How to Install iOS 14 Widgets on Android

This guide shows you how to get the look and functionality of iOS 14 widgets on an Android phone. You’ll use a third-party launcher app to replace your home screen, then add widgets that mimic Apple’s design. You’ll need an Android phone running Android 7.0 or newer and a few minutes to set it up.

What You’ll Need

• An Android phone (Android 7.0 or later recommended).
• A launcher app that supports widget customization – Nova Launcher (free version works) or Lawnchair 2 are popular choices.
• A widget app that provides iOS-style widgets – KWGT Kustom Widget Maker (free version) or Color Widgets for iOS (free with ads).
• Optional: An icon pack with iOS-style icons, like iOS Icon Pack or Adaptive Icons.

Step-by-Step

1. Install a launcher. Go to the Google Play Store, search for “Nova Launcher” or “Lawnchair 2”, and install it. These launchers let you resize widgets freely and remove the app drawer grid restrictions.
2. Set the launcher as default. Press your phone’s Home button. A dialog will appear asking which launcher to use. Select your new launcher and choose “Always” or “Just once”. If no dialog appears, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Home app and pick the launcher.
3. Install a widget maker. Open the Play Store and install “KWGT Kustom Widget Maker” or “Color Widgets for iOS”. These apps provide the actual iOS-style widgets (like weather, calendar, battery, and photo widgets).
4. Open the widget app and grant permissions. Launch the widget app. It will ask for permissions like location (for weather) and storage (for photos). Grant them so the widgets can display correct data.
5. Add a widget to your home screen. On your home screen, press and hold an empty area. Tap “Widgets” (or “Widgets” icon in the launcher’s menu). Scroll through the list until you find “KWGT” or “Color Widgets”. Press and hold it, then drag it to your home screen. Release to place it.
6. Resize the widget. After placing, you’ll see a box with a border. Drag the handles to resize it to your desired size. iOS 14 widgets are typically 2×2, 4×2, or 4×4 grid cells. You can make it any size you like.
7. Customize the widget. Tap the widget on your home screen. If using KWGT, it will open the KWGT editor. Tap the widget object to select it, then tap the “Item” tab to change its appearance. You can change the background, text, and data. If using Color Widgets, the app will open a menu where you can pick a widget style, choose the data source, and adjust colors.
8. Set the widget’s data. For weather, make sure location is enabled. For calendar, select which calendar to show. For photos, choose the album or specific images. Follow the app’s prompts.
9. Apply the design. After customizing, tap the checkmark or “Apply” button in the widget editor. The widget will update on your home screen.
10. Optional: Install an iOS icon pack. To complete the look, install an iOS-style icon pack from the Play Store. Open the launcher’s settings (long-press home screen > Settings > Look & feel > Icon style). Select the icon pack you installed. This changes your app icons to look like iOS icons.
11. Test and adjust. Tap the widget to make sure it opens the right app or updates correctly. If it doesn’t, go back to the widget editor and check the settings. You can also duplicate widgets by long-pressing and selecting “Duplicate” to have multiple widgets of the same style.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong launcher. Stock launchers (like Samsung One UI or stock Android) often don’t allow free resizing of widgets, which is essential for the iOS look. Always use a third-party launcher.
• Not granting permissions. Weather widgets will show “No data” if location permission is denied. Calendar widgets will be blank if calendar access is not granted.
• Widget too small or too large. If the widget is too small, text may be cut off. If too large, it may overlap other icons. Resize it carefully.
• Using the free version of KWGT without knowing its limits. The free version of KWGT has limited presets but still allows full customization. Some advanced widgets require the pro version.
• Forgetting to set the widget’s update interval. Some widgets update slowly by default. In KWGT, you can set update frequency in the widget’s settings.

Tips

• Use a grid size that matches iOS. In your launcher’s settings, set the home screen grid to 5×5 or 4×6 to get closer to iOS proportions.
• Create a widget stack. With Nova Launcher, you can create a widget stack by long-pressing a widget and selecting “Stack”. This lets you swipe between multiple widgets in the same space, just like iOS 14’s Smart Stack.
• Use a transparent background for widgets. In the widget editor, set the background to “None” or “Transparent” to blend seamlessly with your wallpaper.
• Download pre-made KWGT widgets. Many free KWGT widget packs are available on the Play Store (like “Huk KWGT” or “Shadow KWGT”). They come with iOS-style designs that you can import and tweak.
• Backup your setup. In Nova Launcher, go to Settings > Backup & restore to save your layout. This makes it easy to restore if you switch phones or accidentally reset.

Troubleshooting

• Widget shows “Loading” or “No data”. Check that the widget app has the necessary permissions. Go to Settings > Apps > [Widget App] > Permissions and enable location, storage, etc. Also, ensure you have an internet connection.
• Widget is not resizable. Make sure you are using a third-party launcher. If you are, try long-pressing the widget and selecting “Resize”. Some launchers require you to drag the handles from the edge.
• Widget disappears after restart. Some launchers may not automatically reload widgets after a reboot. Try re-adding the widget. If it happens often, consider using a more stable launcher.
• Widget opens the wrong app when tapped. In KWGT, you can set a touch action. Tap the widget, go to the “Touch” tab, and select the app you want to open. In Color Widgets, check the widget’s settings for a “Tap Action” option.
• Battery drain. Weather and clock widgets that update frequently can drain battery. In KWGT, reduce the update interval (e.g., every 30 minutes instead of every 5). Also, avoid using live wallpapers.
• Widget looks blurry. This happens if the widget is stretched too much. Try resizing it to a smaller size or use a higher resolution image for photo widgets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to root my Android phone?

No. All the methods described work without rooting. You only install apps from the Play Store and change your launcher.

Will this slow down my phone?

Generally, no. Launchers like Nova are lightweight. However, widgets that update frequently can use some battery. If you notice lag, reduce the number of widgets or their update frequency.

Can I get the exact iOS 14 widgets for free?

Yes, the free versions of KWGT and Color Widgets offer many iOS-style designs. You can also find free KWGT widget packs on the Play Store.

Will these widgets work with any Android phone?

Yes, as long as your phone runs Android 7.0 or later. Older versions may not support some features, but basic widgets should work.

Can I use the iOS control center on Android?

No, that’s not possible without significant system modifications. This guide only covers home screen widgets, not the control center.

How do I remove the widgets later?

Long-press the widget and drag it to the “Remove” or “X” area at the top of the screen. You can also uninstall the widget app to remove all its widgets.

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