Modern smartphones of the brand Honorworking on an operating system Android with a proprietary shell MagicOSgive users ample opportunities to personalize their workspace. The Home Screen is not just an entry point to applications, but also an information hub, where it is critical to have quick access to up-to-date data. The most popular elements here are time and weather forecast widgets, which allow you to assess the situation at a glance without opening unnecessary apps.
The process of adding these elements is intuitive, however, the shell interface may vary depending on the software version and the specific device model, be it Honor Magic 5, Honor 90 or more budget series. In some cases, users are faced with the fact that standard widgets do not display data correctly or are missing from the selection menu. Understanding the mechanics of work launcher and system settings will help you avoid typical mistakes when configuring the desktop.
In this article we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions for installing the necessary gadgets, consider alternative configuration methods and pay attention to possible technical nuances. You will learn how to change the display style, set up automatic location updates, and what to do if the widget freezes or shows incorrect information. Proper configuration of the interface will significantly increase the comfort of daily use of your smartphone.
Basic method of adding widgets through the interface menu
The easiest and most reliable way to place information on the screen is to use the built-in desktop editing menu. To do this, you need to long-press your finger on any free area of the main screen where there are no application icons or other widgets. The system will instantly respond to this action by switching to editing mode, and a toolbar with several options will appear at the bottom of the display.
Among the available options, you should be interested in the item Widgets (or Widgets in the English version of the firmware). Clicking on this button will open a complete list of all available system and third-party elements that can be placed on the desktop. The list is usually sorted alphabetically or by category, which makes it easier to find the desired component among the dozens of available options.
In the menu that opens, find a section dedicated to the weather or clock. In the shell MagicOS these elements are often combined into one complex widget that displays both time and temperature simultaneously. However, there are also separate options for those who prefer minimalism. Select the design you like, hold it with your finger and drag it to the desired area of the screen, releasing your finger to fix the position.
⚠️ Attention: If after dragging the widget is not fixed and “jumps” back to the menu, this means that there is not enough free space on the current desktop page. Free up space by removing unnecessary icons or moving them to another screen.
It is worth noting that the number of available widget styles directly depends on the installed theme. If the standard set seems boring to you, visiting the theme store Honor Themes can offer completely new design options that will radically change the appearance of your interface.
Setting up the display of data and geolocation
After successfully placing the widget on the screen, this often occurs the need to fine-tune its contents. By default, the system tries to determine your location automatically using GPS and network tower data, but the accuracy of this method is not always perfect. To display the weather forecast correctly, you need to make sure that the widget is linked to the correct locality.
To change the city or check the settings, short press on the weather widget itself. In most cases, this action will open the default Weather app, with your current location listed at the top of the screen. If the city is defined incorrectly, click on the location name and enter the correct name manually in the search bar.
It is also important to check the permissions for system applications responsible for geopositioning. Go to Settings → Apps → Applications → Weather → Permissions. Make sure location access is set to "Only when in use" or "Always", depending on your preferences regarding privacy and battery consumption.
- 📍 GPS accuracy: For maximum forecast accuracy, turn on the "High accuracy" mode in Quick settings, which uses satellites, Wi-Fi and mobile networks simultaneously.
- 🔄 Update frequency: In the weather application settings, you can set the interval for automatic data updating so that the information on the screen is always fresh.
- 🌡️ Units of measurement: Don't forget to check whether the temperature is displayed in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit, this is configured in the menu of the widget or application itself.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the widget shows the weather of one city, and the clock shows the time of another time zone. This can happen when traveling or changing regions. In this case, manual adjustment in the application settings Clock and Weather is the only correct solution for data synchronization.
If you travel often, turn on the “Automatic” function time zone" in the date and time settings so that the clock is synchronized with the operator's network when changing countries.
Using third-party applications for customization
Standard tools Honor are functional, but sometimes the user requires a unique design or advanced functionality that is not provided by the shell developer. In such cases, the store Google Playcomes to the rescue, where thousands of specialized applications for creating widgets are presented. These apps allow you to display much more data on the screen than just time and temperature.
Popular applications such as HD Widgets, Overdrop or Weather & Clock Widgetoffer constructors in which you can independently assemble the perfect interface element. You can choose the font, background color, degree of transparency, add data on humidity, pressure, wind speed and even the phase of the moon in one compact block.
The process of installing a third-party widget is similar to working with standard ones: after downloading and installing the application, you need to go to the desktop widgets menu, find the name of the new app there and drag the element onto the screen. When you first launch the application, you will be asked to customize the appearance and provide the necessary permissions.
| Application name | Main function | Setting complexity | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD Widgets | Designer design | Average | Low |
| Overdrop | Stylish minimalist themes | Low | Average |
| Today Weather | Accurate weather data | Low | Low |
| Chronus | Information dashboards | High | Medium |
Using third-party software gives freedom of creativity, but requires careful attention to access rights. Some “heavy” widgets with live animation can consume significant battery power, so it is recommended to monitor energy consumption in the section Settings → Battery after installing new elements.
Why can widgets disappear after a reboot?
Some aggressive power saving settings in Android may close the background processes of third-party widgets. To avoid this, add the application you are using to the list of exceptions or “Protected applications” in the battery settings.
Solving problems with updating and synchronization
Often users complain that the weather widget stops updating, showing yesterday's data, or the clock starts to lag. Most often, the reason lies in restrictions on the background activity of applications, which are introduced in modern versions Android to save resources. The system can “put to sleep” the update process if it considers the application inactive.
To correct the situation, you must grant the weather application the right to run in the background without restrictions. Go to your phone's settings, find the "Applications" section, select your weather app and go to "Battery Usage" or "Launch Applications." Set the switch to the “Allow background activity” position or uncheck the “Automatic control” item.
Another common problem is the lack of Internet access in the background. Check to see if data saver mode is enabled, which may block widgets from updating when the screen is off. You should also make sure that the date and time on the device are set to automatically synchronize with the network.
⚠️ Attention: The energy saving settings interface may differ on different versions of MagicOS. If you do not find the described items, use the search in the settings by entering the query “background activity” or “autorun”.
If the widget displays a network error or dashes instead of data, try clearing the application cache. Go to Settings → Applications → Weather → Memory → Clear cache. This action will not delete your settings, but will force the application to download fresh data again, which often solves the problem of “freezing” information.
Workspace organization and screen grid
The effectiveness of using widgets directly depends on the organization of your desktop. The standard screen grid on smartphones Honor usually is 4x6 or 5x6 cells, but these parameters can be changed. Increasing the grid size allows you to place larger and more informative widgets without cluttering up the space with unnecessary pages.
To change the grid, go to the main screen editing mode (long press on an empty space) and select Home screen settings (or the gear icon). Here you can choose the configuration that best suits your needs. For example, a 5x6 grid is ideal for large weather widgets that occupy 4 cells in width.
- 📐 Size matters: Large widgets look impressive, but take up space for application icons. Find a balance between aesthetics and functionality.
- 📂 Grouping: Place widgets at the top of the screen for quick access, and group applications into folders at the bottom.
- 🎨 Color harmony: Try to match the widget color to your wallpaper, so that the interface looks holistic and does not irritate the eye with contrasting spots.
Do not forget that the main screen can consist of several pages. You can allocate one page exclusively for information widgets (weather, exchange rates, news), and use the rest to launch apps. This creates a “dashboard” effect when unlocking the phone.
☑️ Optimizing the desktop
The subtleties of working with Always On Display and the lock screen
In addition to the main screen, information about time and weather can be displayed on the lock screen or always-on display mode (AOD). This allows you to receive data without even unlocking the smartphone, which is especially convenient when the device is lying on the table with the screen facing up.
AOD settings are done through the menu Settings → Screen and brightness → Always-on screen. In this section, you can select a display style that will show the time, date, and sometimes brief weather information in a power-saving mode. Please note that not all models Honor support weather display in AOD mode due to hardware or software version limitations.
For the lock screen, the settings are in the section Settings → Lock screen. Here you can enable the display of widget labels or dual clocks. It is worth remembering that the abundance of information on the lock screen can reduce the speed of reading notifications, so it is important to observe moderation.
⚠️ Attention: Always On Display mode consumes additional battery power. If the battery life of your smartphone is critical to you, set a schedule to turn on AOD only during those hours when you usually use the phone.
It is important to distinguish between home screen widgets and information on the lock screen: they are configured independently of each other. Changing the design of the clock on the Home screen will not automatically affect its display when the device is locked, allowing you to create two unique styles for different phone states.
Home screen, lock screen and AOD are three independent display zones. Setting up each of them requires a separate entry into the corresponding settings menu.
Why does the weather widget show the wrong temperature?
Most often the reason is that the widget is tied to the city in which you were previously, or to a place determined by the provider’s IP address, and not by GPS. Go to the weather app and manually select the current city. Also check if data saving mode is enabled, which may prevent information from updating.
Can you resize an already installed widget?
Yes, in desktop editing mode (long press) on some Honor models, you can drag the widget frame to resize it. However, this feature is not available for all types of widgets: the system clock often has a fixed size, while third-party applications can support scaling.
How to remove the standard Honor widget and install another?
To delete, hold the widget with your finger and drag it to the top of the screen in the area with the words “Delete” or the trash can icon. Once you have freed up space, you can add a new widget through the Widgets menu at the bottom of the screen by selecting an alternative design or application.
Why are widgets broken after a firmware update?
Major system updates (such as upgrading to a new version of Android or MagicOS) can change the desktop structure and compatibility of older widgets. In this case, it is recommended to remove the old widgets and add them again from the menu so that they work correctly with the new version of the interface.
Does the dark theme affect the display of widgets?
Yes, many Honor system widgets automatically adapt to the enabled dark theme, changing the background and font color to a more contrasting one. If the widget becomes difficult to read, check the settings of a specific theme or try disabling dark mode in the “Screen and Brightness” section.