Apple has announced that the next version of macOS, called Big Sur, will deliver widgets IOS style on Mac, within the updated ‘Notification Center’. Find out how to use the widgets to be more productive, with the information you need with just one click.
In this article, we want to show you everything you can do about it widgets, where you can find the best widgets for your Mac, how to add new ones and how to customize them.
What are Mac widgets?
The widgets is a small application that gives you details to see at a glance, with shortcuts for specific tasks and controls for things like playing music, managing a calendar and checking the weather.
You should know that they are not new to Mac, although they have now reached the iPhone with the advent of iOS 14. The widgets they lived in the ‘Dashboard’, which came to Mac back in 2005 via Mac OS X Tiger.
They stayed there until the launch of Mac OS X Yosemite in 2014, when they were moved to the ‘modern’ view of the ‘Notification Center’. However, until OS Catalina can still access the file widgets Original Mac from Dashboard.
The good news for Big Sur is that widgets Those who can access the Notification Center will be universal; that means if you have widget on iOS, you should be able to find the same widget to you Mac.
The widgets they came to iOS 10 and were found by swiping from left to right on the home screen. IPad users were able to pin widgets on your home screen since the launch of iPadOS 13, while those for iPhone have now come with iOS 14 where they can.
Where can you find Mac widgets?
Years ago, widgets They used to be found in the ‘Dashboard’, but now you’ll find them in the ‘Notification Center’. Access to ‘Notification Center’ is about to change to Big Sur, so now we clarify everything.
In Catherine OS
As we have said, widgets they are now integrated into the ‘Information Center’.
- In MacOS Catalina and earlier versions, the ‘Notification Center’ is available by clicking on the icon at the top right of the screen.
- You will see notification tabs (where your alerts will appear from various apps) and Today (where widgets). Click Today to view your widgets.
In Big Sur OS
When the MacOS Big Sur is released in late 2020, the ‘Institutional Notification’ icon shown above will not be available. There will be a new way to access your widgets and notifications.
- Accessing your notifications again widgets In Big Sur, you’ll need to click on the date and time at the top right of your Mac screen.
- Alternatively, you can slide two fingers to the left with fingerprint clip.
In Big Sur OS, as soon as the Notification Center is open, you’ll see your widgets and notifications in the same order, and your most recent notifications will appear over widgets.
How to get macOS widgets
Download and add new ones widgets on your Mac it’s easy, and on MacOS Big Sur you may find many variations of widgets than ever before, for they will be universal, which means the same widget will work on iOS and macOS.
As before, how to add widgets slightly different depending on the type of macOS operating.
In Catherine OS
In Catalina with previous versions of macOS, if you look at Today, you can easily add new ones widgets. Here’s how to proceed:
- Notification Center is open.
- Click Today.
- Scroll to the bottom of the window where you will see ‘Edit’ and click there.
- You will see your existing widgets and other common options that you can add, if you want to find more widgets, click on the App Store.
The problem is that in the Catalina OS and earlier versions there were very few widgets third party is available, so it has little interest for users in these versions, limiting it to applications such as Weather, Calendar, Player, Calculator, Actions, Calendar, Reminders and World Clock.
Some of widgets The most popular dashboard is not even available (like Stickies). Apple wants to fix this in Big Sur by doing widgets everything, so if the engineer makes the widget for iPhone or iPad, also Big Sur.
In Big Sur OS
If you want to add widgets In the Big Sur OS, you will need to open the ‘Notification Center’ as shown above (by clicking the time).
- Notification Center is open.
- Scroll down to widget lower and you will see the option ‘Edit widgets’. Click on this.
- A new window will open showing all files for widgets is available, allowing you to scroll through them and decide which ones you’d like to add. Similar to iOS and iPadOS, widgets indicated by applications that you have already installed.
- There are a few customization options available before you choose to add widget.
- When you’re happy with the appearance of your widget, drag and drop it into your ‘Notifications Center’.
How to customize widgets on Mac
As mentioned earlier, Big Sur will bring some customization options to the file widgets on Mac. There are very limited options for customizing your widgets in Catalina.
In Catherine OS
Customization for widgets in Catalina OS is limited to options such as adding file locations for widgets Weather and Watch, or various monitoring companies in the file widget of actions.
For example, adding a new location to a file widget Weather, do the following:
- Notification Center is open.
- Click on today’s tab.
- Scroll down to the weather with the mouse over it widget until the mark (i) appears to the right of widget.
- This will allow you to add m ore locations or delete existing ones.
In Big Sur OS
With Big Sur, it is possible to accomplish additional actions associated with planning and customizing widgets.
- When searching widgets to add (according to the steps above), you will see the letters S, M, and L below each one widget.
- IS, M and L show small, medium and large types of widgets. Not all widgets They have all those size options.
- Clicking on each of the available characters will show a preview of how the structure works. widget. Scroll to the options to find the one you like.
- Select the size you are satisfied with and drag it to your ‘notification center’.
The best Mac widgets
As we have already noted, i widgets In versions like Catalina OS they are limited to those provided by Apple, so they are limited to Weather, Calendar, Now Playing, Calculator, Actions, Calendar, Reminders and World Clock.
So, in this case we are focusing on those who support Big Sur OS. We will comment very well widgets you will get a new version of macOS.
- He widget The notebook allows quick access to certain folders or notes so you can edit them on the go.
- Reminders are the same, with the ability to quickly list them.
- Calendar allows you to select a date and view all appointments without having to open a complete app.
We expect a lot of offers from third-party developers, and Apple has already launched ToDoist and Day One. (As we mentioned earlier, Todoist already has a Widget available in Catalina OS).
If you want to get an idea of how Apple can use widgets in MacOS Big Sur, we suggest you take a look how to use widgets on iPhone and iPadas it seems there are many similarities.
Big Sur has many other new features in addition to widgets, including new layouts, advanced Messaging skills, an updated and faster version of Safari, a new Control Center, and more new features.
See our article on IMacOS Big Sur to see how your Mac is improving by installing Big Sur OS. We have a report too how to install MacOS Big Sur beta.
Table of Contents