THE WORLD OF WIDGETS

KEEP USEFUL INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Widgets have been available on the iPhone’s Home Screen since iOS 14, but many of us don’t take full advantage of them, despite certain apps’ pleas for us to add them to our Home Screens. Widgets may seem like bigger distractions, taking up screen real estate and demanding our attention, but in reality they can offer helpful information at a glance and allow us to interact with the apps without fully opening them or getting lost in other app notifications as we scroll to find one. Here are the best ways to utilize widgets to keep your display streamlined and efficient, plus a few team favorite favorites for you to try out.

WHY USE WIDGETS?

Widgets display helpful information from an app at a glance right on your Home or Lock Screen without having to even open the app. Personally, I am a huge fan of widgets and use them every day. You can download apps or use Apple native widgets, both of which offer an amazing selection to choose from. Here are some favorite widgets from iPhone Life Feature Writer Rachel Needell.

BEST THIRD-PARTY WIDGETS

Kindle (Free) I love the Kindle widget because it clearly displays the cover, title, and author of the book I’m reading at any given time. It makes it easily accessible and is a great reminder to get reading again.

Spotify (Free) I love the Spotify widget, specifically the largest one because it allows me access to my most recent playlist, as well as my favorite albums or most frequented playlists without having to open the app.