For years, widgets on macOS were confined to a slide-out Notification Centre panel on the right side of the screen, leaving the primary desktop wallpaper empty. Furthermore, Mac users were restricted strictly to widgets created for desktop applications. With macOS Sonoma and macOS Sequoia, Apple fundamentally transformed the desktop experience by allowing users to place widgets directly anywhere on their desktop canvas and—more impressively—bringing iPhone Widgets seamlessly to the Mac via Continuity.
Through Continuity, your Mac can render interactive widgets from apps installed exclusively on your nearby iPhone, even if corresponding macOS versions of those apps do not exist. Here is how iPhone widgets work on Mac, how to configure them, and how to personalise desktop widget layouts.
How iPhone Widgets Function on macOS
Apple engineered iPhone widget streaming to operate invisibly between devices:
- Zero Mac App Installation Required: Widgets from food delivery trackers, smart home utilities, vehicle companion apps, and fitness services stream their visual widgets straight from your iPhone.
- Interactive Desktop Controls: Check off reminders, pause smart home lighting, or mark podcast episodes as played directly from your desktop wallpaper without opening apps.
- Intelligent Wallpaper Tinting: When an active application window is brought forward, desktop widgets automatically fade to a subtle monochrome tint, preventing visual clutter while you work.
- Peer-to-Peer Continuity: Your iPhone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network and in Bluetooth proximity to keep third-party widget telemetry updated.
Prerequisites for Using iPhone Widgets on Mac
To enable iPhone widget streaming, verify that your hardware and software meet these standards:
- Mac Operating System: macOS Sonoma (macOS 14) or macOS Sequoia (macOS 15).
- iPhone Operating System: iOS 17 or iOS 18 on iPhone XR or later.
- Apple Account: Both devices must be signed into the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication active.
- Wireless Radios: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled on both devices.
How to Enable iPhone Widgets in Mac System Settings
To ensure macOS is authorised to pull widget data from your handset:
- Open System Settings from the Apple menu () or Dock.
- In the left sidebar, click Desktop & Dock.
- Scroll down to the Widgets section.
- Locate the setting labelled Use iPhone widgets and toggle it to On.
- (Optional) Choose your preferred Widget style:
- Monochrome: Subtle greyscale styling that blends with dark wallpapers.
- Full Colour: Retains vibrant, original iOS application brand colours.
Adding iPhone Widgets to Your Mac Desktop
Placing widgets onto your Mac canvas is simple and intuitive:
- Right-click (or Control-click) anywhere on your empty Mac desktop wallpaper.
- Select Edit Widgets from the context menu.
- The interactive Widget Gallery opens along the bottom of your display.
- In the left navigation sidebar of the gallery, scroll through the applications list. Applications bearing a small “From iPhone” badge represent widgets streaming from your mobile handset.
- Click on any widget to preview small, medium, and large sizing variations.
- Click and drag the desired widget directly onto your desktop canvas.
- Position it against the left, right, or top margins; macOS automatically aligns widgets to an invisible desktop grid.
- Click Done in the bottom-right corner of the Widget Gallery to lock in your layout.
| Widget Source | Installation Requirement | Proximity Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Native Mac Widgets | Installed directly on macOS | Runs offline, zero iPhone dependency |
| Continuity iPhone Widgets | Installed exclusively on paired iPhone | Nearby on same Wi-Fi / Bluetooth range |
Interacting with iPhone Widgets on Desktop
When you click on an interactive element (such as a checklist checkbox or smart bulb toggle), the state updates immediately. If you click on an area of the widget requiring full application access, your Mac automatically prompts you to open the app on your iPhone or launches iPhone Mirroring in macOS Sequoia, taking you straight to the corresponding task.