Where to find widgets and how to add them
Widgets on iPad work the same way as on iPhone — they show you information at a glance without opening the full app. You can add widgets to your home screen, your lock screen, or both. The process takes about 30 seconds once you know where to look.
Start by long-pressing any empty space on your home screen. A menu will appear at the bottom with a plus sign. Tap that plus sign. You'll see a list of all your apps that have widgets available. Find the app you want, tap it, and you'll see thumbnail previews of the different widget sizes that app offers. Select the size you want, then tap "Add Widget" at the bottom right. The widget will appear on your home screen where you long-pressed.
If you don't see the plus sign menu, make sure you're long-pressing on an empty area of the home screen, not on an app icon. Also check that you're not in edit mode already — if the app icons are jiggling and have minus signs, tap "Done" first, then try again.
Key Takeaways
- Long-press an empty space on your home screen, tap the plus sign, choose an app, pick a widget size, and tap "Add Widget" to place it on your screen.
- Widgets come in different sizes — small, medium, and large — and the size you choose determines how much information the widget shows.
- Not every app has widgets available, so you'll only see apps in the widget menu that actually offer them.
- You can add the same widget multiple times from different apps, or add the same app's widget in different sizes to see different information.
- Lock screen widgets on iPad work the same way as home screen widgets but show only the smallest size and appear above or below your wallpaper.
Adding widgets to your lock screen
iPad lock screen widgets work differently than home screen widgets — they're smaller and sit above or below your wallpaper. To add one, long-press your lock screen (not the home screen). You'll see "Customize" at the bottom. Tap it, then tap the plus sign that appears.
Choose the app you want a widget from, then select which widget you want. Lock screen widgets only come in one small size, so you won't see size options. Tap "Add" and the widget will appear on your lock screen. You can add multiple widgets to your lock screen — they'll stack, and you can swipe between them.
If you want to remove a lock screen widget, long-press your lock screen again, tap "Customize", then tap the minus sign next to the widget you want to remove.
Choosing the right widget size for your space
Most apps offer widgets in small, medium, and large sizes. Small widgets take up one square. Medium widgets are twice as wide. Large widgets take up a 2x2 or 2x3 grid depending on the app. The bigger the widget, the more information it shows at once.
Think about what you actually want to see. A small weather widget just shows the current temperature. A medium one shows today's forecast. A large one might show the next five days. If you're short on space, use small. If you want to glance at detailed information without opening the app, use large.
You can always change your mind later. Long-press the widget itself, tap "Edit Widget", and you'll see the size options again. Select a different size and tap outside the menu to save.
Rearranging and removing widgets
Once a widget is on your home screen, you can move it the same way you move app icons. Long-press the widget (not the home screen), and it will start to jiggle. Drag it to a new spot. You can drag it to a different page, or drag it to the dock at the bottom if you want it there instead. Tap "Done" when you're finished moving things around.
To remove a widget, long-press it while in edit mode (when icons are jiggling), then tap "Remove Widget". The widget disappears, but the app stays on your iPad — you're just removing the shortcut information display.
If you accidentally remove a widget you wanted, you can add it back the same way you added it the first time. Long-press an empty space, tap the plus sign, find the app, and add the widget again.
When an app doesn't have a widget
Not every app offers widgets. When you open the widget menu (by long-pressing and tapping the plus sign), you'll only see apps that have widgets available. If your favorite app isn't in that list, it doesn't have a widget yet.
Some older apps or less common apps simply don't support widgets. If you really want a widget for an app, check the App Store — sometimes an update adds widget support. You can also try searching the App Store for "widgets" to find alternative apps that do the same thing and offer widgets.
Apple's own apps like Weather, Calendar, Reminders, and News all have widgets. Most popular third-party apps like Spotify, Gmail, and Slack have them too. If an app you use frequently doesn't have a widget, that's usually a sign the developer hasn't built one yet.
Smart Stack widgets and widget stacks
A Smart Stack is a special widget that automatically rotates between different widgets from the same app. For example, a calendar app's Smart Stack might show today's events, then tomorrow's, then next week's as you swipe through it. You don't have to set this up — some apps create Smart Stacks automatically.
You can also create your own stack by dragging one widget on top of another. Long-press a widget, drag it, and drop it directly on top of a different widget. They'll stack together, and you can swipe up and down to flip between them. This is useful if you want to save space but have access to multiple widgets.
To unstack widgets, long-press the stack, tap "Edit Stack", and drag a widget out of the stack. To remove a widget from a stack without unstacking everything, swipe to the widget you want to remove, long-press it, and tap "Remove Widget".
Troubleshooting widgets that won't appear
If you add a widget and it doesn't show up, first check that you have space on your home screen. If your screen is completely full of apps, there's nowhere for the widget to go. Delete an app or move one to a folder to make room.
If the widget appears but shows no information (just a blank space or a loading circle), the app might need permission to access your data. Open the app itself and check its settings. Some widgets need location access, calendar access, or other permissions to work. Grant those permissions in the app's settings, and the widget should start showing information.
If a widget keeps crashing or disappearing, try removing it and adding it again. Long-press it, tap "Remove Widget", then add it fresh using the plus sign menu. If it still doesn't work, restart your iPad by holding the power button and sliding to power off, then turning it back on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put widgets on multiple home screen pages?
Yes. When you're adding a widget, you can swipe left or right to see different home screen pages, then tap "Add Widget" to place it on whichever page you want. You can also drag an existing widget to a different page by long-pressing it and dragging it to the edge of the screen.
Do widgets use a lot of battery?
Widgets use very little battery because they update in the background only a few times per hour, not constantly. A weather widget or clock widget has almost no impact. Widgets that refresh frequently (like stock prices or sports scores) use slightly more, but still far less than having the app open.
What's the difference between a widget and an app shortcut?
A widget shows you live information without opening the app — a weather widget shows the temperature right there. An app shortcut is just a button that opens the app when you tap it. Widgets are more useful because they save you a tap and show you what you need at a glance.
Can I resize a widget after I add it?
Yes. Long-press the widget, tap "Edit Widget", and you'll see the available sizes. Tap the size you want, then tap outside the menu to save. Not all widgets support all sizes — some apps only offer small and medium, for example.
Why does my widget show old information?
Widgets update on a schedule set by the app, not constantly. If your widget shows yesterday's weather or an old stock price, it will refresh the next time the app's update window comes around, usually within a few minutes. If it doesn't refresh after 10 minutes, try removing and re-adding the widget, or restart your iPad.