One of the main arguments when comparing Android and iOS is the tremendous customizability offered by Google’s mobile operating system. However, Apple realized this potential and started to catch up with Android. iOS 15 brought home screen customization to iPhone and iOS 16 is now here with lock screen customization. Yes, you can finally see more than clock and notifications on your iPhone lock screen with the help of widgets. So, if you have iOS 16 beta installed on your iPhone, follow this guide to learn how to easily add widgets to the lock screen.
Add Widgets to iPhone Lock Screen (2022)
Instead of a dedicated page for widgets, iOS 16 now lets you add widgets above and below the lock screen clock on an iPhone. We’ll first discuss how these widgets work, and then go into details on how to add or remove widgets in iOS 16. However, without further delay, let’s dive in.
How Lock Screen Widgets Work on iPhone
Apple added widgets to the iPhone lock screen in iOS 16, allowing you to get important information at a glance. You can follow live cricket scores, track your real-time steps and even check the latest weather conditions. While a step in the right direction, lock screen widgets are not as interactive as home screen widgets on the iPhone. When you touch the lock screen widgets, you will be directed to the corresponding application.
While the lack of interactive widgets is disappointing, it’s not a deal breaker. Many users will still be excited to fix widgets and customize iPhone lock screens and provide easy access to information. That said, let’s learn how you can customize lock screen widgets on an iPhone running iOS 16.
Add Widgets Under Clock on iPhone Lock Screen
As we mentioned above, you can add widgets above and below the clock on the lock screen. First, let’s customize the main widget panel, which shows more information-rich widgets that appear below the clock on the lock screen.
note: We tested the lock screen widgets on iPhone 13 Pro running iOS 16 developer beta 3 and iPhone XR running iOS 16 public beta.
1. To get started, unlock your iPhone with Face ID or tap ID and don’t go to home screen. long press on the lock screen wallpaper. Now, if you want to customize the current lock screen, click “CustomizePress the ” button. If you want to make a new lock screen and customize it to your liking, tap the blue “+” (plus) button at the bottom right.
2. Next, tap on it. empty rectangular box appearing under the clock on the lock screen to bring up the widget panel
note: Previous iOS 16 developer beta versions displayed a “+” button below the lock screen clock to indicate where you can add widgets. This used to be a much better practice and we’re not sure why Apple removed it in recent betas.
3. Widgets panel shows recommended widgets at the top, followed by a list of apps on your iPhone that have lock screen widgets in iOS 16. As such, you currently have a variety of widgets for Apple’s native apps at your disposal, and more third-party widgets that are expected to arrive with the official release later this year.
4. Now there are two ways to add widgets to your iOS 16 lock screen on your iPhone. The easiest way to add a widget is to tap a specific widget and it will appear in the lock screen widgets panel below the clock. Therefore, find suitable widgets and tap on them.
However, if you want a little more control over widget placement, you can also drag and drop widgets into the rectangular frame below the clock on the lock screen. You can also long-press a widget to change its position and move it around within the rectangular box.
5. Now that you know how to add widgets to the lock screen, it’s important to remember that there is a limit to the number of widgets you can add under the clock. Apple allows the following combinations of widgets on the lock screen – up to 4 square (1 x 1) widgets, 2 square (1 x 1) widgets, and one rectangular (1 x 2) widget and two rectangular (1 x 2) widgets. Here’s a look at all the combinations:
6. After customizing the lock screen widgets to your liking, click “Completed” in the upper right corner to confirm the changes.
Add Widgets Above Clock on iPhone Lock Screen
In addition to adding widgets below the clock, Apple also lets you add a single widget next to the day/date panel above the lock screen clock. The process remains the same as above, where you have to long press the lock screen wallpaper and customize its layout. The process works like this:
1. While customizing the iOS 16 lock screen on your iPhone, tap . day/date part on the clock to open the widget panel.
2. Now, find a widget and tap it to add it to the day/date section. After that, make sure to tap “.Completed” in the upper right corner to confirm your selection.
How to Change/Remove Widgets on iPhone Lock Screen
Now, the process of removing or replacing widgets for another is also quite simple. So, if you want to remove any widget or add a new one to your iPhone lock screen in iOS 16, follow these steps:
1. Unlock your iPhone using biometric authentication (Face ID or Touch ID). At that time, press and hold On the lock screen to access the lock screen carousel.
2. Next, Tap the “Customize” button Below the lock screen where you want to customize the widgets. Then tap the widget frame below or above the clock.
3. Now, faucet “-” (minus) button Click on the widget in the upper left corner of the widget you want to remove from your device’s lock screen.
If you want to change the widget that appears next to the date/day above the clock on the lock screen, tap the same widget and select the new widget to use and replace the existing one.
4. Then if you want to add a different widget to its place on the lock screen, tap new widget Drag it to a desired location in the widgets panel or rectangular frame.
5. When you are satisfied with your updated panel of lock screen widgets, tap “.Completed” to approve.
List of Lock Screen Widgets Available on iPhone
In this section, we have listed all the different widgets you can use on the lock screen on your iPhone. We have divided this section into widgets that you can apply above and below the clock on the lock screen. So let’s take a look at all the widgets currently offered by Apple:
Widgets You Can Use On The Lock Screen Clock
- Calendar
- Day, Date and Month (default, cannot be removed)
- next event
- Hour
- World Clock – One City
- Next Alarm
- fitness
- Activity (indicates movement calories)
- reminders
- (Missions) will end today
- Stocks
- single stock
- Weather
- Month Events
- Solar Activities
- Conditions (see current weather in your location)
- Location
- Rain
- Air Quality (AQI)
- UV Index
- Wind
Widgets Available Under the Lock Screen Clock
- Batteries
- 1×1 battery charge indicator
- 1×2 battery charge indicator
- Calendar
- 1×1 Next Event
- 1×2 Next Event
- Hour
- 1×1 World Clock – Single City (Analog)
- 1×2 World Clock – One City
- 1×2 World Time
- 1×1 Next Alarm
- 1×2 Next Alarm
- 1×1 World Clock – Single City (Digital)
- fitness
- 1×1 Activity (road movement)
- 1×2 Activity (road movement)
- house
- 1×2 Summary
- 1×2 Climate
- 1×1 Climate Sensor
- 1×1 Security
- 1×1 Safety Accessory
- 1×2 Lights
- News
- 1×2 Today’s Top Stories
- reminders
- 1×2 (Reminder) List
- Stocks
- 1×2 Watch List (track multiple stocks)
- 1×1 Symbol (follow a stock/market)
- 1×2 Symbol (follow a stock/market)
- Weather
- 1×2 Month Events
- 1×1 Solar Events
- 1×2 Conditions
- 1×1 Rain
- 1×1 Temperature
- 1×1 Air Quality
- 1×1 UV Index
- 1×1 Wind
Frequently Asked Questions:
How many widgets can you add under the clock on the iPhone lock screen?
There is limited space to add widgets in the main widgets section, so you can add up to four widgets Under the clock on your iPhone lock screen. You can use the following widget combinations on the lock screen – 4 small square widgets, 2 square and 1 rectangular widgets, and 2 rectangular widgets.
How many widgets can you add to the iPhone lock screen above time?
You can only add one widget above the clock on the lock screen and it will appear next to the default date/day and time widget.
Are iPhone lock screen widgets interactive?
No. Lock screen widgets on iPhone are non-interactive, and tapping a widget takes you directly to the corresponding app.
Can you add Third Party Widgets to your iPhone Lock Screen?
Yes, you can (subject to availability). Apple has released the WidgetKit API to allow developers to create lock screen widgets for their apps. So, you’ll soon be able to choose from tons of lock screen widgets.
Make Your iPhone Lock Screen Useful With Widgets
So yes, by adding widgets, you can make your iPhone lock screen useful and access important information with ease. Currently, there are a handful of lock screen widgets available on the iPhone in iOS 16. But it’s only a matter of time before third-party app makers release their own lock screen widgets, giving you tons of options to choose from. Until then, try the widgets that Apple made available in iOS 16 for its native apps. Also, let us know your thoughts on lock screen customization and widgets in iOS 16 in the comments section. Finally, if you encounter any bugs or have any questions, let us know in the comments and one of our team will assist you.