How to add widgets to your iPhone Lock Screen
Press and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, choose Lock Screen, then tap the box under the clock and pick widgets. You get up to four small slots or two wide ones, plus a line above the clock. Widgets arrived with iOS 16 and work on all supported iPhones.
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What are the steps?
- Wake the iPhone and sign in with Face ID or Touch ID, but stay on the Lock Screen.
- Press and hold an empty area until the Lock Screen gallery appears.
- Tap Customize, then choose Lock Screen.
- Tap the box under the time to open the widget picker. Tap the line above the time to add an inline widget.
- Scroll to the app you want, tap a widget or drag it into a slot.
- Tap Done in the top corner. Swipe to lock again and check the result.
How many widgets fit?
The space under the clock holds four small widgets, one wide plus two small, or two wide ones. The inline row above the clock fits one line of text with an icon. Apple's developer pages define the three Lock Screen families the apps build for: circular, rectangular and inline (Apple: WidgetKit).
Because the space is fixed, you choose by priority. A weather glance or a calendar line earns a slot more than an app you open once a week.
What do the three shapes show?
| Shape | Where | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Circular | Under the clock, small | One value or icon, like a ring or a face |
| Rectangular | Under the clock, wide | A few lines of text or a small chart |
| Inline | Above the clock | One line of text with an icon |
Which widgets are worth adding?
- Calendar: next event, so you do not need to open the phone to look.
- Reminders: the count of what is due today.
- Weather or air quality: one value is enough.
- Battery: your phone and earbuds in one circle.
- A task or pet widget that opens an app with one tap.
What does a Lock Screen widget from Musse Buddy do?
Musse Buddy offers all three shapes. The circular one shows your buddy's face with its current mood. The rectangular one adds the title of the last mission. The inline one shows the buddy's name with a count, such as how many missions need your OK. Tapping any of them opens the app ready to listen.
If you do not want a glance at your phone to show what you asked for, pick circular or inline, which hide the mission title. More in widgets and Live Activity.
Can I have different Lock Screens?
Yes. The gallery holds several Lock Screens, and each keeps its own widgets. Swipe sideways on the Lock Screen to switch. You can tie a Lock Screen to a Focus, so a work screen appears during work hours with the calendar, and a home screen shows the pet and the weather.
Why are the widgets not showing?
Most missing widgets are one of four things. The app is not installed or not updated, the app has no Lock Screen widget at all, the widget needs a sign-in or setup inside the app, or the phone has not refreshed it yet. Open the app once, then check the picker again.
Widgets that look empty usually wait for data. iOS decides when a widget redraws, so a count can lag behind the app for a short time. Opening the app writes fresh data.
Can I change the look?
The system tints Lock Screen widgets with the color you pick for the clock and widgets, so most look similar. Apps cannot override it much. Tap the time to change its font and color, and tap a widget row for a tint. If a widget seems pale on a bright photo, choose a darker wallpaper or a different tint.
Is it safe to show information on the Lock Screen?
Anyone who picks up the phone can read it. Apple lets you hide some content while locked in Face ID & Passcode settings, but widgets decide what they print. Keep private items such as messages or health numbers off the Lock Screen, and favor widgets that show counts and icons.
How do I pick widgets that earn their slot?
Ask one question of each: does it answer something I would otherwise open the phone to check? A widget that shows the next calendar event saves one tap per day. A widget that shows a news headline saves nothing, since you would read the news anyway. Four slots go quickly, so be strict.
A second filter is privacy. The Lock Screen is visible to whoever holds the phone, so a widget that prints a message preview or a health number is a poor fit there. Counts, icons and moods are safer than text.
What can I do about the tint and the wallpaper?
iOS tints Lock Screen widgets to match the wallpaper, so a busy photo can make small text hard to read. A calm wallpaper with a dark area under the clock gives widgets a clean background. If a widget looks washed out, change the tint of the widget row, or pick a wallpaper with more contrast. Depth effect, which puts part of the photo in front of the clock, needs space at the top of the picture.
Do Lock Screen widgets work with Focus?
They do. Each Lock Screen can be linked to a Focus, so the phone swaps its design when the Focus turns on. A work Focus can bring up a calendar and task count, and a bedtime Focus can show an alarm and a pet. You set the link in the Lock Screen gallery, under the Focus button at the bottom of each design.
What is the difference between the Lock Screen and the Home Screen?
| Lock Screen | Home Screen | |
|---|---|---|
| Shapes | Circular, rectangular, inline | Small, medium, large |
| Style | Tinted to match the wallpaper | Full color |
| Who sees it | Anyone holding the phone | Whoever opens the phone |
| Interaction | Tap to open an app | Tap, and buttons on some widgets |
| Best for | Glances and counts | Detail and quick actions |
Can I add the same app on both screens?
Yes, and it is a good habit. Put the quiet version on the Lock Screen, for example a pet face or a task count, and the fuller version on the Home Screen, where you can show buttons. Musse Buddy follows the split: the Lock Screen widgets show the face, a mission title and counts, while the Home Screen widgets add quick-action and care buttons that work without opening the app.
How do I remove or move a widget?
- Press and hold the Lock Screen and tap Customize.
- Tap the widget row.
- Tap the minus on the widget you want to remove, or drag a replacement over it.
- Tap Done.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add widgets to my iPhone Lock Screen?
Press and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, choose Lock Screen, tap the box under the clock and pick the widgets you want.
How many widgets can I add to the Lock Screen?
Up to four small ones or two wide ones under the clock, plus one inline widget above it.
Which iOS version has Lock Screen widgets?
They started with iOS 16 and are part of every later version.
Why is my widget not in the list?
The app may lack a Lock Screen widget, or it is not updated. Update the app, open it once and check again.
Does Musse Buddy have a Lock Screen widget?
Yes, in circular, rectangular and inline shapes. Tapping one opens the app ready to listen.