Customize your iPhone home screen with widgets.

Customize your display with engaging and informative widgets.

Customize your iPhone home screen with widgets.
Customize your iPhone home screen with widgets.

Have you ever wished for a way to access your favorite apps and information without the hassle of digging through your iPhone's home screen? Widgets are here to transform your iPhone experience. They are mini apps that bring key information right to your fingertips, allowing you to stay updated at a glance. Whether it's checking the weather, tracking your fitness goals or keeping an eye on your calendar, widgets make it all possible without needing to open each app individually. Let's get started on making your home screen not just functional but uniquely yours.

Sign up for my free newsletter to receive a $500 gift card for the holidays.

Helpful hack: Customize your home screen by adding widgets on your iPhone
Image of widgets on iPhone (Apple) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

What are widgets?

Mini applications that display essential information from your favorite apps on your home screen, widgets offer quick access to important features and updates without opening the full app, saving you time and enhancing your iPhone experience.

Helpful hack: Customize your home screen by adding widgets on your iPhone
Widgets on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

How to update your iPhone to the latest software

If you're not running the latest iOS, follow these simple steps to update your iPhone.

  • Open Settings
  • Tap General
  • Select Software Update
  • If available, tap Update Now and begin downloading and installing iOS 18.1
Helpful hack: Customize your home screen by adding widgets on your iPhone
Steps to update your iPhone’s software (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Adding widgets to your home screen

To make your iPhone more convenient, follow these simple steps to add widgets to your home screen.

  • Swipe up from the bottom of your home screen to access the Control Center.
  • Rewritten sentence: Can you please provide me with the new information?
  • Click Add Widget
  • Rewritten sentence: Can you provide me with an alternative version of the input sentence that is the same length?
  • Swipe left or right on your chosen widget to view different options.
  • To place a widget on your home screen, first select its size and then tap "Add Widget."
Helpful hack: Customize your home screen by adding widgets on your iPhone
Steps to add widgets to your iPhone’s home screen (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Arranging and resizing widgets

You can easily adjust the position and size of a widget after adding it.

  • To move the widget to a different page, touch and hold it until it floats, then drag it to the edge of the screen. After that, tap an empty area on the home screen.
  • To see available size options for a widget, long-press on it and then select the desired size by tapping on it.
  • To resize a widget on the home screen, tap on the empty area and if available, grab the corner of the widget where you see a small handle to make it larger.
  • To finalize the changes, tap Done.
Helpful hack: Customize your home screen by adding widgets on your iPhone
Steps to arrange and resize widgets on iPhone’s home screen (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Customizing widget appearance

iOS 18 introduced new ways to customize the look of your widgets:

To make icons larger, press the empty area on your home screen, then select "Customize" at the top of the screen.

You can choose between Light, Dark, or Automatic mode for your icons and widgets to switch based on the time of day.

To customize the color tint of your icons and widgets, use the Tinted option and adjust the hue and saturation to your preference. Simply press the empty area on your home screen to save your changes.

Helpful hack: Customize your home screen by adding widgets on your iPhone
Steps to customize widget appearance (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Removing widgets

If you want to remove a widget from your home screen:

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the home screen to access the Control Center.
  • Rewritten sentence: "You can remove the widget by clicking on the "-" icon."
  • Tap Remove to confirm your decision.
Helpful hack: Customize your home screen by adding widgets on your iPhone
Steps to remove widgets on iPhone’s home screen (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Kurt’s key takeaways

Customizing your iPhone's home screen with widgets is a great way to personalize your device and improve your productivity. You can add, resize and arrange widgets to create a home screen that perfectly suits your needs and preferences. Experiment with different layouts and widget combinations to find what works best for you.

Please inform us at Cyberguy.com/Contact about the new widgets you plan to add to your iPhone home screen to improve your productivity and information access.

To receive my tech tips and security alerts, sign up for my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter at Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.

Follow Kurt on his social channels:

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

New from Kurt:

Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

by Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report

tech

Has your friend's phone number been compromised? Here are the signs to watch out for.

Has your friend's phone number been compromised? Here are the signs to watch out for.

tech
No tennis partner? No problem with this AI robot.

No tennis partner? No problem with this AI robot.

tech
iOS 18.1's new AI features offer helpful hacks for Siri, photo magic, and writing assistance.

iOS 18.1's new AI features offer helpful hacks for Siri, photo magic, and writing assistance.

tech
Across the US, the landscape of artificial intelligence is constantly evolving.

Across the US, the landscape of artificial intelligence is constantly evolving.

tech
By observing videos, robots can mimic human surgeons' skills.

By observing videos, robots can mimic human surgeons' skills.

tech
New fears arise from Siberia's 'Gateway to Hell' crater

New fears arise from Siberia's 'Gateway to Hell' crater

tech
The US agriculture industry is exploring the use of artificial intelligence: 'Great prospects'

The US agriculture industry is exploring the use of artificial intelligence: 'Great prospects'

tech
Amazon's VP provides guidance on safeguarding against holiday impersonation frauds.

Amazon's VP provides guidance on safeguarding against holiday impersonation frauds.

tech
7 things to avoid posting online to prevent harm.

7 things to avoid posting online to prevent harm.

tech
Be cautious of these 6 gift card scams during the holiday season.

Be cautious of these 6 gift card scams during the holiday season.

tech
The Apple Watch's real-time translation feature allows you to communicate with people who speak different languages.

The Apple Watch's real-time translation feature allows you to communicate with people who speak different languages.

tech
How to politely request people not to share photos of your children on social media.

How to politely request people not to share photos of your children on social media.

tech
Regain access to your Facebook account with these steps.

Regain access to your Facebook account with these steps.

tech
Protect your retirement accounts and future with a VPN.

Protect your retirement accounts and future with a VPN.

tech
Use AI to plan your next free trip.

Use AI to plan your next free trip.

tech
Allegations of using AI to fabricate testimony against conservative YouTuber in Minnesota case brought against Stanford professor.

Allegations of using AI to fabricate testimony against conservative YouTuber in Minnesota case brought against Stanford professor.

tech