With the release of iOS 14, Apple brought a significant transformation to the iPhone’s Home Screen by introducing the concept of Home Screen widgets, a feature akin to those found on Android devices. Prior to this update, widgets were confined to the Today View, accessed by swiping left on the Home Screen. However, iOS 14 revamped widgets’ design and functionality, allowing users to add them directly to the Home Screen alongside their app icons. This article will guide you through the process of using and customizing widgets to enhance your iOS experience.
Adding Widgets to the Home Screen
To begin adding widgets to your Home Screen, you have two options. First, you can long-press on a widget in the Today View, which will prompt a popup menu with an “Edit Home Screen” option. Tapping this option will activate jiggle mode, allowing you to drag widgets from the Today View and place them anywhere on the Home Screen.
The second method involves long-pressing on a blank area of the Home Screen or an additional page of apps, where you’ll find a plus (+) button in the top-left corner. Tapping this button opens the Widget Gallery, providing access to a wide variety of widgets. You can either search for a specific widget or browse through the available options. Upon selecting a widget from the list, you can customize its size (small, medium, or large) and then tap the “Add Widget” button to place it on either the Today View or the Home Screen.
Widget Sizes and Functionality
Widgets come in different sizes, each offering varying levels of content display. For example, a Weather widget can range from showing current conditions on the smallest size to displaying the forecast for the next few days on the largest size. It’s essential to bear in mind that larger widgets occupy more space on your Home Screen. A small widget takes up the space of four apps in a square shape, a medium widget takes up the space of eight apps in a rectangle shape, and a large widget takes up the space of 16 apps in a square shape.
Additionally, some apps offer different widget options based on their functions. For instance, the Apple News widget allows you to select between relevant news from the day or stories about a specific topic of interest. Changing the function of an existing Apple News widget is easy: long-press on the widget, then select “Edit ‘News’.”
Organizing Widgets and Widget Stacks
Once you have added widgets to your Home Screen, you can move them around just like app icons. Long-press on the screen to activate jiggle mode, and then drag the widgets to your preferred locations with your finger.
Another handy feature is widget stacking, which lets you stack multiple widgets on top of one another. This way, you can group your favorite widgets together and effortlessly swap between them with a simple upward or downward swipe of your finger. Apple has also introduced a “Smart Stack,” a widget stack that uses Siri Intelligence to surface the most relevant and useful widgets based on your iPhone usage habits.
Exploring Third-Party Widgets
In addition to Apple’s native widgets, the company has allowed developers to create their own Home Screen widgets, enabling third-party apps to extend their functionality and provide unique experiences to users. Keep an eye out for available widgets from your favorite third-party apps to further customize and enhance your Home Screen experience.
Conclusion
iOS 15’s Home Screen widgets offer a dynamic and customizable way to access essential information and functionalities right from your Home Screen. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can make the most of these widgets, personalizing your iPhone experience and improving productivity with quick access to relevant content and app features. Stay on the lookout for exciting widgets from third-party developers to add even more versatility and functionality to your Home Screen setup.
