Where to find and add widgets on your Mac
Widgets on a MacBook live in the Notification Center, which you open by clicking the date and time in the top-right corner of your screen. When you click there, a panel slides in from the right side showing your calendar, weather, reminders, and other information. To add a widget, scroll to the bottom of that panel and click the plus sign (+) button.
Once you click the plus sign, a new window opens showing all the apps on your Mac that have widgets available. You'll see the app name, a preview of what the widget looks like, and sometimes multiple size options for the same widget. Click the plus sign next to any widget you want to add, and it appears immediately in your Notification Center.
The widgets you add stay in the order you arrange them. You can drag any widget up or down to reorder them, or click the minus sign next to a widget to remove it. These changes save automatically — you don't need to do anything else.
Key Takeaways
- Open Notification Center by clicking the date and time in the top-right corner of your screen, then click the plus sign at the bottom to add widgets.
- Not every app has a widget — only apps that support them will appear in the widget gallery.
- Many widgets come in different sizes, so you can choose small, medium, or large depending on how much information you want to see.
- Reorder your widgets by dragging them up or down in Notification Center, and remove them by clicking the minus sign.
Which apps have widgets available
Apple's built-in apps almost always have widgets: Calendar, Weather, Reminders, Stocks, News, Maps, and Shortcuts all offer them. Third-party apps vary — some popular ones like Spotify, Slack, and Todoist have widgets, but many smaller apps do not. The only way to know if an app has a widget is to open Notification Center and look for it in the gallery.
If you don't see an app listed in the widget gallery, that app does not currently offer a widget. You can still use the app normally — widgets are just an extra way to see information without opening the full application. Some developers add widgets in later updates, so an app you checked months ago might have one now.
Choosing the right widget size
When you add a widget, you'll often see size options listed below the preview. A small widget takes up minimal space in Notification Center but shows less information. A medium widget shows more detail, and a large widget displays the most information but takes up more room in the panel.
You can add the same widget in multiple sizes if you want — for example, a small Weather widget for a quick glance and a large one for the full forecast. Just click the plus sign next to each size option. If you later decide you want a different size, remove the widget and add it again in the size you prefer.
Organizing widgets in Notification Center
Your widgets appear in the order you added them, but you can rearrange them anytime. Click and hold on any widget, then drag it up or down to move it. The widget you use most often should probably go near the top so you see it first when you open Notification Center.
If Notification Center gets crowded, you can remove widgets you don't check regularly. Click the minus sign next to any widget to delete it from your Notification Center. You can always add it back later by opening the widget gallery again — nothing is permanent.
Troubleshooting widgets that won't appear
If you click the plus sign in Notification Center and see a blank gallery or very few widgets, your Mac may need to update. Go to the Apple menu, click System Settings, then Software Update. Install any available updates and restart your Mac if prompted. After restarting, open Notification Center again and check if more widgets appear.
If a specific app's widget isn't showing up, make sure the app itself is installed and up to date. Open the App Store, click Updates at the top, and install any pending updates for your apps. Then return to Notification Center and look for the widget again. If it still doesn't appear, that app may not support widgets on your version of macOS.
On older MacBooks running macOS versions before Big Sur (released in 2020), Notification Center works differently and may not support the same widgets. If you have an older Mac, check Apple's support site for your specific macOS version to see what widget options are available.
Using widgets without opening Notification Center
On newer MacBooks, you can also add widgets to your desktop itself, not just Notification Center. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop, select Edit Widgets, and you'll see the same widget gallery. Add widgets the same way — click the plus sign next to any widget you want on your desktop.
Desktop widgets work exactly like Notification Center widgets: you can resize them, move them around, and remove them anytime. Some people prefer having weather or calendar information visible on their desktop at all times rather than opening Notification Center each time they need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add the same widget twice?
Yes. You can add multiple instances of the same widget in different sizes or locations. For example, you could add a small Weather widget and a large Weather widget to see different levels of detail. Just click the plus sign next to each version you want.
Do widgets use battery or slow down my Mac?
Widgets use very little power since they only update when you open Notification Center or look at your desktop. They won't noticeably slow down your Mac or drain battery life. You can safely add as many as you want without performance issues.
What if a widget shows outdated information?
Widgets update automatically when you open Notification Center or when your Mac wakes from sleep. If a widget shows old information, close Notification Center and open it again. If the problem continues, restart your Mac. You can also remove and re-add the widget to force a refresh.
Can I move widgets between Notification Center and my desktop?
No — you add widgets separately to each location. A widget in Notification Center doesn't automatically appear on your desktop, and vice versa. If you want the same widget in both places, add it twice using the same process.
Why don't I see widgets for apps I just installed?
New apps sometimes take a few minutes to appear in the widget gallery after installation. If you don't see a widget right away, close Notification Center and open it again. If the app still doesn't appear, the app may not have a widget available.