Junecloud

When you update a Dashboard widget to a newer version, you’re presented with a warning that it will close all open copies of the widget. It’s an understandable default behavior, since in some cases using your old settings could cause problems. It would be nice if Apple offered an option to keep them open though—for those that don’t mind risking some minor issues. Fortunately, there is a way to do this—it just takes a little extra work.

1. First, click Cancel to close the warning.
2. Open your home folder, then go to the Library folder you find there, and then the Widgets folder.
3. Find the downloaded widget. It’s probably on your Desktop unless you’ve specified a different download location.
4. Drag the new widget into the Widgets folder.
5. Click Replace in the dialog box that comes up.

Now, all you have to do is reload the widgets you have open. There are several ways you can do this:

1. Simply restart your computer.
2. Log out of your account (via the Apple menu) and then log back in.
3. Download this simple AppleScript and double-click the script to run it. (Your Dock will reload as well; this is normal. The Dock is actually the application that controls Dashboard.)

Only one of these options is necessary. Once Dashboard is reloaded, you’ll have the new widget with all of your old settings intact! If you’d like Apple to make this easier in the future, let them know!