How to add widgets on Mac
Use built-in macOS widgets for system and app information, then use Kepo when you need custom desktop widgets for feeds, websites, and workflows.
Mac widgets are useful when the thing you need is small: weather, calendar events, reminders, battery status, headlines, or a quick glance at an app.
The built-in macOS widget gallery is the right place to start. It lets you add supported widgets from Apple apps, Mac apps, and in some cases iPhone apps to the desktop or Notification Center.
The limitation is simple: the built-in gallery can only show widgets that already exist. Kepo is useful when the widget you want is a feed, website, monitor, or small workflow that is not already in the gallery.
Add widgets to the Mac desktop
On recent macOS versions, start from the desktop. Control-click the wallpaper, choose Edit Widgets, then search or browse the widget gallery.
You can click a widget to add it automatically or drag it to a specific desktop position. When you are finished, click Done. If you want to move a widget later, drag it to a new position.
This works best for supported apps that already provide a widget, such as Calendar, Weather, Reminders, Batteries, or compatible third-party apps.
Add widgets to Notification Center
If you prefer to keep widgets hidden until you need them, open Notification Center from the menu bar, click Edit Widgets, and add widgets there instead of placing them on the desktop.
Notification Center is useful for lower-priority information. Desktop widgets are better when the information should stay visible while you work.
Use iPhone widgets on your Mac
Apple also supports iPhone widgets on Mac when your iPhone and Mac use the same Apple Account and meet the continuity requirements. You can enable this from Desktop & Dock settings, then add available iPhone widgets from the same widget gallery.
This is convenient, but it still depends on apps that already ship widgets. If the service, feed, or website you care about has no widget, you need a different approach.
When Kepo is a better fit
Kepo is for custom desktop widgets: RSS feeds, GitHub checks, social feeds, website status, server monitoring, market prices, small utilities, and AI-generated workflows.
Instead of waiting for every website or tool to provide a native macOS widget, you can use Kepo to keep the repeated checks you care about in one desktop panel.
Mac widget FAQ
How do I add widgets to my Mac desktop?
Control-click the wallpaper, choose Edit Widgets, then click or drag a widget from the widget gallery to the desktop.
Can I add widgets to a MacBook?
Yes. MacBook users can add supported widgets to the desktop or Notification Center on compatible macOS versions.
Can I create a widget that is not in the macOS widget gallery?
The built-in gallery only shows supported app widgets. For custom feeds, monitors, and AI-built widgets, use a dedicated tool such as Kepo.
Use macOS widgets when the widget already exists.
Use Kepo when the thing you want to watch, check, or reuse needs its own desktop surface.