu → System Settings. Select Desktop & Dock from the sidebar → Scroll down to Widgets. Change where you want the widget to appear: Next to "Show widget," select where you want the widget to appear. By default, widgets appear both on the desktop and in Stage Manager. If you don't want them to show there, deselect one or both of them. Change the style of the widget: Choose from Solid Color or Full Color , or use Auto to alternate between the two. Change the default browser used by the widget: Click the drop-down menu next to Default web browser and select from the browsers available on your Mac.

How to Remove Widgets on Mac in macOS Sonoma

Removing a widget from the desktop or notifications is similar to removing an app from the home screen on an iPhone or iPad.

To remove a widget from your Mac desktop: Control-click or tap the widget with two fingers, then select Delete Widget. To remove a widget from Notification Center: Go to Notification Center → Click Edit Widget. Click the Delete (-) button in the upper left corner of the widget you want to delete, or Control-click it and select Delete Widget.

How to use iPhone widgets in macOS Sonoma

To sync iPhone widgets with your Mac:

Go to System Settings → Desktop & Dock → Toggle Use iPhone Widgets under Widgets. Once enabled, you should see available iPhone widgets in the widget browser. These windows will have a label from iPhone in the upper right corner.

Note that you don’t need to download an app on your Mac to access all the widgets available on your iPhone — pretty neat, right?

Widgets available on the Mac desktop

The following are the built-in widgets on the Mac:

Battery: Lets you check the battery status of your Mac and Bluetooth accessories Calendar: Notifies you of upcoming events Clock: Shows the current time Contacts: Lets you easily contact the people you care about most Find My: Notifies you of the whereabouts of the people you care about most Home: Gives you quick control over your accessory notes: Gives you instant access to specific note folders Photos: Gives you a slideshow of selected photos or memories. Podcasts: Lets you jump to where you left off in a podcast. Reminders: Lists reminders that you can check off directly from the widget. Safari: Highlight your most cherished bookmarks and websites. Screen Time: Shows your screen time activity for the day. Shortcuts: Lets you run shortcuts quickly. Stocks: Shows the latest stock prices. Weather: Provides weather forecast and current weather conditions.

This list is not exhaustive and does not include widgets for third-party apps on Mac and iPhone.

Additionally, Apple claims it makes it easier for developers to create custom widgets for macOS Sonoma. As a result, I believe Macs will soon come with a wide variety of widgets to suit every interest and need.

Benefits of Using Desktop Widgets on Mac

By using widgets on your Mac desktop, you can benefit in many ways. I'll list a few:

Instant access to information: Widgets give you instant access to important information, such as weather updates, calendar events, or to-do lists. This saves time and helps stay organized. Personalization: You can customize widgets to display the information that matters most to you, providing a more personal and visually appealing desktop experience. Improve efficiency: Widgets allow you to take action without opening a separate app. For example, you can reply to a message, start a timer, or add an event to your calendar directly from the widget without having to open corresponding apps like Messages, Clock, or Calendar. Increase productivity: Widgets provide relevant information and tools to complete tasks. You can use widgets to track project progress, keep your emails updated, or receive reminders about upcoming events to ensure you're more productive.

FAQ

Can I customize the appearance of widgets on my Mac?

As of this writing, macOS Sonoma allows you to modify the size of a widget and change its style.

That's it!

To easily use desktop widgets in macOS Sonoma, you can curate a desktop space based on your unique needs to quickly access the information and tools that matter most to you.

The above is the detailed content of How to use desktop widgets in macOS Sonoma. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!