The fastest way to add a widget

Open the app you want to widget from, then tap and hold on its icon until a menu appears. Look for "Add Widget" or a plus sign. Tap it, choose the widget size you want, and tap "Add Widget" again. The widget lands on your home screen or lock screen depending on which one you were viewing when you started.

If that menu does not appear, the app does not offer widgets. Not every app has them. You can also add widgets through the home screen directly: long-press an empty area of your home screen, tap the plus sign in the bottom left corner, find the app name, and choose a widget from the list that appears.

The lock screen widget route works the same way. Long-press your lock screen, tap "Customize," then tap the plus sign and pick an app. Lock screen widgets are smaller and show less information, but they update without you unlocking your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap and hold an app icon, then select "Add Widget" to place it on your home screen in seconds.
  • Lock screen widgets show information without requiring you to unlock your phone, but they display less detail than home screen versions.
  • Not every app offers widgets; if you do not see "Add Widget" in the menu, that app has not built one.
  • Removing a widget is as straightforward as long-pressing it and tapping "Remove Widget."
  • Widget size affects how much information displays and how much battery the widget uses to refresh.

Where widgets actually land on your screen

When you add a widget from an app icon, it goes to your home screen by default. If you want it on your lock screen instead, you have to add it there directly. Long-press your lock screen, tap "Customize," then tap the plus sign. The lock screen has limited space, so widgets there are always small and show only the most essential information—like the current temperature, next calendar event, or unread message count.

Home screen widgets come in different sizes. A small widget might show just the weather icon and temperature. A medium widget shows more: the forecast for the next few days. A large widget can display a full calendar view or a list of tasks. When you choose a widget size, iOS shows you a preview of what it will look like. Pick the size that fits your screen and gives you the information you actually use.

Stacking widgets to save space

If you want multiple widgets from the same app but do not want them taking up separate rows, you can stack them. Long-press a widget on your home screen, tap "Edit Stack," and then tap the plus sign to add another widget to the same spot. Swipe left and right on the stack to flip between them. iOS can also set a stack to show different widgets at different times of day if you turn on "Smart Stack."

Stacking is useful if you have a weather widget, a calendar widget, and a news widget but only want them to take up one column. The downside is you have to swipe to see each one—they do not all show at once. If you check a particular widget constantly, do not stack it; keep it visible on its own.

Removing or moving a widget

To remove a widget, long-press it and tap "Remove Widget." It disappears when ready. To move a widget to a different spot on your home screen, long-press it and drag it to the new location. You can move it between pages or rearrange it with your app icons.

If you want to change the widget size after you have added it, long-press the widget, tap "Edit Widget," and choose a new size from the options shown. Not all widgets offer multiple sizes; some come in only one.

Widgets that need permission to work

Some widgets ask for permission before they show information. A weather widget needs location access. A calendar widget needs calendar access. A fitness widget needs health data access. When you add the widget, iOS may ask you to allow this. You can also change these permissions later in Settings by going to Privacy and selecting the permission type.

Widgets that lack permission will show a message like "No Data" or ask you to grant access. If a widget is not showing information you expect, check Settings > Privacy to see whether the app has the permissions it needs. Revoking a permission does not remove the widget, but it will stop showing data until you grant access again.

Why some widgets refresh slowly or drain battery

Widgets update on a schedule set by the app developer, not by you. A weather widget might update every 15 minutes. A news widget might update every hour. A stock ticker might update every few minutes during market hours and less often after hours. You cannot change how often a widget refreshes, but you can see how often it is supposed to by long-pressing the widget and looking for refresh information in the details.

Widgets that refresh very frequently—like live activity widgets that track a delivery or a sports game—use more battery. If your phone battery is draining faster than usual and you have added many widgets, try removing the ones you check least often. Lock screen widgets use less battery than home screen widgets because they refresh less frequently and display less data.

Widgets from third-party apps versus Apple apps

Apple's built-in apps—Calendar, Weather, Reminders, Stocks, Health—all have widgets. Third-party apps like Gmail, Slack, Spotify, and Deliveroo also offer widgets, but only if the developer built them. An older app might not have a widget yet. A newer app might have one that is still being improved.

Third-party widgets work the same way as Apple widgets: tap and hold the app icon, select "Add Widget," and choose a size. The difference is that third-party widgets sometimes require you to be signed in to the app before the widget will show data. If a widget shows "Sign In" or "Not Configured," open the app itself, make sure you are logged in, and then try the widget again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add the same widget twice?

Yes. You can add multiple copies of the same widget to your home screen or lock screen. This is useful if you want a weather widget on your lock screen and another on your home screen, or if you want two calendar widgets showing different calendars. Each copy updates independently.

What does "Edit Widget" do?

Long-pressing a widget and tapping "Edit Widget" lets you change settings specific to that widget—like which calendar a calendar widget displays, which city a weather widget shows, or which email account a mail widget checks. Not all widgets have editable settings; some show the same information no matter what.

Why is my widget showing old information?

Widgets refresh on a schedule, not when ready. If a widget is showing yesterday's weather or an old calendar event, wait a few minutes for it to refresh. If it still shows old data after 10 minutes, try removing the widget and adding it again. If the app itself shows current information but the widget does not, the app may not have permission to access the data it needs.

Can I add widgets to folders?

No. Widgets only appear on your home screen or lock screen directly, not inside app folders. If you want to organize your home screen, move app folders around, but keep widgets separate.

Do widgets work on iPad?

Yes. iPad widgets work the same way as iPhone widgets. Long-press an app icon or an empty area of the home screen, select "Add Widget," and choose a size. iPad has more screen space, so you can fit larger widgets and more of them on a single page.