- Putting a widget on the Home Screen
- The quick way: turn an app icon into a widget
- Where widgets can live
- Stacking widgets to save space
- Widgets you can tap to get things done
- Changing what a widget shows
- Why the size you want might be missing
- Removing a widget
- A simple layout for a working day
- The short version from me
- Frequently asked questions
To add a widget on iPhone, touch and hold an empty part of the Home Screen until the apps jiggle, tap Edit in the top-left corner, then tap Add Widget. Pick a widget, swipe to choose a size, tap Add Widget, drag it into place and tap Done. You can also add widgets to Today View and the Lock Screen.
Widgets turn your Home Screen into a dashboard: the day's calendar, the weather, your to-do list and your battery levels, all visible without opening a thing. Adding one takes a few seconds once you know where the button is, and a few of them can even be tapped to do a job on the spot.
Putting a widget on the Home Screen
- Go to the Home Screen page where you want the widget.
- Touch and hold an empty area until the apps start to jiggle.
- Tap the Edit button in the top-left corner, then tap Add Widget.
- Scroll or search for the widget you want and tap it.
- Swipe through the size and style options, then tap Add Widget.
- While the apps are still jiggling, drag the widget where you want it and tap Done.
The quick way: turn an app icon into a widget
You don't always need the gallery. Touch and hold an app's icon on the Home Screen, then tap one of the size icons at the bottom of the pop-up menu. The icon becomes a widget straight away. To switch it back, touch and hold it and tap the App Icon button.
Where widgets can live
| Place | How to get there | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Home Screen | Touch and hold, Edit, Add Widget | Things you check all day |
| Today View | Swipe right from the left edge of the Home Screen | Extra widgets without cluttering your apps |
| Lock Screen | Touch and hold the Lock Screen, Customize, Add Widgets | Glanceable info before you open the phone |
Today View works the same way as the Home Screen: swipe right, touch and hold an empty area, tap Edit and then Add Widget.
Stacking widgets to save space
Stacks are the trick to a tidy Home Screen. There are two kinds:
- Smart Stack: a ready-made set that rotates to show the most relevant widget based on things like time, your location and what you're doing. Add it from the widget gallery by choosing Smart Stack.
- Your own stack: while apps are jiggling, drag one widget on top of another. Apple says you can stack up to 10 widgets.
Swipe up and down on a stack to flip through it. To tidy one, touch and hold it and tap Edit Stack, where you can reorder the widgets and turn Smart Rotate or Widget Suggestions on or off. Widget Suggestions lets apps you already use pop into the stack at the right moment.
Widgets you can tap to get things done
Many widgets are interactive. Apple's examples include ticking off an item in the Reminders widget, playing an episode from the Podcasts widget or switching on a light with the Home widget, all without opening the app. A Reminders widget on your first Home Screen page is the closest thing I've found to a to-do list you can't ignore.
Changing what a widget shows
Most widgets can be set up to show the information you care about. Touch and hold the widget and tap Edit Widget. Apple's example is the Weather widget, which you can set to your current location or a different one. For a Mail widget, you can pick which mailbox it displays.
Why the size you want might be missing
This is the one that confuses people. You find the widget, but the large size you saw on a colleague's phone isn't there. Apple says not all apps offer every widget size: some apps only provide small and medium widgets, while others go up to extra large. It's the app developer's choice, not a setting on your phone, so there's nothing to switch on. Look for a different app that offers the size you want, or use a stack to fit more in.
Removing a widget
- Touch and hold the widget.
- Tap Remove Widget.
- Tap Remove again to confirm.
Removing a widget doesn't delete the app it came from. If you change your mind, it's waiting in the widget gallery, so there's no harm in experimenting. Try a widget for a week, and if you haven't looked at it once, take it off.
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A simple layout for a working day
- Top of page one: a Calendar widget so you see your next meeting.
- Beside it: Reminders, so you can tick tasks off without opening anything.
- A Smart Stack below for weather, battery and suggestions.
- Everything else in Today View, one swipe away.
I'd keep the first page for widgets that answer the question "what's next?" and push the rest further back, so you're not scrolling past news headlines every time you pick up the phone.
The short version from me
Touch and hold, tap Edit, tap Add Widget: that's the whole skill. Then use a stack or two so your Home Screen stays calm. Pick widgets you'll act on, not ones that are just nice to look at. When your phone's set up the way you like, my roundup of email apps for iPhone is worth a look, and if you're recording a quick how-to for your team, here's how to screen record on iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a widget to my iPhone Home Screen?
Touch and hold an empty area until the apps jiggle, tap Edit, tap Add Widget, choose one and a size, then tap Add Widget and Done.
How many widgets can I put in a stack?
Apple says you can stack up to 10 widgets.
Why can't I find a large size for a widget?
Not all apps offer every size. Some only offer small and medium widgets.
Can I turn an app icon into a widget?
Yes. Touch and hold the app icon and tap one of the size icons at the bottom of the menu.
Does removing a widget delete the app?
No. Tap Remove Widget and the app stays on your iPhone.
