What a widget is and where to find the option to make one
A widget is a small app window that lives on your home screen or lock screen without opening the full process. Instead of tapping an icon to open your weather app, for example, you see the current temperature and forecast right there on your screen. Creating one means telling your phone which app's information you want to display and where you want it to appear.
The process differs between Android and iPhone, but both start the same way: you long-press (hold your finger down) on an empty area of your home screen until a menu appears. On iPhone, you'll see an option to add a widget. On Android, you'll see options to add a widget or edit your home screen. From there, you choose which app to pull information from, and your phone shows you the available widget sizes for that app.
Not every app offers a widget. Common ones that do include weather, calendar, clock, news, email, fitness trackers, smart home controls, and banking apps. If an app doesn't appear in your widget menu, it either doesn't support widgets or the developer chose not to build one.
Key Takeaways
- Widgets are created by long-pressing your home screen and selecting the app you want to display, then choosing the size that fits your layout.
- iPhone widgets can live on your home screen or lock screen, while Android widgets typically stay on the home screen only.
- Widgets use more battery and data than app icons alone because they refresh information constantly, even when you're not looking at them.
- You can remove a widget by long-pressing it and selecting delete or remove, which doesn't uninstall the app itself.
Creating a widget on iPhone
On iPhone, long-press any empty space on your home screen until the icons start to jiggle and a plus sign appears in the upper left corner. Tap that plus sign. A menu of all your apps appears, sorted alphabetically. Scroll to find the app whose widget you want, then tap it.
The app will show you every widget size it offers. Some apps have three or four options: a small square, a medium rectangle, a large square, or a tall vertical widget. Each size displays different information. A weather widget's small version might show only the current temperature, while the large version shows the forecast for the next five days. Tap the size you want, then tap "Add Widget." Your phone places it on the home screen you were viewing.
If you want the widget on a different home screen, swipe left or right before tapping the plus sign. You can also create widgets on your lock screen (the screen you see before you unlock your phone) by long-pressing the lock screen itself and tapping the plus sign. Lock screen widgets are smaller and show only essential information, like the current time or next calendar event.
Creating a widget on Android
On Android, the process depends on which version you have and which launcher your phone uses. Most Android phones let you long-press an empty home screen area until a menu appears with options including "Widgets," "Add widget," or "Wallpapers and styles." Tap the widgets option.
A full list of available widgets appears, organized by app. Scroll through to find the one you want. When you tap it, your phone shows you the available sizes. Select the size you prefer, and your phone asks where on your home screen you want it placed. Drag it to the spot you want, then release. The widget is now live and will start showing information from that app.
Some Android phones let you customize what information a widget displays before you place it. For example, a calendar widget might let you choose which calendar to show, or a news widget might let you pick which topics to display. These options appear in a settings screen before you confirm the placement.
Resizing and moving widgets after you create them
After a widget is on your screen, you can move it or change its size. Long-press the widget itself (not the home screen around it) until it highlights or a menu appears. On iPhone, you'll see a "Remove" option; swipe left on it to reveal "Edit," which lets you change the widget's size. On Android, you can usually drag the widget's edges to resize it, or long-press it to move it to a different location.
If a widget is too large for your screen or overlaps with other icons in a way you don't like, resizing it is faster than deleting and recreating it. Some widgets have a minimum and maximum size, so you may not be able to make them as small or large as you'd prefer.
Why widgets use more battery and data than app icons
A widget refreshes its information on a schedule set by the app developer. A weather widget might update every 30 minutes, a news widget every hour, and a fitness widget every time you take a step. Each refresh uses a small amount of battery and data, even if you're not looking at your phone. An app icon, by contrast, does nothing until you tap it.
If you create many widgets and your phone's battery drains faster than usual, removing some of them can help. Start by removing widgets that refresh frequently or pull data from the internet, like news or stock widgets. Weather and clock widgets use less power because they update less often or rely on information your phone already has.
Removing a widget without uninstalling the app
Deleting a widget from your home screen does not uninstall the app. Long-press the widget itself until a menu appears. On iPhone, tap "Remove" or swipe left to reveal the remove button. On Android, look for a "Remove" option in the menu that appears. Tap it, and the widget disappears from your screen. The app remains installed and works normally when you tap its icon.
If you want to remove the widget but keep the app, this is the right approach. If you want to remove both the widget and the app, you would uninstall the app separately through your phone's settings or app store.
Common reasons a widget won't work or display correctly
If a widget shows old information or displays an error, the app usually needs permission to access your location, calendar, or contacts. Open the app itself and check its settings. Many widgets also require an internet connection or a logged-in account. A weather widget won't work if location services are off, and a banking widget won't display your balance if you're not logged in.
If a widget disappears after a restart or update, the app may have been uninstalled or the developer may have removed widget support. Check your app store to see if an update is available. If the app is still installed and updated, try removing the widget and recreating it. If it still doesn't work, the app may no longer support widgets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a widget for an app that doesn't show up in the widget menu?
No. Only apps that have built-in widget support appear in the widget menu. If an app isn't listed, the developer either hasn't created a widget for it or chose not to. You can still use the app by tapping its icon on your home screen.
Will creating multiple widgets slow down my phone?
Multiple widgets can drain battery faster and use more data, but they won't make your phone feel slow during normal use. If you notice your battery drains much faster than before, try removing widgets that refresh frequently, like news or stock tickers.
Can I move a widget to a different home screen after I create it?
On iPhone, you have to remove the widget and recreate it on the home screen you want. On Android, you can usually long-press the widget and drag it to a different screen without removing it first.
What happens to my widget if I update the app?
The widget usually keeps working after an app update. Sometimes an update changes how a widget looks or what information it displays, but it stays on your home screen. If the update removes widget support entirely, the widget will stop working and you'll need to remove it.
Do lock screen widgets work the same way as home screen widgets?
Lock screen widgets (iPhone only) are smaller and show less information than home screen widgets. They're created the same way—by long-pressing and selecting an app—but they're limited to what fits on your lock screen and update less frequently to save battery.