How do i create widgets on my iphone

Top Widgets is the second most popular free app in Apple's App Store.

Sofia Pitt

Apple's iOS 16 iPhone update, released this week, lets iPhone users add little squares or rectangles of information known as "widgets" to the lock screen.

That's helped popularize Chinese app Top Widgets, which rocketed to the second most popular free app in the App Store behind social media app BeReal.

I've never heard of the app before, so I downloaded it to give it a try.

Top Widgets lets you personalize your home screen or lock screen with little squares or rectangles of information, like how much storage is left on your phone, pictures, the amount of steps you've taken, custom icons for apps and more. There's a lot more than what Apple offers by default, which might be one reason it's popular.

And it makes good use of the new always-on display on iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, which still show widgets on the screen even when the phone is idle. Those phones launch on Friday.

Here's what the app is like.

Top widgets for iPhone

Top Widgets app.

Sofia Pitt

To get started, just, just download Top Widgets from the App Store.

You don't need the newest iPhone to use the app. But, you need to first make sure you've installed iOS 16 to get widgets on your lock screen. IOS 16 is available for iPhone 8 and newer. Home screen widgets have been available since last year.

Next, open the app and select the widget you want to add to your lock screen or home screen.

You can pick from lots of stuff, like quick toggles to turn cellular or Wi-Fi on and off, your calendar, screen brightness, photos, reminders and even little animated emoji. Browse under the "LockScreen" section for specific options that can be added to your lock screen.

Hit save after you've picked the ones you want.

As you can see from my background, my widget tells me how many steps I've taken, how much battery I have left on my iPhone, and even how much storage space my iPhone is using.

Top Widgets on my iPhone 14 lock screen.

Sofia Pitt

That's all there is to it, the rest of the customization options are up to you.

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.

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