Learn how to add a photo widgets to your iPhone or iPad Home Screen so you can get a glimpse of memorable pictures without going inside the Photos app.
Seeing your favorite faces or scenes right on your Home Screen is a great way to start your day. You have a couple of ways to add a photo widget on your iPhone Home Screen.
One option is obviously using the Photos app widget provided by Apple. The other is to use a third-party app with a custom widget.
Also see: How to add, edit, and remove Home Screen widgets on iPhone and iPad
Add the Photos app widget to the iOS Home Screen
Apple offers widgets for the built-in Photos app. This is probably your first choice when you want to add a photo widget.
1) Press and hold a blank spot on your screen until the icons jiggle.
2) Tap the plus sign that appears on the top left to open the widget gallery.
3) Select the Photos widget from the popular spot at the top or from the list.
4) Choose from Featured or Album widgets. Both come in three sizes, and you can select one by tapping Add Widget button under one of them.
Choose the album for your photo widget
If you add the Featured widget, your iPhone will automatically show the best pictures from your Memories and Features photos sections. If you do not like a photo that surfaces in the widget, you can easily remove it from there.
However, if you add the Albums widget, touch and hold the widget from the Home Screen and select Edit Widget. Now, tap the existing album name and pick another.
Related:
- How to create and manage photo albums on your iPhone and iPad
- How to turn off Memories and Featured photos in Apple Photos
Add a photo widget with Widgetsmith
If you’re disappointed in the limitations of Apple’s own Photos widget and actually want to pick a specific photo for the widget, you do have that option.
Widgetsmith is a free, third-party app that lets you create custom widgets, and luckily, you can add a photo or an entire album straight from your Photos app. And best of all, you choose the photos and get to change them anytime!
1) Open Widgetsmith and pick a widget size by tapping Add Small/Medium/Large Widget.
2) Tap Photo.
3) Choose the photo you want to display in the Home Screen widget.
4) Tap the current widget name from the top and change it to something relevant. Then, go back and tap Save.
5) Now, follow the usual steps to add the Widgetsmith widget to your iPhone or iPad Home Screen.
6) Next, tap the Widgetsmith widget and hit Choose. Now, select the widget you created and tap outside the widget to save it.
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