How to Enable Dashboard in MacOS Mojave
Dashboard is disabled by default in MacOS Mojave, but if you’re a fan of the handy underappreciated widgets feature on the Mac, for quick access to things like unit conversion tools, weather reports, calendar, a dictionary and thesaurus, world clocks, and more, then you will be happy to know that you can quickly enable Dashboard in MacOS Mojave.
You can use Dashboard in MacOS as a Space or as an Overlay. Dashboard as a Space puts it alongside other virtual desktops in Mission Control, whereas Dashboard as an Overlay places it hovering over the current desktop or app.
Enabling Dashboard in MacOS Mojave
Here is how you can turn on Dashboard in Mac OS:
- Open the System Preferences via the Apple menu
- Choose “Mission Control”
- Look for “Dashboard” and pull down the dropdown menu next to that, choosing either “Space” or “Overlay”
- Access Dashboard as usual (often F12 key, or via Mission Control)
Accessing and dismissing Dashboard can be done through a number of ways, including key shortcut (typically F12 or FN + F12), swiping gestures, Mission Control like any other desktop space, or a Hot Corner, depending on how you have it configured.
While Dashboard is disabled by default in MacOS Mojave for whatever reason, it’s obviously still fairly easy to enable. Why it’s turned off is anyones guess, but it’s that way even on a clean install of macOS Mojave, so even if you had it turned off before but forgot about it, that won’t impact going forward, it just needs to be manually enabled nowadays.
Of course you can also disable Dashboard again if you decide you don’t need the feature after all, that’s just a matter of returning to the Mission Control settings and selecting “Off” as the option.
If you enjoyed this tip, you might also appreciate some other Mission Control tips and Dashboard tips too. And if you have any interesting tricks regarding Dashboard in Mac OS, share them with us in the comments below!
So, it looks like Apple totally removed Dashboard as a feature on Monterey? I used those widgets regularly for my work: unit conversions, measuring for graphics, code snipets, and stickies (I found a way to get them back when Apple removed them), etc.
Anyone know if we can get Dashboard back and maybe the widgets that were so incredibly useful?
Hello all, my dashboard has disappeared… also in Mission Control.
Any idea how to get it back?
I would love to have my Dashboard back, but the solution does not work for me. When I bring up the Mission Control — there is nothing about Dashboard on my screen. Can anyone help me please ? to gat my Dashboard back.
Paul
Thank you for the tip on showing the dashboard. This driving me crazy after I upgraded to Mojave.
Thanks for the tip! :-)
I tried setting it to Spaces as suggested but it still did not work, any idea’s?
Thank you!!!!!
Dashboard temperatures do not show up since upgraded to Mojave. The cities show and then blank below. Times work and otherwise functioning but want the temps. What do I do?
Thank you… One of life’s daily tools restored!
Installed Mojave yesterday and I love it…………but wait……….why doesn’t “Open windows in Tabs – Always” in Safari work? I have to press the Command key to get that result, that was automatic in High Sierra. Now, when selecting a new page, the previous page is replaced with the new one. I’ve re-installed the OS and tried all the things suggested by Apple Support, but, alas, the problem continues. Any suggestions would be mightily appreciated!!
Dashboard used to have a translation widget, an operating system or two ago. I used it a lot — it was very handy. Now it’s gone and there is no widget I can add that does that.
Can’t seem to find the Manage Widgets button anymore in Mojave? Anyone else able to add widgets?
You are a lifesaver! THANKS!!! The dashboard should be enabled by default.
thank you very much love my dashbord
It seels that the “translation” widget is gone since High Sierra. Anyone has a recommendation for a similar dashboard widget please?
I would also love to find a translation widget compatible with Mojave. Any chance?……
PLEASE, how can we re-instate the “Translation” feature on High Sierra, my new O/S update. It quite months ago on the older O/S. I really liked this feature.
Feb 13, 2019
S.
I loved the dashboard. I even tried to clone for windows (kludgets.com).
But it was probably removed because it was such a resource hog. Such that each widget is a browser window in itself.
Thanks, all has been said above..🧐
Interesting. I never noticed. You see, I put the Dashboard icon in my Dock several versions of Mac OS back. When I upgraded to Mojave, the Dashboard icon (along with all the other) remained in my Dock — and clicking it brings up the Dashboard “as normal” (apparently in an independent universe). Clicking it again, disappears the Dashboard. (I’ve never used Mission Control.) Fn+F12 also brings it up, though as an overlay (with the desktop pattern made all fuzzy in the background). Opened with the function key, and clicking the icon in the Dock also disappears the Dashboard.
I’m exactly like Pete. I already had it in the dock from years ago, and don’t use the Launcher or Mission Control.
Updating to Mojave didn’t change a thing for my use of the Dashboard.
I just wish that “Radar in Motion” would work as it used to…
just simply launch the launchpad and open the dashboard icon… that’s it it then enable the dashboard
anyway, love this also…
Thanks! I was wondering where mission control went since I updated to macOS Mojave. I had used it a couple of times in High Sierra, but lost sight of it upon updating to Mojave.
I love Dashboard, and adding apps from Safari like my local weather radar is awesome!
I love it as well. :)
I also really like Dashboard, I don’t know why Apple doesn’t promote it more for Mac. It’s a FAR better feature than “Notification Center” which is just Nag Center, I hate notification blaster with a passion.
Plus the Dashboard widgets are Javascript so anyone can make them with a little know-how.
It’s so useful, everyone needs to try it out. The Dictionary and Conversion tools alone are so useful, and if you have a team that is spread across multiple time zones, multiple clocks is beyond useful. It would be an absolute shame if Apple does away with Dashboard…
Ditto….just wish “Radar in Motion” still worked! Nice seeing a nice visual of the weather real quick by pressing the middle mouse wheel button. Still use it for weather, stocks, Shipped Packages, etc. But miss Radar in Motion.