Lock Screen Widgets: What Shows & How to Control It

Updated 5 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Lock screen widgets let you see information at a glance without unlocking your phone, but by default they can show more than you want. This guide explains how to choose which widgets appear on your lock screen and how to hide sensitive data, on both iPhone and Android.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone running iOS 16 or later, or an Android phone with Android 12 or later (steps may vary slightly by manufacturer).
Your phone’s passcode or biometric unlock (Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint) to change settings.
Apps that support lock screen widgets (most stock apps like Calendar, Weather, and Clock do).

Step-by-Step

On iPhone (iOS 16 and later)

Wake your phone and press and hold the lock screen until the customization screen appears. You may need to authenticate with Face ID or your passcode.
Tap Customize at the bottom, then select Lock Screen.
Tap the widget area (the space below the clock). This opens the widget gallery.
To remove a widget, tap the red minus button on its corner. To add one, tap the green plus button, browse or search for an app, then tap it to add. You can add up to four small widgets or two medium ones.
Drag widgets to rearrange them. Tap Done in the top right, then tap the screen to exit.
To hide widget content (like message previews), go to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews and choose When Unlocked or Never. This affects all lock screen notifications, not just widgets.
To disable specific widgets entirely, go to Settings > Focus and create a Focus that filters notifications. However, widgets themselves are tied to the lock screen appearance, so you must edit each lock screen you use.

On Android (Stock Android 12+ / Samsung One UI 4+)

Wake your phone and long-press an empty area of the lock screen. You may need to enter your PIN or pattern.
Tap Customize (or the gear icon) at the bottom. On Samsung, look for Lock screen in Settings.
Look for a section called Widgets or At a Glance. On stock Android, tap At a Glance to see which widgets are enabled (like weather or calendar).
To add widgets, tap the Add widgets button (or the plus icon) and choose from the list. Drag them to the desired position.
To remove a widget, long-press it and drag it to the Remove area at the top of the screen.
To hide sensitive content in widgets, go to Settings > Notifications > Lock screen notifications and select Hide sensitive content or Don’t show notifications. On Samsung, this is under Settings > Lock screen > Notifications.
If your phone uses a custom skin (like MIUI, OxygenOS), the exact steps may differ. Look for Lock screen & Always-on display in Settings.

Common Mistakes

Editing the wrong lock screen: On iPhone, if you have multiple lock screens, you must edit the one that is currently active. Swipe to the one you want before tapping Customize.
Confusing widgets with notifications: Widgets are always visible; notifications are transient. Hiding notification previews does not hide widget content.
Forgetting to authenticate: On iPhone, you must unlock with Face ID or passcode to enter edit mode. If you just tap the screen, it may not respond.
Assuming all Android phones are the same: Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus, and others have different menus. If you can’t find a setting, use the search bar in Settings.
Removing a widget but not saving: On iPhone, you must tap Done to save changes. On Android, changes save automatically when you exit, but on some phones you need to tap Apply.

Tips

Use Focus modes (iPhone): Create a Focus like “Sleep” or “Work” and assign a specific lock screen to it. That lock screen can have only the widgets you want for that time.
Use the widget gallery wisely: On iPhone, you can add a “Smart Stack” that rotates widgets based on context. Tap the stack, then turn on Smart Rotate.
Check widget permissions: Some widgets show data from apps that have permission to access your location or calendar. Review app permissions in Settings to limit what they can display.
Use the Always-On Display (Android): If your phone supports it, you can set the lock screen to show only the clock and a few widgets, reducing clutter.
Test with a dummy notification: Send yourself a message to see how much content appears on the lock screen before deciding what to hide.

Troubleshooting

Widgets not showing up: Make sure the app is installed and supports lock screen widgets. Some third-party apps haven’t updated for iOS 16 or Android 12 yet. Check for app updates.
Can’t enter edit mode: On iPhone, press and hold the lock screen but make sure you’re not touching a notification. If it doesn’t work, restart your phone. On Android, long-press on an empty area, not on a widget.
Changes not saving: On iPhone, tap Done and then tap the screen to dismiss. If you swipe away, changes may be lost. On Samsung, look for a Save or Apply button.
Widgets reappear after removal: Some system widgets (like the clock) cannot be removed. On iPhone, the date and time are always present. On Android, the “At a Glance” widget may be fixed; you can disable it in Settings under At a Glance.
Widget content is still visible after hiding notifications: This is because widgets are separate from notifications. You need to edit the widget itself. For example, on iPhone, the Calendar widget shows event titles; you can’t hide them individually, but you can remove the widget.
After a software update, widgets reset: This is rare but can happen. Re-customize your lock screen. If it keeps happening, report it to your device manufacturer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide the content of a specific widget without removing it?

On iPhone, no. You can only hide notification previews, not widget content. On some Android phones, you can toggle “Hide sensitive content” for the widget if the app supports it, but it’s not universal.

Why can’t I add a widget from a certain app?

The app must have a lock screen widget extension. If it doesn’t, it won’t appear in the gallery. Check the app’s update notes or contact the developer.

Will my lock screen widgets drain battery?

Yes, but minimally. Widgets that update frequently (like weather or stocks) use more battery. You can limit updates by removing unnecessary widgets or using a Smart Stack.

Can I have different widgets for different times of day?

On iPhone, use Focus modes to switch lock screens automatically. On Android, some launchers allow scheduling, but stock Android does not.

Do widgets show on the Always-On Display?

On Android, yes, some widgets appear on the AOD. On iPhone, the AOD shows the lock screen with widgets if you have an iPhone 14 Pro or later. You can disable AOD in Settings.

Can I make widgets show only when I tap them?

No, lock screen widgets are always visible. To see more detail, you tap them to open the app. For privacy, consider removing them entirely.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.