Use Widgets on Samsung Galaxy S4 Marshmallow vs Lollipop vs Jelly Bean/Kitkat
Edited by Leomar Umpad, Lynn, Maureen D., Jerry Rivers and 15 others
- 1 This is part of the VisiHow series on how to use the Samsung Galaxy S4. You can visit the main VisiHow on how to USE SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 for a full list of S4 VisiHow Articles
- 2 Using Widgets
- 3 Lock Screen Widgets
- 4 Using Widgets
- 5 Lock Screen Widgets
- 6 Types of Widgets
- 7 Add widgets to Samsung Galaxy S4
- 8 Add widgets to Samsung Galaxy S4 Lock Screen
- 9 How to move widgets from one page to another and to the Home screen
- 10 Is it possible to add a Search box in the widget page?
- 11 How to hide and delete widgets on the Galaxy S4
- 12 How to permanently delete widgets on the Samsung Galaxy S4
- 13 How to re-size a widget
- 14 Questions and Answers
- 14.1 How do you reread a note you added in the calendar widget last week?
- 14.2 How to use the S4 homepages and widgets?
- 14.3 Hello I have my new smart phone and I was trying to learn about widgets and why my battery is draining so quickly?
- 14.4 There is an information bar in the top right corner of my phone that displays the time, WiFi, reception bars, etc. Is there a way to remove this?
- 14.5 How can I re-size the memo widget on one full page of my Samsung Tab4?
- 14.6 Widgets have disappeared, can you help get them back?
- 14.7 Thank you! The problem is that the weather details on the locked screen of my Samsung S4 cannot be removed. How to remove that?
- 14.8 Hi, I have apps popping up on my screen and I can't remove them since the iOS update hence the touch wiz is no longer working?
- 14.9 Uninstalling Apps is causing me some confusion, I hope you can help?
- 14.10 Sorry I am so dense. how do I get to the home menu?
- 14.11 Accidentally moved sticky note to recycle bin, can I get back info?
- 15 Comments
This is part of the VisiHow series on how to use the Samsung Galaxy S4. You can visit the main VisiHow on how to USE SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 for a full list of S4 VisiHow Articles
Widgets allow you to access and use the main features of an app, directly on the home screen. This can be quite beneficial for saving time and maximizing the usage out of your device. Widgets can be customized and rearranged to suit your specific requirements. This article will discuss how to use widgets on both the home lock screen, on Android Jelly Bean, Kitkat, Lollipop, and Marshmallow."
Method 1: Marshmallow
Using Widgets
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Lock Screen Widgets
Using Widgets
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Lock Screen Widgets
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Experiment with these settings until you find a combination that suits you.
Method 3: Jelly Bean/Kitkat
Types of Widgets
- 1These include weather widgets, clock widgets, calendar widgets and other widgets that update you on an event or activity that may require tracking information.Information Widgets - These widgets provide the user with information important and critical to them.
Add widgets to Samsung Galaxy S4
- 1Go to your Home menu.
- 2Tap on Apps > Widgets.
- 3You can navigate through the widgets by scrolling left or right.You will be shown the available widgets.
- 4When you have chosen your desired widget, tap and press on it to add it to the Home screen.
Add widgets to Samsung Galaxy S4 Lock Screen
S4 allows the use of widgets, even on the lock screen. To do it:
- 1Pull down the Notifications drawer and tap on "Settings" (gear icon), located on the upper-right portion of the screen.
- 2In settings, tap on "My Device".
- 3In the "My Device" tab, tap on "Lock Screen".
- 4Tap on the check box next to the "Multiple Widgets" option to add widgets to your lock screen.
- 5Lock your screen by pressing the Power button once.
- 6Bring up your screen by pressing the Power button again.
- 7You are now on the lock screen, where you can tap on a plus tile to add a widget to it.
- 8Navigate through each lock screen by doing a swiping gesture.
- 9You can use up to six widgets on the lock screen, once each on its six lock screens.
How to move widgets from one page to another and to the Home screen
- 1
- 2Click "Widgets" at the top right hand corner of your screen, and there will be a popup menu of all your available widgets.
- 3Tap the widget that you choose to move, and hold it until it detaches, and it will now take you to your Home screen.
- 4Move it around to select where you want that particular widget to be.
- 5Let go of the widget when you have found your preferred place for it.
Is it possible to add a Search box in the widget page?
It is possible to add a Google search page on the widget page. To do this:
- 1You can go to your Home screen by tapping on the Home key once or tapping on the Back key a few times.Go to your Home screen.
- 2You will be taken to the Apps list.Tap on the Apps icon on the lower-right part of your Home screen.
- 3From the App list view, change the view into widget view by tapping on the Widgets tab on the upper-right part of your phone's screen.Tap on the Widgets Tab.
- 4The Menu key is located at the lower-right part of your phone. Tap on it once to view three options: Play Store, Search and Uninstall.Tap on the Menu Key.
- 5Since you want to add a search box in the widget page, and a search box will now appear at the upper part of your screen.Tap on Search.
- 6You can input some keywords to search for available widgets on the widget page. The more characters you put on the search box, the more refined the results of the search will be.Start searching.
- 7You have just learned how to add a search box in the widget page of your Galaxy S4.
How to hide and delete widgets on the Galaxy S4
If you want to hide and delete a widget:
- 1Scroll on the Home screen to any spot free of apps icons, so that you do not open them accidentally.
- 2You will find it about halfway down on the Home screen.Tap "Apps and Widgets".
- 3Tap the "Widgets" tab at the top right of your screen.
- 4To delete a widget, press and hold it until it becomes larger.
- 5
- 6Take your finger off, and you have removed the widget from your Home screen.
- 7This procedure will not permanently delete your widget. However, it is no longer on the Home screen from where it was located. The widget is hidden, and can be easily retrieved if you ever want it back on the Home page.The widget is now removed.
How to permanently delete widgets on the Samsung Galaxy S4
If you need more space or memory on your Galaxy S4, you can uninstall an application. If you want to permanently delete a widget on your Galaxy S4, or any Android mobile device, you must remove its software program. Keep in mind that once the widget is permanently removed, the only way to retrieve it will be to re-install it. This is a simple procedure, however. Just follow the instructions below.
- 1You can also repeatedly tap on the Back button to get to Home.Press on the Home button once to get to the Home page.
- 2Once you are on Home, tap on the Menu key (lower-left soft key) to be able to see available options on the Home menu.
- 3From the Home menu, scroll down to "Settings" and tap it.
- 4Tap on the "More" tabs.
- 5Tap "Applications Manager".
- 6Select and tap the application you desire to permanently delete.
- 7Tap "Uninstall" on the menu.
- 8Tap "OK".
- 9You have now uninstalled the widget.
Another alternative way of un-installing your widget is by following the procedures below:
- 1You can also repeatedly tap on the Back button to get to Home.Press on the Home button once to get to the Home button.
- 2From Home, tap on the Applications icon on the lower-right part of the Favorites tab.
- 3On the application list, tap on the "Widgets" tab on the upper-right part of your screen.
- 4On Widgets, tap on the Menu button (lower-left soft key) to see available options.
- 5From the list of options, tap on "Uninstall".
- 6Tap on that sign to remove the widget from your device.Widgets that can be deleted will now have a "red minus" sign on the upper right part of their icons.
- 7You are done with deleting widgets.
- 8Some widgets cannot be deleted. These widgets are part of your phone's "from the box" package.Take note:
How to re-size a widget
Many widgets are re-sizable. Why do this? You may want a widget that is easier to find, and you want it to be easily spotted for quicker access among a myriad of widgets on your Home screen. The solution is to make it bigger so it will stand out "in the crowd". Follow these easy instructions to make a widget bigger or smaller.
- 1Now, you will see there is a bright yellow frame around the widget if it can be re-sized.Press the widget you want to re-size and hold it.
- 2Just drag your finger on the edges of the widget to change its dimensions.
- 3Once it is the desired width and length, take your finger off the widget.
- 4You are in edit mode with this action, so tap any open space on your screen now to exit this mode.
The above procedures will allow you to shape the look and use of your Samsung Galaxy S4 screen easily.
Questions and Answers
How do you reread a note you added in the calendar widget last week?
I added a regular note to one day in the calendar last week. I want to reread the note I wrote last week. I don't know how to open it to read the note again. Please help
You need to follow these steps to open your note -
1. Open Calendar
2. Go to the date on which you added the note in the calendar.
3. You will find your note there.
How to use the S4 homepages and widgets?
I just switched from a Windows phone to a S4 and never had to use widgets, this phone is much different, I haven't figured out how to resize the widgets or how to get rid of extra home pages I don't need
To delete a home screen:
- for not updated Samsung S4 phones: see this tutorial;
- for updated Samsung S4 phones: see this tutorial.
To update your smartphone, see this tutorial.
To resize a widget, please see [tutorial].
Hello I have my new smart phone and I was trying to learn about widgets and why my battery is draining so quickly?
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 (about 1 month old and without using it, the battery drains from 100% to 15% by the end of the day. I have a lot turned off (like Bluetooth) and I constantly close open applications. Do you have any advice...thank you in advance.
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There is an information bar in the top right corner of my phone that displays the time, WiFi, reception bars, etc. Is there a way to remove this?
Specifically I'm trying to take a screenshot of a picture but that bar is always in the photos
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How can I re-size the memo widget on one full page of my Samsung Tab4?
Hello I have the memo widget on my Samsung Tab4 and I want to re-size it. The only available size is 3X3. When I move it to a blank page I can re-size top to bottom but not left to right. What I want is a full page memo. Is this size available?
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Widgets have disappeared, can you help get them back?
After a Factory Reset and back up and restore, widgets seem to have disappeared
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Thank you! The problem is that the weather details on the locked screen of my Samsung S4 cannot be removed. How to remove that?
Thank you! The problem is that the weather details on the locked screen of my Samsung S4 cannot be removed. How to remove that?
The solution depends on the application used. Let us review most of the possible solutions.
Method 1.
- 1Press the home button.
- 2Tap on "Apps".
- 3Tap on "Settings".
- 4Tap on the "More" tab.
- 5Tap on ""Application manager".
- 6Swipe left or right to the "RUNNING" section.
- 7Tap on "Force stop" and then "Disable" or "Uninstall".Find "Weather", "AccuWeather", or both.
- 8Restart your phone.
Method 2.
- 1Press the home button.
- 2Tap on "Apps".
- 3Tap on "Settings".
- 4Tap on "Sound and notification".
- 5Tap on "Application notification".
- 6Disable the Weather or Accuweather application by blocking its notifications.
Method 3.
- 1Press the home button.
- 2Tap on "Apps".
- 3Tap on "Settings".
- 4Tap on "Sound and notification".
- 5Tap on "Notifications on lock screen".
- 6Tap on "Do not show notifications".
Method 4.
- 1Open Play Store.
- 2Tap on any application that allows to customize the lock screen. For example, download and install WidgetLocker Lockscreen.Search for "lock screen".
- 3Your application will allow you to customize which widgets or buttons are allowed or blocked on the lock screen.
Method 5.
- 1Press the home button.
- 2Tap on "Apps".
- 3Tap on "Settings".
- 4Tap on "Lock screen & security".
- 5Tap on "Show Information".
- 6Tap on "Weather".
- 7Switch "Lock Screen" to the off position.
Method 6.
- 1Press the home button.
- 2Tap on "Apps".
- 3Tap on "Settings".
- 4Tap on "Lock screen".
- 5Tap on "Additional information".
- 6Uncheck "Weather".
Hi, I have apps popping up on my screen and I can't remove them since the iOS update hence the touch wiz is no longer working?
How can I remove unwanted apps widgets
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Uninstalling Apps is causing me some confusion, I hope you can help?
I'm trying to uninstall Google Earth and presume I may encounter other apps which offer the same procedures. There is 'force stop', 'uninstall updates' and disable. No uninstall! I have a Galaxy S4. Thank you.. I have tried: What? I'm just trying to uninstall apps.. I think it was caused by: It is a second-hand phone and I'm trying to make it mine.
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My problem is I have lost the date on my unlock screen. I have the time at the top, next line has the temperature but next to the temperature the date has disappeared. I then have icons for 6 smaller icons for apps. Where the date use to be I get problem loading widget. I how do I get to the home menu? Is it the first menu screen that appears when I unlock.. I have tried: Nothing so far. I think it was caused by: I do not know
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Accidentally moved sticky note to recycle bin, can I get back info?
I accidentally moved sticky note widget to recycle bin. Need the info I had on my note back, how can I retrieve this info, is it possible to get back this info and how can I do it. I need to restore widget and information that was noted on it. I have tried: Open from widget off home page. Searched in my phone application. I think it was caused by: Widget was located on the top of my home page. I pressed it too long and the recycle bin appeared under it on top of page and widget was gone into bin. Now I need my info that I had saved on my sticky note.
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