How to Make Dashboard Widgets Available on a Desktop on Mac OS X Leopard

The Calculator Widget in Use on the Desktop

Make your Mac Dashboard Widgets available on your desktop with the use of just one small terminal command. With Widgets on your Mac desktop, you’ll always have any of your Widgets handy. Here you will learn how to make Dashboard Widgets available on your Mac desktop.

Instructions

1. 

   Navigate in an open Finder window to “Applications/Utilities” and double-click the “Terminal” application to launch it.

2. 

   In a new “Terminal” window, type in the following command and hit "Enter/Return":defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode YES && killall DockThis command will make the Widgets available to be used on your desktop and restart the Dock.

3. 

   Hit the hotkey to enable your Dashboard Widgets ("F12" or "F4" on newer Macs). Click and select the Widget you wish to move to the desktop while holding the "F12" or "F4" key (depending on your Mac model) and drag the Widget to the position you want the Widget to appear on your desktop. Release the mouse.

4. To remove the Widget from the desktop and return it to the Dashboard, perform the actions in Step 4 in reverse order. Click the Widget and enter "F12" or "F4," then drag to position the Widget in the Dashboard. Release the mouse.

Tips & Warnings

• To return all Widgets to the Dashboard and disable the availability of Widgets on the desktop, enter the following command and hit "Return/Enter":

• defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode NO && killall Dock