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
Step
1Wake 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.
Step
2Tap 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.
Step
3Below the Clock, there should be a line of text that says Add Widgets – tap this.
Step
4Select 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.
Step
5Tap 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.
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Users with the iOS 16 update can now add
widgets to their iPhone lock screen. The latest update for iPhone is here, allowing users to add new widgets to their lock screen. With iOS 16 installed, the process of adding new widgets is simple, and will only take a few minutes. These widgets can continue to be customized should you require new elements. The process of adding new widgets to the iPhone lock screen with the iOS 16 update is straightforward. Here are the steps
you must take: To begin, lock your iPhone and hold the lock screen. This new screen will give you the option to
customize what appears on your phone when it is in the locked state. Tap the Add New button to be taken to a new options menu that will allow you to completely customize several elements on your iPhone. Select the type of wallpaper you want to use. This will be the template on which you can add your widgets. You can create a wallpaper made of emojis, use images you have saved, or take advantage of one of Apple’s pre-made wallpapers.Add widgets to lock screen
Once you’ve made your wallpaper selection, the next screen will show anything already on the wallpaper as being in a widget box. You can now tap the Add Widgets box to customize this screen, adding new elements that you view regularly. It’s possible to add a widget above and below the time display.
As you can see in the image, it’s possible to have things like the weather in your location, stock information, the latest news and other handy elements as widgets. These widgets come in two different sizes, allowing you to have a maximum of four widgets below the time.
After you’ve added you’re your widgets, you’re all set! Next time you lock your iPhone you’ll be able to see your new creation. There are plenty more things to learn about iOS 16, including enabling the battery percentage. Stay tune to Shacknews as we help you navigate any new iOS updates.
Hailing from the land down under, Sam Chandler brings a bit of the southern hemisphere flair to his work. After bouncing round a few universities, securing a bachelor degree, and entering the video game industry, he's found his new family here at Shacknews as a Guides Editor. There's nothing he loves more than crafting a guide that will help someone. If you need help with a guide, or notice something not quite right, you can Tweet him: @SamuelChandler