Where to find and add widgets on your iPhone
You add widgets to your iPhone through the widget library, which you reach by long-pressing any empty space on your home screen or lock screen, then tapping the plus button in the bottom left corner. This opens a list of all apps on your phone that offer widgets. Find the app you want, tap it, choose which widget size or style you prefer, and tap "Add Widget." The widget then appears on whichever screen you had open when you started.
If you're adding to your home screen, the widget lands wherever there's space, and you can move it afterward by long-pressing and dragging. On your lock screen, widgets appear in the two rows of space below the time — you can fit two small widgets side by side, or one larger widget that takes up both rows.
Not every app offers widgets. Common ones that do include Weather, Reminders, Calendar, News, Stocks, Maps, Health, and most third-party apps like Spotify, DoorDash, or Slack. If an app doesn't appear in the widget library, it doesn't have a widget available.
Key Takeaways
- Open the widget library by long-pressing any empty space on your home screen or lock screen and tapping the plus button in the bottom left.
- Lock screen widgets are smaller and appear below the time in two rows, while home screen widgets can be larger and take up more space.
- You can add the same widget multiple times if you want the same information in different sizes or on different screens.
- Widgets update automatically based on the app's settings, so you don't need to refresh them manually.
The difference between home screen and lock screen widgets
Home screen widgets are larger and more detailed. They can show you a full calendar month, a to-do list with multiple items, weather for the next five days, or news headlines. You can place them anywhere on your home screen where there's empty space, and they take up one or more grid squares depending on their size.
Lock screen widgets are smaller and simpler. They appear in the space below the time on your lock screen and are designed to show you one piece of information at a glance — the current temperature, your next calendar event, how many steps you've taken today, or a single reminder. You can add up to two small widgets side by side, or one widget that spans both rows.
Some apps offer both versions. For example, the Calendar app has a small lock screen widget showing your next event, and a larger home screen widget showing the full month. You can add both if you want the quick glance on your lock screen and the detailed view on your home screen.
How to move, resize, or remove widgets
To move a widget on your home screen, long-press it until a menu appears, then tap "Move." The widget becomes highlighted and you can drag it to a new location. Tap elsewhere on the screen when you're done. On your lock screen, long-press the widget itself and tap "Remove," then add a different one in its place — lock screen widgets can't be resized or repositioned the way home screen ones can.
To resize a home screen widget, long-press it and tap "Edit Widget" if that option appears. Not all widgets are resizable — some come in only one size. If you see size options, choose the one you want and tap outside the menu to save.
To remove any widget, long-press it and tap "Remove" from the menu that appears. The widget disappears immediately, but the app itself stays on your phone. You can add it back anytime through the widget library.
Widget settings and how often they update
Most widgets update automatically based on the app's settings. A weather widget refreshes every few minutes, a calendar widget updates when you add or change events, and a news widget pulls new headlines periodically. You don't need to do anything to make this happen — it's built into how the widget works.
Some widgets let you customize what information they show. Long-press the widget and tap "Edit Widget" to see options. For example, a weather widget might let you choose which city to display, or a calendar widget might let you pick which calendar to show. These settings are specific to that widget — if you add the same widget twice, each copy can have different settings.
If a widget stops updating, try removing it and adding it again. If that doesn't work, restart your iPhone. Widgets sometimes pause updating if your phone is low on battery or if you haven't opened the app in a long time — opening the app itself usually fixes this.
Smart Stack widgets and widget stacks
A Smart Stack is a special home screen widget that automatically rotates between multiple widgets from the same app. For example, a Smart Stack for the Weather app might show the current conditions, then swipe to show the hourly forecast, then the 10-day forecast. You don't set this up manually — some apps create Smart Stacks automatically when you add their widget.
You can also create your own stack by adding the same widget multiple times in the same spot. Long-press one widget and drag it on top of another widget of the same size. They stack together, and you swipe up or down to move between them. This is useful if you want to see different information without taking up extra home screen space.
To remove a widget from a stack without removing the whole stack, long-press the stack, tap "Edit Stack," find the widget you want to remove, and swipe left on it, then tap the minus button. The other widgets in the stack stay in place.
Troubleshooting widgets that don't appear or won't work
If you can't find a widget in the library, the app either doesn't offer one or you need to update the app first. Open the App Store, go to your profile, and check if there's an update available for that app. Install it and try again.
If a widget appears but shows no information, or shows outdated information, check that the app has permission to access the data it needs. Go to Settings, find the app name, and look for permissions like Location, Calendar, or Health. Turn on any that the widget needs. Then try removing and re-adding the widget.
If adding a widget crashes your phone or causes your home screen to freeze, restart your iPhone. If the problem happens again with the same widget, remove it and contact the app's developer through the App Store. This is usually a bug in the widget itself, not something you can fix on your end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add the same widget more than once?
Yes. You can add the same widget multiple times in different sizes, on different screens, or with different settings. For example, you could add a weather widget showing your city on your home screen and another showing a different city on your lock screen.
Do widgets use a lot of battery?
Widgets use very little battery because they update in the background and don't require you to open the app. A weather widget or calendar widget has almost no impact on battery life. Widgets that use location or play audio use more power, but still far less than opening the app itself.
What happens to widgets if I delete the app?
The widgets disappear immediately. If you reinstall the app later, you'll need to add the widgets again through the widget library — they don't come back automatically.
Can I customize what a widget shows?
Some widgets let you customize their content. Long-press the widget and tap "Edit Widget" to see what options are available. Not all widgets have customization — it depends on what the app developer included.
Why is my widget showing old information?
Widgets sometimes stop updating if you haven't opened the app in a while, or if your phone is in low-power mode. Open the app itself to refresh it, or turn off low-power mode if it's on. If that doesn't work, remove the widget and add it again.