---
title: Widgets interaction rule
slug: widget-interaction-rule
description: How the Widgets interaction rule works in Personizely: stop popups from stacking, show only alongside another widget, which widgets count as open, and gotchas.
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-10-16T20:09:44.204Z
---

The Widgets interaction rule shows or hides a widget depending on whether another widget is open at that moment. Its main use is to stop widgets from stacking: "Don't show if a popup widget is already open" keeps an exit popup from appearing on top of a newsletter popup. It can also do the opposite and show a widget only while another one is open.

**Available on:** all platforms.

## How it works

The rule reads **Show** (or **Don't show**) **if** *a type of widget* **is already open**. When a trigger fires, Personizely looks at the other widgets currently displayed on the page.

| Setting                              | The widget can show when                     |
| ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------- |
| Don't show if *type* is already open | None of the matching widgets is open         |
| Show if *type* is already open       | At least one of the matching widgets is open |

Which widgets are checked:

| Option              | Matches                   |
| ------------------- | ------------------------- |
| a popup             | Any other popup           |
| a bar               | Any other bar             |
| a callout           | Any other callout         |
| an embedded         | Any other embedded widget |
| any of the specific | The widgets you select    |
| any                 | Any other widget          |

When you add the rule, it starts as **Don't show** with this widget's own type, for example "Don't show if a popup widget is already open" on a popup.

## Configuration

| Option            | What it does                               | Values / default              |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------- |
| Show / Don't show | Require or forbid an open widget           | **Don't show**                |
| Widget type       | Which widgets to check                     | This widget's type by default |
| Widgets           | (any of the specific) The widgets to check | One or more widgets           |

## Behavior details and limitations

- **"Open" means displayed right now.** A widget that was closed, a widget minimized to its [Teaser (minimized widget)](docId:9YVpwEBZRDnl7hMBBa2vg), and a control-group view in a widget A/B test (nothing is displayed) don't count as open. The widget never counts itself.
- **Embedded widgets stay open.** They have no close button, so once one is placed on the page it counts as open until the visitor leaves the page. "Don't show if an embedded widget is already open" therefore blocks the widget on any page where an embedded widget has appeared.
- **Show widget automations run before the first widget closes.** If a button in widget A has the **Close widget** action and a [Show widget automation](docId:99my6mX0nl_rL1spuuy-O) automation for widget B, A is still open when B is checked. A "Don't show if a popup is already open" rule on B then blocks it. Tick **Suppress rules** in the automation, or check a different widget type.
- **Checked when a trigger fires,** not at page load.

## Examples

- **No stacked popups:** add "Don't show if a popup widget is already open" to every popup on the site.
- **Callout alongside a popup:** a callout with "Show if any of the specific widgets is already open", selecting your quiz popup, offering help while the quiz is open.
- **Keep bars quiet during an offer:** a bar with "Don't show if any widget is already open".

## Troubleshooting

- **A widget opened by Show widget never appears** → the Widgets interaction rule sees the first widget as still open. Use **Suppress rules** in the automation.
- **Widget never shows on pages with an embedded form** → the rule checks embedded widgets or **any** widget. Narrow it to popups.

## Related

- [Widget display rules](docId\:mlu6RMShG5Lchdu651dv7)
- [Widget triggers](docId:2xConiUT5V1g5SuzgMAuW)
- [Show widget automation](docId:99my6mX0nl_rL1spuuy-O)
- [Widgets](docId:4LOd6QVgMrB0OiJ88uwYV)