The basic steps to add a widget
Adding a widget to your home screen takes about 30 seconds and works almost the same way on every phone. You long-press an empty area of your home screen, tap the plus button or "Add widget" option, find the app you want, pick which widget it offers, and tap "Add." The widget then appears on your screen and you can move it around if needed.
The exact wording and button locations vary slightly between Android and iPhone, but the concept is identical: you're telling your phone to display a small, live piece of an app right on your home screen instead of making you open the full app every time.
Key Takeaways
- Long-press an empty area of your home screen — not on an app icon — to bring up the widget menu.
- Not every app offers a widget; if you don't see the app listed, it either doesn't have one or you need to update it first.
- Widgets take up different amounts of space, so you may need to move existing apps to make room.
- Once added, you can resize most widgets by long-pressing them and dragging the corners, or remove them by long-pressing and selecting delete.
Adding a widget on iPhone
On iPhone, start by finding an empty spot on your home screen — any area without an app icon. Press and hold that empty space for about two seconds until a menu appears at the bottom of the screen. You'll see a plus sign in a circle; tap it.
A list of apps appears. Scroll down to find the app whose widget you want to add. Tap the app name, and you'll see the widget options that app offers — most apps have more than one. Select the size you want (small, medium, or large), then tap "Add Widget" at the bottom right. The widget appears on your home screen, and you can move it by long-pressing and dragging.
Adding a widget on Android
On Android, the process is nearly identical but the menu looks different. Long-press an empty area of your home screen until a menu pops up. Look for a button labeled "Widgets" — it's usually at the bottom of the screen, sometimes shown as a plus sign or the word "Add."
Tap "Widgets" and you'll see a scrollable list of every app on your phone that offers a widget. Find the app you want, tap it, and you'll see the widget options available. Tap the widget you want to add, and it will appear on your home screen. You can then long-press it and drag it to reposition it, or resize it by dragging the corners.
What to do if you can't find an app's widget
If you're looking for a widget from an app and don't see it in the widget list, the app either doesn't offer one or your version is outdated. Open the app store on your phone (App Store on iPhone, Google Play on Android), search for the app, and check whether an update is available. Install it and try adding the widget again.
Some apps genuinely don't have widgets — especially older or simpler apps. If the app still doesn't appear in the widget list after updating, it simply doesn't offer one. You can still use the app normally by tapping its icon.
Making room for a widget
Widgets come in different sizes. A small widget might take up a 2x2 space, while a large one could be 4x4 or bigger. If your home screen is full, you'll need to move or delete some app icons to make space. Long-press an app icon and select "Remove from Home Screen" — this doesn't delete the app, just removes the shortcut from your home screen. You can still find it in your app library or app drawer.
Alternatively, you can add the widget to a different home screen page. Swipe left or right to move to another page, find empty space, and add the widget there instead.
Resizing and removing widgets
Most widgets can be resized after you add them. Long-press the widget until a menu appears. On iPhone, you'll see "Edit Home Screen" or a pencil icon; tap it and then drag the corners of the widget to make it larger or smaller. On Android, look for resize handles (small squares) at the corners or edges of the widget and drag them.
To remove a widget, long-press it and select "Remove Widget" or "Delete" from the menu. The widget disappears, but the app itself stays on your phone. You can add the widget back anytime by following the same steps.
Widgets that need permission or setup
Some widgets ask for permission before they work — for example, a weather widget needs to know your location, or a calendar widget needs access to your calendar. When you add the widget, your phone will ask whether to allow this. Tap "Allow" or "Yes" to let the widget function properly. If you deny permission, the widget may show a blank screen or an error message.
A few widgets also require you to sign in or configure settings before they display information. For example, a banking app's widget might ask you to log in, or a news widget might ask which topics you want to see. Follow the prompts that appear after you add the widget, and it will start working once setup is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add the same widget multiple times?
Yes. You can add the same widget to different home screen pages, or even add multiple copies of the same widget to one page. This is useful if you want to see different information — for example, two weather widgets showing different cities, or multiple calendar widgets if your phone supports it.
Why does my widget show old information?
Widgets update on a schedule set by the app, not constantly. A weather widget might update every 30 minutes, while a news widget might update once an hour. If the information looks stale, try long-pressing the widget and looking for a "Refresh" option. If that doesn't work, the app itself may need to be updated from your app store.
Do widgets drain my battery?
Widgets use some battery because they refresh periodically, but the drain is usually small — similar to having the app open in the background. If you notice your battery draining quickly, you can remove widgets you don't use regularly, or check your phone's battery settings to see which apps are consuming the most power.
Can I move a widget to a different home screen page?
Yes. Long-press the widget, and on iPhone you'll see "Edit Home Screen" appear; on Android, you can drag the widget to the edge of the screen to move it to an adjacent page. Alternatively, remove the widget and add it again on the page where you want it.
What's the difference between a widget and an app icon?
An app icon is just a shortcut that opens the full app. A widget is a live display of information from the app — it shows you data without opening the app. For example, a clock widget shows the time right on your home screen, while a clock app icon just opens the clock app when you tap it.