The basic steps for adding a widget
To add a widget to your home screen, long-press an empty area of your home screen until a menu appears, then select "Widgets" or "Add widget" — the exact wording depends on whether you use Android or iPhone. From there, choose the app whose widget you want, pick which version of that widget (if multiple exist), and tap to place it. The whole process takes under a minute.
On Android, you can also access widgets by long-pressing the home screen, tapping the plus icon or "Widgets" button at the bottom, scrolling through the list, and dragging a widget directly onto your home screen. On iPhone, swipe left from your home screen to open the widget panel, tap the plus icon in the top left, find the app you want, and select the widget size you prefer.
Once placed, most widgets can be resized by long-pressing them and dragging the edges, or removed by long-pressing and selecting "Remove" or tapping the minus icon. Some widgets let you customize what information they show — for example, a weather widget might let you choose which city to display.
Key Takeaways
- Long-press an empty area of your home screen and select "Widgets" or "Add widget" to see what your installed apps offer.
- Android and iPhone have slightly different steps, but both let you choose widget size and placement before confirming.
- Widgets that pull data from the internet or location services use more battery and data than static widgets, so check permissions before adding them.
- Removing a widget from your home screen does not uninstall the app — it only hides the widget display.
Where widgets come from and what they can do
A widget is a small, live display of information from an app that sits on your home screen without opening the full app. Not every app offers a widget — only apps designed to show quick information like weather, calendar events, news headlines, or battery status. When you add a widget, you are not installing anything new; you are just displaying data that the app already has access to.
Some widgets are static and show the same thing every time you look at them. Others refresh automatically — a weather widget updates every hour, a calendar widget shows today's date and upcoming events, a news widget pulls fresh headlines. The more often a widget refreshes, the more battery it drains and the more data it uses, which is why widgets that update constantly are worth removing if you do not actually check them.
Permissions widgets need and what they access
When you add a widget, it uses the same permissions the app already has. A weather widget needs location access to know where you are. A calendar widget needs access to your calendar data. A fitness widget needs access to your step count or health data. You do not grant new permissions just by adding a widget — the app already had those permissions when you installed it.
However, adding a widget makes that data visible at a glance on your home screen. If someone picks up your phone, they can see your calendar events, your location, your next appointment, or your fitness data without unlocking the phone — depending on which widgets you have placed. This is a trade-off worth thinking about if you share your device, if you leave your phone on a desk at work, or if you are concerned about what information is visible before the lock screen is dismissed.
Why widgets use more battery than app icons
A static icon just sits there. A widget that refreshes — pulling new weather data, new headlines, new email counts — has to wake up your phone's processor and radio periodically, even when you are not using it. That constant background activity drains your battery faster than an app icon ever would.
The impact varies by widget. A clock widget that updates every minute uses more power than a weather widget that updates every three hours. A news widget that refreshes every 15 minutes uses more power than a calendar widget that only changes when an event is added. If your battery drains noticeably faster after adding widgets, removing the ones you do not actually look at will help.
You can check which apps are using the most battery in your phone's settings — usually under "Battery" or "Battery and device care" — and see if any widgets are the culprit. If a widget is draining power but you want to keep the app, straightforward remove the widget from your home screen and use the app directly when you need it.
How to organize widgets without cluttering your home screen
Most phones let you create multiple home screen pages by swiping left or right. Instead of filling your main page with widgets, you can move less-used widgets to a second or third page, keeping your primary screen clean and fast. Some phones also let you create a "widget drawer" or dedicated space for widgets separate from your main home screen.
On iPhone, you can create a "Smart Stack" — a stack of widgets that automatically rotates to show the most relevant one based on time of day or your usage patterns. This lets you have multiple widgets in the space of one, without the visual clutter. On Android, some launchers (like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher) offer similar stacking features, though the default Android home screen does not.
Grouping related widgets together — all your productivity widgets on one page, all your entertainment widgets on another — makes it easier to find what you need and keeps your main home screen focused on the information you check most often.
Removing widgets and what happens to your data
Removing a widget from your home screen does nothing to the app itself or your data. The app stays installed, your data stays in the app, and you can add the widget back anytime. You are only hiding the display, not deleting anything.
If you want to completely remove an app and its widget, you uninstall the app itself through your phone's settings or app store. Removing just the widget is always safe and reversible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I resize a widget after I place it?
Yes. Long-press the widget and look for resize handles (usually small squares at the corners or edges). Drag them to make the widget larger or smaller. Not all widgets support all sizes — some have only one or two options — so you may not be able to make a widget as small or large as you want.
Do widgets work if my phone is locked?
On most phones, widgets on your main home screen are visible before you unlock the phone. This means anyone who picks up your device can see the information in those widgets — your calendar, your location, your next appointment — without entering your password. If that concerns you, move sensitive widgets to a second home screen page or remove them entirely.
Why is my phone slow after adding widgets?
Widgets that refresh constantly force your phone to use processing power and memory in the background. If you added several widgets that update frequently, removing the ones you do not check regularly will free up resources and speed up your phone. Check your battery settings to see which apps are using the most power.
Can I customize what a widget shows?
Many widgets let you tap them to open settings and choose what information displays — for example, selecting which city a weather widget shows, or which calendar a calendar widget displays. Long-press the widget and look for an "Edit" or "Settings" option. Not all widgets offer customization.
What is the difference between a widget and a shortcut?
A shortcut is just an icon that opens an app or performs one action. A widget is a live display of information from an app that updates without opening the app. Shortcuts use almost no battery; widgets use more because they refresh. Use shortcuts for apps you launch often, and widgets for information you want to see at a glance.