The best third-party widgets for your iOS 16 Lock Screen

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in iOS
New in iOS 16 is the ability to add widgets to your Lock Screen. We've curated the top third-party apps that have already added support for these highly-visible widgets that you can download now.

The new Lock Screen widgets
The new Lock Screen widgets


Many features within iOS 16 are user-facing, while others unlock additional functionality for developers. The new Lock Screen widgets are a bit of both. A bevy of Apple stock apps have them, and Apple has created a developer API for third-party applications to tie in.

Many developers worked tirelessly throughout the iOS beta cycle to ready their apps for launch day. Now that iOS 16 has launched, app updates have arrived with new features.

Some apps are neat but not particularly useful. Others can drastically improve how you interact with your iPhone. We've gathered up some of our favorites that have proved to be especially helpful.




Flighty

Flighty is one of our go-to apps for tracking flights and it is even more powerful with its latest update. It's full of new features such as Shared with You support.

If someone messages you a Flighty link, it will appear directly in the Flighty app. You can see the status of all your friend's flights in one spot.

Flighty widgets
Flighty widgets


Here, we want to talk more about the Lock Screen widget. Several widget options are available with information such as a countdown to your trip, the weather in your arrival city, and an in-flight progress bar.

Our favorite widgets contain detailed flight information. One shows the flight status, arrival gate, and flight time, while the other shows your booking code, seat number, and baggage claim number.

Carrot

Carrot is by far one of the most popular weather apps on the App Store and for good reason. The latest feature-packed up brought new info cards to add to your app interface, a three-column UI on iPad, and Lock Screen widgets.

Carrot Lock Screen widgets
Carrot Lock Screen widgets


There are nearly two-dozen widgets available for Carrot, including UV levels, precipitation chance, temperature, and much more. Our favorite is the snark widget that brings that signature sassy attitude the Carrot AI is known for.

If none of the pre-built widgets work for you, you can create a custom widget within the Carrot app that can show any combination of two user-chosen data points.

Home Widget

With Home Widget, you can run your smart home automation with more granular control than Apple offers.

Add a single Home Widget to your Lock Screen and program it to do anything you'd like. This can be controlling an accessory, triggering a scene, or more.

Apple's HomeKit widget is limiting, showing the status of your home but unable to tie to direct scenes or devices.

Parcel

Since it is iPhone season, we're betting that more than a few of you are waiting for your new devices to arrive on your doorstep. Parcel is a handy delivery tracking app that integrates with all the main services like UPS, USPS, DHL, FedEx, and more.

Parcel Lock Screen widgets
Parcel Lock Screen widgets


Just add your package by pasting the tracking number or via Share Sheet, and you can get updated on its progress. With the new Lock Screen widgets, you no longer have to jump into the app to do this.

Parcel's Lock Screen widgets can give you updates on where it is, until it hits your door. It even supports the narrow widget with the date.

Halide

Many pro photogs opt for third-party camera apps offering more granular control. Unfortunately, you can't access these apps from the Lock Screen like you can with Apple's own.

Halide, arguably the most popular third-party camera app, has solved this issue. Its new Lock Screen widget lets you jump directly into the app without opening your phone.

Rather than a single option, there are several widget choices for users that drop you into the correct mode, making it more useful than Apple's. Choose between opening the app, auto mode, macro mode, manual mode, wide-angle camera, ultra-wide camera, or the telephoto camera.

Fantastical

Another popular alternative to Apple's stock apps, Fantastical got a well-deserved update for iOS 16. It has three widget choices for users: what is next in their calendar, a full month view, and a quick action button.

Fantastical widgets
Fantastical widgets


The quick action button can be set to a user-defined event, task, or search.

Beyond widgets, Fantastical supports Focus Filters too. By using Focus Filters, you can show or hide different calendars based on the current Focus Mode of your iPhone.

Apollo for Reddit

Apollo is a an excellent Reddit browsing app that boasts a slew of features. Its most recent version went all-out with Lock Screen widgets.

One of Apollo's widgets
One of Apollo's Lock Screen widgets


There are eight total Apollo widgets you can adorn your Lock Screen with. Some of the more useful ones can take you directly to your inbox and shows a live count of how many messages you have, while another will promote trending posts based on your interest.

Some aren't as useful, such as displaying your Karma count or jumping to a random subreddit. We did laugh at the widget that displays the distance you've scrolled while browsing Reddit, though.

No, we aren't telling you how far.

Other useful apps

Some apps are a bit more niche but still well-designed and worthy of mention. Here are some of the great apps that got significant updates that came alongside Apple's release.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 17
    Just need a widget to put the iPhone charge percentage back on my lock screen, thanks.

    edited September 2022
  • Reply 2 of 17
    DAalsethDAalseth Posts: 3,057member
    eightzero said:
    Just need a widget to put the iPhone charge percentage back on my lock screen, thanks.

    YES! I can put the battery level of my Apple Watch on the screen, but not the actual phone I’m holding. That’s nuts. 
    lollivermaciekskontakt
  • Reply 3 of 17
    eightzero said:
    Just need a widget to put the iPhone charge percentage back on my lock screen, thanks.

    Why not view it at the top of the phone? I mean, a widget would be cool too but it's right there.
    budshondawatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 17
    eightzero said:
    Just need a widget to put the iPhone charge percentage back on my lock screen, thanks.


    They brought this back tho! Just go back to Settings >> Battery and turn on Battery Percentage
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 17
    budshonda said:
    eightzero said:
    Just need a widget to put the iPhone charge percentage back on my lock screen, thanks.


    They brought this back tho! Just go back to Settings >> Battery and turn on Battery Percentage
    Nope. Not supported on my Xr.

    mc1rmutant said:
    eightzero said:
    Just need a widget to put the iPhone charge percentage back on my lock screen, thanks.

    Why not view it at the top of the phone? I mean, a widget would be cool too but it's right there.
    Nope. Not the percentage number. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 17
    Andrew,

    Pardon my English but Parcel sucks. You need to look at the Deliveries app as it is so superior to parcel.

    when you get an email or link to a site that provides you the tracking information, you simply go to the share icon, select a Deliveries app, and a window pops up where you add a description of the item. That’s it.

    You cannot do this with Parcel, I have tried it, and it does not work, and there’s so much more information you need to provide that it’s basically useless and cumbersome.

  • Reply 7 of 17
    dewmedewme Posts: 5,761member
    I’m starting to wonder why there’s still a need to maintain a distinction between the Lock Screen and the Home Screen.

    The complexity monster is starting to stir.
  • Reply 8 of 17
    eightzero said:
    Just need a widget to put the iPhone charge percentage back on my lock screen, thanks.

    Didn’t you get the option to add widget for this? I can add battery percentage widget for my lockscreen? I mean when you choose battery and from there you have smaller battery widget and then the bigger which shows it all.
  • Reply 10 of 17
    duel said:
    eightzero said:
    Just need a widget to put the iPhone charge percentage back on my lock screen, thanks.

    Didn’t you get the option to add widget for this? I can add battery percentage widget for my lockscreen? I mean when you choose battery and from there you have smaller battery widget and then the bigger which shows it all.
    Nope. The only one that shows is the watch battery. And I have that...you know...on my watch.
  • Reply 11 of 17
    duel said:
    Nope. "Step. 6→ A pop-up menu with a variety of widgets will arise from the bottom of the screen. In this menu, hit the “Batteries” option. Both the iPhone and Apple watch battery widgets are available on your iPhone." 

    Only the Apple watch battery widget appears as an option.

    Interestingly, many 3rd party iOS apps purport to make widgets that function on the lock screen, but when I install them and try it, they simply don't. I've dowloaded 5-6 of them to find one that will work, and none do. They can be used on the home screen or elsewhere, but the option to add them to a lock screen doesn't appear. 


  • Reply 12 of 17
    eightzero said:
    Just need a widget to put the iPhone charge percentage back on my lock screen, thanks.

    Why not view it at the top of the phone? I mean, a widget would be cool too but it's right there.
    Because it is too small. Some people need to put glasses on to operate those small devices packed with tiny symbols and spiked with links and interface active spots. Opening screen should give critical information in the first place. Tool is to accommodate human - not the other way around.

    And for the record Apple devices and apps on them  do not qualify for some accessibility regulations required in customer market due to discrimination. I am just fresh of training in major bank (the oldest one in the US so you can guess) on those regulations. While banks strive to help clients with accessibility some arrogant firms and individuals don't. That is okay. Market always shows who is right. Sure Apple dominates in the US, but it will not dominate between some groups of people... or even for businesses.

    williamlondon
  • Reply 13 of 17
    I was sort of enthused about this lock screen widget stuff. Oh well. Not the first time I've been disappointed by Apple's promises. 

    Maybe something interesting catches my eye next Apple event. Maybe something useful comes out of WWDC2023. Hope springs eternal. 
  • Reply 14 of 17
    eightzero said:
    Just need a widget to put the iPhone charge percentage back on my lock screen, thanks.

    Why not view it at the top of the phone? I mean, a widget would be cool too but it's right there.
    Because it is too small. Some people need to put glasses on to operate those small devices packed with tiny symbols and spiked with links and interface active spots. Opening screen should give critical information in the first place. Tool is to accommodate human - not the other way around.

    EXACTLY. I want to be able to pull out my phone, and as I unlock the screen see with a glance how much charge I have. It looks like 16.1 adds several models to the ones that can have the numeric battery indicator in the corner, but it’s still tiny. 
  • Reply 15 of 17
    eightzero said:
    I was sort of enthused about this lock screen widget stuff. Oh well. Not the first time I've been disappointed by Apple's promises. 

    Maybe something interesting catches my eye next Apple event. Maybe something useful comes out of WWDC2023. Hope springs eternal. 
    Did you see this? Perhaps it will help. 

  • Reply 16 of 17
    eightzero said:
    I was sort of enthused about this lock screen widget stuff. Oh well. Not the first time I've been disappointed by Apple's promises. 

    Maybe something interesting catches my eye next Apple event. Maybe something useful comes out of WWDC2023. Hope springs eternal. 
    Did you see this? Perhaps it will help. 

    Thanks. Yes, just tried it. No Joy. 

    Maybe 16.1 fixes this. Maybe not.
  • Reply 17 of 17
    eightzero said:
    duel said:
    Nope. "Step. 6→ A pop-up menu with a variety of widgets will arise from the bottom of the screen. In this menu, hit the “Batteries” option. Both the iPhone and Apple watch battery widgets are available on your iPhone." 

    Only the Apple watch battery widget appears as an option.

    Interestingly, many 3rd party iOS apps purport to make widgets that function on the lock screen, but when I install them and try it, they simply don't. I've dowloaded 5-6 of them to find one that will work, and none do. They can be used on the home screen or elsewhere, but the option to add them to a lock screen doesn't appear. 


    That's strange, i have iPhone battery percentage widget there, but anyway iOS16.1 will bring the battery percentage back for your XR
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