Widgets on Android are mini-applications that display important information directly on the home screen: weather, calendar, quick settings, or even smart home controls. But many users are faced with a problem: where to even look for these widgets? Depending on the version of Android, the smartphone manufacturer (Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel) and the installed launcher, the path to widgets may differ radically.

In this article we will analyze all the possible ways to access widgets - from the standard menu to hidden functions in the firmware MIUI, One UI and ColorOS. You'll learn how to add widgets to your screen, why some of them may not appear, and what to do if the widget menu has suddenly disappeared. And also life hacks for customization through third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Action Launcher.

1. Standard method: where to look for widgets in pure Android

On "bare" Android (for example, on Google Pixel or smartphones with firmware Android One) the algorithm for adding widgets is as simple as possible. Long press on a free space of the main screen will call up a context menu, where among the options will be item "Widgets" (or Widgets on English firmware). All available mini-applications will be displayed here, grouped by category or in alphabetical order.

If you have one of the latest versions of Android (13+), the interface may be slightly different:

  • 📱 Control gesture: instead of a long tap, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (as when opening the application menu), then select the tab Widgets.
  • 🔍 Search: at the top a search bar has appeared on the widget screen - enter the name of the desired mini-application (for example, “weather” or “calendar”).
  • ⚙️ Settings: some widgets (for example, Google Keep) allow you to customize the displayed information directly when adding —pay attention to the button Customize.

Important: on Android 14+, widgets of some system applications (for example Google Assistant) may be hidden by default. To see them, you will need:

  1. Open Settings → Applications.
  2. Find the desired application (for example, Google) and tap on it.
  3. Select Advanced → Widgets and turn on the switch.
📊 What launcher are you using?
Standard (from the manufacturer)
Nova Launcher
Action Launcher
Other
I don’t know what it is

2. Widgets on Samsung: features One UI

Firmware One UI from Samsung has a unique approach to widgets. Here they are integrated into the application menu, which often confuses new users. To open the list of widgets on Galaxy S23, Galaxy A54 or other models:

  1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screento open the application menu.
  2. Select a tab in the bottom panel Widgets (icon with squares).
  3. Scroll the list or use the search at the top.

Features One UI:

  • 🌈 Dark theme: widgets automatically adapt to system theme (light/dark).
  • 🔄 Dynamic widgets: some mini-applications (for example, Samsung Weather) change design depending on the time of day.
  • 📦 Widget folders: you can create a folder with several widgets of the same type (for example, all weather). To do this, drag one widget onto another.

On Samsung Galaxy s One UI 6.0+ the "Widgets on the lock screen" function has appeared - they can be added via Settings → Lock screen → Widgets. However, this only works for system widgets (weather, calendar, music).

Why are widgets not displayed on Samsung?

If widgets suddenly disappeared, check:

1. Is the mode disabled Easy mode (Settings → Accessibility).

2. Is there a third-party launcher installed (for example, Microsoft Launcher), which can block system widgets.

3. Update the firmware - in older versions One UI there was a bug with widgets disappearing after a reboot.

3. Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO: where are the widgets in MIUI

Firmware MIUI (including HyperOS on new models) traditionally hides widgets deeper than other manufacturers. To find them:

  1. Do long press on a free space of the main screen.
  2. A panel with three tabs will appear at the bottom of the screen: Wallpapers, Widgets, Settings. Select Widgets.
  3. Scroll the list or use categories (for example, "Tools", "Social network").

Unique features MIUI:

  • 🎨 Customization: widgets can be scaled - after adding, pull the corners to change the size.
  • 🔒 Protection: some widgets (for example, Mi Home for a smart home) require the screen to be unlocked for interaction.
  • 📊 Statistics: widgets have appeared to track data usage, screen time and battery charge. MIUI 14+ widgets have appeared to track data usage, screen time and battery charge.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi s MIUI widgets of some third-party applications (for example, Spotify or Telegrams) may not be displayed if the application is installed not from Google Play, but through an APK. In this case:

Delete the application, install it from the official store, then restart your smartphone. Widgets should appear in the list.
Manufacturer Method of opening widgets Features
Google Pixel Long press → "Widgets" Support At a Glance (weather, events)
Samsung Swipe up → "Widgets" tab Dynamic widgets, widget folders
Xiaomi/Redmi Long press → "Widgets" tab Zooming, statistics widgets
OPPO/Realme Long press → "Widgets and wallpapers" Widgets for ColorOS with animation

4. Third-party launchers: Nova, Action, Lawnchair

If the standard interface does not suit you, third-party launchers offer advanced capabilities for working with widgets. Let's consider the most popular:

  • 🌟 Nova Launcher:
    • Long press → Widgets.
    • Support grouping widgets by folders.
    • Ability to change the grid size screen for precise positioning.
  • 🔧 Action Launcher:
    • Unique feature Quickpage —sidebar with widgets, opened by swiping.
    • Support adaptive widgets (automatic resizing).
  • 🍃 Lawnchair:
    • Minimalistic design with an emphasis on performance.
    • Widgets open swipe up from the dock panel.

⚠️ Attention: When using third-party launchers, some system widgets (for example, Google Discover or Samsung Free) may become unavailable. This is due to Android restrictions on access to system components.

Make a backup copy of the main screen (screenshot or via Nova Backup)

Check the compatibility of the launcher with the Android version

Disable battery optimization for the launcher (Settings → Battery → Optimization)

Restart your smartphone after installation-->

5. Why widgets are not displayed or do not work

If widgets suddenly disappear or are not added, the reasons may be as follows:

  • 🔄 Application cache: Clear the cache of the application whose widget is not working. For example, for the widget Google Weather go to Settings → Applications → Google → Storage → Clear cache.
  • 📵 Battery limits: Android can block widget updates to save battery. Check Settings → Battery → Battery optimization and exclude the desired application.
  • 🛠️ OS updates: After major updates (for example, from Android 13 to 14), widgets may be reset. Reboot your device.
  • 🚫 Policy manufacturer: Some brands (for example, Huawei na EMUI) restrict widgets for applications that have not passed certification.

If the problem concerns specific widget (for example, Spotify or Yandex Weather), try:

  1. Delete and reinstall the application.
  2. Check for updates in Google Play.
  3. Contact developer support - some widgets require additional permissions (for example, location access for weather widgets).
💡

If the widget stops updating (for example, the weather shows old data), try adding it again. Sometimes this resets hung processes.

6. Hidden widgets: how to find non-obvious mini-applications

Not all widgets are visible in the main menu. Some are hidden and require additional steps to activate:

  • 🔍 Google Widgets:
    • Widget At a Glance (weather, events, notifications) appears only if installed Google App and synchronization is enabled.
    • Widget Google Fit requires account connection Google and permission to access health data.
  • 📱 Manufacturer widgets:
    • On Samsung widget Bixby Routines hidden if the voice assistant is not activated Bixby.
    • On Xiaomi widget Second Space (for the second workspace) appears only after setting up the second profile.
  • 🎮 Game widgets:
    • Widget Game Tools on ASUS ROG Phone activated via Settings → Game gen.
    • On Black Shark FPS monitoring widget requires enabling mode Shark Space.

To find all hidden widgets on your device:

  1. Open Settings → Applications.
  2. Tap on the three dots in the upper corner and select Show system ones.
  3. Scroll the list looking for applications with a tag Widget in the name (for example, Android System Widget).
💡

If you are using a smartphone with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), some system widgets may be missing. In this case Installing GApps (a package of Google services) or manually adding via ADB will help.

7. Widgets on Android Go and budget smartphones

On devices with Android Go (for example Nokia 1.4, Samsung Galaxy J2 Core) or budget smartphones with 1-2 GB of RAM widgets are often disabled by default to save resources. To activate them:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Accessibility → Battery optimization.
  2. Find the application whose widget you want to use and disable optimization for it.
  3. Restart the device.

Limitations of Android Go:

  • 📉 Number of widgets: you can add no more than 3-5 at a time (depending on the model).
  • ⏳ Data update: widgets are updated less frequently (for example, weather - once every 2-3 hours instead of 30 minutes).
  • 🚫 Animation: dynamic widgets (for example, with weather effects) are disabled.

⚠️ Attention: On some budget smartphones (for example Tecno or Infinix) widgets may work unstable due to aggressive OS optimization. In this case:

Try to disable the "Smart Cleaning" function (Settings → Battery → Smart cleaning) or add the desired application to the list of exceptions.

8. Widgets of the future: what will appear in Android 15

In the upcoming update Android 15 (currently available in beta version) significant changes are expected in the work of widgets:

  • 🔄 Adaptive layouts: widgets will automatically adjust to the wallpaper theme (for example, change the color of the text for better readability).
  • 🎯 Interactivity: widgets with gesture support will appear (for example, swipe on a weather widget for a weekly forecast).
  • 🔒 Security: widgets will be able to request permissions separately from the main application (for example, a widget Google Maps will ask for access only to the location, without access to contacts).
  • ⚡ Performance: optimization for devices with a small amount of RAM (widgets will “freeze” in the background without consuming resources).

Already now in Android 15 Developer Preview possible test new features, but remember:

Beta versions of the OS may contain bugs, including problems with displaying widgets. Do not install them on your main device.
How to enable experimental widgets in Android 15?

Install Android 15 Beta (instructions on the website Google Developer).

2. Activate Developer mode (7 taps on the build number in Settings → About phone).

3. Enable the option Force enable widget picker in the developer settings.

4. Restart the device.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about widgets on Android

Is it possible to transfer widgets to another smartphone?

There is no direct way to transfer widgets between devices, but you can:

  1. Take a screenshot of the main screen and manually restore the layout.
  2. Use launchers with a backup function (for example, Nova Launcher → Settings → Backup).
  3. Synchronize settings via account Google (does not work for all widgets).

⚠️ System widgets (for example, from Samsung or Xiaomi) are not transferred to devices of other brands.

Why does the widget take up too much space?

Some widgets (for example Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook) are large by default. To reduce it:

  • Tap and hold on the widget until a frame appears.
  • Drag the corners to resize (not all widgets support scaling).
  • If scaling is not available, try adding a smaller widget (for example, instead of 4×2 select 2×1).

On Samsung and Xiaomi some widgets have a fixed size - in this case, only replacing with an analogue from another developer will help.

How to delete a widget if it is not deleted?

If the widget is frozen and is not deleted in the standard way (by dragging it to the trash), try:

  1. Restart your smartphone - sometimes this resets frozen processes.
  2. Clear the launcher cache (Settings → Applications → [Launcher name] → Storage → Clear cache).
  3. Delete and re-add the widget.
  4. If the widget is a system one (for example, from MIUI), disable it via Settings → Applications → Show system → [Widget name] → Disable.

⚠️ On some firmware (for example, ColorOS from OPPO) system widgets cannot be deleted - only hidden.

Is it possible to create your own widget?

Yes, there are several ways to do this:

  • 📱 Constructor applications:
    • KWGT Kustom Widget Maker - allows you to create custom widgets from scratch.
    • UCCW - simplified version for beginners.
    • Zoom - for widgets with animation.
  • 💻 For developers: widgets are created through Android Studio using App Widget ProviderKnowledge required Java/Kotlin and XML.
  • 🔗 Ready-made templates: on sites like DeviantArt or Play Store you can download ready-made widgets for KWGT and import them.

Example code for a simple widget (required Android Studio):

<appwidget-provider

xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"


android:minWidth="110dp"


android:minHeight="40dp"


android:updatePeriodMillis="86400000" />

Widgets eat up your battery? How to reduce consumption?

Widgets can really affect battery consumption, especially if they:

  • Update data in the background (weather, exchange rates).
  • Use GPS or mobile data.
  • Have animation or frequent updates (for example, widget Spotify with album cover).

To reduce consumption:

  1. Reduce the refresh rate in the widget settings (if there is such an option).
  2. Disable unnecessary widgets (for example, if you do not use Google Fitremove its widget).
  3. Replace "heavy" widgets with lighter analogues (for example, instead of AccuWeather use the standard weather widget).
  4. Add widgets to the list of battery optimization exceptions (Settings → Battery → Battery optimization).

⚠️ On Xiaomi and Huawei even after disabling optimization, widgets may be updated less frequently due to aggressive management of background processes.