Customizing Widgets on Your IOS 14 Home Screen
Widgets have been a significant feature on the IOS system for years. However, with IOS 14, this feature has been taking to the next level. The latest IOS version now allows users to fully customize their home screen widgets, making their phones even more personal and unique. In this article, we will take a closer look at customizing widgets on your IOS 14 home screen.
With the latest IOS 14 update, Apple has introduced a new feature allowing you to customize and design your widgets entirely according to your preferences. The new feature enables you to change its size, shape, color, and content, so your widgets look exactly as you want them to. The customization feature provides a new level of functionality and flexibility, allowing you to switch everything up on your home screen and create unique layouts and designs.
The process of customizing widgets on your IOS 14 home screen is a simple and straightforward task. To get started, press and hold down your home screen to activate edit mode. After this, click the ‘+’ sign located at the top left corner of your screen, and you will be redirected to the Widget gallery. Here, you can select the widget that you want to customize from the available options.
Once you select a widget, it pops up on your screen and gives you more customization options to choose from. The following are some crucial features you need to consider while customizing your widgets.
Widget Stack
The widget stack allows you to organize your widgets by stacking them on top of each other. This feature provides you with the ability to access multiple widgets conveniently . Just touch and slide up on the display to switch between them. To create a stack, select the same size and type of widgets and place them on your home screen. While stacking, go to edit mode and select ‘Stack’ from the given options. Once stacked, your widgets will appear as a single widget on the home screen.
Smart Stacks
Smart stacks is another new widget feature introduced with IOS 14. The widget automatically changes according to the time of day, your location, and your usage habits. For instance, if you frequently check the weather, it will pop up on your home screen in the morning. In contrast, if you are commuting, the widget for map directions will appear. To enable the smart stack feature, select and place widgets on top of each other and choose ‘Smart Stacks ‘ while editing.
Widget Content
The content available on each widget can be changed according to your preference. The widgets come with a preset format which includes things like weather, news headlines, health data, and much more. You can customize and select which apps should show on the widget by selecting the ‘Edit Widget’ option. You can choose from a range of sizes available for each app or widget and adjust it according to your preference.
Widget Design
The design of your widget is subjective. You can choose to have a border, customize its color, and shade. To change the widget design, select ‘Edit Widget’ and select ‘Color.’ Then, choose the color you want and change the widget’s background to match it. You can change the shades to light or dark as well.
In conclusion, The newly unveiled IOS 14 update takes organizing and personalizing your home screen to a new level. With simple steps, you can customize your widgets to your liking and change your home screens’ entire layout. The process of customizing widgets isn’t only simple. It’s also easy and quite fun. Try it out today, and you’ll surely enjoy it.
Creating Themed App Icons using Shortcuts
iOS 14 has brought about a range of exciting new features, and one of the most popular is the ability to customize your home screen. With the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, you can now create themed app icons using shortcuts. This means that you can change the look and feel of your home screen, making it more personalized and aesthetically pleasing. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to create themed app icons using shortcuts.
Step 1: Choose your theme
The first step is to decide on the theme that you want to use for your home screen. You can choose from a range of different styles, including minimalist, retro, or nature-inspired. Once you’ve chosen your theme, think about the colors that you want to use for each app icon. This will help you to create a cohesive and harmonious look for your home screen.
Step 2: Find or create your app icons
The next step is to find or create the app icons that you want to use. You can either download pre-made icons from the internet or create your own using graphic design software. If you’re creating your own icons, make sure that they’re the right size (120 by 120 pixels) and save them as a PNG file.
Step 3: Create a shortcut
Once you have your app icons, you need to create a shortcut. To do this, go to your device’s home screen and press and hold on an app icon until it starts to wiggle. Then, tap on the ‘+’ icon in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 4: Customize your shortcut
After tapping on the ‘+’ icon, you’ll see a menu of options. Select ‘Add Action’ and then choose ‘Scripting’. From there, select ‘Open App’ and choose the app that you want to customize. Once you’ve done that, tap on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen and select ‘Add to Home Screen’.
Step 5: Add your custom app icon
The next step is to add your custom app icon. Tap on the icon next to the shortcut name and select ‘Choose Photo’. From there, select the PNG file that you saved in step 2. You can also add a custom name for your shortcut if you want.
Step 6: Add your new app icon to your home screen
Once you’ve added your custom app icon and name, tap on ‘Add’ in the top right corner of the screen. Your new app icon will now be added to your home screen, and you can drag it around and place it wherever you want. Repeat these steps for each app icon that you want to customize to complete the new look for your home screen.
Creating themed app icons using shortcuts is a fun and creative way to make your iOS 14 home screen unique. With this guide, you’ll be able to create custom icons in no time and have a personalized home screen that you’ll love.
Organizing Apps into App Libraries for a Clutter-Free Home Screen
One of the features that Apple introduced in the iOS 14 update is the App Library. This feature automatically organizes your apps into different categories and presents them in a clutter-free space. The App Library is found at the end of your home screen pages, and it contains a collection of all your apps.
There are two ways to access the App Library: First, you can swipe left on your home screen until you reach the last page, or you can tap on the small dots at the bottom of your home screen pages. Either way, you’ll find the App Library at the end of your home screen pages.
Here are the steps you need to follow to organize your apps into app libraries for a clutter-free home screen:
Step 1: Update your iPhone to iOS 14
Before you start organizing your apps into app libraries, you need to ensure that your phone is running on the latest iOS 14 update. You can check this by going into the “Settings” application, tapping on “General,” and then “Software Update.” If an update is available, tap on “Download and Install” to update your phone.
Step 2: Check which apps you use regularly
The App Library automatically sorts your apps based on various categories such as social, entertainment, and productivity. But it’s still essential to check which apps you use the most and place them on your home screen. To do this, you can tap and hold an app until it starts jiggling. Then, drag the app to where you want to place it. Arrange your frequently used apps on the first screen so that you can access them quickly.
Step 3: Move apps that you use occasionally to the App Library
There are some apps that you might not use frequently, and you don’t need them to take up space on your home screen. These are the apps that you want to move to the App Library. To do this, you can tap and hold an app until it starts jiggling. Then, drag the app to the rightmost side of your home screen pages. When you reach the last page, release the app, and it will be moved to the App Library. You can also tap on “Edit Home Screen” and drag apps to the App Library.
Step 4: Customize your app library
By default, the App Library sorts your apps into categories such as “Social,” “Productivity,” and “Entertainment.” But you can customize these categories to suit your needs. To do this, swipe left on your home screen until you reach the App Library. Then, tap on the search bar at the top of the screen. You’ll see a list of your apps and some suggested categories. Tap on a suggested category, or create a new one by tapping on “New Folder.” You can also drag apps from one category to another by tapping and holding an app until it starts jiggling. Drag the app to the category where you want it to be, and release it.
Step 5: Use the App Library to access your apps
Once you’ve organized your apps into app libraries, you can access them quickly and easily. Swipe left on your home screen until you reach the App Library. Then, scroll down to find the category of apps that you want to use. Tap on the app category to see the apps inside it. If you want to open an app, tap on it, and the App Library will launch the app.
In conclusion, organizing your apps into app libraries is an excellent way to have a clutter-free home screen, and it’s straightforward to do. It’s a feature that saves you the time and stress of looking for particular apps because they are all in one place. The App Library keeps your phone organized and helps you find the app you need faster.
Using the ‘Smart Stack’ feature to easily access apps and widgets
If you are an iPhone user, you are probably familiar with the frustration of having to switch between apps and widgets on your home screen. With the iOS 14 update, Apple has introduced the ‘Smart Stack’ feature to make it easier to access your frequently used apps and widgets.
The Smart Stack is essentially a group of apps and widgets that can be stacked on top of each other in a single space on your home screen. The beauty of this feature is that it enables you to have easy access to multiple apps and widgets without having to swipe through pages of your home screen. You simply swipe up and down on the Smart Stack to access the different apps and widgets.
To create a Smart Stack, simply long-press on the home screen and select the ‘+’ icon in the top left corner. From there, you can select the apps and widgets that you want to include in your Smart Stack. Note that you can add up to 10 apps and widgets to your Smart Stack.
Another cool aspect of the Smart Stack feature is that it uses artificial intelligence to learn which apps and widgets you use most frequently, and then automatically puts them at the top of the stack. This means that the apps and widgets that you use the most will always be at your fingertips.
If you want to access a specific app or widget in your Smart Stack, you can simply tap on it to expand it to full screen. You can also swipe left or right on the app or widget to switch between the different apps and widgets in the Smart Stack.
The Smart Stack feature can also be customized to your liking. For example, if you don’t want a certain app or widget to be included in your Smart Stack, you can remove it by swiping left and selecting ‘Remove’.
Overall, the Smart Stack feature is a great way to streamline your home screen and make it more efficient. It makes it easy to access all of your frequently used apps and widgets in one place, without cluttering up your home screen with multiple pages and folders. Give it a try and see how it improves your iPhone experience!
Tips and tricks for designing an aesthetically pleasing IOS 14 home screen
Apple’s iOS 14 update has brought forward a lot of features that we love, and one of the most exciting is customization options for the home screen. Everyone wants their iPhone to look a certain way, and Apple has made it easy to create an aesthetically pleasing home screen. To help you start your home screen customization journey, we’ve put together some tips and tricks.
1. Choose a theme
The first step to creating an aesthetically pleasing home screen is to choose a theme. You can choose from a variety of themes, including dark mode, minimalistic, cute, and pastel. Once you’ve decided on your theme, you can start customizing your home screen to fit that particular look.
2. Use app icons and widgets
You can make your iPhone home screen looks professionally designed by using particular app icons and widgets that fit your theme. There are thousands of icons and widgets available on the App Store, particularly suitable for IOS 14, and you can also create your app icons with the Shortcuts app. By adding app icons and widgets, the overall look of your home screen becomes more organized and aesthetically pleasing.
3. Organize your folders
A great way to keep your home screen organized is by creating folders for specific app categories. Instead of having multiple apps on your home screen, create folders named “Social Media” or “Entertainment.” This method will help you quickly identify your apps and give your home screen more space for widgets and stunning app icons.
4. Play around with vivid widgets
One of the most exciting features of IOS 14 is the new vivid widgets. You can have a wide range of widgets, including battery, fitness, weather, and so on. By picking a widget that suits your theme and personalizing it according to your taste, they can look like they belong to that specific theme. Doing this will add more fun and create a sense of visual rhythm to the home screen.
5. Create a color-coordinated background
One way to make your home screen aesthetically pleasing is to create a color-coordinated background. You can use a photo or solid-colored background and organize your app icons to match the color. For example, if you have a pink background, use app icons, and widgets that have pinkish tones. Doing this will make your home screen look visually appealing and put together. Additionally, this tip’s advantage is that it makes your favorite apps pop out, and it will save you time since you know exactly where your apps are fully coordinated with your overall layout.
In conclusion, IOS 14 has brought up endless possibilities to customize your iPhone’s appearance like a pro. Whether you choose to keep things simple or bold, you can make your home screen unique to your taste. Consider these tips and tricks to create a complete look for your iPhone’s home screen, and don’t forget to have fun and experiment with different themes, colors, and widgets.
