I only just noticed this today – Calculator is gone.
Is this an "improvement" with 10.13.5 which I installed just the other day, or did I break something?
I did notice Stocks appear in there as if by magic the other day – something I'm never ever going to need, but I hadn't spotted Calculator's disappearance until now.
Checked my partner's machine – same OS, very similar machine – lot & lots of widgets…
So, maybe the question becomes, 'where do they live & why can't my machine find them?'
Late edit:
I've found the calculator app, in
/System/Library/Frameworks/NotificationCenter.framework/PlugIns/com.apple.ncplugin.calculator.appex
so now I need to figure out a way to get the Notification Centre to recognise it again.
Per comments…
defaults read com.apple.notificationcenterui
gives
{
TodayView = {
NoContent = (
"com.apple.reminders.RemindersNC"
);
keyWidget = "com.apple.ncplugin.calculator";
order = (
"com.apple.reminders.RemindersNC",
"com.apple.iTunes.today.TodayExtension",
"com.apple.iCal.CalendarNC",
"com.apple.ncplugin.weather",
"com.parallels.desktop.console.Resource-Monitor",
"com.apple.ncplugin.stocks"
);
preferences = {
"com.apple.nc.disclosures" = {
enabled = 1;
};
"com.apple.nc.today.date" = {
enabled = 1;
};
"com.apple.nc.today.dnd" = {
enabled = 1;
};
"com.apple.nc.today.summary" = {
enabled = 1;
};
"com.apple.nc.tomorrow.summary" = {
enabled = 1;
};
};
};
bannerTime = 5;
"last-messagetrace-stamp" = "551957496.077987";
so they're missing there. Does that mean there's a defaults write to put them back?
Best Answer
When it comes to troubleshooting Notification Centre widgets, there are a number of options you can try.
1. Use the Edit option within Notification Centre
This is really the first thing to try. Refer to Seamus' answer for the steps involved.
2. Check the Extensions preference pane
In summary:
3. Test another User account
4. Use Widget Simulator to add it back again
/System/Library/Frameworks/NotificationCenter.framework/Resources/
/System/Library/Frameworks/NotificationCenter.framework/PlugIns/
com.apple.ncplugin.calculator.appex
file onto the Widget Simulator icon in the Dock5. If present, delete any relevant .plist files
NOTE: If you've tested another User Account and the Notification Centre / Widget is not working fine in that account, then do not proceed with this option.
If macOS has created a .plist file for a specific Widget you're having problems with, then delete it. To check this you need to access the relevant Notification Centre Plugin container for the user account in question. Using the Calculator widget as an example, you would go to:
If you see a .plist file for the specific widget (e.g.
com.apple.ncplugin.calculator.plist
and/orcom.apple.calculator.plist
), then delete it and restart your Mac.6. Swap the specific widget .appex file
Grab a known good copy of your widget from a Time Machine backup or another computer. In this case (i.e. a macOS High Sierra installation), the Calculator widget can even be replaced with one from macOS Sierra.
To do this:
/System/Library/Frameworks/NotificationCenter.framework/PlugIns/
com.apple.ncplugin.calculator.appex
file representing the Calculator widget/System/Library/Frameworks/NotificationCenter.framework/PlugIns/
NOTE: To do this you will need to temporarily disable System Integrity Protection (SIP) on the Mac you're having problems with.
7. Sign out of and then back into iCloud
I guess the heading says it all. Go to Apple > System Preferences... > iCloud and sign out. Once you're signed out, then sign back in again.
8. Force a Spotlight reindex
There are various ways to do this. The easiest way is to:
NOTE: Reindexing your boot volume can take a long time. How long depends on the size of your drive and how much data is stored on it.
9. Reset your password and create a new Keychain
Follow the steps here to reset your password first and then to create a new Keychain.
10. Create a new User account and migrate your data into that one
Obviously this will take a few hours, but this will definitely solve the problem (assuming that when you tested another user account at 3 above it worked fine). Essentially you're creating a new account and migrating all your data to that one instead.