Quick Links
Mac desktop widgets transform your workspace into a command center for productivity and information. Whether you’re managing devices or staying on top of your schedule, these widgets make essential information instantly accessible.
1Best for Apple Users: Batteries
Apple’s built-in Batteries widget is essential for anyone juggling multiple Apple devices. At a glance, you may monitor the power levels of your entire Apple ecosystem, from your Mac and AirPods to your keyboard and mouse. The widget can be resized to suit your needs, with larger versions showing more detailed information like the actual battery percentage.
2Best for Astronomy Enthusiasts: Night Sky
Night Sky’s widget is perfect for wannabe astronomers and stargazers of all levels. It displays current viewing conditions, upcoming celestial events, and even ISS passing times. The widget can also show moon phases and optimal viewing windows for different celestial objects.
3Best for Automation: Shortcuts
The Shortcuts widget putsyour favorite Mac shortcutsat your fingertips. You can display individual shortcuts or entire folders, making it easy to trigger tasks with a single click. The widget is highly customizable, allowing you to choose how many shortcuts to display and how they’re organized.
4Best for Entertainment: Trakt
Trakt’s widget keeps your entertainment schedule organized by displaying upcoming episodes of your favorite shows and movie releases you’re anticipating. It can show both what’s airing soon and recent releases you might have missed, helping you stay up-to-date.
5Best for Home Security: Ring
TheRingwidget provides instant access to your home security system. With quick shortcuts to live camera views, you can monitor your property without opening the full Ring application. The widget also supports unlocking compatible Ring devices with a single click.
6Best for Mastodon Users: Ice Cubes
Ice Cubestransforms your desktop into a Mastodon command center. This versatile widget displays various timeline views, including your home feed, mentions, and favorites. You can customize the widget to focus on specific lists or hashtags, making it perfect for staying connected toyour Mastodon community.
7Best for News Consumption: Apple News & Ground News
News widgets come in a variety of flavors, but my favorites are Apple News andGround News. Apple News focuses on curated top stories and topics of your choice, while Ground News offers a unique perspective by showing news coverage from across the political spectrum. Combined, they provide a well-rounded view of current events.
8Best for Photography: Photos
The Photos widget brings your memories to life on the desktop. It cycles through your featured photos and memories, creating a dynamic, personalized gallery. You can customize the display frequency and choose specific albums or memories to showcase.
9Best for Self-Improvement: Apple Journal
Apple’s Journal widget offers daily inspiration formaintaining your digital diary. It provides writing prompts and quick-access buttons to create new entries, making it easier to maintain a consistent journaling habit. The widget can also display recent entries and memories, encouraging regular reflection.
10Best for Smart Home Control: Home Assistant
TheHome Assistantwidget brings powerful smart home control to your desktop, assumingyou’re using the open-source smart home platformto begin with. Access and trigger your most-used automation scripts, check device statuses, and control lights, thermostats, and other smart devices with just a click. The widget supports multiple sizes, allowing you to display as many or as few controls as you need.
