Widgets have changed the iPhone’s Home Screen from a grid of apps into a hub of information and functionality. The right widgets can make your iPhone experience even better. The ones mentioned above are a good place to start, but there are many more to discover in the App Store. With a little customization, your Home Screen can become personalized and efficient. The interactive capabilities of widgets on iPhone have improved with the introduction of iOS 17. These new widgets are not just static displays – they allow you to interact with apps right from the home or lock screen without opening the app itself.
From checking emails to adjusting media controls, interactive widgets streamline daily tasks and enhance the user experience on Apple devices. Users can easily customize their device interfaces with these interactive widgets, which now support full interactivity, a feature highly anticipated since the introduction of widgets. This upgrade means a more personalized and efficient way to access app functionalities, making the iPhone more user-friendly and convenient for multitasking. With simple long-press actions, users can edit or rearrange these widgets to fit their preferences and lifestyle seamlessly.
Enhance Your iPhone Experience with Widgets
Widgets have become an integral part of the iPhone experience, offering a quick glance at information and access to app functionalities right from your Home Screen. While the built-in widgets are useful, exploring third-party options can elevate your iPhone experience to new heights. Here are some must-have widgets that blend functionality with aesthetics.
Productivity Powerhouses
- Fantastical: A calendar widget that goes beyond the basics. It presents your schedule beautifully and allows quick event creation.
- Things 3: A task management widget that keeps your to-do list in focus. It offers a clear overview of your upcoming tasks.
- Shortcuts: This widget places your favorite Siri Shortcuts at your fingertips. Automate routine tasks or access information with a single tap.
- Launcher: Customize buttons to launch apps, websites, or even trigger complex actions.
Information at a Glance
- Carrot Weather: A weather widget that combines accuracy with a touch of humor. Customize it to display the information you need.
- Flighty: Never miss a flight update again. This real-time flight tracker widget keeps you informed about flight status, delays, and gate changes.
- Google Search: Access Google Search and Lens directly from your Home Screen. A quick search or image recognition is just a tap away.
Health and Wellness Companions
- Pedometer++: A simple yet effective step tracker. Monitor your daily activity and stay motivated to move.
- WaterMinder: Stay hydrated throughout the day with timely reminders and customizable intake goals.
- Streaks: Build and track habits with this visually appealing widget. It’s a great motivator for establishing positive routines.
Other Must-Haves
- Widgetsmith: A versatile widget that can display a variety of information. Customize it with your preferred data sources, colors, and fonts.
- Battery Widget: Keep track of your iPhone’s battery life and connected devices.
- Notes: Access your most important notes without opening the app.
The Top Widgets On iPhone (LISTS)
Table of Must-Have iPhone Widgets
| Category | Widget | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Productivity | Fantastical | Beautiful calendar widget for easy schedule management. |
| Productivity | Things 3 | Task management widget for staying organized. |
| Productivity | Shortcuts | Access Siri Shortcuts directly from your Home Screen. |
| Productivity | Launcher | Customize buttons to launch apps or trigger actions. |
| Information | Carrot Weather | Weather widget with a humorous touch. |
| Information | Flighty | Real-time flight tracker widget. |
| Information | Google Search | Quick access to Google Search and Lens. |
| Health & Wellness | Pedometer++ | Simple and effective step tracker. |
| Health & Wellness | WaterMinder | Reminders and tracking to help you stay hydrated. |
| Health & Wellness | Streaks | Build and track positive habits. |
| Other | Widgetsmith | Customizable widget for various data sources. |
| Other | Battery Widget | Monitor battery life of your iPhone and connected devices. |
| Other | Notes | Quick access to important notes. |
Table Of Essential iPhone Widgets
| Widget | Description |
|---|---|
| Weather | Provides real-time weather updates, forecasts, and other meteorological information directly on your Home Screen. |
| Calendar | Displays upcoming events, appointments, and reminders, helping you stay organized and on top of your schedule. |
| Reminders | Keeps your to-do lists and tasks front and center, making it easier to remember and complete them. |
| Battery | Shows the battery levels of your iPhone and connected devices, like AirPods or Apple Watch. |
| Clock | Displays the current time in a large, easy-to-read format, with options for different styles and time zones. |
| Google Search | Allows you to perform quick searches or access Google Lens features right from your Home Screen. |
Productivity and Utility Widgets
| Widget | Description |
|---|---|
| Shortcuts | Access your favorite Siri Shortcuts directly from the Home Screen for quick actions and automations. |
| Launcher | Create custom buttons to launch apps, websites, or perform specific tasks with a single tap. |
| Fantastical (or other calendar apps) | Offers advanced calendar features and customization options beyond the basic Apple Calendar widget. |
| Things 3 (or other task management apps) | Provides a more comprehensive and customizable way to manage your to-do lists and tasks. |
| Widgetsmith | Allows you to create highly personalized widgets with various data sources, styles, and layouts. |
Information and News Widgets
| Widget | Description |
|---|---|
| Apple News | Delivers curated news stories and personalized recommendations based on your interests. |
| Google News | Provides access to news articles from various sources around the world. |
| Flighty | Tracks flights in real-time, offering live updates on status, delays, and gate information. |
| Smart Stack | Intelligently rotates through relevant widgets throughout the day based on your usage patterns. |
Health and Fitness Widgets
| Widget | Description |
|---|---|
| Pedometer++ | Tracks your daily steps, distance, and other activity data. |
| WaterMinder | Helps you stay hydrated by reminding you to drink water and tracking your intake. |
| Streaks | Motivates you to build and maintain positive habits by tracking your progress visually. |
| Sleep Cycle | Monitors your sleep patterns and wakes you up at the optimal time based on your sleep cycle. |
| MyFitnessPal | Tracks your calorie intake and exercise, helping you manage your diet and fitness goals. |
Other Useful Widgets
| Widget | Description |
|---|---|
| Notes | Displays recent or pinned notes for quick access to important information. |
| Music | Controls music playback or shows recently played songs. |
| Screen Time | Provides an overview of your app usage and helps you manage your screen time. |
| Photos | Showcases your favorite photos in a rotating slideshow or a single frame. |
| Widgy | Offers extensive customization options for creating unique and personalized widgets. |
Key Takeaways
- Interactive widgets on the iPhone allow direct interaction with apps from the home or lock screen.
- The iOS 17 update introduced fully interactive widgets, enhancing customization and efficiency.
- Widgets can be easily edited and organized with simple touch gestures, providing a tailored user experience.
Interactive Widgets on iOS
Interactive Widgets on iOS 17 have changed how users interact with their iPhones. They offer new ways to access app features quickly from the Home Screen.
Understanding Interactive Widgets
An Interactive Widget is a mini-app that lives on the iPhone’s Home Screen. It lets you view and use app content without opening the app itself. Widgets can show information such as weather updates, calendar events, or music controls. With iOS 17, these widgets become interactive, meaning you can tap buttons or scroll through content directly from the widget.
Adding and Customizing Widgets
To add a widget to the Home Screen, touch and hold the background to enter edit mode. Then tap the “+” icon, usually found in the upper corner. A list of available widgets appears. You can search for and select the one you want to use. To customize, tap “Add Widget” and move it to where you want it on the Home Screen. Each app comes with different widget sizes and options you can choose from to fit your needs.
Widget Interactivity and iOS Integration
The interaction within these widgets is seamless. For example, you can swipe through an Email app widget to read your inbox at a glance. Reminder apps, music players, and more all offer rich controls through their widgets. This integration means you can complete more tasks without leaving the Home Screen. Apple has integrated this feature throughout iOS, linking widgets with the apps for a unified experience.
Beyond Basics: Advanced Widget Interactions
Widgets on the iPhone have evolved. They now go beyond showing simple information and allow users to interact with them directly. This opens new doors for third-party developers and hints at an exciting future for iOS and iPhone capabilities.
Third-Party Widgets and User Experience
Third-party developers create apps that enhance the iPhone experience. Thanks to iOS 17, their widgets can do more on the Home and Lock screens. Users can now play music, set reminders, and check emails without fully opening an app. This means less time tapping and more time enjoying. Widgets from the App Store bring diverse options to users, making every iPhone more personal.
For instance, a reminder widget can show tasks and let users mark them as done. A podcast app might let users play or pause an episode right from the widget. This level of interaction with third-party widgets makes the usage seamless. It shapes a user experience that feels intuitive and efficient.
Future of Widgets with iOS and iPhone
The future for iOS widgets is full of potential. With each iPhone update, users enjoy more ways to interact with their devices. Widgets may soon offer even more advanced features, like personalizing the user interface or managing complex tasks with a tap.
Home screen widgets could evolve to show real-time information or maybe even allow for in-widget purchases. Lock screen widgets might one day be a hub for shortcuts to user’s favorite tasks and information. The possibilities are endless. As developers continue to innovate, the iPhone will become even more powerful and indispensable to daily life.
