How do i add widget to home screen

iOS 16 is the latest update to Apple’s long-running iPhone software and it comes packing numerous tweaks and additions – one such feature allows you to small widgets to the phone’s Lock Screen.

These Lock Screen widgets are similar to the complications available on the Apple Watch, and a lot smaller in general than the Home Screen widgets already available on iOS.

They’re still very useful though, and will become more useful when more app devs get to grips with iOS 16 and build these features into their apps.

Currently, there are Lock Screen widgets for calendar, battery, the Fitness app and News – among a few others. See below for the easiest way to add one to your phone.

What you’ll need: 

The Short Version 

• Wake your iPhone from sleep, and hold down on the Lock Screen
• Tap Customise
• Tap add Widgets
• Select from the list
• Tap X and then Done

1. Step
   1

   Wake your iPhone from sleep, and hold down on the Lock Screen

   

   To begin with, unlock your iPhone and hold down on the Lock Screen until you’re taken to a new Home Screen selection screen.
   

   

2. Step
   2

   Tap Customise

   

   Next, tap the big button at the bottom that says Customise. This then highlights certain points of the Lock Screen that can be customised. If you’ve ever used an Apple Watch, this will feel very familiar.

   

3. Step
   3

   

   Below the Clock, there should be a line of text that says Add Widgets – tap this.

   

4. Step
   4

   Select from the list

   

   Once you’ve tapped on Add Widgets, all the available Widgets will appear. You can either search by the Widgets themselves or via apps. When you found one (or up to four) you want, tap it and they’ll sit just below the Clock.

   

5. Step
   5

   Tap X and then Done

   

   Once you’ve chosen the Widgets you want, tap the little X in the corner and then tap Done. Now you’ve added a Widget to your Lock Screen.

   

Troubleshooting

Are the widgets only from Apple? or from Apps too?

In the beta stage, the widgets have only been from Apple. However, third-party options will become available.

You might like…

With the launch of iOS 16 this week, Apple also released an all-new Home app for its HomeKit smart home platform. And now, you can put a shortcut to that Home app directly on your lock screen, thanks to the new lock screen widgets feature. 

These Home widgets also provide glanceable info about the status of your home, including how many lights are on, the temperature or humidity inside, and whether your alarm system is armed or your door is locked.

You can add up to four Home widgets to your lock screen; they will show up in the lower shelf below the clock. There are two widget sizes: double and single, and they aren’t interactive — you can’t lock your door or turn your lights off directly from them. Instead, tapping on a Home widget takes you to the Home app or directly to the accessory displayed.

How to add an Apple Home app widget to your lock screen

• Long press the lock screen.
• Tap Customize.
• Tap the lower shelf below the clock. 
• An Add Widgets box appears.
• Scroll down and tap the Home app icon.
• Scroll left to see the available widgets.
• Tap the widget you want to add.
• It will appear on the screen below the clock.
• Press and drag to reposition it if you like.
• Hit the minus arrow if you want to remove it.
• Tap Done in the top right corner.

How to customize your Apple Home widgets

There are six Home app widget options to choose from: four double widgets that you can’t customize and two single widgets that you can. You can add up to four single widgets, two double widgets, or a double widget and two single widgets. You can add the single widgets more than once to display different devices.

Single Home app widgets

You can choose to display two single widgets that show the specific status of one Climate sensor and one Security sensor. Each can be customized to show a specific sensor or door lock / security system.

How to customize the Climate Sensor widget

• Add the Climate Sensor to your widget shelf.
• Tap the widget.
• A dialogue box will appear to choose one of the following options: Temperature, Air Quality, Humidity, Smoke Sensor, or Carbon Monoxide Sensor.
• Select which one you want to display.

How to customize the Security Accessory widget

• Add the Security Accessory to your widget shelf.
• Tap the widget.
• A dialogue box will appear with all the available door locks (including garage doors) and alarm systems.
• Select the one you want to display.

Double Home app widgets

As mentioned before, you can choose to display up to two double widgets. They include:

Summary: A summary of your smart home, including the temperature recorded by a thermostat or sensor, how many lights are on, and the status of one door or security system.

Climate: A summary of sensors that measure climate, showing a temperature range, indoor air quality, and humidity.

Security: A summary of your home security accessories, including doors, alarm system, and any sensors that aren’t responding (which means they are disconnected from your Home).

Lights: Showing how many lights are on in your house and how many are not responding.

At launch, the Apple Home app lock screen widgets don’t do as much as the Control Center Home tiles, which give you control over the device with a tap. But they are easier to access. They also feel like a good step toward quicker control of your Home devices; I’d just like to be able to add more of them.

How do I put a widget back on my home screen?

How do I pin widgets to my home screen?

How do you insert a widget?