It is hard to stop using or noticing Widgets once you get habituated to them. Widgets are undeniably one of the coolest features of Apple devices. Although they were only restricted to iPhones, iPads and iPods, they have been enabled to Mac computers too since macOS Big Sur. These mini applications display information and other short cuts to access useful data without having to open the application. Sometimes these widgets stop working, causing you a lot of inconvenience and dissatisfaction. Since we understand the pain of not being able to use the widgets, here are a few troubleshooting steps that can effectively fix any malfunctions or loading issues in widgets.
Note: If you find that your macOS is not performing and having more issues that just with widgets, check if you have recently installed any unreliable application. Run an antivirus application to find any malware. Try to update your OS, make sure you have taken a backup of important data. If your data is inaccessible, you might have to reinstall your macOS and use a reliable tool like Yodot Data Recovery Software to get back your lost data.
The methods to fix widget errors in Mac listed below are grouped into three different types:
1. Troubleshooting Mac:
– Fix Notification Center: Widgets on Mac are a part of the Notification center. They can stop working if the Notification center is having trouble to communicate with the app to refresh to load the required data. You can refresh the Notification Center by executing the following steps:
Step 1: Open Launchpad and select Other and then choose Terminal to open the Terminal Window.
Step 2: Once the Terminal opens copy paste the following code and hit Enter.
“defaults delete com.apple.notificationcenterui; killall NotificationCenter”
– Restart you Mac computer: There can be some irregularities to you Mac’s functionality if a lot of temporary files get built up. A reboot can clean the slate and restart the computer and can fix the issues you might be facing with your widgets.
– Verify Location Settings: If you have not given permission for the relevant app or if you haven’t enabled location services in your Mac the widgets might not function as desired, so make sure you verify the Location Services in your Mac.
To verify location services:
Open Apple Menu and select System Preferences. Now choose the Privacy & Security. Once you select the Privacy tab you will find Location Services on the left, choose to find the applications and see if the Widget/app is checked.
– Update the macOS: An outdated macOS can also be one of the reasons why your widgets might not be working. If you also see other signs of degraded performance like a freezing Mac, it might also be that the OS files might have been corrupted. In order to fix the corruption, you might have to reinstall the OS and use Yodot Mac Data Recovery if you fail to take a backup before reinstalling the OS. However, regularly updating should usually keep your Mac from running into any errors.
Use the following steps to update your Mac OS:
Step 1: Go to Apple menu and select System Preferences.
Step 2: Select Software Update, if the any pending update is listed as shown below click on Update Now.
– Run Mac in Safe Mode: A few applications create temporary files or result in errors that obstruct the normal function of your Mac. Try and run your Mac in Safe Mode to try see if the problem is with the applications or the macOS. If the widgets are loading fine in Safe Mode then the issue might be with any recently installed app.
2. Troubleshoot Widget:
– Refresh the Widget: If your app remains inactive for a long time, there can be issues with communication. Open the app that is relevant to the widget which will in turn refresh the widget and solve any issues.
– Edit the Widget: If the widget is not displaying any features or not working as designed, you can edit the settings by clicking on the widget while holding onto the Ctrl to see if there are any settings. If you don’t have any edit options, you may want to check with the respective app to see any widget related settings are hindering your widget to work as expected.
– Remove and add the Widget: Sometimes the simplest fix can be removing and adding the widget. Press and hold Ctrl while clicking on the widget and select Remove. Now add the widget again by selecting Edit Widgets option at the bottom of the notification center. You will see the notifications Gallery where you can click on “+” to add the desired widget. Now check if the Widget is working.
3. Troubleshooting App:
– Update Application: Updating relevant app can be a very effective fix for widget malfunction. Go to Mac App Store and see if there is an update option available for where the app is listed. Click on Update. If you don’t find your app in the Mac store you might have downloaded the app elsewhere. Go to the app and see if “check for updates” or update option is available in the app menu. You can also try going to the developer’s website to see if the latest app is available for download and use the same.
– Reinstall the App: Incorrect installation or program files can lead to problems with app or the relevant widget. You can Remove and fresh install the app again to see if the problem with the Widget still persists.
By following the above methods, you should be able to fix widget issues on Mac. Although there are other ways like refreshing the Mac’s cache or resetting the RAM, they are not recommended for a novice user. As mentioned above a frequently updated macOS will reduce most problems with functionality.
