{"id":375881,"date":"2026-04-12T12:32:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T12:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/375881\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T12:32:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T12:32:25","slug":"6-niche-ipad-widget-apps-i-wish-everyone-knew-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/375881\/","title":{"rendered":"6 niche iPad widget apps I wish everyone knew about"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple’s software ecosystem is home to many a good widget app, with plenty of options to choose from<\/a>, and styles and designs to suit everybody’s individual fancy. On the iPad, countless standard applications come bundled with home screen<\/a> widgets of their own, and the App Store is filled with dedicated widget apps that specialize in customization, too. <\/p>\n

Some iPad<\/a> widget apps feature their own bespoke library of widgets, while others offer full-blown widget creation systems with curated collections pooled right from their user bases. Here are six of my personal favorite widget apps from the App Store,<\/a> each of which brings a unique aesthetic and tons of functionality to the table. <\/p>\n

The following widget apps are natively compatible with both the iPhone (iOS) and the iPad (iPadOS), and each individual widget can also be mirrored to a connected Mac<\/a> computer (macOS) via Settings > Desktop & Dock > Widgets > Use iPhone widgets. <\/p>\n

\"Pocket-lint\"
\n Quiz<\/p>\n

8 Questions \u00b7 Test Your KnowledgeiPad Widgets
Trivia Challenge<\/p>\n

From lock screens to home screens \u2014 test your knowledge of iPad widgets and their evolving history.<\/p>\n

HistoryFeaturesiOSDesignApps<\/p>\n

Begin<\/p>\n

In which year did Apple first introduce home screen widgets for iPad as part of iOS 14?<\/p>\n

A2018B2019C2020D2021<\/p>\n

Correct! Apple introduced home screen widgets with iOS 14 in 2020, a major overhaul that let users place widgets directly among their app icons. It was one of the most celebrated home screen customisation updates in iOS history.<\/p>\n

Not quite. Home screen widgets arrived with iOS 14, which launched in September 2020. Before that, widgets were confined to the Today View panel and couldn’t sit alongside app icons on the home screen.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

Before iOS 14, where were widgets exclusively displayed on iPad?<\/p>\n

AThe App LibraryBThe Today View panelCThe Control CentreDThe Dock<\/p>\n

Correct! Prior to iOS 14, widgets lived exclusively in the Today View panel, accessed by swiping right from the home screen or lock screen. They were useful but hidden away from the main home screen experience.<\/p>\n

Not quite. Before iOS 14, widgets were confined to the Today View panel, a dedicated swipe-accessible screen. Apple’s iOS 14 was the game-changer that finally brought widgets onto the home screen itself.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

Which iOS version introduced interactive widgets, allowing users to take actions \u2014 like checking off tasks \u2014 directly from a widget without opening the app?<\/p>\n

AiOS 15BiOS 16CiOS 17DiOS 18<\/p>\n

Correct! iOS 17, released in 2023, introduced interactive widgets, letting users tap buttons and toggles within widgets without launching the full app. It was a significant step toward making widgets genuinely functional rather than just informational.<\/p>\n

Not quite. Interactive widgets were introduced in iOS 17 in 2023. Before that, tapping a widget would simply open its parent app \u2014 iOS 17 changed the game by letting you act directly within the widget itself.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

What are the three standard widget sizes Apple offers for iPad home screen widgets?<\/p>\n

AMicro, Small, and LargeBSmall, Medium, and LargeCCompact, Regular, and Extra LargeDSmall, Medium, Large, and Extra Large<\/p>\n

Correct! Apple offers Small, Medium, and Large widget sizes for the home screen, plus an Extra Large size exclusive to iPad. These sizes give developers and users flexibility in how much information is displayed at a glance.<\/p>\n

Not quite. The standard widget sizes are Small, Medium, and Large \u2014 and iPad also gains an exclusive Extra Large size not available on iPhone. Apple’s consistent sizing grid helps maintain a tidy, organised home screen.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

Which widget size is exclusive to iPad and not available on iPhone?<\/p>\n

ALargeBWideCExtra LargeDPanoramic<\/p>\n

Correct! The Extra Large widget size is an iPad-exclusive option, taking advantage of the tablet’s bigger display. It allows developers to show significantly more content and detail than any widget size available on iPhone.<\/p>\n

Not quite. The Extra Large widget size is the iPad-exclusive option, made possible by the tablet’s generous screen real estate. iPhone users are limited to Small, Medium, and Large widgets only.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

Which popular third-party widget app, known for its highly customisable aesthetic widgets and icon packs, became a viral sensation after iOS 14’s widget update?<\/p>\n

AWidgetsmithBFantasticalCCarrot WeatherDTot<\/p>\n

Correct! Widgetsmith by David Smith went viral after iOS 14 launched in 2020, as users shared their beautifully customised home screens on social media. The app lets you personalise widgets with custom fonts, colours, and styles to match any aesthetic.<\/p>\n

Not quite. Widgetsmith, created by indie developer David Smith, was the viral star of the iOS 14 widget era. It shot to the top of the App Store charts as millions of users customised their iPads and iPhones with aesthetic widget layouts.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

Which iOS feature, introduced alongside widgets on iPadOS 16, allows widgets to be placed directly on the iPad lock screen?<\/p>\n

AStandBy ModeBLock Screen WidgetsCFocus FiltersDLive Activities<\/p>\n

Correct! iPadOS 16 brought lock screen customisation including lock screen widgets to iPad, following their iPhone debut. Users can add small informational widgets just below the clock, offering glanceable data without unlocking the device.<\/p>\n

Not quite. Lock Screen Widgets were introduced for iPad with iPadOS 16, letting users add small widgets beneath the clock on their lock screen. It mirrored a feature Apple had brought to iPhone and allowed quick info at a glance.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

What is the name of the Apple framework developers use to build widgets for iPad and iPhone home screens?<\/p>\n

ASwiftUI ExtensionsBAppKit WidgetsCWidgetKitDHomeKit Tiles<\/p>\n

Correct! WidgetKit is Apple’s dedicated framework for building home screen and lock screen widgets, introduced alongside iOS 14 in 2020. It uses SwiftUI for the widget interface and a timeline-based system to keep widget content updated efficiently.<\/p>\n

Not quite. Apple’s framework for building widgets is called WidgetKit, launched with iOS 14 in 2020. It gives developers a timeline-based system to schedule widget updates and uses SwiftUI to render the widget’s visual interface.<\/p>\n

See My Score<\/p>\n

Challenge CompleteYour Score<\/p>\n

\/ 8<\/p>\n

Thanks for playing!<\/p>\n

Try Again<\/p>\n

Pre-designed widgets in the thousands<\/p>\n

\"Color<\/p>\n

Color Widgets features a catalog of thousands of pre-configured widgets to choose from, with the ability to dial in each template’s background colors, theme, and font. Widget options range from data and time options, to aesthetic photos, quotes, the weather, calendars, countdowns, and everything in between. Some of the included widgets are free to use, while others require a recurring paid subscription to unlock. This paid mode also removes in-app ads, incorporates additional themes, and more. Color Widgets’ interface itself is pleasing to look at and fairly intuitive, and there are separate themes and icons sections to play around with outside the widgets section itself.<\/p>\n

ScreenKit<\/p>\n

Give your home screen a makeover<\/p>\n

\"ScreenKit<\/p>\n

ScreenKit is teeming with not only widgets, but also themes, wallpapers, and even adorable pixelated pets that can live on your lock screen via Apple’s Live Activities feature. Within the app’s widgets tab, there are a range of applet choices to pick from, along with a dedicated custom mode for crafting your own widget from scratch. The process is streamlined and intuitive, and the user interface here is clean and easy to work with. ScreenKit requires a small one-time fee to unlock all available widgets, themes, and features, while a smaller selection of applets can be used right out of the gate for free.<\/p>\n

Unleash your widget-powered creativity<\/p>\n

\"MD<\/p>\n

From the makers of the excellent MD Vinyl application that my colleague Kelsey Fogarty recently wrote about,<\/a> MD Widgets is a well-crafted widgets application with a wide variety of options to choose from. Widgets extend across every major category, like clocks, calendars, forecasters, and music players, and the selection on deck here is visually pleasing to say the least. A few of the widgets within MD Widgets are free to get started with, but you’ll have to pay either a lifetime license fee or a recurring payment fee to unlock the majority of them within the app. <\/p>\n

Lockera<\/p>\n

A gorgeously crafted set of widgets<\/p>\n

\"Lockera<\/p>\n

Lockera’s selection of widgets is stellar. The collection on offer ranges from QR codes, to birthday countdowns, to a full-blown calculator with interactive elements, and just about everything in between. I absolutely love the app’s clean user interface, which follows Apple’s own software design guidelines, and I appreciate the customization options available across each of the suite’s widgets. As with other entries on this list, some of Lockera’s widgets are free to use from the get-go, while others require a one-time payment to unlock.<\/p>\n

Widgy<\/p>\n

A robust widget design platform<\/p>\n

\"Widgy<\/p>\n

Widgy is a full-blown widget design platform, with a staggering number of user-created options to choose from. Once you’ve selected a widget from the collection presented on screen, you can further adjust metrics like transparency and more. All widgets within Widgy are free to make use of, but a single one-time payment is required to unlock the lability to place more widgets on your home screen at the same time.<\/p>\n

Tailor your widgets to your liking<\/p>\n

\"Widgetsmith<\/p>\n

As its name implies, Widgetsmith lets you craft your own home screen widgets via a dedicated in-app interface. The UI is a bit on the basic side, but it’s certainly functional and easy enough to get started with. There are plenty of options to choose from here, including photos, weather, health, and tools, all of which can be sized in small, medium, large, and extra large sizes. The app’s basic feature set is available for free, but a recurring Widgetsmith Premium subscription is required to benefit from the full breadth of available widget categories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Apple’s software ecosystem is home to many a good widget app, with plenty of options to choose from,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":375882,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[342,111,139,69,145],"class_list":{"0":"post-375881","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-mobile","9":"tag-new-zealand","10":"tag-newzealand","11":"tag-nz","12":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=375881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375881\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/375882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=375881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=375881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=375881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}