Where to find and add widgets on your phone
The method depends on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, but both let you add widgets directly from your home screen without downloading anything new. On an iPhone, long-press an empty area of your home screen until a menu appears, then tap the plus sign in the bottom left corner. On Android, long-press your home screen, tap "Widgets," and browse the list of available widgets from your installed apps.
You do not need to go into the app store or settings to find widgets. They come built into the apps you already have — your calendar app, weather app, clock app, and others. When you open the widgets menu, you will see only the widgets that your installed apps offer. If an app you want does not show a widget option, that app does not have one available.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users long-press the home screen and tap the plus sign; Android users long-press and select "Widgets" from the menu that appears.
- Widgets come from apps you already have installed, so you cannot add a widget from an app that is not on your phone.
- You can resize most widgets after placing them by long-pressing the widget and dragging the edges or corners.
- Removing a widget is as straightforward as long-pressing it and selecting "Remove" — the app itself stays on your phone.
Adding widgets on iPhone
Start by going to any home screen page where you have empty space. Long-press (hold your finger down for about two seconds) on an empty area until the screen darkens and a menu appears at the bottom. Tap the plus sign in the bottom left corner — this opens the widget gallery.
Scroll through the list of apps and tap the one whose widget you want to add. The app will show you all the widget sizes it offers — most apps have two or three options, from small to large. Tap the size you want, then tap "Add Widget." The widget will appear on your home screen. You can move it by long-pressing and dragging it to a new location.
Adding widgets on Android
Long-press an empty area of your home screen until a menu appears at the bottom. Tap "Widgets" — the exact wording may vary slightly depending on your phone manufacturer, but it will be clearly labeled. A full list of available widgets will appear, organized by app name.
Find the app whose widget you want and tap it. If the app offers multiple widget sizes, you will see them all. Tap the one you want, and it will be placed on your home screen. If you need to move it, long-press the widget and drag it to a new spot. Some Android phones also let you resize widgets by long-pressing them and dragging the edges.
Resizing and repositioning widgets
After you place a widget, you can almost always make it larger or smaller. On iPhone, long-press the widget and look for a "Edit Stack" or similar option, or straightforward long-press and drag the edges if your widget supports resizing. On Android, long-press the widget and drag the small handles that appear at the corners or edges to make it bigger or smaller.
Moving a widget is the same on both phones: long-press it and drag it to a new location on your home screen. If you run out of space, you can move widgets to a different home screen page by dragging them to the edge of the screen. The phone will automatically scroll to the next page and drop the widget there.
Removing widgets you no longer want
Removing a widget does not uninstall the app — it only takes the widget off your home screen. Long-press the widget and select "Remove" from the menu that appears. The app stays on your phone and works normally; you just will not see the widget anymore.
If you want to add the widget back later, follow the same steps you used to add it the first time. You can add the same widget multiple times if you want — for example, you could have two weather widgets showing different cities, or two calendar widgets with different views.
Troubleshooting widgets that will not appear
If you cannot find a widget you expected to see, the app may not offer one. Not every app has a widget — many smaller apps only work when you open them directly. Check the app's settings or help section to confirm it has a widget option.
If the widget list is empty or very short, you may not have many apps installed that offer widgets. The built-in apps on your phone — Calendar, Weather, Clock, Notes, Reminders — almost always have widgets. Third-party apps like Gmail, Spotify, and News apps often have them too, but smaller or newer apps may not.
On Android, if a widget is not showing up even though you know the app has one, try restarting your phone. Sometimes the widget system needs to refresh to recognize newly installed apps or updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have the same widget on multiple home screens?
Yes. You can add the same widget as many times as you want across different home screens or even on the same screen. This is useful if you want to see the same information in multiple places or configure the same widget differently each time.
Do widgets use more battery than just opening the app?
Widgets use some battery because they refresh periodically to show updated information, but the impact is usually small. Widgets that refresh very frequently — like stock tickers or live sports scores — use more power than widgets that update once an hour, like weather or calendar widgets.
What if I accidentally delete a widget and cannot remember how to add it back?
Long-press your home screen again and open the widgets menu. Find the app in the list and tap it, then select the widget size you want. The widget will reappear. You can do this as many times as you need — there is no limit to adding and removing widgets.
Can I customize what information a widget shows?
Many widgets have settings you can change. Long-press the widget and look for "Edit" or a gear icon. Some widgets let you choose which calendar to display, which city's weather to show, or how many items to list. Not all widgets have customization options, but most popular ones do.
Why does a widget look different on my phone than on my friend's phone?
Different phone models and Android versions display widgets differently. iPhone widgets look the same across all iPhones, but Android widgets can vary in appearance and available sizes depending on your phone's manufacturer and software version. The widget will work the same way regardless of how it looks.