How to use interactive widgets in iOS 17

With iOS 17 Apple introduced Interactive Widgets that offer specific app functionality. This allows you to interact with the widgets directly instead of having to be taken to the associated app.

You can add interactive widgets for any Apple application. To use Interactive Widgets in iOS 17, you first need to add the widget to your iPhone’s home screen. Then you can:

• Tap and hold anywhere on the home screen until the icons start to jiggle.
• Now, tap on the “+” icon from the top-left corner. This will show up a list of available widgets.
• Select the widgets you want to add. You can select the size and drag it to the Home Screen or hit the Add Widget button.

You can also add Interactive Widgets on the lock screen. Once added, as before you can interact with the widgets without having to open the app. But now you can use ‘em without unlocking your iPhone. Compared to the home screen, the process of adding widgets. To add Interactive Widgets to your lock screen:

• Long-press anywhere on your lock screen and tap on Customize from the bottom.
• Tap Lock Screen.
• Tap in the “+ Add Widgets” section.
• Choose from the suggested widgets at the top or scroll through the list of installed apps that offer lock screen widgets.
• Tap or drag the widget to the “Add Widgets” block to add it to the lock screen.
• Once added, tap on the “X” from the right corner or any blank area on your lock screen to close the lock screen widgets menu.
• Tap on ‘Done’ from the top-right corner.
• Tap anywhere on-screen to see the lock screen.