If unlocking your phone often distracts you, lock screen widgets will help you regain focus. In this post, we'll explore what lock screen widgets are and why they can change the way you use your phone.
What are lock screen widgets?
Unlike standard widgets, lock screen widgets are specifically designed to be placed on the iPhone's lock screen. They let you access important information at a glance, helping you stay productive while minimizing additional interactions with your mobile device.
Due to limited space on the lock screen, lock screen widgets are smaller and simpler than regular widgets. Despite this, they are still effective in serving their purpose.
How to add widgets on the lock screen
You need an iPhone running iOS 16 or later to add widgets on the lock screen. With the advent of iOS 17, lock screen widgets got even better and now even let you perform simple actions without launching the full app. Older iPhone users can use widgets on the home screen.
If you're interested in lock screen widgets, here's how to add your first widget on your iPhone.
Press and hold the lock screen on your device until the button clicks Customize displayed below. Click on it.
Select options Lock screen.
On the next screen, select options Add amenities just below the clock.
A list of available widgets for your device appears. Scroll through the list and tap or drag the widget you want to add to the lock screen.
Finally, tap the close button, then tap Finished to complete the process. To edit a widget, tap the widget in Custom mode.
To remove widgets from the lock screen, press the button – per widget.
What types of widgets are suitable for the lock screen?
Lock screen widgets differ from home screen widgets mainly in their scope and design. While home screen widgets are large and offer more interactive features, such as scrolling through content or performing multiple actions, lock screen widgets are smaller and support limited interactions, often limited to basic actions only.
Lock screen widgets are ideal for displaying time-sensitive information like upcoming events or tasks, weather updates, battery information, etc. Most appear as small circles more and you can place up to 4 widgets on one lock screen. Other widgets may be rectangular and include more information, but also take up a bit more space. You can place two such widgets next to each other.
When choosing a lock screen widget for your iPhone, consider what important information you want to access quickly. While individual needs and priorities may vary, some widgets can be useful to most people.
1. Weather data
Checking the weather is an activity we all do almost every day. Having a weather widget on your lock screen will let you check weather updates just by glancing at your iPhone.
If you rely on another weather app like AccuWeather or the popular Carrot Weather, make sure to explore their lock screen widget options. The only note is that they require a premium subscription to use.
2. Tasks/notes
Thanks to lock screen widgets, you can quickly check your upcoming tasks and stay organized throughout the day. Recently, there was Structured – an intuitive day planning app that also comes with several lock screen widgets. You can choose between a circle that shows your upcoming task categories and a rectangle that also shows the task's title and scheduled time.
3. Health data
Many of us spend most of our day sitting at a desk, so it's worth trying to fit more physical activity into our daily schedule. To stay motivated to reach your goals, track your activity from the built-in Fitness app on your lock screen. The circle option takes up less space and displays the information you need in an easy-to-read way.
4. Medicine & water
Due to health problems, many people have to take medication every day. To make sure you never forget to take your medicine, rely on the medicine lock screen widget available in the built-in Health app. Additional widgets for Weekly State of Mind or Health are also available.
Additionally, if you have days where you struggle to drink a lot of water, use the lock screen widget from Water Tracker to quickly see your current water intake. This helps you know if you are getting closer to your goal.
5. Battery
You can easily see your phone's battery level from the lock screen. But if you have Bluetooth accessories like a smartwatch or headphones, you can also see their battery status using the built-in Battery lock screen widget.
6. Parcel information
If you shop online, you often have to keep an eye on packages. Apps like Parcel let you see the latest information about your package from your lock screen, which is extremely useful. This way, you definitely won't miss any updates. All you have to do is enter the package number and the app will give you the latest updates.
Now, you know more about widgets on the iPhone lock screen. You may want to continue customizing your lock screen. Also, check out these great sites that help you find the perfect iPhone or iPad wallpaper.
