close 'CyberGuy': Customize your home screen by adding widgets on your iPhone Tech expert Kurt Knutsson shows you how to add, customize and manage widgets for quick access to apps and info from your iPhone home screen. Have you ever wished for a way to access your favorite apps and information without the hassle of digging through your iPhone's home screen? Well, youre in luck. Widgets are here to transform your iPhone experience. Think of them as mini apps that bring key information right to your fingertips, allowing you to stay updated at a glance. Whether its checking the weather, tracking your fitness goals or keeping an eye on your calendar, widgets make it all possible without needing to open each app individually. Lets get started on making your home screen not just functional but uniquely yours.IM GIVING AWAY A $500 GIFT CARD FOR THE HOLIDAYSEnter bysigning up for my free newsletter. Image of widgets on iPhone (Apple) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What are widgets?Widgets are mini applications that display at-a-glance information from your favorite apps directly on your home screen. They provide quick access to key features and updates without the need to open the full app, saving you time and streamlining your iPhone experience. Widgets on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)How to update your iPhone to the latest softwareNot sure if you're running the latest iOS? No worries. Here are some quick steps to update your iPhone:OpenSettingsTapGeneralSelectSoftware UpdateIf available, tapUpdate Now and begin downloading and installing iOS 18.1 Steps to update your iPhones software (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Adding widgets to your home screenFollow these simple steps to add widgets to your home screen and make your iPhone even handier:Touch and hold an empty area on your home screen until the apps start to jiggle.Look for the Edit icon in the top-left corner of your screen and tap it.ClickAdd WidgetScroll through theavailable widgets or use thesearch bar to find a specific one.Tap on yourchosen widget, then swipe left or right to view different options.Once you've selected the size, tapAdd Widget to place it on your home screen. Steps to add widgets to your iPhones home screen (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Arranging and resizing widgetsAfter adding a widget, you can easily adjust its position and size. Here's how:Touch and hold the widget until it floats, then drag it to your desired location. You can place it anywhere on the current page or even drag it to the edge of the screen to move it to a different page. Then, tap an empty area on the home screen.Next,long-presson a widget to see available size options. Tap on the size you'd like the widget to be.Now, tap on the empty area on the home screen, and if available, you cangrab the corner of the widgetwhere you see a small handle to make it larger.To finalize the changes, tapDone. Steps to arrange and resize widgets on iPhones home screen (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Customizing widget appearanceiOS 18 introduced new ways to customize the look of your widgets:Change icon size: Press the empty area on your home screen. TapEdit at the top of the screen, then chooseCustomize to access options for making icons larger.Adjust appearance: SelectLight orDark mode for your icons and widgets or chooseAutomatic to switch based on the time of day.Add color tint: Use theTinted option to add a color overlay to your icons and widgets, adjusting the hue and saturation to your liking. Press theempty area on your home screen to save your changes. Steps to customize widget appearance (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Removing widgetsIf you want to remove a widget from your home screen:Touch and hold an empty area on the home screen until the apps jiggle.Look for the "-" icon on the widget you want to remove.TapRemove to confirm your decision. Steps to remove widgets on iPhones home screen (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Kurts key takeawaysCustomizing your iPhone's home screen with widgets is a great way to personalize your device and improve your productivity. With the ability to add, resize and arrange widgets, you can create a home screen that perfectly suits your needs and preferences. Remember to experiment with different layouts and widget combinations to find what works best for you.What new widgets do you plan to add to your iPhone home screen to enhance your daily productivity and access to information? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? 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