What are widgets and how do I add them to my Android smartphone or tablet?

Widgets can be added to your phone’s home as a quick way to access certain information from apps without having to open the app itself. One example is the Calendar widget, which provides a quick view of the upcoming events in your calendar without having to open the Calendar application.

Although Galaxy devices come with certain default widgets, if you wish to add a widget to your home screen that does not appear in the widgets menu, you will first have to download the corresponding app.

1 On the home screen, tap and hold on any available space.
Tap and hold empty space on home screen on Samsung Galaxy smartphone
2 Tap "Widgets".
Tap Widgets on Samsung Galaxy smartphone
3 Tap and hold the widget you would like to add.

If you're looking for the Google Search bar, you will need to tap Google or Google Search, then tap and hold the Google Search bar widget.

Tap and hold to add widget on Samsung Galaxy smartphone
4 Drag and drop the widget onto the available space.
Drag and drop the widget on Samsung Galaxy smartphone
1 Tap and hold the widget.
2 Tap "Widget settings".
Tap Widget Settings on Samsung Galaxy smartphone
3 Select your preferred settings.

For example, slide the bar left or right to adjust the transparency of the widget's background.

Slide the bar left or right to adjust widget transparency on Samsung Galaxy smartphone
4 Press the return arrow to exit the widget settings menu.
1 Tap and hold the widget.
2 A blue box will appear around the widget. Drag the box to increase or decrease the size of the widget.
Tag the box to adjust widget size on Samsung Galaxy smartphone
3 Tap the space around the blue box to save.
Tap the space around the box to save widget on Samsung Galaxy smartphone

Please note: not all devices will let you resize widgets, and not all widgets can be resized.

1 Tap and hold the widget.
2 Tap "Remove from home".

The widget will be removed from the Home screen but will still be available in the Widgets tab, should you ever wish to put it back on your Home screen.

Tap Remove from Home to remove widget from home screen on Samsung Galaxy smartphone

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