Widgets provide a streamlined way to see information at a glance without opening an app, and customizing them is one of the easiest ways to make your iPhone feel truly personal. Whether you want to check the weather, track workouts, or glance at upcoming calendar events, the process to change the widgets on iPhone is designed to be intuitive and fast.
Understanding Widget Basics on iOS
Widgets are interactive elements that display live data right on your Home Screen or in the Today View, giving you quick access to information like news headlines, battery levels, or flight status. On iPhone, they are built into the operating system and also available from many third-party apps you install, allowing you to tailor your device to your specific priorities and habits.
Accessing the Widget Gallery
To change the widgets on iPhone, you first need to enter the editing mode where you can browse and place new widgets. The method varies slightly depending on which version of iOS you are using, but the core steps remain similar across devices.
On iOS 14 and Later with the Main Home Screen
Touch and hold any empty area on your Home Screen until the apps begin to jiggle.
Tap the plus button “+” in the upper-left corner to open the Widget Gallery.
Scroll through the list of available widgets or use the search bar to find a specific one.
On iOS 14 and Later with the Today View
Swipe right from the far left edge of your Home Screen to open the Today View.
Scroll all the way to the bottom and tap “Edit”.
You can then add, remove, or rearrange widgets specific to the Today View.
Adding and Sizing Widgets on Your Home Screen
After you open the Widget Gallery, you will see a variety of options ranging from simple utilities to more complex, data-rich designs. Each widget can appear in multiple sizes, so it is worth considering how much information you want to display at once and how much space you are willing to allocate on your main screen.
When you tap a widget, it will automatically be added to your Home Screen in the default size, and you can immediately move it around just like any app icon. If you want to adjust the dimensions, touch and hold the newly added widget, tap “Edit Widget” if that option appears, and choose between the small, medium, or large configurations provided by the developer.
Managing and Removing Existing Widgets
Over time, your collection of widgets can grow, and some may become redundant or less useful. To change the widgets on iPhone by removing or rearranging them, stay in the jiggle mode on your Home Screen.
You can drag widgets to the Remove section at the bottom of the screen to delete them from your Home Screen, or simply drag them to a new location to better organize your layout. For widgets in the Today View, you can swipe left on an entry and tap Delete to hide it, ensuring that only the most relevant information appears when you swipe to check your notifications and upcoming tasks.
Advanced Tips for Getting the Most from Your Widgets
To truly make the widgets on iPhone work for you, explore the configuration options inside the supporting apps, as many of them let you tweak colors, data sources, and update frequency. You can create multiple widget configurations for the same app, so your morning routine might show a timeline of your day, while your evening Home Screen focuses on weather and commute times.
Keep an eye on battery and performance, since highly active widgets with frequent refreshes can use more resources. By balancing useful information with system efficiency, you can maintain a responsive device while enjoying a customized and productive home screen that fits your lifestyle.
