Android widgets are live panels you can place on the Home Screen for weather, calendar, clocks, music controls, notes, smart home controls, and more. The widget picker lives on the Home Screen, not usually inside the app.
These steps apply to Android phones running recent Android versions, including Samsung One UI and Google Pixel-style Android.
Does This Affect You?
Use this if you want quick information or controls on the Home Screen without opening the full app.
Add a Widget
- Touch and hold an empty area of the Home Screen.
- Tap Widgets.
- Scroll through the list. Widgets are grouped by app.
- Touch and hold the widget you want.
- Drag it onto a Home Screen page.
- If there is no room, drag to the edge to move to another page or create space.
- Release the widget and complete any setup screen that appears.
Some widgets need a choice after placement, such as selecting a calendar, contact, playlist, city, or account.
Move, Resize, or Remove a Widget
- Touch and hold the widget.
- Drag it to a new place or another page.
- If resize handles appear, drag them to change the widget size.
- To remove the widget, drag it to Remove.
- Removing a widget does not uninstall the app.
Widget Tips
Use the App Icon Shortcut
On many phones, touching and holding an app icon shows a Widgets option if that app provides widgets. This is faster when you already know the app you want.
Not Every App Has Widgets
Widgets must be built by the app developer. If an app does not appear in the widget list, it may not support widgets.
Samsung Widget Stacks
On newer Galaxy phones, you can place compatible widgets on top of each other to create a stack and swipe between them in one Home Screen space.
Leave Enough Room
Large widgets need open grid space. If placement fails, remove icons or create a new Home Screen page.
Sources
- Google Support: Add widgets to your Home screen
- Samsung Support: Add widgets to your Galaxy Home screen
- Android Help Center: Manage and resize Home screen widgets