Troubleshooting Widgets

There is no Things widget to add

Please launch Things at least once after installing/updating the app. Then try to add the widget again. If that doesn’t help, please power down your device, start it up again and try adding the widget.

Can I turn off “interactivity” in the widgets?

Yes. It’s enabled by default, but when you configure the widget, you can turn it off. When you tap a checkbox, it will no longer complete the to-do in the widget but instead launch the app.

If you’ve already been using Things’ widgets, you’ll need to do the following to change the interactivity settings:

1. Update Things. We’ve released updates for Mac, iPad, and iPhone on December 19, 2023. Those updates contain the new interactivity toggle.
2. Delete any existing widgets and set them up again. Due to limitations in the Operating Systems, the interactivity toggle will not show up otherwise.

Widgets are empty

You might sometimes see that your widgets are empty. Unfortunately, this is due to issues with the OS, and not something we can fix from our end. Try the following steps to remedy the issue:

1. Check that you’re using the latest iOS/iPadOS. Here’s how.
2. Check that you’re using the latest Things version. Current version.
3. Quit Things via the App Switcher, and then relaunch the app.
4. Remove the widget, reboot your device, and add the widget back.
5. As a last resort, try reinstalling Things. Before deleting the app, make sure you are connected to Things Cloud so your data is safe (Things → Settings → Things Cloud needs to be enabled). Delete the app, reboot your device, then install Things again and download your data through the Things Cloud Settings. Now add the widgets back.

I can’t see my calendar entries in Things’ widget

We would love to build this feature, but due to technical limitations we can’t ensure that the calendar events in the widgets are up-to date. You can always add a widget from your favorite calendar app to see your events, though.

The medium widget doesn’t show the list names

We made this change in our update on December 19, 2023. This is not a bug, but by design. Users overwhelmingly asked for more to-dos per widget, even if it meant to leave out the list names beneath to-dos.

Widgets don’t update

In order for the widget to update, the main app must be launched. You can do this manually or Apple’s background app refresh can do it for you – but only if you use Things frequently so Apple’s background app refresh can learn your usage patterns.

If your widget doesn’t update at all after launching the main app, try the steps in the Widgets are empty section.

Lock Screen widgets

Can’t add the Things widget to the Lock Screen?

• Lock Screen widgets require at least iOS 16 or iPadOS 17. Update your iPhone or iPad to the latest Operating System.

Widget customization

• The dimensions of the rectangular widget are pre-defined by Apple’s iOS.
• Customization of the circular widgets is currently not supported.

“Up Next” isn’t interactive

This is not a bug. When you tap a to-do in “Up Next”, you can’t complete it from the widget, nor will it highlight when Things opens, or scroll to the appropriate place in the list. This is a trade-off to allow the widget to load at all, given the resource-restrictions that Apple imposes on widgets.

The + button is missing from the small widget

Starting with Things 3.15, the + button can be configured per widget (long-press on the widget to access its configuration options). For the small widget, the + button will always be hidden, regardless of what you configure.

Issues on macOS 11 or newer

There is no Things widget to add

Please launch Things at least once after installing/updating the app. Then try to add the widget again.

I can’t complete to-dos in the widgets

Interactivity is supported in all widgets except for “Up Next”.

If you’re clicking the checkbox in any of the other widgets and it immediately unchecks itself, go through these steps:

1. On your Mac, quit Things.
2. Go to Applications → Utilities.
3. Open Terminal.
4. Copy and paste the following command into the app, and hit Return: /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -seed
5. Power down your Mac and boot it up again (don’t skip this step).

“Open Things on iPhone to continue”

If your widget is displaying this text, you have added the iPhone widget to your Desktop or Notification Center, not the Things Mac widget. Remove the iPhone widget, and add the widget from the Mac app.

I can’t see my calendar entries in Things’ widget

We would love to build this feature, but due to technical limitations we can’t ensure that the calendar events in the widgets are up-to date.

Can I turn off “interactivity” in the widgets?

Yes. It’s enabled by default, but when you configure the widget, you can turn it off. When you tap a checkbox, it will no longer complete the to-do in the widget but instead launch the app.

If you’ve already been using Things’ widgets, you’ll need to do the following to change the interactivity settings:

1. Update Things. We’ve released updates for Mac, iPad, and iPhone on December 19, 2023. Those updates contain the new interactivity toggle.
2. Delete any existing widgets and set them up again. Due to limitations in the Operating Systems, the interactivity toggle will not show up otherwise.

The widget doesn’t update

In order to see current data in the widget, make sure that Things is running.

If the data in the widget doesn’t update at all, try first to quit Things completely, and then relaunch the app. Should that not help, remove the widget, reboot your Mac, and then add the widget back.

“Up Next” isn’t interactive

This is not a bug. When you click a to-do in “Up Next”, you can’t complete it from the widget, nor will it highlight when Things opens, or scroll to the appropriate place in the list. This is a trade-off to allow the widget to load at all, given the resource-restrictions that Apple imposes on widgets.

The widget is empty

Relaunch Notification Center to force widgets to update. Open Activity Monitor and type Notification Center into the search field in the upper-right corner. Select the search result and click the x button → Force Quit. It might take a few seconds, and it will also restart itself immediately afterwards.

If that doesn’t populate the widget, follow the steps in the section at the top.

Issues on macOS 10.15 or older

The widget only shows the Today list

If you’d like to see other lists than Today on your Mac, please update to macOS Big Sur. If your Mac cannot update to macOS 11, then you can only view today’s to-dos in a widget.

The widget shows outdated content

If the widget in your Mac’s Notification Center shows outdated content that doesn’t match what you see in Things, try rebooting your Mac first to see if that resolves the issue. If not, please follow the steps below:

1. Quit Things.
2. Remove the widget from Notification Center.
3. In your Dock, click Finder.
4. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Go → Go to Folder.
5. Paste the following path into the sheet that appears: ~/Library/Containers/
6. Hit the Return key.
7. Find the folder labeled com.culturedcode.ThingsMac.TodayWidget and delete it.
8. Empty the Trash.
9. Reboot your Mac (do not skip this step!).
10. Add the widget back.