macOS Sonoma Widgets: Use Interactive Widgets

Interactive widgets on macOS Sonoma let you do more than glance at information—you can control apps right from the desktop or Notification Center without opening them. This guide shows you how to add, customize, and use these widgets to streamline common tasks like checking off to-dos, controlling media, or adjusting smart home devices.

What You’ll Need

• A Mac running macOS Sonoma (14.0 or later)
• An Apple ID signed in (for widgets from the App Store)
• Apps that support interactive widgets (most Apple apps do, plus many third-party apps like Things, Fantastical, or Carrot Weather)

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Widget Gallery: Click the date and time in the menu bar to open Notification Center, then scroll to the bottom and click the “Edit Widgets� button. Alternatively, right-click (or Control-click) an empty area of the desktop and choose “Edit Widgets.�
2. Browse or Search: The widget gallery opens with a list of apps on the left. Scroll through the list or use the search field at the top to find a specific app, like Calendar, Reminders, or Home.
3. Choose a Size: Hover over a widget preview to see available sizes (small, medium, large). Click the size you want. Larger widgets often show more interactive elements, like a full checklist or a week view.
4. Add the Widget: Click the widget preview (or the “+� button that appears) to add it to your desktop or Notification Center. It will appear immediately.
5. Position the Widget: Drag the widget to any spot on the desktop. macOS Sonoma automatically arranges widgets so they don’t overlap, but you can move them freely. They’ll stay where you put them, even when you’re using other apps.
6. Interact with the Widget: Hover your cursor over the widget—interactive elements like buttons, checkboxes, or sliders become highlighted. Click directly on them. For example, in Reminders, click the circle next to a task to mark it complete. In Home, tap a light icon to toggle it on or off.
7. Edit Widget Settings: Right-click (or Control-click) a widget on the desktop and choose “Edit Widget.� A popover appears where you can change the widget’s settings—for example, which list or calendar it displays. Some widgets also have a “Smart� or “Suggested� mode that auto-selects content based on your activity.
8. Remove or Rearrange: To remove a widget, right-click it and select “Remove Widget.� To rearrange, just drag it to a new location. To add more, repeat steps 1-4.
9. Use Widgets on the Lock Screen (if applicable): On Macs with Apple silicon, you can also add widgets to the Lock Screen. Press the power button to lock your Mac, then click “Edit Widgets� at the bottom of the Lock Screen. This is handy for quick checks without unlocking.
10. Take Advantage of Continuity: If you have an iPhone with iOS 17, you can add iPhone widgets to your Mac. In the widget gallery, scroll to the “From iPhone� section. These widgets work just like native ones, but they rely on your iPhone being nearby and powered on.

Common Mistakes

• Clicking Instead of Hovering: On a Mac, you need to hover over the widget first to see which parts are interactive. If you click and nothing happens, try moving your mouse over the widget and look for highlighted buttons or checkboxes.
• Forgetting to Edit the Widget: Many users add a widget and then wonder why it shows the wrong data. Always right-click and choose “Edit Widgetâ€� to configure it for the specific list, calendar, or device you want.
• Expecting Every Widget to Be Interactive: Some widgets are still display-only, even if they come from an app that supports interactivity. The app developer decides which widgets are interactive. A small weather widget might just show the temperature, while a medium one might let you tap for hourly details.
• Adding Too Many Widgets: Cluttering your desktop with widgets can slow down your workflow and make it hard to find what you need. Stick to a few that you actually use daily.
• Ignoring Notification Center: Widgets in Notification Center are often overlooked. They work the same as desktop widgets, and you can access them quickly by clicking the date/time in the menu bar.

Tips

• Use Smart Stacks: Instead of multiple widgets, create a Smart Stack. Drag one widget onto another to stack them. The stack will automatically show the most relevant widget based on time, location, or activity. Swipe up/down on the stack to cycle through them manually.
• Keyboard Shortcut: Press F5 (or Fn+F5 on some keyboards) to quickly show/hide all desktop widgets. This is great when you need a clean desktop for a presentation.
• Widgets in Stage Manager: If you use Stage Manager, widgets are automatically hidden when you’re working in a window. They reappear when you click on the desktop. This keeps your workspace clean without removing widgets.
• Check for Updates: Interactive widgets require the app to be updated for Sonoma. If a widget isn’t interactive, check the App Store for updates for that app.
• Use Widgets for Quick Actions: For example, a Notes widget can let you start a new note with a tap, or a Music widget can play/pause without opening the app. Think about what actions you do repeatedly and see if there’s a widget for them.

Troubleshooting

• Widgets Not Appearing: If you click “Edit Widgetsâ€� and nothing happens, or widgets don’t show up, restart your Mac (Apple menu > Restart). If that fails, check that your Mac is running macOS Sonoma (System Settings > General > Software Update).
• Widgets Not Interactive: If you hover over a widget and see no clickable areas, the app may not support interactivity yet. Try updating the app. Also, make sure you’re hovering directly over the widget—sometimes the interactive area is small.
• Widgets Disappear After Restart: This can happen if you have “Desktop & Dockâ€� settings that reset widgets. Go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock and ensure “Show widgetsâ€� is enabled. Also, check that you haven’t enabled “Automatically hide widgetsâ€� in Stage Manager settings.
• iPhone Widgets Not Working: If iPhone widgets don’t appear or don’t update, make sure your iPhone is nearby, unlocked, and on the same Wi-Fi network. Also, ensure Bluetooth is on for both devices. Go to System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff and check that “Handoffâ€� is enabled.
• Widgets Not Updating Data: Some widgets update infrequently to save battery. You can force a refresh by clicking on the widget (if it’s interactive) or by removing and re-adding it. For weather or stock widgets, check the app’s settings for update frequency.
• Cannot Drag Widgets: If you can’t move a widget, try clicking and holding for a second before dragging. Also, make sure you’re not in “Edit Modeâ€� (the jiggling mode). Press Escape to exit edit mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use widgets from my iPhone on my Mac?

Yes, if your Mac has an Apple silicon chip (M1 or later) and is running macOS Sonoma, you can add iPhone widgets. They appear in the widget gallery under “From iPhone.� They work as long as your iPhone is nearby and powered on.

Why don’t my widgets respond to clicks?

First, hover over the widget to see if any buttons or controls are highlighted. If not, the widget may be display-only. Also, make sure the app is updated to a version that supports Sonoma’s interactive widgets. Some apps only added interactivity in later updates.

How do I remove a widget from my desktop?

Right-click (or Control-click) the widget and select “Remove Widget.� You can also click and hold the widget until a menu appears, then choose “Remove.�

Will widgets slow down my Mac?

Widgets are designed to be lightweight, but having dozens of them can consume memory and CPU. If you notice performance issues, remove widgets you don’t use. Also, some widgets update frequently (like weather), which can use more power.

Can I customize the size of a widget after adding it?

No, you cannot resize a widget directly on the desktop. You must remove it and re-add it in a different size from the widget gallery. Right-click and choose “Edit Widgets� to access the gallery, then drag a new size onto the desktop.

Do widgets work in full-screen apps?

No, widgets are hidden in full-screen mode. They appear when you exit full-screen or move your cursor to the top of the screen to reveal the menu bar (if you have “Show widgets� enabled in Stage Manager settings).

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