Where to find and add widgets on your Mac

Widgets on Mac live in the Notification Center, which you open by clicking the clock in the top-right corner of your screen. Once it opens, scroll to the bottom and click the "Edit" button (it looks like a pencil in a circle). From there, you can see all available widgets — both the ones already showing and the ones you can add. Click the plus sign next to any widget to add it, or click the minus sign to remove one.

The widgets that appear depend on what apps you have installed. Apple's built-in apps like Weather, Calendar, Stocks, and Reminders come with widgets by default. Third-party apps like Slack, Spotify, or your bank's app may also offer widgets if their developers built them in. If you don't see a widget you want, check the App Store to see if an updated version of that app includes one.

Once you add a widget, it stays in your Notification Center until you remove it. You can rearrange the order by dragging widgets up or down while in Edit mode. The changes save automatically when you close the Edit panel.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Notification Center by clicking the clock in your top-right corner, then click Edit to add or remove widgets.
  • Widgets appear in Notification Center, not on your desktop — they are separate from your main screen.
  • Only apps that include widget support will have them available, and you can check the App Store to see if an update adds widget support to an app you use.
  • You can drag widgets up or down to change their order, and the changes save automatically when you close Edit mode.

What widgets actually show you

Widgets display live information without opening the full app. A Weather widget shows the current temperature and forecast. A Calendar widget shows your upcoming events. A Reminders widget displays your to-do list. The information updates automatically throughout the day, so you see current data every time you open Notification Center.

Some widgets let you interact with them directly. You can check off a task in a Reminders widget, or skip to the next song in a Music widget, without launching the app itself. Other widgets are read-only — they show information but don't let you make changes from the widget itself.

Organizing multiple widgets in Notification Center

If you add many widgets, Notification Center becomes a long scrolling list. You can manage this by keeping only the widgets you check regularly. Widgets you glance at once a week are usually better left in the full app than taking up space in Notification Center.

Rearrange your most-used widgets to the top by clicking Edit and dragging them upward. This way, the information you check first appears when ready when you open Notification Center, and you don't have to scroll past less important widgets.

Widgets and your Mac's performance

Widgets that update frequently — like weather, stock prices, or news feeds — use a small amount of processing power and network data each time they refresh. On most Macs, this impact is negligible. However, if you add many widgets that all update at the same time, or if you have an older Mac with limited RAM, you may notice a slight slowdown.

If your Mac feels sluggish, try removing widgets you don't actively use. Start by removing any that update every few minutes, like live news or stock tickers. Keep the ones you actually check — a Calendar widget or a straightforward Weather widget uses almost no resources.

Widgets and your Mac's security

Widgets can only display information that the app already has permission to access. A Weather widget needs location permission, so it asks for that when you add it. A Calendar widget needs access to your calendar data. If a widget requests a permission that seems wrong for what it does, you can deny it — the widget straightforward won't work, but your data stays protected.

You can change widget permissions anytime by going to System Settings, clicking Privacy & Security, and selecting the specific permission (Location, Calendar, Reminders, and so on). From there, you can see which apps have access and revoke it if you change your mind.

Removing widgets you no longer want

Open Notification Center, click Edit, and click the minus sign next to any widget. The widget disappears when ready and stops updating. You can add it back anytime by clicking the plus sign again — removing a widget doesn't delete any data from the app itself.

If you want to remove all widgets at once, click Edit and then click the minus sign for each one. There is no "remove all" button, but the process takes only a few seconds if you have a handful of widgets.

Widgets versus desktop shortcuts and app icons

Widgets are different from the app icons in your Dock or on your desktop. An app icon launches the full process. A widget shows live information in Notification Center without opening anything. You cannot put widgets on your Mac desktop the way you can on an iPhone — they only appear in Notification Center.

If you want quick access to an app, keep its icon in the Dock. If you want to see live information without opening the app, use a widget in Notification Center. Most people use both — a Dock icon for apps they open often, and widgets for information they check but don't need to interact with deeply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put widgets on my Mac desktop?

No. Widgets on Mac only appear in Notification Center, which you access by clicking the clock in the top-right corner. You cannot place them on your desktop or in the Dock. If you want a shortcut on your desktop, use an app icon or alias instead.

Do widgets drain my Mac's battery?

Widgets use minimal power on most Macs. Widgets that update every few seconds (like live stock prices) use slightly more than static ones (like a notes widget). If battery life matters — for example, on a MacBook during travel — remove widgets that update frequently and keep only the ones you check occasionally.

What if a widget asks for a permission I don't want to give?

You can deny the permission, and the widget will not work. For example, if a news widget asks for location access but you don't want it to know where you are, click "Don't Allow." The widget straightforward won't display location-specific news. You can change this decision anytime in System Settings under Privacy & Security.

Can I resize widgets in Notification Center?

No. Widgets in Notification Center have a fixed size set by the app developer. You can only rearrange their order by dragging them up or down in Edit mode. Some apps offer different widget sizes on iPhone, but Mac widgets do not have this option.

Why don't all my apps have widgets?

Widgets require developers to build them into their apps. Older apps or less popular apps may not have widget support. Check the App Store page for an app to see if a widget is available. If not, you can request the feature by leaving a review or contacting the developer directly.