To-do list widgets on your Mac desktop
Since macOS Sonoma, widgets can sit right on your Mac desktop. To add Alcove's, right-click the desktop, choose Edit Widgets, search for Alcove and drag a widget onto the desktop. Choose Today's list or Tasks to see and tick off tasks, Next up for what's next, Upcoming for the week, or Overview and Today for counts.
On macOS Sonoma and later, widgets don't have to live in Notification Center: you can put them right on the desktop, where they sit behind your windows and come forward when you click the desktop. A to-do widget there is the quietest way to keep your list in view.
Alcove's widgets on the Mac
| Widget | Size | Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Today's list | Medium, large | Today's tasks. Click a row to open it, or tick it off |
| Tasks | Medium, large | All your tasks, or one list or folder, with its open count |
| Next up | Small | The next timed task today, or the top of your list |
| Upcoming | Medium, large | What's due in the next 7 days, day by day |
| Today | Small | How much is due today, and how much of it is high priority |
| Overview | Small, medium | Due today, pending, upcoming and the total |
How to add one
- Right-click an empty part of your desktop and choose Edit Widgets.
- Type Alcove in the search field.
- Drag the widget you want onto the desktop, in the size you want.
- To choose which list a Tasks widget shows, right-click it and choose Edit Widget.
- Click Done.
Widgets, the menu bar or a floating list?
All three show your list without opening the app, in different ways:
- Desktop widgets are always there but behind your windows. Good for a glance between tasks.
- The menu bar is one click away from any app. Good for checking and ticking off during the day. See the menu bar guide.
- A floating list stays in front of everything. Good for a checklist you're working through. See floating to-do lists.
On iPhone and iPad the same widgets sit on the Home Screen and Lock Screen. See iPhone widgets for your to-do list.
Sources
- Add and customise widgets on Mac, Apple Support
Questions people ask
How do I add a to-do widget to my Mac desktop?
Right-click an empty part of the desktop, choose Edit Widgets, find Alcove in the list, and drag the widget you want onto the desktop. Click Done when you've placed it.
Can I tick tasks off from a Mac widget?
Yes. Alcove's list widgets let you tick tasks off on the desktop without opening the app.
Which Mac versions support desktop widgets?
macOS Sonoma (14) and later. Alcove needs macOS 14 or later too.
Do widgets fade when other windows are open?
macOS shows desktop widgets in a muted style while windows are in front of them and in full colour when you click the desktop. You can change this in System Settings, Desktop and Dock.