Use and customize widgets on your Galaxy phone

Last Update date : Nov 15. 2024
A person holding a Samsung Galaxy phone, accessing the widgets menu from the home screen settings.

Widgets on Galaxy phones offer convenient shortcuts to your favorite apps, including Camera, Samsung Notes, Spotify, and YouTube. Easily accessible, these widgets can be added not only to your phone’s Home and Lock screens but also combined into stacks for streamlined functionality and quick updates at a glance.

Note: The availability of specific screens and settings may vary depending on your wireless service provider, software version, and the model of your phone.

Adding widgets to your phone’s Home screen allows you to quickly view app information at a glance, such as the current weather, your SmartThings routines, and your email inbox. These customizable tools offer a convenient way to tailor your phone interface to your daily needs and preferences.

1 Touch and hold an empty area on your Home screen until an extra menu appears, then tap Widgets.
Galaxy phone's Home screen menu highlighting the “Widgets” option.
2 You will see “Recommended' widgets at the top of the screen. Swipe up to explore additional widgets available.
3 Select a widget, then choose your desired option from those available.

Note: Options may vary depending on the widget.

4 Tap Add to place the widget on your Home screen. Repeat these steps to add additional widgets.
5 Widgets that can be resized will show a dot in the center of their outline. Touch and hold this dot, then drag to adjust the widget's size.
6 To customize the widget, touch and hold it, then tap Settings. From here, you can adjust the following options:
  • Resize: If the widget can be resized, you'll see a dot in the center of the outline. Touch and hold this dot and drag to resize the widget.
  • Colour: To change the background color, touch and hold the widget and then tap Settings.
  • Transparency: Increase or decrease the widget’s transparency for better visibility by accessing Settings.
  • Other settings: Depending on the widget, additional settings may be available, such as controlling the displayed information. Not all widgets will have customizable settings.
7 You can also reposition widgets. Touch and hold the desired widget, then drag it to a different part of the screen or to another Home screen.
8 To remove a widget, touch and hold it, and then tap Remove.

Widgets on your Home screen can be stacked on top of each other, allowing you to consolidate multiple widgets into a single area for a cleaner and more organized appearance.

1 Touch and hold the widget you want to stack on the Home screen, then tap Create stack.
Galaxy phone screen showing the “Create stack” option highlighted on a widget menu.
2 Select another widget to add to the stack, choose your desired option, then tap Add.
3 The widgets will now be stacked on the Home screen. Swipe left or right on the stack to switch between widgets and view their respective information.
4 Next, touch and hold the stack, and then tap Edit stack. This allows you to add more widgets or rearrange the existing ones in the stack.
Galaxy phone screen displaying a widget menu with the 'Edit stack' option highlighted.
5 Swipe left, then tap the Add icon (the plus sign) to include a new widget in the stack.
6 To remove a widget from the stack, tap the red minus icon on the widget.
Galaxy phone screen showing a widget stack with a red minus icon highlighted on a clock widget for removal.
7 For stacks with several widgets, activate the automatic rotation to prioritize displaying the most relevant widget first. Simply tap the switch beside “Auto rotate widgets” to turn it on.

Note: The “Auto rotate” feature may not be available depending on your user interface version and phone model.

8 Once you are finished customizing, tap Home on the Navigation bar to return to the Home screen.
9 To remove a stack from the Home screen, touch and hold the stack, then tap Remove all. Confirm by tapping Remove.

If you want quick access to the day’s schedule or your device’s battery status without unlocking your phone, consider adding widgets to your Lock screen.

1 Touch and hold the Lock screen of your phone, then tap + Widgets.
Galaxy device's Lock screen displaying the time and date, with a highlighted “+ Widgets” button for adding new widgets.
2 Swipe up to browse the available widgets, including options like “Battery”, “Clock”, and “Reminder”.
Galaxy phone screen showing a selection menu with options for Battery, Calendar, Clock, and Reminder.
3 Select a widget and select your desired option. Repeat this process to add more widgets.

Note: Available options may vary depending on the widget chosen.

4 To rearrange the widgets, touch and hold the widget you wish to move, then drag it to a new position among the other widgets.
5 To remove a widget, tap the red minus icon on the widget.
6 Once you have finished customizing, tap Done to save the widgets to your Lock screen. Now, you can tap any widget to interact with it and swipe up to open the associated app or see more details.

Enable the Always On Display feature to keep essential widgets visible even when your screen is off. Any widgets you add to your Lock screen will automatically appear on the Always On Display screen, providing you with constant access to key information without having to wake your mobile device.

1 Navigate to and open Settings, then tap Lock screen and AOD, and then tap Always On Display.
2 Tap the switch at the top of the screen to activate Always On Display.
Galaxy phone screen showing the “Always On Display” settings with the toggle switched to “On”.
3 From here, you can configure the options for Always On Display:
  • Show Lock screen wallpaper: Your Lock screen wallpaper will be visible on the Always On Display screen.
  • Erase background: Show only the main subject of your wallpaper. This option is ideal for photos that include people or animals.
  • Show music information: If you are currently playing music on your phone, Always On Display will show the music app and details such as the song title and artist.
  • When to show: Choose when to show the Always On Display screen.
4 When your phone’s screen is off, the Always On Display will activate. To interact with a widget, double-tap it and then swipe up to open the associated app or view more information.

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