A Weather widget shows a forecast without opening the Weather app. Add it from the Home Screen's widget gallery, choose a size, then check which location it is showing. The exact widget choices can vary with your iOS version.
Add the widget
- Touch and hold an empty area of the Home Screen until the apps jiggle.
- Tap Edit or the Add Widgets (+) control at the top, depending on your iOS version.
- Search for Weather and select it.
- Swipe through the available sizes and views, then tap Add Widget.
- Drag it to the spot you want and tap Done.
If there is no open space, the iPhone may move other icons or place the widget on another Home Screen page. You can move it later by touching and holding it and dragging it. Different sizes show different amounts of information, so choose one that fits the forecast detail you want.
Set the widget's location
Touch and hold the Weather widget and choose Edit Widget when that option appears. Select My Location for local conditions or choose a saved city. If you use My Location, allow Weather the location access needed for accurate local data. A widget that shows the wrong city may simply be set to a saved location rather than the current one. Open the Weather app to add or check your city list if the desired place is missing.
Add Weather to a Smart Stack
You can place a Weather widget in a Smart Stack to share space with other widgets of the same size. Touch and hold the stack, edit it, and add or move Weather as supported by your iOS version. A Smart Stack may rotate between widgets; if you always want weather visible, put a standalone Weather widget on the Home Screen instead.
If the widget is blank or outdated
Check that the iPhone has internet access. Open Weather and see whether it loads a forecast. For My Location, check Weather's Location Services permission under Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. A location-specific widget can show a saved city without using current location. If the widget still fails, remove it and add it again, then restart the iPhone if necessary. A forecast can also lag briefly after travel or a network interruption.
To remove a widget, touch and hold it, tap Remove Widget, and confirm. Removing the Home Screen widget does not delete the Weather app or its saved cities. You can add it again through the same gallery whenever you want.
Choose the widget size and information you need
The Weather widget comes in different sizes. A smaller widget is easy to fit among app icons; a larger one can show more forecast detail. In the widget gallery, swipe through the previews before tapping Add Widget. You can move it afterward by touching and holding the Home Screen until items jiggle, then dragging the widget. Leave enough space for other controls you use every day rather than choosing the largest size automatically.
Set a city instead of relying on current location
If you want the weather for a place you visit regularly, edit the widget and choose that city. This avoids confusion when the phone's current location changes. If you expect the widget to follow you, select My Location and check that Weather has appropriate location permission. Location access is an account and privacy choice; use a fixed city if you prefer not to grant it. After saving, compare the city name and temperature with the Weather app to confirm the widget is showing the intended place.
When the widget seems stale
Open Weather to see whether it has fresh information. If the app also cannot update, check the network and the city's availability. If Weather is current but the widget is not, remove and add the widget again or restart the iPhone. Check whether Low Power Mode or restricted background activity is delaying refresh, but do not assume a widget updates every second. Forecast data and widget refresh timing come from the app and iOS.
Can I add more than one Weather widget? Yes, if you have space. You can configure different widgets for different cities where the app and iOS allow it.
Will a Smart Stack always show Weather? No. A stack can rotate among widgets. If Weather must remain visible, place a separate Weather widget or adjust the stack's behavior.
Widgets are also a way to make an app easier to see; see how to make apps bigger on iPhone.
Apple's widget guide covers adding, editing, and removing widgets; its Weather widget guide describes Weather choices. For a separate display adjustment, see how to make iPhone text bigger.
A Weather widget displays information, but it does not turn on alerts. To receive supported notifications for your current location or a saved city, enable Weather rain or severe-weather notifications and check their permissions separately.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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