How to Add & Use iPhone Homescreen Widgets in iOS 14

Want to add widgets on your iPhone's home screen? We can finally do it. With the release of iOS 14, you can add them anywhere you want, set them to one of three sizes, and even customize their contents. This brings a lot more versatility and customization to the iPhone Home screen. You can even add widgets to your iPad Home screen! Let's learn how to do this on your iPhone first.

Related: What Are Widgets, Plus How to Add Them to the iPhone's Today View

What’s in this article:

• How to Add Widgets on the iPhone in iOS 14
• How to Create Widget Stacks in iOS 14
• How to Customize and Resize Widgets in iOS 14
• Widget Recommendations: Our Favorite iOS Widgets So Far

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How to Add Widgets on the iPhone in iOS 14

Widgets are nothing new. You’ve been able to access your widgets for a while now by swiping right on your first Home screen and opening Today View. But what is new is the ability to move widgets directly to your iPhone Home screen! To add widgets to your Home screen:

1. Long press on your Home screen until the apps begin to wiggle and the editing options appear. 
2. Tap the + icon. You’ll be given a selection of widgets. 
3. Tap on the one you want to add. 
   
   
    
4. Select your widget display option (small, medium, or large).
5. And then tap Add Widget. 
   
   
    
6. The widget will be added to your Home screen.
7. When you’re done, tap Done on the top right of your screen and you will exit the menu.
   
   
    
8. To remove a widget, just hit the minus sign when the icons are wiggling. Voila! Your widget will now behave similarly to your apps (it’s just bigger).

How to Create Widget Stacks in iOS 14

You can also stack multiple widgets on top of each other so you can access them more easily. Widget stacks are a great way to quickly switch up the look of your Home screen, or to bring different information to your fingertips. To create a Widget Stack:

1. Add a widget (as above).
2. Do this as many times as you like, continuing to add widgets to your Home screen. 
3. Once you are finished, drag and drop the widgets on top of each other to create a Widget Stack. 
   
   
    
4. Tap Done once you are finished. 
5. Swipe up and down on your stack to access all of the widgets that have been placed within it.
   
   

How to Customize & Resize Widgets in iOS 14

If at any point you decide you would like to adjust the size of your widget or change your widget stack, that can be done. To customize your widgets:

1. Tap and hold on the widget you want to edit until a box appears. 
2. If you want to edit what is in your stack, just tap Edit Stack. 
3. If you want to edit the widget, tap Edit [widget name]. 
   
   
    
4. If you choose to edit your widget, then you can choose what is shown on your Home screen. For example, if you have a Notes widget, you can choose which notes are viewable from the Home screen on your widget.
   
   

Widget Recommendations: Our Favorite iOS Widgets So Far

Widgets only came to iOS with the release of the iOS 14 beta, so the selection will remain limited until more third-party developers get around to creating their own. We predict there will be widgets for popular and common apps like Facebook and WhatsApp, but there’s no telling what they’ll be like. In the meantime, here are the ones we've been using while we wait:

1. The Photos App Widget
   Really spiffs up your home-screen with a selection of your top pictures curated by your iPhone’s AI. It rotates pictures and always shows you something nice, keeping your home screen fresh.
2. The Weather App Widget
   Getting the weather at a glance has never been easier. It’s always handy to know what the temperature is like outside before you grab your jacket or hat, but with this widget, we’ll probably never actually open the Weather app again, since we can get most of its data right on the home screen. Definitely a breath of fresh air!
3. The Batteries App Widget
   We at iPhone Life have always loved the batteries widget: it offers an at-a-glance summary of the current charge of all your iOS connected mobile devices, including your AirPods and Apple Watch. 
4. Streaks ($4.99)
   This habit-building tool shows you how long you've successfully maintained a practice. For example, it could show you how many days in a row that you've used your jump rope. With the widget, you can pick habits you're working on and show them right on your home screen.

If you're a fan of Widgets and have an iPad, they are finally available with iPadOS 14 update!