Apple iOS 14 redesigns its home screen, with the introduction of Widgets that can be placed within apps, App library with which you can hide applications if you want to, and more.
In this article, you’ll find about all the new home screen changes from App library to widgets. You’ll also find guidelines for using new features.
Widgets:
Widgets which are now available, can be accessed from swiping from left to right on home screen.
What is the difference then?
The difference is, in iOS 14, widgets got functionality overhaul and design.
Apple builds all of its widgets, by introducing a latest design that uses more spacing, richer content and less transparency to make widgets more useful.
This redesign was implemented because now widgets can move out of today view and right on the home screen.
Widgets functions and sizes:
Now, in iOS 14 home screen, Widgets can be customized in three sizes, large, medium and small. A different amount of information can be added within each widget size.
For example, a small widget shows just one headline in Apple News App and a large widget shows three headlines.
As in weather App, a large version shows weekly forecast, a medium shows full daily forecast and a small widget shows the current temperature. You can also create multiple widgets of similar apps.
On the basis of function, some Applications have different widgets options. In Apple’s iOS 14 home screen News widgets, you can get stories about a specific topic of interest or you can choose to see relevant news from the day.
Widgets Stacks:
On the top of one another, multiple applications can be stacked. With this, you can put all your favourites together and after that swap between them with downward or upward swipe of the finger.
Apple also added a special Smart Stack, with help of this a widget stack can use Siri intelligence to surface the most relevant and useful widget based on your iPhone usage habits.
For example, if you order a coffee often, the widget for the coffee app may pop up.
On the way home from work, you like to listen to podcasts and use it on a daily basis, you can have a podcast app widget at your stack in the appropriate time, iPhone will surface the widget.
Widget for Siri Suggestion:
On the surface sounds similar to a smart stack, there is a separate Siri Suggestion Widget. But it is different from other Application widgets. It is based on your iPhone usage habits, similar to what is shown under Siri suggestion, whenever you utilize the iphone search function.
There are also options to have Siri suggest widgets display Shortcuts based on your most used shortcut usage pattern and used shortcuts.
Widgets Gallery:
In iOS 14 home screen, with the help of Widget Gallery, you can add and customize your Widgets. It is accessible by long pressing on the today view of the widget list and then you have to tap the + button present in the upper left corner.
From there you can scroll through the available options or you can search for a specific widget. By tapping on the widget list, you can see content and size options available for that widget.
How can you add a widget to today’s view?
Simple! Just tap on the Add Widget option.
If you long press Today View screen without tapping + button, you can delete, rearrange the widgets.
You can also scroll down to the edit option, by which you can see all your widgets in a quick view list. It also includes third-party developers.
Home Screen Widgets:
In iOS 14 home screen, you can add any widget to the home screen that is available in Today’s view. You can log press or drag them out from Today’s view on the home screen to get the interference editing options.
How can you put a new widget right on the home screen?
You can do this, in this view, by Tapping on + button.
Widgets on the screen are not different from app icons, they just got bigger in size.
- A small widget takes the space of four apps. It is in square shape.
- A medium widget can take the space of eight apps. It is in rectangular shape.
- A large widget takes the place of 16 apps. It is also in square shape.
You can now have widgets next to the screen or app, and if you want to rearrange, it can be done by long pressing on the home screen to get jiggle mode and after that you can drag the icons wherever you want to place them.
App Library:
Along with the option to add widgets or widget redesign to the home screen, Apple added an app library, by which you can see all the apps you want in one, easy accessible place.
How can you access the App library? You can access the app library by swiping from right to left through all the pages of the home screen until you get to the end.
App libraries offer smart organization, and all of your installed apps can be placed separated into smart folders.
Some of the folder options include utilities, creativity, productivity, reference and reading, health and fitness, Apple Arcade, education and games.
On the basis of App usage habits, Apple also added a “ suggestion” folder, in which particular apps you want to use can be placed.
For finding news applications, Apple has also introduced a RECENTLY ADDED folder.
If you want you App library to show you notification badges;
- Open home screen.
- Toggles on show in the App library.
How can you delete Apps?
You can delete apps by long pressing on any Application you want to delete.
App Library Search:
In iOS 14 home screen, there is another view in the app library, which is a list of all apps you have installed, in alphabetical order.
How can you get it?
Simple! Just tap on the search bar present at the top of the App Library Interface.
In the Alphabetical list, you can search for an app, scroll through all of your apps, or use the letter bar at the right side of the app, by which you can skip a specific app.
Hiding Home Screen Apps and Pages:
As all the apps available in the app library in iOS 14 Home screen, so there is no need to have any app in your Home Screen, or pages of Home Screen.
You can also hide a specific one, or entire page if you want to. You can hide them by long pressing on any app page or home screen, and after long pressing, tap on the ico present at the bottom. It has a series of dots which represent each page of the app.
If you want to hide a specific application, just long press on the app icon, tap on the edit home screen, and after that, choose remove from the home screen option.
Have any query or comment regarding iOS 14 Home Screen, let us know. Looking forward to your reviews.