How to Add Widgets to Your Home Screen on Android: Easy Guide (2024)

  • Categories
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Telephones
  • Smartphones
  • Android

Download Article

A complete beginner’s guide to personalizing your Android home screen with widgets

Author Info

Last Updated: October 27, 2023

Download Article

  • Installing Widgets
  • |
  • Using the Widgets
  • |
  • Tips

When it comes to home screen customization on an Android, widgets are live applications that play a crucial role by offering you shortcuts to useful things. Some even help perform basic functions right from the home screen. You can move and drag widgets around, arrange them on your home screen to make access easier, and even resize some of them. Customize your home screen with useful widgets, and create a hardworking system that helps you meet your particular needs.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Installing Widgets

Download Article

  1. 1

    Launch the Google Play Store. Look for Google Play Store’s icon in the app drawer or the home screen. The icon looks like a shopping bag sporting a colored Play button, and tap on it.

  2. 2

    Search for widgets. Type “Widgets” in Google Play Store’s search bar at the upper section of the screen. Afterwards, tap on the magnifying-glass icon to search.

    Advertisem*nt

  3. 3

    Select the widget of your choice from the search results. You will see list of different types of widgets in the search results. This list will include all kinds of widgets available on the Google Play Store. Just scroll down the list to see if there’s a widget you like.

    • To explore a widget further, just tap on any of those widgets to select it. You will be taken to it’s information page.
  4. 4

    Download the widget. On the widget’s information page, click on the green “Install” button. A small pop-up window will then appear asking you to grant the app all the necessary permissions for it to run. Click on the “Accept” button, and the widget will download.

    • Wait for the widget to finish downloading and installing. A “Successfully installed” message will then appear on your screen once the widget is ready. The app icon will then show both on your device’s home screen and apps menu.
  5. Advertisem*nt

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Using the Widgets

Download Article

  1. 1

    Choose the widget you want on your home screen. Go to the widget drawer on your device. Long-press on the widget you downloaded, or any pre-installed widget such as the Analog Clock or the Music Playlist, and it will be taken straight to your home screen.

    • You can also access widgets by tapping on the Menu button and then on the “Add to Desktop” option. Here you can select widgets to add to your home screen.
    • You can also long-press a blank area on your Home screen then select “Widgets” from the options. Then select the widget you want to have on your home screen.
  2. 2

    Resize a widget. Long-press on a widget on your home screen, and then release your finger. If a border appears around the widget, it means that the widget is re-sizable. Drag the sides of the widget to shrink or expand it.

    • If no border appears, the widget is not re-sizable.
  3. 3

    Change the settings of a widget. Press and hold a widget on your home screen, and drag it to the Settings app. The widget screen will then appear where you can customize the widget to suit your taste.

    • In some Android models, single-tapping on a widget only opens the widget screen where you can customize the widget.
  4. 4

    Move a widget from the home screen to another panel. On your home screen, press and hold the widget with one finger. Drag it to the left or right panel, and then release the widget in your desired location.

  5. 5

    Remove a widget from the home screen. Press and hold the widget, and then drag it to the “X” sign, “Remove” tab, or trash bin found at the top (or bottom) of your screen. Lift your finger as soon as the widget comes in contact with the Remove (or Delete) tab.

    • Often, when the widget turns red as it nears the Remove tab, it means you can release it.
  6. Advertisem*nt

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

      Advertisem*nt

      Tips

      • Make use of pre-installed widgets. To name a few, Android has the weather, and time and date widgets, which you can place on your home screen where they can be very useful to you.

        Thanks

        Helpful0Not Helpful0

      • There are lots of widgets available at the Google Play Store, but be careful because many external agents may corrupt your device.

        Thanks

        Helpful0Not Helpful0

      Submit a Tip

      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

      Name

      Please provide your name and last initial

      Submit

      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Advertisem*nt

      You Might Also Like

      How toAdd Widgets on AndroidHow toFind Your Phone Number on Android
      How to Add an App Back to Home Screen: Tips for Finding Apps4 Simple Ways to Turn Off Safe Mode on Any AndroidHow toIncrease Your Android Device’s Maximum Volume Steps3 Ways to Unlock an Android TabletThe Ultimate Guide to Hiding Caller ID on AndroidHow toHide Apps on AndroidHow toTurn Off Your Android Phone Without the Power ButtonHow to Combine Photos on Android: 3 Ways to Create Collages and GridsHow toConnect Android Phone to ComputerHow toSwitch to Portrait or Landscape Mode on AndroidUnzip Files on Android for Free with Files by Google

      Advertisem*nt

      About This Article

      wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 54,039 times.

      How helpful is this?

      Co-authors: 3

      Updated: October 27, 2023

      Views:54,039

      Categories: Android

      • Print
      • Send fan mail to authors

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 54,039 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisem*nt

      How to Add Widgets to Your Home Screen on Android: Easy Guide (2024)
      Top Articles
      5 Strategies for Building Passive Income Streams through Amazon
      Bond Basics 5: Individual bonds vs bond funds? (video)
      9.4: Resonance Lewis Structures
      Truist Bank Near Here
      Splunk Stats Count By Hour
      Shoe Game Lit Svg
      Craftsman M230 Lawn Mower Oil Change
      What to Do For Dog Upset Stomach
      Workday Latech Edu
      Undergraduate Programs | Webster Vienna
      Ou Class Nav
      Walgreens On Nacogdoches And O'connor
      Washington, D.C. - Capital, Founding, Monumental
      Help with Choosing Parts
      Nalley Tartar Sauce
      De beste uitvaartdiensten die goede rituele diensten aanbieden voor de laatste rituelen
      Watch The Lovely Bones Online Free 123Movies
      Wausau Marketplace
      Vigoro Mulch Safe For Dogs
      Nhl Tankathon Mock Draft
      Culver's Flavor Of The Day Taylor Dr
      Busted News Bowie County
      Sef2 Lewis Structure
      Naya Padkar Gujarati News Paper
      Why Are Fuel Leaks A Problem Aceable
      Craig Woolard Net Worth
      Criterion Dryer Review
      10 Best Places to Go and Things to Know for a Trip to the Hickory M...
      Ardie From Something Was Wrong Podcast
      Abga Gestation Calculator
      Our 10 Best Selfcleaningcatlitterbox in the US - September 2024
      Sinfuldeed Leaked
      Angel del Villar Net Worth | Wife
      Evil Dead Rise - Everything You Need To Know
      Shaman's Path Puzzle
      Of An Age Showtimes Near Alamo Drafthouse Sloans Lake
      Adecco Check Stubs
      Vitals, jeden Tag besser | Vitals Nahrungsergänzungsmittel
      The Mad Merchant Wow
      Western Gold Gateway
      Games R Us Dallas
      Property Skipper Bermuda
      Сталь aisi 310s российский аналог
      Bob And Jeff's Monticello Fl
      Mississippi weather man flees studio during tornado - video
      VDJdb in 2019: database extension, new analysis infrastructure and a T-cell receptor motif compendium
      How to Install JDownloader 2 on Your Synology NAS
      Matt Brickman Wikipedia
      Spn 3464 Engine Throttle Actuator 1 Control Command
      Houston Primary Care Byron Ga
      OSF OnCall Urgent Care treats minor illnesses and injuries
      Itsleaa
      Latest Posts
      Article information

      Author: Tish Haag

      Last Updated:

      Views: 5922

      Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

      Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

      Author information

      Name: Tish Haag

      Birthday: 1999-11-18

      Address: 30256 Tara Expressway, Kutchburgh, VT 92892-0078

      Phone: +4215847628708

      Job: Internal Consulting Engineer

      Hobby: Roller skating, Roller skating, Kayaking, Flying, Graffiti, Ghost hunting, scrapbook

      Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.