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Ever since Apple released the original iPhone back in 2007, there have been enumerable changes made to the hardware and software of this now ubiquitous device. However, the general design and function of the iPhone’s home screen stayed largely the same over the last 13 years. Until now. With the release of iOS 14, iPhone users now have the ability to customize their home screens with an all new feature called “Widgets”

Widgets come in three sizes, the smallest of which is the size of a 2x2 grid of apps, and the largest size is the space of a 4x4 grid. A widget is a miniature version of an iPhone app that shows a “at a glance” view of what the complete app contains. Widgets run the gamut from weather to fitness to finance and travel, so there's a good chance most of your favorite apps have widgets you can incorporate into your home screen. 

To get started with widgets, you’ll want to enter “jiggle mode.” Just press and hold anywhere on the screen for a few seconds (it’s easiest to press an empty space). From here you can scroll through installed widgets, or use the search bar to find one. As you install more apps and they start to support the new Widgets format, you may have a lot to choose from.

Tap the widget you want to add, and you’ll see an explanation and preview. Swipe left and right to see all your options—some Widgets have multiple styles. The Notes widget, for example, can show a single note or a folder.

For the first time, the iPhone’s home screen can truly be tailor made for you. Take a look at what widgets are available for your iPhone, and get customizing!