How to Add Widgets to Your iPhone Home Screen (iOS 18 Edition)

Apr 29

3 min read

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Adding Widgets to the iPhone Home Screen in iOS 18

Widgets have come a long way since their debut in iOS 14. In iOS 18, they’re not only interactive—letting you tick off Reminders or control smart-home devices without opening an app—but also fully customizable. You can now:

Add widgets (and app icons) anywhere on your iPhone home screen—the rigid grid is gone.
Tint widgets and icons to match your wallpaper or brand-new colour themes.
Switch between Small and Large layouts for a cleaner, label-free look.

If you’ve just updated and want a quick win for personalisation, follow the simple steps below.

Prerequisites

iPhone running iOS 18 (Settings › General › Software Update).
The apps whose widgets you plan to use must be installed and up-to-date.
A spare minute of “jiggle mode” patience.

Step-by-Step Guide

Here's how you can add widgets to iPhone Home Screen.

1. Enter Edit (“Jiggle”) Mode

Press & hold any empty area of the Home Screen—or an app icon—until everything starts to jiggle.

Tap and hold any blank space on your home screen to enter jiggle mode

2. Open the Widget Gallery

Tap the “Edit” button in the top-left corner. Then tap "Add Widget.” A scrolling gallery will appear, showing suggested and recently used widgets.

On the top left tap "Edit" and then tap "Add Widget"

Scrolling gallery shows suggested widgets

3. Browse or Search for a Widget

Browse: Swipe vertically or use category shortcuts (e.g., Batteries, Weather).
Search: Type the app or widget name in the search bar.

Browsing through all the available types of widgets

4. Choose Size & Interactivity

Most widgets offer Small, Medium, Large, or XL sizes. iOS 18 also shows a preview of each size and, when available, an Interactive badge. Tap the size you want.

5. Add & Position the Widget

Tap Add Widget. The widget lands on your Home Screen in jiggle mode. Drag it to any position—top, middle, or even offset for a collage effect. Apple finally removed the fixed grid, so feel free to get creative.

Drag the widget anywhere you want on your homescreen, then press Done

6. Fine-Tune the Widget

Edit: Long-press the widget › Edit Widget to change the displayed list, calendar, photo album, etc.

To edit the widget, just long press on the widget, then tap Edit Widget

Tint & Size: Long-press blank space › Edit › Customise. Under Tinted, use the sliders or eyedropper to match widget colours to your wallpaper.

You can select any hue you like that will apply to all of your apps and widgets

Switch between Small or Large icons/widgets to hide or show labels.

Switching the app size toggle to Large makes everything, well, larger

7. Stack for More Info in Less Space

Drag one widget on top of another of the same size to create a Smart Stack. The stack auto-rotates based on time, location, and usage, but you can swipe through manually.

A smart stack (at the top) is indicated by the ability to swipe between info panels and the scroll dots on the right of it

8. Tap Done

Hit Done (top-right) or press the Side button to lock in your new layout.

Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

Situation	Quick Fix
Widget appears blank or grey	Open the parent app once, then return; it usually refreshes.
App label cluttering your aesthetic	Use Large icon/widget size—labels disappear.
Widget tint looks washed-out	Try Light/Dark modes instead of Tinted, or lower saturation sliders.
Can’t find a widget	Check App Store updates—developers must add iOS 18 widget support.
Want minimalist focus	Combine widgets with the App Library to keep only the essentials on the Home Screen.

Final Thoughts

Adding and styling widgets in iOS 18 takes less than a minute, but the payoff is a Home Screen that surfaces real-time information and feels uniquely yours. Experiment with colour tints, interactive controls, and Smart Stacks to strike the perfect balance between aesthetics and productivity—and watch your iPhone feel new again.

Exploring Tech together,

Paul