Types of iOS 16 Lock Screen Widgets

Apple’s iOS 16 introduced the ability to personalize the iPhone Lock Screen with glanceable widgets that display real-time information without unlocking the device. This article breaks down the physical formats available on the Lock Screen—including inline, circular, and rectangular layouts—as well as the specific categories of native and third-party app widgets you can add.

Widget Placements and Formats

Lock Screen widgets in iOS 16 are designed in monochrome, glanceable styles and fit into two distinct zones:

  • Above the Clock (Inline Widget): A single horizontal text line situated directly above the digital clock. This space accommodates one widget that combines a small icon or symbol with brief text, such as the current date, weather condition, or upcoming event.
  • Below the Clock (Widget Row): A dedicated grid area directly beneath the time display. This area supports up to four small slots and accommodates two distinct widget shapes:
    • Circular (1x1 Slot): A compact, circular widget used for gauges, progress rings, or single data points (e.g., current temperature, battery percentage, or Activity rings). You can fit up to four circular widgets in the row.
    • Rectangular (2x1 Slots): A wider widget that takes up two slots. It displays more detailed, multi-line information, such as your next calendar event, air quality details, or news headlines. You can fit up to two rectangular widgets, or mix one rectangular widget with two circular widgets.

Built-In Apple Widgets

Apple includes a variety of native system widgets tailored for the Lock Screen:

  • Batteries: Displays battery percentages for the iPhone or connected accessories like AirPods and Apple Watch in both circular and rectangular formats.
  • Calendar: Shows the date (inline), upcoming events, or the time of the next scheduled meeting.
  • Clock: Displays world clocks for specific cities, the next scheduled alarm, or a countdown timer.
  • Fitness: Shows your Apple Watch Activity rings or daily Move goal progress.
  • Home: Displays smart home summary metrics, including indoor climate sensors, security lights, or current home status.
  • News: Offers headlines from top news stories.
  • Reminders: Displays the next due task or the total count of uncompleted tasks from a designated list.
  • Stocks: Displays tracking information for a single stock ticker or a glance at your primary watchlist.
  • Weather: Provides varied metrics, including current temperature, conditions, UV index, air quality, wind speed, precipitation, and sunrise/sunset times.

Third-Party App Widgets

iOS 16 allows third-party developers to create Lock Screen widgets using Apple's WidgetKit framework. Any app updated for iOS 16 can offer inline, circular, or rectangular widgets. Common third-party examples include:

  • Productivity & Task Managers: Apps like Todoist and Things provide quick looks at daily task counts.
  • Travel & Navigation: Flight trackers like Flighty show flight status, departure gates, and countdowns.
  • Social & Messaging: Quick-access shortcuts to specific chats or unread notification counts.
  • Health & Habit Trackers: Apps like Waterllama or Streaks show daily intake tracking and current habit streaks.