How to add a widget to the Android 11 home screen: complete guide with nuances

Widgets on Android 11 remain one of the most convenient ways to quickly access information without launching applications. Calendar, weather, notes, smart home control - all this can be displayed on the main screen in one click. However, after updating to Android 11 many users encounter problems: widgets disappear, are not displayed, or simply are not added. What's the matter?

The fact is that In Android 11, Google changed the logic for working with widgets for some skinsand manufacturers seem to Samsung, Xiaomi or Huawei added their own restrictions. In this article, we will look at all the current methods of installing widgets - from the standard method to bypassing locks on branded shells. You will learn how to get your favorite widgets back even if they “disappeared” after a system upgrade.

Why widgets may not be added to Android 11

Before moving on to the instructions, it is important to understand the causes of the problem. Widgets may not be displayed or added for several reasons: Android 11 Widgets may not be displayed or added for several reasons:

• 🔄 Shell update. Manufacturers (for example OnePlus or Oppo) often update their launchers, removing support for old widgets.
• 📱 Proprietary shell restrictions. On MIUI (Xiaomi) or EMUI (Huawei) some widgets are blocked by default.
• 🔧 No rights. Some widgets (for example, to control system functions) require additional permissions.
• 🗑️ Clearing the launcher cache. After updating the system, the cache of the standard launcher may be reset, causing the widgets to “disappear.”

If the widget worked before, but after updating to Android 11 disappeared, first try rebooting the device. In 30% of cases this solves the problem. If this does not help, read on.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy c One UI 3.1), widgets may not appear in the list if the application is installed on the SD card. Transfer it to the internal memory.

Standard method of adding a widget on Android 11

On a clean Android 11 (for example, on Google Pixel or Android One) the process of adding widgets is as simple as possible:

1. Press and hold with your finger an empty space on the main screen.
2. In the menu that appears, select the item Widgets (or Widgets in English firmware).
3. Scroll the list and find the widget you need. Click on it and hold.
4. Drag the widget to an empty space on the screen.
5. Adjust the size if necessary (if the widget supports zooming).

If the widget does not appear in the list, check:

• 📌 Is the corresponding application installed (for example, for widget Google Weather you need to install the application Google).
• 🔄 Is the application updated to the latest version (sometimes widgets appear only after an update).
• 🚫 Is the widget blocked in the security settings (relevant for Huawei and some models Xiaomi).

On some devices (for example, Sony Xperia), widgets may be located in a separate section Additional or ToolsIf you don’t find the widget you need, try searching for it through the search bar at the top. widget menu.

How to add a widget on Samsung with One UI (Android 11)

On smartphones Samsung Galaxy s One UI 3.1 (based on Android 11) the process is slightly different. There are two ways:

Method 1: Through the widget menu

1. Press and hold empty space on the main screen.
2. Tap on the icon Widgets (icon with squares).
3. Scroll the list or use the search at the top.
4. Tap and hold on the widget, then drag it to screen.

Method 2: Through the quick access panel

Some widgets (for example, Samsung Health or Bixby) can be added through the notification panel:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the panel notifications.
2. Swipe left to open Quick Access Toolbar.
3. Click on the three dots (⋮) and select Button order.
4. Find the widget in the list and drag it to the active area.

If the widget is not displayed, try:

• 🔄 Update the application via Galaxy Store (some widgets Samsung do not update via Google Play).
• 📥 Install the official launcher Samsung One UI Home (if you are using a third-party one).
• 🔧 Reset launcher settings: Settings → Applications → One UI Home → Storage → Clear cache.

⚠️ Attention: On some models Samsung (for example, Galaxy S20 s One UI 3.1), widgets for system applications may be hidden if the mode Easy mode (Easy Modeis enabled. Disable it in the settings. screen.

Adding widgets on Xiaomi (MIUI 12 and later)

On smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO with MIUI 12 (based on Android 11) widgets are added differently. There are two types of widgets:

• 📱 Standard widgets (weather, clock, calendar).
• 🔧 Mini-apps (analogous to widgets, but with expanded functionality).

To add a standard widget:

1. Tap and hold an empty space on the main screen.
2. Select Widgets.
3. Find the desired widget and drag it onto the screen.

To add Mini-apps (for example, widget Mi Fit or Xiaomi Home):

1. Swipe left from the main screen to open the panel Mini-apps.
2. Tap Edit (pencil icon).
3. Select the desired mini-app and click Add.
4. Drag it to the home screen (if supported).

If widgets are not displayed:

• 🔄 Update MIUI to the latest version (in some builds, widgets are disabled by default).
• 📌 Make sure that the application to which the widget belongs is not optimized (check in Settings → Applications → Optimization batteries).
• 🔧 Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Applications → Manage applications → Launcher → Clear data.

Manufacturer	Shell name	Features of adding widgets
Samsung	One UI 3.1	Widgets are added by long pressing screen. Some system widgets are hidden in Quick access panel.
Xiaomi	MIUI 12+	There are two types: standard widgets and Mini-apps. The latter are added by swiping to the left of the main screen.
Google	Android 11 (clean)	Widgets are added through the menu after a long press. There are no restrictions from the manufacturer.
Huawei	EMUI 11	Some widgets are blocked by default. Permission is required in Settings → Security → Permissions.

How to return disappeared widgets after updating to Android 11

If after updating to Android 11 widgets disappeared, try the following steps:

1. Rebooting and clearing the cache

Sometimes widgets disappear due to a malfunction of the launcher. To fix:

1. Restart the device.
2. Clear the launcher cache:

   Settings → Applications → [Launcher name, for example "One UI Home"] → Storage → Clear cache

3. If that doesn’t help, clear the launcher data (this will reset the main screen settings!).

2. Checking permissions

Some widgets (for example, for Google Assistant or Smart Home) require additional permissions. To check:

1. Open Settings → Applications.
2. Find the application that the widget belongs to.
3. Go to Permissions and enable all the necessary ones (for example, Access to notifications or Location).

3. Installing an alternative launcher

If widgets still do not work, try installing a third-party launcher, for example:

• 📱 Nova Launcher (supports all widgets, including hidden system ones).
• 🔧 Lawnchair (lightweight launcher with widget support Google).
• 🎨 Action Launcher (advanced settings for widgets).

After installation:

1. Set the new launcher as the default launcher.
2. Try adding a widget through its menu (usually a long press on the screen).

Adding widgets to lock screens and always-on display (AOD)

On some devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel) widgets can be displayed not only on the main screen, but also on:

• 🔒 Lock screen (weather, notifications, music player).
• 🌙 Always On Display (AOD) (time, date, steps).

To add a widget on lock screen (for example Samsung):

1. Open Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select Widgets.
3. Activate the slider and select the widgets you want to see (for example, Weather or Calendar).
4. Customize display (size, transparency).

For Always On Display:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display.
2. Select a display style (for example, Clock + widget).
3. Click Settings and add the desired widget (for example, Steps or Weather).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED screens (for example, Samsung Galaxy S21 or Google Pixel 5), constant display of widgets on AOD can increase battery consumption by 5-15%. Disable unnecessary widgets if you notice fast ones. category.

Solving problems with specific widgets

Some widgets have their own characteristics:

1. "Weather" from Google

If the widget Google Weather is not added:

• Make sure that the application is installed Google (not Google Search!).
• Update it via Google Play.
• Enable permission to Location for the application Google.
• If the widget still does not appear, clear the application data Google (Settings → Applications → Google → Storage → Clear data).

2. Widgets for Spotify or YouTube Music

Widgets for music services may not work due to:

• 🔄 Outdated version of the application (update via Google Play).
• 🚫 Lack of a premium subscription (some widgets, for example, for Spotifyrequire an account Premium).
• 📵 Manufacturer restrictions (with Huawei without Google Mobile Services widgets YouTube Music do not work).

3. Widgets for smart home (Google Home, Mi Home)

If widgets for managing smart devices are not added:

• Check that the device is added to the application (Google Home, Mi Home etc.).
• Update the firmware of the smart device (for example, for Xiaomi this is done through Mi Home).
• Enable permission for Location i Bluetooth for the application.

What to do if a widget has been added, but is not updated?

If a widget (for example, weather or exchange rates) has been added, but does not update the data, try:

1. Delete the widget and add it again.

2. Clear the cache of the application to which the widget belongs.

3. Check your Internet connection (some widgets require background network access).

4. Disable battery optimization for this application.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about widgets on Android 11

Is it possible to add a widget to the lock screen on all devices?

No, not on all of them. data-i="294">or Google Pixel And Samsung it's possible, but Xiaomi or Huawei widgets cannot be added to the lock screen due to manufacturer restrictions. An alternative is to use third-party applications like Always On AMOLED (requires root on some devices).

Why does the widget take up too much space on the screen?

Some widgets (for example Google Calendar or Samsung Free) have a fixed size. To change it:

1. Tap and hold the widget.
2. If a frame with dots in the corners appears - pull them to change the size.
3. If the size does not change, the widget does not support scaling.

Alternative: find in Google Play a similar widget with flexible settings (for example, Chronus for weather and time).

How to move widgets to another screen?

To move a widget:

1. Tap and hold the widget.
2. Drag it to the edge of the screen and hold - it will move to the next screen.
3. Release your finger, when the widget is in the right place.

If the widget cannot be dragged, try first deleting it and then adding it again to the desired screen.

Can I create my own widget?

Yes, but this will require programming skills or special applications:

• 📱 KWGT Kustom Widget Maker — constructor highly customizable widgets.
• 🎨 UCCW —a simple tool for creating custom widgets.
• 🔧 Tasker —for creating interactive widgets with automation.

Ready-made templates can be downloaded from Google Play or on sites like Kustom Rocks.

Why did all the widgets disappear after resetting the settings?

When resetting to factory settings, all user data is deleted, including the location of the widgets. To restore:

1. Add the widgets again (see instructions above).
2. If you used backup via Google Account, try restoring the launcher settings: Settings → System → Backup → Restore.
3. For third-party launchers (for example, Nova Launcher) check if backup is enabled in the launcher settings.