Transparent Todo Widget on Desktop - Widget embedded in wallpaper

Published on June 18, 2026

Someone’s Desktop Has a Transparent Todo Widget — How Do They Do That?

You were working at someone’s desk and noticed something unusual. Their todo list wasn’t in an app window — it was floating directly on their desktop wallpaper. Transparent, always visible, never in the way. No open windows, no browser tabs, just a clean wallpaper with their tasks floating on top.

Now you want the same thing on your computer. You’re not alone — once people see this “invisible” desktop widget, they always ask how to get it.

The secret is YYNote, a desktop widget app that displays todo lists (and sticky notes, calendars, and weather) as transparent overlays on your wallpaper. This guide shows you exactly how to get that same transparent todo widget on your desktop.

Why Transparent Desktop Widgets Change Everything

Traditional todo apps disappear when you need them. You write a todo in your phone app, but when you’re working on your computer, that app is on your phone — invisible. Even desktop todo apps live in windows that get covered by browsers, documents, and other apps.

Browser-based todos have a fullscreen problem. You use a web-based todo list, but then you need to open a browser tab. And then you open a fullscreen document or presentation. Your browser — and your todo list — disappear behind your work.

YYNote’s transparent widget solves the visibility problem permanently. The todo list floats above your wallpaper, not behind your windows. Fullscreen apps, multiple monitors, Alt+Tabbing — none of it hides your todo. It’s always there, sitting on your wallpaper, visible but not intrusive.

Smart date and time recognition means you can type natural phrases like “3pm tomorrow meeting” and YYNote automatically parses them into proper due dates. No tapping through date pickers.

Tags, lists, and auto-tagging keep your todos organized without manual effort. Archive completed tasks, export to Excel, and sync across Windows, Android, iOS, and HarmonyOS devices.

Five recurring pattern options handle repeated tasks — daily standups, weekly reviews, monthly reports — without re-entering the same thing every time.

Three Steps to Display Todo on Your Desktop

Step 1: Download and install YYNote

Visit the official website and download the Windows client. Run the installer and follow the prompts. Launch the application and create an account using your phone number. Your data syncs automatically to the cloud.

Step 2: Configure Desktop Widget Quantity

Right-click the YYNote tray icon in your system tray. Select “App Settings.” Find the “Desktop Widget Quantity” option and set it to 1 or higher. This tells YYNote how many desktop widgets to display.

Step 3: Switch to Todo List

Look for the widget on your desktop. Click the module switcher (usually in the top-left corner of the widget) and select “Todo.” Your todo list now appears transparently on your wallpaper. Double-click the desktop to add new todos directly.

Download YYNote | Display Sticky Note List | Display Calendar List | Display Weather Time