If you want your iPad to feel more personal and useful, widgets are a great place to start. They let you see key info and control apps straight from your home screen—no need to open anything.
iPad widgets let you see info and use app features right from your Home or Lock screen without opening the app. They come in different sizes and show things like calendar events, weather updates, or quick app links. You can add, remove, or tweak widgets to make your iPad feel like it was made just for you.
Apple keeps improving widgets, so you’ve got plenty of options for weather, calendars, music controls, and more. Whether you stick with Apple’s built-ins or dive into third-party apps, you can build a home screen that’s both helpful and actually looks good.
Getting started with widgets is pretty simple. Mix and match different types to keep your device organized and feeling just right.
Changing app icons and using smart stacks gives your home screen a personal touch. Let’s dig into the best ways to make your iPad widgets work for you and turn your iPad into a smarter tool every day.
What Are iPad Widgets & Why Use Them
Widgets are small tools that give you quick info without opening an app. They show stuff like weather, calendar events, or news right there on your home screen.
Using widgets saves you time by letting you glance at what matters. They also organize your screen with color and handy features.
You can add, remove, or move widgets easily, so your iPad always feels like it’s set up just for you.
Widget Vs App Icon—Quick Info At A Glance
An app icon just opens the app when you tap it. A widget shows real info right on your home screen, so you don’t have to open anything to check.
For example, a weather widget shows the current forecast without launching the weather app. Widgets come in different sizes, so you pick how much info you want to see.
Some widgets update automatically—think news or sports—so your home screen stays fresh. You can tap a widget if you want to dive into the full app for more details.
Who Benefits—Students, Creatives, Pros
Students can check class schedules, assignments, or reminders without flipping through apps. It’s a real time-saver during study sessions.
Creatives might use widgets for calendars, notes, or photo tools. That way, inspiration and deadlines are always right there.
Professionals get a boost from widgets that show emails, meetings, or to-do lists. Important work stuff stays visible and easy to reach, especially on busy days.
Widgets make your iPad more personal and practical. You pick what fits your routine, so you get more done with less hassle.
Thinking about upgrading your iPad for even better widgets? Find the right fit with iPad Air vs. iPad Pro: Which Tablet Should You Get?
How To Add & Customize Widgets
Widgets let you stick useful info and tools right on your iPad’s home screen. You can add, remove, or move them around, and even stack them to save space.
Different sizes and options let you decide how much info each widget shows. It’s all about what works for you.
Jiggle Mode: Add/Remove/Resize Easily
Touch and hold any empty spot on your home screen until the apps start wiggling—yep, that’s Jiggle Mode. Tap the “+” in the top corner to see your widget options, sorted by app.
Pick a size: small, medium, or large. Bigger widgets show more info but eat up more space. Tap Add Widget to drop it onto your screen.
If you want to remove a widget, tap the little “-” icon on its corner while still in Jiggle Mode. You can drag widgets wherever you want, too.
When you’re done, tap Done or hit the Home button to exit Jiggle Mode. Easy.
Smart Stack & Interactive Widgets iPadOS 17+
With iPadOS 17 or later, you can make a Smart Stack—basically a pile of widgets you can swipe through. It saves space and keeps things tidy.
Smart Stacks can even show the most relevant widget based on the time of day or what you’re doing. Maybe your calendar pops up in the morning, then news in the evening.
Many widgets are now interactive, so you can tap buttons or scroll inside without opening the app. Checking off reminders or controlling music gets way faster.
To build a Smart Stack, drag one widget on top of another in Jiggle Mode. Tap the stack to reorder or turn on Smart Rotate, which swaps widgets out automatically based on your habits.
Need more space for your favorite apps and widgets? Learn what’s best in iPad External Storage: Smart Buy or Skip It?
Best Built-In Widgets To Try
You can add widgets that keep important info in sight without ever opening an app. These tools help you manage your day and track your health right from the home screen.
Weather
The Weather widget gives you current conditions, hourly forecasts, and severe weather alerts. It updates on its own to keep you in the loop.
Pick the size you want for just a quick glance or more details. Since it uses your location, you get accurate local info—super handy for planning your day.
Calendar
The Calendar widget shows your upcoming events and reminders. You don’t have to open the Calendar app to see what’s next.
Customize the view for one event or your whole day. It’s great for tracking meetings or appointments at a glance.
Clock
The Clock widget lets you manage time zones, alarms, timers, and stopwatches all in one spot. Set up multiple clocks for different locations if you work with folks in other time zones.
Its clean display keeps your home screen organized and efficient. Can’t complain about that.
Battery
The Battery widget shows battery levels for your iPad and connected devices like AirPods or Apple Watch. It updates in real time, so you always know when it’s time to charge.
This widget helps you avoid surprises by giving a clear power status at a glance.
Fitness
The Fitness widget tracks daily activity like steps, calories burned, and exercise time. It connects with the Health app to keep you motivated with progress updates—no need to open anything extra.
If you’re into staying active, this widget puts your stats front and center.
Must-Have Third-Party Widgets
The right widgets can make your iPad home screen way more useful. You can keep tabs on weather, manage your schedule, and stay on top of tasks with just a tap or two.
They’re also great for habit tracking and keeping important stuff right where you need it.
Carrot Weather, Fantastical, Widgetsmith
Carrot Weather stands out for its accurate forecasts and quirky, customizable designs. You get detailed weather info, alerts, and radar views, plus visuals that change with the weather. It’s both handy and kind of fun.
Fantastical is a top calendar widget for organizing your day. It supports multiple calendars and shows your events with clear layouts. Jump into event details or add a new one straight from the widget—no extra steps.
Widgetsmith lets you make custom widgets for photos, calendars, reminders, and even habit tracking. You design the look and pick the info you want to see. If you love a personal touch, Widgetsmith is a must.
Utilities: Notion, Google, Overcast, Countdown
Notion’s widget gives you quick access to notes, to-dos, and project boards. See your important stuff without opening the app—super useful if you’re all-in on Notion for tasks or habits.
Google’s widgets cover search, calendar, and reminders. The calendar widget is simple but does the job, letting you scan your day fast. If you use Google apps a lot, these widgets keep things synced and easy to reach.
Overcast has a podcast player widget that shows your current episode and lets you control playback right from the home screen. It’s a neat way to keep up with your favorite shows without bouncing between apps.
Countdown widgets help you track days until birthdays, deadlines, or vacations. Personalize them for whatever you’re looking forward to—it’s a fun way to stay motivated.
If your widgets aren’t working right, don’t worry. Get quick solutions in 7 Most Common Apple iPad Problems and How to Fix Them Fast.
iPadOS 18 Widget Upgrades
With iPadOS 18, Apple really stepped up widget features. You get more control over how widgets look and behave, plus new placement options and lock screen support.
Interactive Controls, Lock-Screen & StandBy Support
Widgets in iPadOS 18 are more interactive than before. Tap buttons or sliders inside widgets to control apps without opening them. For example, you can adjust music volume or toggle smart home devices right from the widget.
Widgets can now show up on your iPad’s lock screen. This goes beyond iPadOS 17, where lock screen widgets were pretty limited. Having widgets like weather, reminders, or calendar events visible without unlocking your device is genuinely convenient.
With StandBy mode, widgets stay on display when your iPad’s charging on its side. Just glance over to see news headlines or your to-do list while you’re taking a break.
Icon Tinting, Free Placement & Dark Mode
You can tint icons and widget backgrounds with different colors now. It helps your home screen feel more personal and matches your app icons better. Placement is more flexible, too.
Unlike before, you can put widgets anywhere on the screen in iPadOS 18. Build layouts that really work for you.
Dark Mode now extends to widgets, so they’re easier on your eyes in low light. Widgets automatically match your system theme, creating a smoother, less jarring look across your home and lock screens.
Home Screen Layout & Design Tips
You can make your iPad home screen both useful and good-looking by arranging widgets and apps your way. Picking the right styles and managing your space well keeps everything neat and easy to use.
Aesthetics: Transparent, Photo, Clock Layouts
You can customize your iPad home screen widgets in different styles to match your personal taste. Transparent widgets blend with your wallpaper, giving the screen a clean, minimal look.
If you want something more personal, use photo widgets that display your favorite pictures right on the home screen.
Clock widgets come in all sorts of styles and sizes. Place a large, clear clock at the top or side for quick time checks.
Mixing these styles lets you create a layout that feels balanced and fits your routine. There’s no single right way—just whatever feels good to you.
Avoid Clutter, Use Focus Mode Stacks
Your iPad home screen can fill up fast with too many apps and widgets. Grouping widgets into stacks helps keep things simple.
Stacks let you swipe through several widgets in the same spot, saving space but keeping info close. That’s a lifesaver if you hate clutter.
Focus mode lets you control which widgets and apps show based on time or activity. For example, you can hide social media widgets while working.
This helps cut down on distractions and keeps your home screen clean. It’s a little thing, but it really makes a difference.
Trouble-Shoot Widget Issues
If your iPad widgets act up, a few quick steps usually sort things out. Check how you’re managing widgets or make sure your iPad’s software is current.
These small fixes often get widgets showing up and working again. Sometimes it’s just a tiny glitch.
Widgets Not Showing? Try Jiggle Mode & Restart
If widgets vanish or don’t show on your Home or Today View, try entering Jiggle Mode. Press and hold any empty part of your screen until everything wiggles.
This lets you add, remove, or move widgets. See if your missing widgets pop up at this point.
If that doesn’t help, restart your iPad. Hold the power button until you see the option to slide to power off, then turn it off and wait a bit before turning it back on.
Removing and re-adding the widget can also fix display problems. Sometimes a fresh start is all it takes.
Missing Features? Check Your iPadOS Version
Widgets depend on which iPadOS version you’re running. New widget designs and options come with major updates.
If features seem missing or widgets act buggy, check your software version. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to see if there’s an update waiting.
Updating gives you the latest fixes and new widget types. If you’re using an older model or iPadOS, some advanced widgets just won’t show up.
Best Setup Ideas By User Type
Your iPad widgets should match how you use your device every day. Whether you want to stay organized, get creative, or just have powerful tools handy, the right widgets make life smoother.
Students: Calendar + Reminders + Timer
As a student, tracking assignments and deadlines is pretty much essential. Add a large Calendar widget to your home screen to see upcoming events at a glance.
The Reminders widget lists homework, study tasks, or project steps so you can check them off as you go. A focus timer widget helps you work in short, productive bursts using Pomodoro techniques.
Try putting these widgets on your main home screen. You’ll see your schedule, tasks, and timer right away, which just makes planning easier.
Creatives: Photos, Procreate Shortcuts, Music
If you use your iPad for art or creative work, quick access to your tools saves time. The Photos widget displays recent creations or inspiration right on your home screen.
Add Procreate shortcuts as widgets to open specific canvases or tools with one tap. No more digging through apps.
For creative mood, a Music widget lets you control your soundtrack without leaving your project. This layout keeps your key apps and inspiration close—just a swipe or tap away.
Power Users: Interactive Panels & StandBy
Power users want widgets that do more than just show info—they want action. Interactive widgets let you check off to-dos, control smart home devices, or scroll emails right from the home screen.
With iPadOS 17, StandBy mode widgets show updates when your iPad is charging or docked. Weather, news, calendars—they’re right there without unlocking.
Combine interactive widgets with custom shortcuts to automate routines. This setup keeps your most-used tools ready and responsive.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how iPad widgets work—and why they’re a game-changer. Widgets give fast updates, save taps, and add style to your iPad.
From Apple’s built-in tools like Calendar and Weather to cool third-party apps like Carrot Weather and Fantastical, there's something for everyone. With interactive features in iPadOS 17+ and design control in iPadOS 18, setting them up is fun and easy. Just press, drag, and organize your screen to match your day.
Want even more function and protection for your iPad? Check out iPad cases from Chesona for smart covers and keyboard options that help you stay productive and keep your device safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I arrange widgets on my iPad?
To move or arrange widgets, press and hold any widget until it starts to jiggle. Then just drag it to a new spot on your Home Screen or Today View.
Make sure not to overlap widgets or apps. If you want to remove a widget, hold it until the menu pops up, then tap Remove Widget.
After you’re done, tap Done or press the Home button to exit jiggle mode. If widgets don’t move smoothly, restarting your iPad sometimes helps.
How to find widgets in settings?
You usually don’t manage widgets directly in the main Settings app, but you can check settings for individual apps that support widgets. Open Settings, scroll to the app, and look for widget options or permissions.
To add or customize widgets, long-press any empty space on your Home Screen and tap the + icon. You can also swipe right from the Home Screen to open Today View, scroll down, and tap Edit to add or remove widgets there.
Does Widgetsmith work for iPad?
Yep, Widgetsmith works on iPad and lets you create custom widgets in different sizes. Personalize them to show calendars, reminders, weather, and more.
Once you create a widget in Widgetsmith, add it to your Home Screen by entering jiggle mode, tapping the + button, and picking Widgetsmith from the list.
People like Widgetsmith because it gives you more control over color, font, and layout compared to default widgets.
How to add widgets to iPad Control Center?
You can’t add traditional Home Screen widgets directly to the iPad Control Center. Control Center just has shortcuts and toggles for settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, brightness, and music controls.
To customize Control Center, go to Settings > Control Center. Here, you can add or remove toggles like screen recording or flashlight.
If you want quick access to certain app tasks, use the Shortcuts app to create automations you can access outside of widgets.
Where is the Shortcuts app on my iPad?
Most iPads running iPadOS 13 or later already have the Shortcuts app installed. To find it, swipe down from the top of your Home Screen to open Spotlight Search and type “Shortcuts.”
If you still don’t see it, try checking your app library by swiping left past your last Home Screen page.
Shortcuts lets you set up automated tasks and quick actions. You can add Shortcuts widgets right to your Home Screen for even faster access to your favorite commands.
