Where widgets go on your Mac, and how to open the widget gallery

Widgets on Mac live in two places: your Notification Center (the panel that slides in from the right side of your screen) or directly on your desktop. To add either one, you need to open the widget gallery first. Click the plus sign (+) in the top-left corner of Notification Center, or hold Control and click your desktop, then select "Edit Widgets" from the menu that appears.

The widget gallery shows you every widget available on your Mac. Some come built in — like Weather, Calendar, and Stocks. Others appear only if you have the matching app installed. For example, you'll only see a Reminders widget if you have the Reminders app on your Mac.

Once the gallery is open, you're ready to add. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you want the widget in Notification Center or on your desktop, so read the section that matches what you're trying to do.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the widget gallery by clicking the plus sign in Notification Center or by holding Control and clicking your desktop.
  • Widgets in Notification Center stack vertically in the right-side panel; widgets on your desktop sit directly on the background.
  • You can resize most widgets by dragging the corner handle, and remove any widget by right-clicking it and selecting "Remove Widget".
  • If a widget you want doesn't appear in the gallery, the matching app may not be installed on your Mac.

Adding a widget to Notification Center

Open Notification Center by clicking the time and date in the top-right corner of your screen. Then click the plus sign (+) at the top left of the Notification Center panel. The widget gallery will appear on the left side.

Scroll through the gallery to find the widget you want. Click it once to select it, then click "Add Widget" at the bottom. The widget will appear in your Notification Center immediately, stacked with any other widgets you already have there. You can add the same widget multiple times if you want — for example, two Weather widgets showing different cities.

To rearrange widgets in Notification Center, click and drag them by the handle (three horizontal lines) on the left side of each widget. Drag up to move a widget higher in the stack, or down to move it lower.

Adding a widget directly to your desktop

Hold the Control key and click anywhere on your desktop background. A menu will appear. Select "Edit Widgets" from this menu. The widget gallery will open on the left side of your screen, and your desktop will dim slightly to show you're in editing mode.

Find the widget you want in the gallery and click it. Then click "Add Widget". The widget will appear on your desktop. You can now drag it to any position you want — just click and hold it, then move your mouse. When you're done placing widgets, click outside the gallery or press Escape to exit editing mode.

If you add multiple widgets to your desktop, they won't stack on top of each other the way they do in Notification Center. Each one takes up its own space, so you may need to arrange them so they don't cover important icons or windows.

Resizing widgets

Most widgets come in different sizes. To change the size of a widget in Notification Center, right-click it and select "Small", "Medium", or "Large" from the menu. Not every widget supports every size — if an option is grayed out, that size isn't available for that widget.

For widgets on your desktop, hold Control and click the widget, then choose your preferred size. Alternatively, you can drag the small handle in the bottom-right corner of the widget to resize it manually. Some widgets have fixed sizes and won't resize this way.

Removing a widget you no longer want

To remove a widget from Notification Center, right-click it and select "Remove Widget". It will disappear immediately, but you can always add it back later by opening the widget gallery again.

For widgets on your desktop, hold Control and click the widget, then select "Remove Widget". Or, if you're already in editing mode (Control-click the desktop and select "Edit Widgets"), you can click the minus sign (-) that appears on the widget and confirm the removal.

Troubleshooting: A widget you want isn't showing up

If you're looking for a widget but don't see it in the gallery, the most common reason is that the matching app isn't installed on your Mac. For example, if you want to add a Spotify widget, you need to have Spotify installed first. Install the app, then open the widget gallery again — the widget should now appear.

Another possibility is that the app doesn't offer a widget at all. Older apps and some smaller applications don't have widgets yet. Check the app's settings or website to confirm it supports widgets before assuming it's missing from your Mac.

If a widget appears in the gallery but won't add, try restarting your Mac. Occasionally a temporary glitch prevents widgets from loading. After restart, open the widget gallery and try adding it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add the same widget twice?

Yes. You can add multiple instances of the same widget to Notification Center or your desktop. This is useful if you want to track two different cities in the Weather widget, or see multiple calendars at once. Just open the widget gallery and add the widget again.

Why does my widget look different from the one I see in the gallery?

Widgets change appearance based on their size. A Medium-sized Weather widget shows more detail than a Small one. Right-click the widget and try a different size to see if that's the look you want.

Can I move a widget from my desktop to Notification Center?

No — you have to remove it from the desktop and add it separately to Notification Center. Right-click the desktop widget and select "Remove Widget", then open Notification Center and add it there using the plus sign.

What happens to my widgets if I restart my Mac?

Your widgets stay exactly where you put them. Restarting doesn't remove or rearrange widgets. They'll be in the same position and size the next time you turn on your Mac.

Can I hide Notification Center without removing my widgets?

Yes. Your widgets remain saved even if you don't open Notification Center. You can access them anytime by clicking the time in the top-right corner. Removing a widget is the only way to make it disappear.