My 7 preferred Android widgets to make your phone or tablet better

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My 7 preferred Android widgets to make your phone or tablet better
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Kerry Wan/ZDNET

I’m going to beginning this piece by stating the option of widgets is individual, and what may be helpful to me may not work to you. However, there’s a widget for everybody, and depending upon the apps you have actually set up on yourAndroid gadgetyou’ll more than most likely discover a couple of in this post that assist make your day a bit more effective.

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What are widgets? Put simply, they are additions to your Android home screen that permit fast access to details from apps, the apps themselves, or services you depend upon. With the best collection of widgets, you might produce an at-a-glance home screen that keeps you as much as date without opening a single app.

I’ve explored the widgets for phones and tablets, and I’m sharing those that I believe will make your gadgets better.

Before we get to the list, let’s check out how to start with widgets.

1. Google Calendar

Program the whole month or day

I utilize Google Calendar daily and depend on it to keep my hectic life a bit less disorderly. Due to the fact that I inspect my Google Calendar frequently, I discover the widget really helpful.

You can include a widget to reveal the whole month or an everyday widget. From either widget, you can see occasions and even tap the + button to include an occasion to your calendar.

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Something to remember is that if you utilize numerous calendars on Gmail, you’ll need to include a widget for each. I choose the day view due to the fact that it offers me an at-a-glance handle my day, so I understand precisely what’s coming.

2. Gmail (or your e-mail app of option)

I choose Thunderbird

Including the widget for your default e-mail app (mine isThunderbirdmakes it simple to get a fast view of what’s in your inbox and provides you simple access to the app’s e-mail make up window.

For the Thunderbird widget, tap the pencil icon to instantly open the Thunderbird make up window, where you can compose an e-mail. I like this widget due to the fact that I can more quickly fire off a fast e-mail without opening the e-mail app.

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If you depend upon e-mail to remain linked and approximately date, this widget needs to be thought about a must.

3. Keep Notes

Rapidly write down information

I utilize Keep Notes daily to rapidly take down info, share wish list, and far more. I utilize a few of my notes in Google Keep throughout my workday (some include collections of essential links).

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For fast access to these links, I’ve included the Keep Notes widget. You can include 2 widgets: one that permits you to scroll through your notes and one that provides you fast access to developing brand-new notes (text, voice, and even images from your cam).

For this widget, I suggest including the scroll-through widget on tablets and the quick-access buttons widget on phones. I ‘d take that path due to the fact that your phone screen is much smaller sized than a tablet, and you may not wish to crowd it with a lot of bigger widgets.

4. Arc Search

Rapidly search the web

The Arc Search widget.

Tap this widget and it will instantly open Arc Search, so you can discover what you’re trying to find.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Arc Search is an excellent method to browse the web rapidly. Including Arc Search as a widget provides comparable performance to the basic Google search bar however immediately opens Arc Search rather of Chrome.

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Because I changed to Arc Search as my default app on Android, I choose utilizing the Arc Search widget. If you ‘d choose to move far from Google’s search, I extremely advise setting up Arc Search and including the widget to your home screen.

5. Battery

Heads-up on charge levels

The Android Battery widget.

If you depend upon linked gadgets, the Battery widget will keep you notified on their power.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Yes, there’s a battery sign at the top of your phone’s display screen. The sign does not offer any details on the charge levels of linked gadgets.

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I can include the battery widget to my home screen and get a fast heads-up on the charge levels of myPixel Watchlinked earphones, and more. The Android Battery widget is a fantastic addition if you require to understand just how much juice is left in your gadgets.

6. Pixel Weather

For Pixel phones just

The Pixel Weather widget.

I much choose the Weather widget to the at-a-glance weather condition info.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

The Android at-a-glance function offers you the existing temperature level, and you can tap it to open the weather condition app. It’s not constantly simple to utilize. It’s frequently a toss-up whether the Weather app or the Calendar app will open.

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To prevent that little confusion, I included the Pixel Weather widget. Yes, this is a Pixel-only function, however it’s better than attempting to check out the small print of the at-a-glance weather condition alternative. When I do not have my glasses on, the Weather widget is constantly there to assist me.

7. Spotify

Gain access to your playlists

The Spofity widget.

Spotify is my jam (when not listening to vinyl) and the widget makes whatever simple.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Spotify is my go-to music app on Android and the desktop. The Spotify widget provides me fast access to what’s playing and my playlists.

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Before a run, I can just tap my Runlist playlist from the Spotify widget to instantly open Spotify, load that playlist, and struck the roadway. When something plays, I can manage it from the widget.

I recognize that your requirements will determine the widgets you include. Whether you utilize any of the above widgets or not, I’m positive you’ll discover a collection of Android widgets to assist make your day a bit simpler.

How to include a widget to your Android gadget

This part is simple. All you do is long-press a blank area on your home screen, tap Widgets, try to find the widget you wish to include the resulting window, and drag it to your home screen. You can then resize the widget and move it as required.

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