How to use the MacBook notch for widgets

Put widgets in the notch

1. 1Right-click a widget on the desktop and choose Show in Notch.
2. 2Move your pointer to the notch. The shelf slides down with your widgets.
3. 3Move the pointer away and it tucks back up.

The shelf's settings

Settings › Notch sets how big new widgets are in the shelf, whether Now Playing shows beside the notch while music plays (Show what's playing), and whether to show a Dynamic Island.

Reset Notch Layout puts the shelf back the way it started.

No notch?

The shelf opens from the same spot at the top centre of the screen, so it works on any Mac and on external displays. It follows your pointer between displays.

Questions

Does it get in the way of the menu bar?

No. The shelf only opens when your pointer reaches the notch, and closes when you move away.

Related guides

• How to add widgets to the Mac menu bar

  In Kakuchi, right-click a widget and choose Add to Menu Bar. It gets its own item in the menu bar; click it and the full widget drops down.

• How to add widgets to your Mac desktop

  On macOS 14 or later, right-click the desktop and choose Edit Widgets for Apple's widgets. For more widgets, free sizing and other places on screen, install Kakuchi and add them from its Widget Gallery.