How to get a Google Tasks widget on your Mac
Google doesn't make a Google Tasks widget for the Mac. If you have an iPhone with the Google Tasks app, macOS can show its widget on your Mac's desktop: turn on Use iPhone widgets in System Settings › Desktop & Dock, then add the Tasks widget from Edit Widgets.
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Add your iPhone’s Google Tasks widget to your Mac
Since macOS Sonoma, a Mac can show widgets from the apps on your iPhone, without installing those apps on the Mac. Google’s Google Tasks app for iPhone has a widget, so this is the closest thing to a Google Tasks widget on a Mac.
- On your iPhone, install Google Tasks from the App Store and open it once.
- On your Mac, open System Settings › Desktop & Dock. Under Widgets, turn on Use iPhone widgets.
- Right-click an empty part of your desktop and choose Edit Widgets.
- Find Tasks. Widgets from your iPhone are marked From iPhone. Drag the size you want onto your desktop.
You’ll need macOS Sonoma or later, iOS 17 or later, and the same Apple Account on both devices.
What the widget can and can’t do
It shows your list on the desktop, updated from your iPhone, and opens it when clicked.
It needs your iPhone nearby. The widget’s content comes from the phone, so it updates only while your iPhone is close by or on the same Wi-Fi network.
It’s covered by your windows. Widgets sit on the desktop, underneath every app window. When you’re working, you see them only if you clear the desktop.
If you want your tasks in view while you work
A desktop widget is good for a glance when you sit down. If you want your list visible while you write, browse or sit in a meeting, it has to float above your windows. Sidekick (coming soon) does that on the Mac: your Google Tasks stay on screen over every app, and you can tick them off, reorder them and add new ones right there. The Google Tasks on a Mac guide compares it with Google’s own options.
Questions
Is there a Google Tasks widget for Mac?
Not one made for the Mac. Google makes Google Tasks widgets for iPhone, iPad and Android. On a Mac with macOS Sonoma or later, you can add your iPhone's Google Tasks widget to the Mac desktop.
What do I need to use the iPhone widget on my Mac?
A Mac with macOS Sonoma or later, an iPhone with iOS 17 or later and the Google Tasks app, both signed in to the same Apple Account. The iPhone needs to be nearby or on the same Wi-Fi network for the widget to stay up to date.
Why can't I see the Google Tasks widget on my Mac?
Open the Google Tasks app on your iPhone once, check that Use iPhone widgets is on in System Settings › Desktop & Dock, and make sure your iPhone is nearby. Then open Edit Widgets again and look for widgets marked From iPhone.
Can a widget stay on top of my windows?
No. Mac widgets live on the desktop, so app windows cover them. To keep your list in view over other apps you need a floating app such as Sidekick (coming soon).