The key new feature in macOS Sonoma is the ability to add widgets to the desktop. They are no longer banned from the notification shade that opens when clicking the time in the menu bar. In Sonoma, widgets can exist anywhere on the desktop so you can see them all the time. This new widget implementation gives you instant access to the information you need. Let’s see how to add widgets to your desktop.
Check out our macOS Sonoma guide for more information on the latest version of the Mac operating system.
- Time to complete: 5 minutes
- Hardware required: macOS Sonoma
- No cost
Edit Widgets
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When you first install macOS Sonoma, you can find your widgets as before by clicking on the date and time in the menu bar. In the sidebar that appears, you will find a tab for new desktop widgets. You can click on it to get started, but if you don’t see this section, just click on Edit Widgets at the bottom of the column.
You can also control-click (or tap with two fingers on a trackpad) on the Finder and select Edit Widgets in the context menu.
Choose your widgets
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The Widget Browser will appear at the bottom of the screen. Browse the browser until you find the desired widget. You will find that the widgets are available in different sizes and styles. For example, the Clock widget has options to show the time in another city or options for a world clock.
Place a widget
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To place a widget, you can click and then drag the widget wherever you want on the desktop. Or you can click on it and it will automatically appear in the upper left corner of the desktop; you can then click and drag to move it.
Customize your widgets
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After placing a widget, it can be adjusted at any time.
- You can move it by clicking and dragging.
- Control-click a widget to display a context menu that lets you adjust its size or remove the widget.
- Some widgets allow you to click on them to open the full application or to access an extended interface. Some widgets, such as the Podcast widget, have a limited set of in-widget controls you can use so the full app doesn’t need to be opened.
If you drag a file, folder, or other item to the desktop and on top of a widget, macOS places the item in the nearest available desktop space. It does not launch the file in the widget application.
Widget Settings in Desktop & Dock
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The Desktop & Dock system setting has a few useful options.
Show Widgets: Don’t want any desktop widgets at all? The Desktop section of this setting has a place where you can turn them off with the flick of a switch.
Widget-style: In the Widgets section of this setting you have options for the color appearance of the widgets:
- Automatique: Adjusts the appearance between Full Color and Monochrome. When you’re in the Finder, widgets appear in color. Widgets will change to Monochrome whenever you’re in an app, and you can see the Finder in the background.
- monochrome: Shows the widget as it appears when it is permanently grayed out, even in the Finder.
- full color: Displays the full set of colors at all times, even when widgets are in the background.
Use iPhone Widgets: This provides the option to allow iPhone widgets or not. The iPhone must be on or near the same Wi-Fi network for the widgets to update.
On every desk
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If you like to use multiple desktops, be aware that widgets will appear on all desktops. For example, if you create a second desktop in Mission Control, when you switch between the two, your widgets follow you.
During the Sonoma beta period, Apple does not provide a way to assign widgets to specific desktops. It is not known if Apple will provide this functionality.
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