The basic steps to add a widget
To add a widget to your Android home screen, long-press an empty area of your home screen until a menu appears, then tap "Widgets" or the plus icon. Find the widget you want from the list, long-press it, and drag it to an empty spot on your home screen. Release your finger to place it. The exact wording and icons vary by phone manufacturer — Samsung calls it "Widgets," while Google Pixel uses a plus icon — but the action is the same.
If you don't see a menu when you long-press, your phone may require a different gesture. Try long-pressing the home screen itself rather than an app icon, or look for a dedicated button or menu option in your home screen settings. Some older Android phones use a "Add" or "Menu" button instead of long-press.
Once placed, most widgets can be resized by long-pressing them and dragging the edges or corners. If a widget doesn't work as expected after placement, you can remove it by long-pressing and selecting "Remove" or dragging it to a trash icon that appears at the top of the screen.
Key Takeaways
- Long-press an empty area of your home screen to open the widget menu, which may be labeled "Widgets" or shown as a plus icon depending on your phone brand.
- Find the widget you want in the list, long-press it, and drag it to your home screen to place it in a specific location.
- Most widgets can be resized after placement by long-pressing and dragging the edges, and removed by long-pressing and selecting "Remove."
- If long-press doesn't work on your phone, check your home screen settings or look for a dedicated menu button to access widgets.
Where to find widgets on your phone
Widgets come from two sources: apps you already have installed, and apps built into your phone. When you open the Widgets menu, you see widgets from both. Built-in widgets typically include a clock, calendar, weather, and notes app. Third-party apps like Gmail, Spotify, or your bank's app often include their own widgets too.
If you install a new app and want to see if it has a widget, open the Widgets menu after installation. The new app's widgets should appear in the list immediately. If you don't see any, the app may not offer widgets — not all apps do.
Resizing and moving widgets after placement
After you place a widget, you can adjust its size and position. Long-press the widget itself (not the home screen) to enter edit mode. You should see handles or corners appear around the widget's edges. Drag these handles to make the widget larger or smaller. Some widgets have a minimum or maximum size and won't shrink or grow beyond that point.
To move a widget to a different location, long-press it and drag it to the new spot while still in edit mode. Release your finger to drop it in place. If you want to move it to a different home screen page, drag it toward the edge of the screen and hold — most phones will scroll to the next page automatically.
Removing widgets you no longer want
To remove a widget, long-press it until a menu or options appear. Look for "Remove," "Delete," or a trash icon. Tap or drag the widget to that option. Removing a widget does not uninstall the app it came from — the app stays on your phone, and you can add the widget back later if you change your mind.
Some phones show a trash icon at the top of the screen when you long-press a widget. Drag the widget upward to that icon and release it to remove the widget from your home screen.
Troubleshooting widgets that won't appear or work
If a widget doesn't show up in your Widgets menu, the app may not have been fully installed yet. Wait a few seconds and refresh the Widgets menu by closing and reopening it. If the app is installed but still has no widget, that app simply doesn't offer one.
If a widget appears on your home screen but doesn't update or respond to taps, try removing it and adding it again. Sometimes a widget gets stuck and needs to be refreshed. If it still doesn't work after that, restart your phone. If the problem persists, check whether the app itself has a recent update available in the Google Play Store — an outdated app version can cause widget problems.
If you can't open the Widgets menu at all, make sure you're long-pressing an empty area of the home screen, not an app icon. Some phones also require you to be on the main home screen page rather than a secondary one. Check your phone's home screen settings to see if widgets are enabled — some custom launchers or work profiles can disable them.
Different widget sizes and what they show
Widgets come in different sizes: small (1x1 or 2x2 grid squares), medium (2x3 or 3x3), and large (4x4 or bigger). A larger widget usually shows more information at once — a weather widget might show just the temperature in a small size but include hourly forecasts in a large one. A calendar widget might show only today's date when small but a full month view when large.
When you long-press a widget in the Widgets menu before placing it, some phones show you a preview of available sizes. Choose the size that fits your home screen layout and shows the information you actually want to see. You can always resize it later if you change your mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put the same widget on multiple home screens?
Yes. Open the Widgets menu, find the widget, and add it again to a different home screen page. You can have the same widget in multiple places, and each one works independently. For example, you could have a weather widget on your main home screen and another on a secondary page.
What if my phone doesn't have a long-press menu?
Some phones use a different gesture. Try pressing and holding for two seconds instead of a quick long-press. If that doesn't work, look for a dedicated "Home" or "Menu" button, or check your phone's settings under "Home Screen" or "Display." You may also be able to access widgets through your app drawer or a separate widgets app.
Do widgets use more battery than regular apps?
Widgets that update frequently (like weather or news widgets) use more battery than static ones (like a clock or notes widget). If battery life is a concern, remove widgets that refresh constantly or set them to update less often in their settings. Most widgets have a settings option accessible by long-pressing them.
Can I create my own custom widget?
Not through the standard Android interface. Only app developers can create widgets. However, you can use launcher apps like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which offer more customization options and sometimes allow you to create custom shortcuts that look like widgets.
Why did my widget stop working after a phone update?
Phone updates sometimes change how widgets work or require apps to be updated too. Remove the widget and add it again. If it still doesn't work, check the Google Play Store to see if the app has an update available. If no update exists, the app may not be compatible with your new Android version yet.