The iPhone operating system has been continuously improving and adding new features. iOS 14 introduced them for the first time. And in iOS 16—the current version—they are now indispensable for users. We're talking about iPhone widgets , small programs that make using the device easier on a daily basis, and which we'll discuss in the following paragraphs.
The truth is that its direct competitor, Android, had been using them for many years. But Apple wasn't so sure. They wanted to do something different with their implementation in the operating system. And it wasn't until iOS 14 that they were launched. With widgets, users can personalize their iPhone screen and access information in a different way, tailored to their individual needs . Now we'll leave you with a list of the best widgets for iPhone.
What are widgets for iPhone?
As we mentioned above, iPhone widgets—just like on Android or any other operating system—are small programs that require very few resources and display specific information clearly and directly on the screen . In other words, you can have different widgets installed on the same screen that show your upcoming calendar appointments, the weather forecast for the next few hours (or days), and even reminders. Over the years, new and more functional widgets have been added to make using the device easier.
How do you install widgets on the iPhone?
Ok, this is all very nice, but how do you install widgets on the iPhone? This action is really easy and you just have to do the following:
- Keep long press the screen of your iPhone somewhere where there is no app icon
- You will check that all the icons on your screen start to move. This is used both to remove apps and to add widgets
- In the upper left part of the screen you will see that a small button with the '+' sign. click on it
- At the moment the screen of the widget search engine that you have available will appear. Just search for what you are looking for and select it. You will already have a new widget on the home screen of your iPhone
List of the best widgets for iPhone
Next we are going to leave you with some ideas so that you can install them on your iPhone and see how easy it is to access the most important information with a simple glance. We will leave you with different options and themes.
FotMob – a widget to keep up to date with soccer
If you love keeping up with football scores, we have an app for you with an interesting widget. It's called FotMob , a free app that lets you follow the results of your favorite teams and leagues in real time. Once installed, you'll need to configure it and choose the teams, players, etc., that you'll then see in the widget on your phone's home screen.
MemoWidget – remember everything instantly just by looking at the iPhone screen
If you're a bit forgetful, it might be better to write everything down in a notebook. But since you probably carry your iPhone everywhere, use it as a reminder notebook with this widget: MemoWidget . This micro-app lets you jot down everything on your device's home screen and keep it visible as soon as you turn on your iPhone . It also offers different color customizations to make your notes stand out even more. This app is also free, although you can upgrade to premium with an annual subscription to remove ads and enable synchronization.
Supershift – keep your work shifts on the home screen
If you have a monthly work schedule with varying shifts, keeping track of everything can be chaotic. That's why this app, Supershift , exists. It allows you to organize your entire schedule by color and time. Plus, its widget is very practical and offers different views so you can choose and adapt it to your needs.
This app also lets you sync with cloud storage services and print or save all your charts to a PDF file , month by month, for better tracking. It's free. There are also versions for iPad and Apple Watch.
Listy – keep track of the episodes of your favorite series
With the arrival of streaming services , the list of series to watch has grown exponentially. And if you're one of those people who watches more than one series at the same time, it's impossible to keep track of where you are and what you still have to watch. Listy will make this task much easier.
It's an app that lets you keep a list of everything you still need to see—or have already seen . It also allows you to create to-do lists and view them on your iPhone's home screen with its widget. This app is free, although there's also a premium version that lets you sync your lists to the cloud and across your different devices.
Home Widget – control your smart home from iPhone
Finally, we couldn't leave out an app that lets you control your entire smart home . From turning on lights and changing their colors to raising blinds or controlling the home's temperature, as well as any security cameras you have installed in different rooms , Home Widget allows you to do just that. This widget lets you control your home automation system with various buttons on your home screen. In other words, you can use your iPhone as a remote control to manage your home. It's free and also compatible with iPadOS.
If you think we have left out important widgets for you, leave us your recommendations in the comments and tell us how you use them and why they are important in your day-to-day life with the iPhone.