In theAndroiddomain, widgets are tried and tested tools to have instant access to anything and everything. With iOS 14,Appledecided to get its own iPhone widgets, finally letting us take control of the home screen. If you’re making a switch from Android to iPhone, there’s now one less feature that you’ll have to compromise.
Thejailbreak communityhas had widgets on iPhone since the days of iOS 10 and 11; iOS 14 widgets are just the first baked-in widgets from the company. While Apple took its sweet time, it delivered an equally sweet feature. you’re able to use this new addition to iOS 14 as multiple tiles spread across sheets of home screens, or you can just stack them up as one. So here we’ll tell you everything you need to know about iPhone widgets on iOS 14 and some extra customization tricks.
What Is A Widget?
in technical terms, a widget is a part of the graphic user interface (GUI) that runs on a self-contained code that lets you pass certain commands in a certain way to the OS. In simple terms, a widget is a shortcut that displays information on the fly and lets you interact with it to get what you need with fewer clicks. That said, it is certainly handy if you want the battery stats, calendar, and weather right there on the home screen when you unlock the phone.
How To Get Widgets On iPhone?
Before you get the widgets, you need to update to iOS 14. You can do that if you have an iPhone 6s/iPhone SE or later model. Just go toSettings > General > Software Update > Download and Install. This will update you to the latest iOS 14, and you won’t only get access to widgets but to the new App Library as well.
Also Read:How To Use iOS 14 App Library: A Good But Half-baked Feature
How To Use iPhone Widgets?
If you’re not a fan of widgets on the home screen, you’re able to have them in the “Today view” and access them from the lock screen as well. Here’s how to add iPhone widgets to Today View:
How To Use Smart Stacks In iOS Widgets?
This is one of the iOS 14 best widgets. It is so because you can create a stack of widgets and have multiple widgets in the space of a single one. One of the compromises here is that one size doesn’t fit all. You might want a bigger widget for your photos and calendar but a more compact one for the weather. Here’s how to use stacks and enable smart stacks on iOS widgets:
Custom iPhone Widgets
Some of the best iPhone widgets were the ones that came when users were jailbreaking into iOS and showed their creativity. As much as we loved the customization, we hated the loss of warranty that came with it. Fortunately, now there are apps on the App Store that let you create custom widgets.
The one I used isWidgetsmith; it’s a simple app with a lot of customization options. The app also offers an Astronomy widget that shows you the starfield above you. You can also create timed widgets (much like smart stacks). The basic version is free and has most of the features. If you want to go for the premium one, it is available on a subscription basis for $1.99/month or $19.99/year. Here’s how to use the app to make custom iPhone widgets:
Once you’ve prepared your first widget, you can add more and create a timed stack which will show you the relevant information when you ask it to. Here’s how to do that:
iOS 14 Best Widgets
What makes widgets even sweeter is that developers on the Apple Store seemed to be eagerly waiting for this, almost as if they knew it’ll happen one day. There are several quality widgets for you to use and here are some of the best iOS 14 widgets:
