You Keep Hearing About Widgets, But Where Do You Actually Get Them?
You see them on your friend’s phone home screen—a sleek weather forecast, a quick glance at your calendar, or music controls without opening an app. You read about “productivity widgets” for your computer desktop. Your new smart TV even suggests adding them. The promise is clear: widgets deliver information and functionality right where you need it, saving you precious clicks and time.
Yet, when you go to set one up, you might find yourself staring at a blank screen, wondering where the menu is or if you need to download something special. The process isn’t always intuitive, and it varies wildly depending on whether you’re using an iPhone, an Android phone, a Windows PC, or a Mac.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We’re going to walk through exactly how to get widgets on every major platform. You’ll learn where they live, how to add them, and how to manage them to create a home screen or desktop that works for you, not against you.
What Are Widgets, Really?
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s clarify the “what.” A widget is not a standalone app. Think of it as a live window from an app that you can place outside of the app itself. It displays timely information or offers quick controls.
A weather widget shows the current temperature and conditions. A calendar widget shows your next appointment. A music widget lets you play, pause, or skip tracks. They are meant for at-a-glance consumption and instant interaction.
Critically, you don’t “get” widgets from a single, universal app store. You get them from the apps you already have or may install. The widget is a feature of the app. So, the first step to getting a widget is often having the corresponding app installed.
How to Get Widgets on Your iPhone or iPad
The iOS widget system, refined over recent versions, is deeply integrated into the home screen. You have two primary ways to add them.
Using the Today View
This is the classic widget panel, accessible by swiping right from your first home screen or lock screen.
Scroll to the bottom of this view and tap “Edit.” You’ll see a list of available widgets. Tap the green “+” icon next to any widget to add it to your Today View. You can also tap and hold on a widget already in the list and drag it to reorder. Tap “Done” when finished.
Adding Widgets Directly to Your Home Screen
This is the more modern, flexible method for creating a customized look.
Touch and hold an empty area on your home screen until the apps start to jiggle. Tap the “+” icon in the top-left corner of the screen. This opens the widget gallery.
You can browse suggested widgets, search for a specific app, or scroll through sizes. Widgets come in small, medium, and large rectangles. Select a widget to see its size options, then tap “Add Widget.” It will drop onto your home screen. You can then drag it to your desired location. Tap “Done” in the top-right corner to exit edit mode.
If you don’t see a widget for an app you know has one, ensure the app is updated to its latest version. Sometimes, widget support is added in an update.
How to Get Widgets on Your Android Phone
The process on Android can vary slightly depending on your phone’s manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.), but the core principle is the same.
The Standard Long-Press Method
Go to your home screen. Touch and hold on an empty space. A menu or customization mode will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Look for an option labeled “Widgets,” “Add widgets,” or an icon that looks like a stacked rectangle. Tap it. This opens a drawer or list showing all widgets available from your installed apps.
Scroll through this list, find the widget you want, then touch and hold it. Your home screen will reappear. Drag the widget to your desired location and release your finger. Some widgets will expand to let you choose a size or configure settings before placing them.
Using the App Drawer
On some Android skins, you can also access widgets from your app drawer. Swipe up from the bottom of the home screen to open the drawer. Look for a tab at the top labeled “Widgets.” Tapping this tab will show the same widget selection.
If you’re using a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, the process is similar but often offers even more granular control over widget size and placement.
How to Get Widgets on Your Windows 10 or 11 PC
Widgets made a big comeback in Windows 11 with a dedicated Widgets Board. Windows 10 users have a different, more legacy option.
For Windows 11 Users
Look for the Widgets icon on your taskbar (it looks like a blue rectangle with two smaller white rectangles). Click it, or press Win + W on your keyboard. This opens the Widgets Board.
To add a widget, click the “+” (Add widgets) button at the top of the board. A panel will open showing available widgets like Weather, Calendar, To Do, and Sports. Click the “Add” button next to any widget to pin it to your board. You can click and drag widgets within the board to reorder them.
These Microsoft-provided widgets are the primary offering. The ecosystem for third-party desktop widgets like those from Rainmeter or other widget engines is separate.
For Windows 10 and the Classic Desktop Gadgets
The old “Desktop Gadgets” feature from Windows 7 was discontinued for security reasons. To get similar functionality now, you need third-party software.
Rainmeter is the most powerful and popular option. It’s a free, open-source desktop customization tool. You download “skins,” which can include clocks, system monitors, weather displays, and much more.
– Download and install Rainmeter from its official website.
– Find and download skins from communities like DeviantArt or the Rainmeter subreddit.
– Load a skin file (usually .rmskin) to install it, then activate it from the Rainmeter management window.
This method is more technical but offers unparalleled customization for your desktop.
How to Get Widgets on Your Mac
macOS has integrated widgets via the Notification Center for years, and they became more interactive with recent updates.
Click the date and time in the top-right corner of your menu bar, or swipe left with two fingers from the right edge of your trackpad. This opens the Notification Center, with widgets on the right side.
Scroll to the bottom of the widgets column and click “Edit Widgets.” A gallery will appear. Click on any app icon on the left to see its available widget styles and sizes. Click a widget to add it to your Notification Center. You can drag widgets in the list on the right to reorder them. Click “Done” to finish.
With macOS Sonoma and later, you can also place widgets directly on your desktop. When in “Edit Widgets” mode, simply drag a widget from the gallery onto your desktop background. They will sit elegantly behind your open windows, becoming more visible when you’re not actively working in an app.
Troubleshooting Common Widget Problems
Sometimes, getting a widget to work isn’t as simple as adding it. Here are solutions to frequent issues.
The Widget Won’t Update or Shows Incorrect Data
This is often a permissions or background refresh issue. On your phone, go to Settings > [App Name] and ensure it has permission for Location (if it’s a weather or map widget) and Background App Refresh is enabled. On a computer, check the widget’s own settings within the widget board or the parent app’s preferences.
A simple restart of your device can also force a refresh of all background processes, including widgets.
I Can’t Find a Widget for a Specific App
First, confirm the app actually supports widgets. Check the app’s description in the App Store or Google Play Store. If it does, ensure your app is fully updated. Developers often add widget support in a later update.
If you’re sure it should have one but doesn’t, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app. This can reset its integration with the operating system’s widget system.
The Widget is Too Big or in the Wrong Place
On phones, you can almost always move or resize them. Touch and hold the widget until a menu appears or it lifts. On iPhone, tap “Edit Widget” to change its configuration, or drag it. On Android, you’ll usually see resize handles at the edges; drag these to adjust the size before placing it again.
On desktop systems, look for a settings or customize option when you hover over the widget. The Widgets Board in Windows 11 and the Notification Center in macOS allow for easy reordering.
Beyond the Basics: Discovering Great Widgets
Now that you know how to get them, what are some of the best widgets to actually use? Here are a few categories to explore once you’ve mastered the mechanics.
– Productivity: To-do list widgets (Todoist, Microsoft To Do), calendar widgets (Google Calendar, Fantastical), note widgets (Apple Notes, Google Keep).
– Information at a Glance: Weather (Dark Sky, Carrot Weather), world clocks, stock tickers.
– Smart Home Control: Widgets from Philips Hue, SmartThings, or Home Assistant to control lights and devices.
– Media: Music controls (Spotify, Apple Music), podcast player widgets, audiobook progress.
– System Monitors: Widgets that show CPU usage, network speed, or battery health (more common on desktop via Rainmeter or on Android).
The best way to find useful widgets is to think about what information you check most often or what quick action you perform repeatedly. Then, see if that app offers a widget to surface that exact function.
Creating a Home That Works For You
Getting widgets isn’t about cluttering your screen with every possible bit of data. It’s about intentional curation. Start with one or two widgets that solve a genuine pain point—like seeing your next meeting without opening your calendar or controlling your smart lights without finding the app.
Add them using the steps for your specific device. Live with them for a day or two. If a widget proves useful, keep it. If you find yourself ignoring it, remove it. The power is in the setup, which you now fully control.
Your phone, computer, and tablet are tools. Widgets are a way to sharpen those tools, putting the most important functions right at your fingertips and freeing you to focus on the task at hand, not on navigating menus. Go ahead, press and hold on that empty space, and start building a home screen that truly feels like home.
