What Is a Widget & How to Add Widgets to the iPhone Today View (iOS 16)

What is a widget, anyway? We'll explain what widgets are and give you a breakdown of how to use widgets to spruce up your Today View on the iPhone.

By Jim Karpen Updated 12/14/2022

* This post is part of iPhone Life's Tip of the Day newsletter. Sign Up. *

What is a widget? Widgets are a quick way to look at information and news from apps without having to open them. Let's take a look at how to add widgets to your Today View so that they're organized and easy to access.

Why You'll Love This Tip

Quickly and easily access your widgets without cluttering your Home screen.
View quick updates and information all in one place.

How to Add Widgets to the iPhone Today View

So, why should you add widgets to your Today View? The Today View is quick and easy to access from your iPhone Home screen, but not in your face unless you want to see it. Widgets make customizing your iPhone much more fun and user friendly. You can also add widgets to your iPhone's Home screen, but adding widgets to the Today View is a handy way to use widgets without sacrificing space on your Home screen. To learn more about widgets in iOS, as well as many more great iOS features, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter.

Here's how to add widgets to your Today View:

On your iPhone's Home screen, swipe from left to right until you arrive at the Today View.
Scroll to the bottom and tap Edit.
If you wish to remove an existing widget, tap the white or gray minus icon at the corner of the widget you want to remove.
To add a new widget, tap on the white plus icon in the upper-left corner.
Tap on a suggested widget to add it.
Swipe left or right to change the size or style of the widget, then tap Add Widget.
If you want to rearrange the widget once it appears in your Today View, simply long-press the widget and drag it to the spot you'd rather place it in.
Once you're satisfied with the widget and its location, tap Done in the upper-right corner.

If you change your mind later and want to add or remove a widget, you can do so at any time by following these same steps.

Master your iPhone in one minute a day: Sign up here to get our FREE Tip of the Day delivered right to your inbox.

Topics

Did you like this tip

Author Details

Jim Karpen

Jim Karpen holds a Ph.D. in literature and writing, and has a love of gizmos. His doctoral dissertation focused on the revolutionary consequences of digital technologies and anticipated some of the developments taking place in the industry today. Jim has been writing about the Internet and technology since 1994 and has been using Apple's visionary products for decades.

Article Spotlight

New Podcast: Apple Spring Buyer’s Guide 2023, Yellow iPhone 14 & Apps for Learning Guitar

You may know iPhone Life for the magazine and website that help anyone master their Apple devices. But did you know about the monthly podcasts that you can enjoy on the go? The iPhone Life Podcast covers apps, gear, and how-tos. The hosts are CEO and Publisher David Averbach and Editor in Chief Donna Cleveland. Needless to say, they are pros on all things Apple. Tune in to benefit from all their valuable tips; subscribe to the podcast today!

Featured Products

Master 2023 with this Calendar App for Easy Organization

Informant 5 can help you meet all your 2023 organizational goals! Try it for free and experience a productivity boost by managing projects with tasks and notes, syncing your calendar among all your devices, enjoying a user-friendly 30-day calendar view, and so much more. Informant 5 features SmartBar navigation which makes it so much easier to use and master this calendar app. Plus, you can use it almost anywhere thanks to Dark Mode. With a dark background, you can check in on your tasks and schedule anywhere, even the movie theater. Upgrade to the best calendar app and task manager for iOS! Embrace the "out with the old, in with the new" spirit with Informant 5.

Run Your Business Smarter with Remote Device Management

Effortlessly set up and manage all of your Apple devices with Jamf Now! This cloud-based device management software allows you to remotely configure the devices your team uses on a daily basis (such as iPads, iPhones, Mac computers, and more), giving you the ability to set up new equipment, add apps, manage security features, and much more. With Jamf Now, one person can do in a day what a small team of people could do in a week. Start with three devices for free and add more for just $2 per device, paid monthly.