What a Google widget is and where to find it
A Google widget is a small app shortcut that sits on your phone's home screen and shows you information without opening the full app. Google makes several: the search box that lets you type a query from your home screen, the Google News widget that displays headlines, the Google Calendar widget showing your next events, and the Google Keep widget for quick notes. Each one pulls live data and updates throughout the day.
The widgets you can add depend on which Google apps you have installed. If you have Gmail, Google Maps, Google Photos, or Google Fit on your phone, you can add widgets for those too. You do not need to read anything extra — the widgets come built into the apps themselves.
Key Takeaways
- Long-press an empty area of your home screen, then tap the plus icon or "Widgets" button to open the widget menu.
- Find Google in the list, tap it, and scroll through the available widgets — search box, news, calendar, and others depending on which apps you have installed.
- Tap the widget you want, choose which home screen to place it on, and tap "Add Widget" to confirm.
- Resize the widget by long-pressing it and dragging the edges, or remove it by long-pressing and tapping "Remove."
How to open the widget menu on Android
On an Android phone, find an empty space on your home screen — somewhere with no app icons. Long-press that empty area for about two seconds until a menu appears at the bottom of the screen. You will see options like "Wallpaper," "Widgets," or a plus sign. Tap "Widgets" or the plus icon, depending on your phone model.
The widget menu will open and show you a list of all apps that have widgets available. Scroll down until you see "Google" in the list. Tap it to expand and see which Google widgets are available on your phone.
How to open the widget menu on iPhone
On an iPhone, swipe left from your home screen to reach the lock screen or the leftmost home screen page. At the bottom, tap the plus sign in a circle. A menu will appear showing all apps with available widgets. Scroll down and tap "Google" to see the widgets Google offers.
If you do not see a plus sign, swipe all the way left until you reach the very first page, then look again at the bottom. On some iPhone models, you may need to swipe left from the lock screen itself rather than the home screen.
Selecting and placing a Google widget
Once you have opened the Google widget menu, you will see thumbnails of each available widget. The search box is usually first — a white rectangle with the Google logo and a search field. Below that you might see Google News, Google Calendar, Google Keep, or others depending on which apps are installed. Tap the widget you want to add.
Your phone will ask you which home screen to place it on. Swipe left or right through your home screens to choose the one you want, then tap "Add Widget" or "Add" at the bottom. The widget will appear on that screen when ready.
Resizing and moving your widget
After the widget appears, you can make it larger or smaller. Long-press the widget itself — not the home screen around it — until a menu appears. On Android, you will see a resize handle (usually a small square in the corner). Drag the edges outward to make it bigger or inward to make it smaller. On iPhone, tap "Edit Widget" or look for resize handles at the edges.
To move the widget to a different spot on the same screen, long-press it and drag it to the new location. To move it to a different home screen entirely, long-press it, tap "Move," and swipe to the screen you want. Release it when you are in the right place.
Removing a widget you no longer want
If you decide you do not want a widget anymore, long-press it until the menu appears. On Android, tap "Remove from Home Screen." On iPhone, tap "Remove Widget" and confirm. The widget disappears when ready, but the app itself stays on your phone — you are only removing the shortcut from your home screen.
You can add the same widget back later by following the same steps. There is no penalty for removing and re-adding widgets, so feel free to experiment with which ones are useful to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I not see Google widgets in my widget menu?
You may not have the Google app installed, or your phone's software is very old. Open the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone), search for "Google," and install the official Google app. After installation, close and reopen the widget menu — the Google widgets should now appear.
Can I add the same widget to multiple home screens?
Yes. Open the widget menu again, select the same Google widget, and choose a different home screen. You can have the search box on screen one and the news widget on screen two, or duplicate the same widget across multiple screens.
What if the widget shows old information or does not update?
Widgets update when your phone has an internet connection and the app is allowed to run in the background. Check that Wi-Fi or mobile data is on, then swipe down from the top of your screen and pull down to refresh. If it still does not update, restart your phone or reinstall the Google app.
Does adding a Google widget slow down my phone?
A single widget has minimal impact on speed. Multiple widgets that update constantly can use more battery and data, but one or two Google widgets will not noticeably slow your phone. If you notice your phone running slowly, removing widgets is one thing to try, but it is usually not the main cause.
Can I customize what information a widget shows?
Some widgets have settings. Long-press the widget and look for "Edit Widget," "Settings," or a gear icon. The search box widget has few options, but the news widget may let you choose which topics to display, and the calendar widget may let you select which calendars to show.