One of the most exciting features Apple introduced with iOS 14 was the ability to personalize the iPhone home screen with widgets. Among the most popular options is the photo widget, which allows users to showcase their favorite memories directly on the home screen. Whether it’s family pictures, travel snapshots, or motivational quotes turned into images, adding a photo widget to iPhone makes your device feel more personal and unique.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to add photo widgets, customize them, and even take advantage of third-party apps for advanced designs. By the end, you’ll be able to transform your home screen into a space that not only looks aesthetic but also keeps your most meaningful images front and center.
What is the iPhone Photo Widget?
The photo widget is a built-in feature that pulls images from your Photos app and displays them on your home screen. Apple offers different widget sizes small, medium, and large so you can choose how much space your photos occupy.
By default, the widget rotates through featured photos, memories, or suggested images from your library. This makes it a fun way to relive moments, though it can sometimes surface random photos you didn’t intend to display. Fortunately, with a little customization, you can take more control over what appears.
How to Add a Photo Widget to Your iPhone Home Screen
Adding a photo widget to iPhone is quick and easy. Here’s how you can do it in just a few steps:
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Unlock your iPhone and go to the home screen where you want the widget.
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Press and hold anywhere on the screen until the apps begin to jiggle.
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Tap the “+” button in the upper-left corner of the screen to open the widget gallery.
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Scroll down and select Photos.
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Choose a widget size (small, medium, or large).
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Tap Add Widget.
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Drag it to your preferred spot on the screen and tap Done.
Now, your home screen will begin displaying photos automatically from your library.
How to Customize the iPhone Photo Widget
The default photo widget automatically cycles through Apple’s “Featured Photos,” but sometimes it may show images you’d rather not display. To refine it, here are a few customization options:
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Remove unwanted featured photos: Open the Photos app > For You > Featured Photos, then tap the share button and choose “Remove from Featured Photos.”
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Use the Favorites album: Mark photos as favorites (tap the heart icon in Photos) so they are more likely to appear.
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Create custom albums: While the built-in widget doesn’t let you directly pick an album, you can work around this using third-party apps (covered next).
While Apple’s default customization is limited, third-party apps give you much more freedom.
Using Third-Party Apps for Advanced Photo Widgets
If you want complete control over your photo widgets, third-party apps are the way to go. These apps allow you to select specific photos or albums, design themes, and even add text overlays. Some popular options include:
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Widgetsmith – One of the most popular apps for home screen customization. It lets you create widgets using selected albums, choose fonts, colors, and even schedule different widgets throughout the day.
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Photo Widget: Simple – Focused on simplicity, this app allows you to select exact photos and create albums for your widget.
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Color Widgets – Offers stylish templates, themes, and decorative designs in addition to customizable photo widgets.
For example, with Widgetsmith, you can:
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Open the app and create a new widget.
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Select “Photo” or “Photo Album” as the widget type.
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Choose the specific image(s) you want displayed.
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Save and assign the widget to your home screen.
This level of control ensures you see only the photos you want whether it’s a vacation slideshow, seasonal album, or a collection of inspiring quotes.
Tips for Designing an Aesthetic Home Screen
Once you know how to add photo widgets to iPhone, you can make your home screen visually appealing and functional. Here are a few design tips:
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Match colors with your wallpaper – Use photos that complement your background for a cohesive look.
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Mix with functional widgets – Combine your photo widget with weather, calendar, or reminders to balance beauty and utility.
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Use themed albums – Create seasonal collections (like summer travel or holiday memories) and swap them out when you want a refresh.
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Experiment with layout – Use different widget sizes to create a grid that fits your personal style.
Conclusion
Adding a photo widget to your iPhone is one of the simplest ways to customize your device and make it feel more personal. Whether you stick with the built-in Photos widget or explore third-party apps for advanced customization, you’ll find plenty of ways to display your favorite memories right on your home screen.
