Guide
How to add a couple widget to your lock screen
The lock screen is the highest-value real estate on a phone. You look at it far more often than the home screen, usually without unlocking, which makes it the best possible place for something you want to see constantly and act on rarely.
It is also where most people give up, because on iOS the lock screen widget flow is completely separate from the home screen one and is not discoverable from it. Nothing in the home screen editor hints that lock screen widgets exist.
Step by step
- 1On iPhone, touch and hold the lock screenWake the phone but do not unlock past the lock screen. Touch and hold anywhere on it until the customise interface appears. You may be asked to authenticate first.
- 2Tap Customise, then Lock ScreenChoose Customise at the bottom, then tap the Lock Screen panel rather than the Home Screen one.
- 3Tap the widget areaTap the rectangular area directly beneath the clock. A widget picker opens showing every app that offers a lock screen widget.
- 4Choose HeartTap and saveSelect HeartTap, place it in the slot, then tap Done in the top right to save the lock screen.
- 5On Android, touch and hold the lock screenSupport varies by manufacturer and Android version. Where available, touch and hold the lock screen and look for a customise or widget option, in the same place you would change the clock style.
Why lock screen widgets are smaller
Lock screen widgets on iOS get a very small space and a restricted rendering mode, which is why they are typically a glyph, a number or a heavily cropped image rather than a full photo. This is a platform constraint rather than an app limitation, and no app can render a full photograph in that slot.
The practical consequence is that most couples use the lock screen widget as a signal and the home screen widget as the content. A small lock screen widget tells you there is something new, and the large home screen widget shows you what it is.
If you cannot find the option
On iPhone, make sure you are touching and holding the lock screen itself and not the home screen. This is by far the most common mistake, and the two flows look similar enough that people are certain they are in the right place when they are not.
On Android, check your version. Lock screen widget support has come, gone and returned across Android releases and varies between manufacturers, so if your phone does not offer it, the home screen widget is the reliable option.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a widget to my iPhone lock screen?
Touch and hold the lock screen itself, tap Customise, choose Lock Screen, then tap the area under the clock and pick the app from the widget list. Tap Done to save. It is a completely separate flow from adding a home screen widget.
Why can I only add small widgets to the lock screen?
iOS gives lock screen widgets a very constrained space and a limited rendering mode, so they are designed for glyphs and short values rather than photographs. That is a platform rule that applies to every app equally.
Can I have both a lock screen and a home screen widget?
Yes, and it is the setup most couples end up with. The lock screen widget is the glance, and the home screen widget is where the actual photo or drawing lives.
Do Android phones support lock screen widgets?
Some do, depending on the Android version and the manufacturer. Support has changed several times across releases. Where it is unavailable, an at-a-glance area or always-on display panel is the nearest equivalent, and the home screen widget works on every device.
Put them on your home screen tonight
Free to download on iPhone and Android. Link with your partner in under a minute, then send your first photo, drawing or check-in.