Like the iPhone and iPad, Apple also offers widgets on the Mac platform. You can pick widgets from the system and several third-party apps and add them to your desktop or the widget panel in small, medium, and large sizes. If you have bought a new Mac and are wondering where to find and use widgets, all you have to do is follow the steps below.

Apple offers iPhone users an even better experience. Following the macOS Sonoma update, Mac users can install iOS widgets without having to install the apps themselves.

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How to view and edit widgets on macOS

If you have an iPhone and Mac running iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma or higher, you shall notice your iPhone app widgets appear under the widget panel menu on Mac. Note that both devices should use the same Apple ID. Now, go through the steps below, add Mac widgets and glance over relevant app information quickly.

  1. Click on the date or time in the top right corner of the Mac menu bar.
  2. It reveals the Notification Center, where you'll find the macOS widgets hub.
  3. Click the Edit Widgets button at the very bottom.
    edit widgets button on macOS
  4. A redesigned widget panel should appear from the bottom. Scroll to a relevant app.
  5. You can check relevant widgets in different sizes. From the top right corner, you can switch between iPhone and Mac widgets.
  6. Click + above any widget and add it to the notification center menu.
    add widgets on Mac
  7. Once you're done adding widgets, you can tap on the minus (-) button on a widget in the Notification Center to remove it. You can also click and drag added widgets to reorganize them.
  8. Click on Done in the bottom right corner once you're done editing in the widgets area.
  9. Now, whenever you tap the date or time in the Menu Bar, the Notification Center will appear, allowing you to view your widgets.
    widgets panel on Mac
  10. Clicking a widget will launch its dedicated app.

macOS also offers an option to add widgets to the desktop. You can simply open the notification center menu and drag the widget to the desktop. It's another neat add-on to check app information without opening the notification center. macOS also changes the widget theme to match your wallpaper. The overall implementation is spot on.

Mac widgets on the desktop

These widgets are also interactive. Unlike the previous macOS version, you can complete tasks, open a specific note, and take other actions without opening an app.

Enable iPhone widgets on Mac

Apple has nailed iOS widgets on Mac. That said, if you can't find your iOS app widgets on Mac, use the steps below to make a tweak.

  1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar in the top left corner. Open System Settings.
    open system settings on Mac
  2. Scroll to Desktop & Dock.
  3. Enable the toggle beside Use iPhone widgets.
    enable iPhone widgets on Mac

Now, follow the steps in the first section, and your iOS widgets should appear in the widget menu.

Utilize iOS and macOS widgets on Mac

Although macOS had limited widget support at launch, Apple eventually added interactive and iOS widgets to boost your productivity. If you are new to Mac and want to get the best out of Apple's desktop OS, check our dedicated guide to find the top productivity macOS apps.