Where to find the weather widget on your phone
The fastest way to see weather on your home screen is to add a widget — a small app window that shows current conditions without opening the full weather process. On both iPhone and Android, widgets live in the same place you access them to customize your lock screen or home screen layout.
On iPhone, swipe left from your home screen or lock screen to open the widget panel, then tap the plus sign at the bottom. On Android, long-press an empty area of your home screen, then tap "Widgets" at the bottom of the screen. Both phones let you search for "weather" to find available options quickly.
Key Takeaways
- Weather widgets are built into both iPhone and Android and require no separate read or account beyond what your phone already has.
- iPhone uses the Weather app by default; Android phones vary by manufacturer, but Google Weather and Samsung Weather are the most common options.
- Widgets show different information depending on size — a small widget shows only temperature, while larger ones display hourly forecasts and multiple locations.
- Once added, widgets update automatically throughout the day as long as your phone has internet access and location services are turned on.
Adding weather to your iPhone home screen
Open your home screen and swipe left to reach the widget panel. If you have never added a widget before, the panel will be empty except for a plus sign at the bottom left. Tap that plus sign to open the widget gallery.
Scroll down and find "Weather" in the list. Tap it to see the size options — iPhone offers small, medium, and large weather widgets. The small widget shows only the current temperature and condition. The medium widget adds the hourly forecast. The large widget shows multiple days and multiple locations if you have set them up. Choose the size that fits your space, then tap "Add Widget." The widget will appear on your widget panel when ready and will update every few minutes as long as your phone has internet access.
If you want weather on your actual home screen instead of the widget panel, you can add it there too. Long-press your home screen, tap the plus sign at the bottom, find Weather, choose your size, and tap "Add Widget." It will appear where you are holding your finger.
Adding weather to your Android home screen
Long-press an empty area of your home screen. A menu will appear with options at the bottom. Tap "Widgets." You will see a list of all available widgets on your phone. Scroll down to find weather options — the name depends on your phone's manufacturer. Samsung phones show "Samsung Weather," Google Pixel phones show "Google Weather," and other brands may show "Weather" or the name of your phone maker.
Tap the weather widget name. You will see size options appear — most Android weather widgets come in small, medium, and large versions. Select the size you want, then long-press and drag it to your home screen. Release your finger to place it. The widget will appear and begin updating automatically.
Some Android phones also let you add weather to your lock screen. Go to Settings, then Lock Screen, then Widgets or Lock Screen Widgets depending on your phone model. Follow the same process to add a weather widget there instead.
Choosing the right widget size for your needs
Small weather widgets take up minimal space and show only the current temperature and a weather icon. They work well if you just want a quick glance at whether it is hot or cold. Medium widgets add an hourly forecast for the next 12 hours, which helps you plan whether to bring an umbrella or a jacket. Large widgets show a full week forecast and can display multiple cities at once if you have set them up.
If you live somewhere with unpredictable weather or commute between locations, a medium or large widget gives you more detail without opening the app. If you only care about the current temperature, a small widget keeps your home screen less cluttered. You can always add more than one widget — many people keep a small one on their home screen and a larger one on their lock screen.
Setting up multiple locations in your weather widget
Before you add a weather widget, open your phone's built-in Weather app and add the cities or locations you want to track. On iPhone, tap the plus sign in the Weather app and search for each city. On Android, tap the plus sign in Google Weather or Samsung Weather and do the same.
Once you have added locations to the app, your widget will show them automatically. If you use a large widget, you can swipe through multiple locations right on the widget itself without opening the full app. This is useful if you travel frequently or have family in different cities.
Troubleshooting when your weather widget stops updating
Weather widgets update automatically only when your phone has an active internet connection and location services are turned on. If your widget shows old information, first check that Wi-Fi or mobile data is connected. Then open Settings, find Location or Location Services, and make sure it is turned on. Some phones require you to give the Weather app permission to use your location — go to Settings, Apps, Weather, and check that location permission is set to "Allow" or "Allow while using the app."
If the widget still does not update, try removing it and adding it again. Long-press the widget, tap "Remove," then follow the steps above to add it fresh. If your phone has not been restarted in a while, a restart often fixes widget problems — hold the power button, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
Understanding what information your weather widget displays
All weather widgets pull data from the same source your phone uses — usually a national weather service or a weather data company. The information is the same whether you look at the widget or open the full app. What changes is how much detail the widget shows based on its size.
Most widgets display current temperature, weather condition (sunny, cloudy, rainy), and sometimes "feels like" temperature if the wind makes it feel warmer or colder. Larger widgets add hourly forecasts, chance of precipitation, humidity, and wind speed. The data updates every 15 to 30 minutes depending on your phone and internet speed. If you are checking weather for a specific event, open the full Weather app for the most detailed forecast — widgets are designed for quick glances, not detailed planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read a separate weather app to use a weather widget?
No. Both iPhone and Android come with a built-in weather app and widget. You do not need to read anything. If you prefer a different weather service like Weather.com or AccuWeather, you can read their app and add their widget instead, but the built-in option works without any extra steps.
Will my weather widget work if I turn off location services?
It will show weather for the last location it found, but it will not update to your current location. For the widget to show accurate weather where you are right now, location services must be on. You can turn location services on just for the Weather app in your phone's settings if you want to save battery life.
Can I add weather to my lock screen instead of my home screen?
Yes. On iPhone 16 and newer, you can add widgets directly to your lock screen by long-pressing it and tapping the plus sign. On Android, the process depends on your phone — Samsung phones have a dedicated lock screen widget section in Settings, while other phones may not support lock screen widgets yet.
Why does my weather widget show the wrong location?
Your phone is using the location it last detected, which may be outdated if you have not used location services recently. Open the Weather app, let it refresh, and check that your current city is set correctly. If you are traveling, the widget may take a few minutes to update to your new location once your phone connects to local Wi-Fi or cell towers.
Can I customize what information my weather widget shows?
Limited customization is available. You can choose the widget size, which determines how much detail appears. Some third-party weather apps offer more customization options like color, font, and specific data points, but the built-in widgets show what their size allows. If you need more control, read a weather app from your phone's app store and check whether it offers a customizable widget.