If you want to turn off this feature, use the commands below:ĭefaults write com.apple.

If the widget was already open before you run this tip, the widget will not appear until you put the following command into Terminal: Note: If the widget was created after the Terminal command was used, it should now be on your desktop. To put the widgets back, simply hold the widget and use the shortcut again.

Use the keyboard shortcut Fn + F12 again to move to your desktop, and release your widget.

Click and hold a widget you want transferred.

Pull up your Dashboard with the keyboard shortcut Fn + F12.

The ability to use widgets on your desktop should now be enabled.

Under Applications > System Preferences > Mission Control, make sure that Show Dashboard as a Space is unchecked. Now we need to make sure that your Mac is not showing Dashboard as its own space. In Terminal, type in the following command and press Enter:ĭefaults write devmode YES & killall Dock You can launch Spotlight with the shortcut CMD + Space then search for Terminal before pressing Enter.

Recommended Reading: 20 Handy Mavericks Tips & Tricks You Probably Don’t Know Getting Widgets On The Desktopįirst we need to open up Terminal. You will need to use Terminal for this and it’s a real simple tip. If you’d prefer to not switch Spaces to get to your widgets, there is a way to place your widgets right on your desktop. However, they are only available in their own separate space, meaning that you have to go to that space to use them. I know Sierra may offer this kind of function, but I want it as a widget.Dashboard allows you to install useful single-function widgets on your Mac, for instance, the calendar, calculator, reminder, etc. and I got if from the Apple widgets site a couple of years ago. From memory it is called something like 'wifi tracker'. It's a widget that scans local wifi networks and tells me the name, strength and channels they are on. It doesn't display its name in dashboard, and it is obviously none of the ones listed in my widgets folders. Part of the reason I can't find it is because I don't remember what it is called.

So I want to install it on my new MacBook (OS Sierra), but I can't find it to download from the internet, and I can't find it on my old computer to transfer it over. When I launch dashboard it is there and I can use it. The missing widget is still active and useful in dashboard. All of the widgets I have are in either of these two folders except one. I have two widgets folders on my MacBookPro (OS10.6.8), one is HD/Library/Widgets, and the other is User/Library/Widgets.

Mac dashboard widgets still work