Guide
How to add a couple widget on Android
Android widgets are easier to add than iOS ones and much easier to break. Adding takes three taps and works roughly the same on every launcher. Keeping the widget updating is the part that catches people out, because Android manufacturers apply aggressive battery restrictions that silently prevent apps refreshing in the background.
If you only read one section of this page, read the battery optimisation one. It is responsible for the overwhelming majority of "my widget stopped working" reports, particularly on Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus and Oppo devices.
Step by step
- 1Install and linkInstall HeartTap on both phones from Google Play, then have one of you send an invite link and the other open it. Confirm the app shows you as linked before adding the widget.
- 2Open the widget pickerTouch and hold an empty part of your home screen, then tap Widgets in the menu that appears at the bottom of the screen.
- 3Find HeartTapScroll to HeartTap in the alphabetical list, or use the search box at the top of the widget picker if your launcher has one. Tap it to expand the available widgets.
- 4Drag it onto the screenTouch and hold the widget you want, then drag it to an empty spot on your home screen and release. On some launchers a single tap adds it automatically instead.
- 5Resize itTouch and hold the placed widget and drag the handles at its edges. Android lets you resize on a grid, so you can make a photo widget considerably larger than the default.
- 6Turn off battery optimisationOpen Settings, then Apps, then HeartTap, then Battery, and choose Unrestricted. Without this the system may stop the app refreshing in the background, which prevents the widget updating.
Battery optimisation, by manufacturer
On a Pixel or other near-stock Android, the setting is at Settings, Apps, HeartTap, Battery, and you want Unrestricted rather than Optimised.
On Samsung, there is a second layer. Go to Settings, Battery and device care, Battery, Background usage limits, and make sure HeartTap is not in Sleeping apps or Deep sleeping apps. Samsung will happily add an app to that list on its own after a few days of light use, so it is worth checking again if a previously working widget goes quiet.
On Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and OnePlus, look for an Autostart or Auto-launch permission in addition to the battery setting, and enable it. These manufacturers block background work by default in a way stock Android does not, and no app can work around it from the inside.
Lock screen widgets on Android
Lock screen widget support on Android depends on your version and your manufacturer, and has changed several times. Where it is available it is usually reached by touching and holding the lock screen and looking for a customise or widget option, in the same place you would change the clock style.
If your phone does not offer it, an at-a-glance area or an always-on display panel is often the nearest equivalent. The home screen widget is the reliable one across every Android device.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a widget on Android?
Touch and hold an empty part of the home screen, tap Widgets, find the app in the list, then drag its widget onto the screen. Touch and hold the placed widget to resize it.
Why does my Android widget stop updating after a few days?
Battery optimisation. Android, and Samsung in particular, will move an app it considers idle into a restricted state that blocks background refresh. Set the app’s battery usage to Unrestricted, and on Samsung also check that it is not in Sleeping apps under Background usage limits.
Does the widget work on Samsung phones?
Yes, and Samsung’s One UI actually offers more flexible widget resizing than stock Android. The only Samsung-specific thing to do is check Background usage limits, because One UI is more aggressive than most about putting apps to sleep.
Can I add the widget to my Android lock screen?
It depends on your Android version and manufacturer, since lock screen widget support varies and has changed repeatedly. Where it exists, touch and hold the lock screen and look for the customise option. The home screen widget works everywhere.
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