What widgets are and where to find them on your home screen
Widgets are small app windows that show you information or let you do quick tasks without opening the full app. On your iPhone, they live on your home screen or lock screen — the screens you see when you unlock your phone or swipe left from the main grid of apps. A weather widget might show today's temperature. A Notes widget might let you jot down a quick reminder. A Calendar widget displays your next few events.
You already have some widgets on your phone, even if you have not noticed them. The time and date on your lock screen are widgets. If you swipe left from your home screen, you may see a "Today View" with more widgets stacked together. To edit them — to add new ones, remove ones you do not use, or rearrange them — you need to enter edit mode, which is what this guide walks you through.
Key Takeaways
- Long-press on your home screen or lock screen to enter edit mode, where you can add, remove, and rearrange widgets.
- Tap the plus button in the bottom left corner of edit mode to see all available widgets from your installed apps.
- Tap and hold a widget in edit mode to drag it to a new position or delete it by tapping the minus button.
- Lock screen widgets are smaller and show less information than home screen widgets, but they are faster to glance at.
- You can have multiple copies of the same widget if different sizes or settings are useful to you.
How to enter edit mode on your home screen
Start by looking at your home screen — the main grid of app icons you see when you unlock your iPhone. Long-press (press and hold your finger) on an empty area of the screen, away from any app icons. After about a second, the screen will dim slightly and a menu will appear at the bottom. You are now in edit mode.
If you do not see a menu, you may have pressed on an app icon by accident. Try again in a blank space between icons. On newer iPhones, you might see a small plus button appear in the bottom left corner once you are in edit mode. That button is how you add new widgets. Do not tap it yet if you just want to rearrange what you have.
Adding a new widget to your home screen
Once you are in edit mode, tap the plus button in the bottom left corner. Your iPhone will show you a list of all your apps that have widgets available. Scroll down to find the app whose widget you want to add — for example, Weather, Reminders, or Stocks.
Tap the app name. You will see different sizes of that widget. Some apps offer a small widget (one column wide), a medium widget (two columns wide), or a large widget (two columns wide and two rows tall). Tap the size you want. Then tap "Add Widget" at the bottom right. The widget will appear on your home screen, and you are still in edit mode so you can move it if needed.
If you want to add more widgets, tap the plus button again and repeat. You can add as many as you want, though your screen will fill up quickly.
Moving and removing widgets from your home screen
While you are in edit mode, tap and hold any widget (not an app icon). After a moment, it will lift slightly off the screen. Now you can drag it to a new spot. Slide your finger across the screen to move it left, right, up, or down. When it is where you want it, lift your finger and it will snap into place.
To delete a widget, tap and hold it until it lifts, then look for a minus button or a delete option that appears. Tap it. The widget will disappear, and the other widgets will shift to fill the space. You are not deleting the app itself — just removing the widget from your home screen. You can add it back anytime.
When you are done moving and adding widgets, tap anywhere outside the widgets or swipe down to exit edit mode. Your changes are saved automatically.
Adding widgets to your lock screen
Your lock screen — the screen you see before you unlock your phone — can also have widgets. They are smaller and show less information than home screen widgets, but they are useful because you can see them without unlocking your phone.
Long-press on your lock screen (the screen that appears when your phone is locked). After a moment, you will see "Customize" at the bottom. Tap it to enter lock screen edit mode. You will see small circular or rectangular areas at the bottom of the lock screen where you can add widgets. Tap one of these areas, and a list of available widgets will appear. Choose one, and it will appear in that spot.
Lock screen widgets are limited in what they can show because of the small space, but they are perfect for quick information like the current temperature, your next calendar event, or how many steps you have taken today.
Choosing the right widget size for your needs
Most apps offer widgets in different sizes, and picking the right one depends on how much information you want to see at once. A small widget takes up less space but shows less detail. A medium widget is the most common size and balances information with screen real estate. A large widget shows the most information but takes up a lot of space.
Think about how often you actually look at the widget. If you check the weather constantly, a medium or large weather widget makes sense. If you just want a quick glance at your to-do list, a small widget is enough. You can always add the same widget in multiple sizes if you want — for example, a small weather widget on one home screen and a larger one on another.
Troubleshooting widgets that do not appear or work
If you add a widget and it shows a blank space or an error message, the app may not have finished loading. Wait a few seconds. If it still does not work, try removing the widget and adding it again. Long-press the widget, tap the minus button, and then add it back using the plus button.
If an app does not have a widget option when you tap the plus button, that app straightforward does not offer widgets. Not every app has them. If you want a widget from a specific app and it is not available, check the App Store to see if an update is available — sometimes new widgets are added in app updates.
If your lock screen widgets are not showing, make sure you are in lock screen edit mode (long-press the lock screen and tap Customize). Some lock screen widget areas are only available on certain iPhone models or iOS versions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have the same widget in multiple places?
Yes. You can add the same widget to your home screen multiple times in different sizes, or add it to both your home screen and lock screen. This is useful if you want a quick glance version and a detailed version of the same information.
Will editing widgets slow down my iPhone?
No. Widgets use very little processing power, and removing ones you do not use will not noticeably speed up your phone. If your iPhone feels slow, the issue is usually something else — too many background apps, low storage space, or an older device running a newer iOS version.
What if I accidentally delete a widget and want it back?
Just add it again. Long-press your home screen, tap the plus button, find the app, choose the widget size, and tap "Add Widget." Your settings for that widget (like which calendar to show) may be remembered, depending on the app.
Can I move widgets between different home screen pages?
Yes. While in edit mode, tap and hold a widget, then drag it to the right edge of the screen. Your iPhone will slide to the next home screen page, and you can drop the widget there. You can move widgets between any of your home screen pages this way.
Do widgets work if my iPhone is in low power mode?
Most widgets still work in low power mode, but some may update less frequently to save battery. For example, a weather widget might not refresh as often. Once you turn off low power mode, widgets return to normal refresh rates.