Widget basics
Home Screen vs Lock Screen Widgets on iPhone
See where each type of iPhone widget lives, how to add it and why an app’s Home Screen widget may not appear on the Lock Screen.
Home Screen widgets and Lock Screen widgets are different placements with different shapes and purposes. A Home Screen widget can take a larger square or rectangle among app icons. Lock Screen widgets sit around the clock in smaller spaces. An app offering one type does not necessarily offer the other.
Quick comparison
| Home Screen | Lock Screen | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Among app icons on a page | On the wallpaper around the Lock Screen clock |
| Best use | Richer information or visual scenes | Compact information at a glance |
| How to add | Hold Home Screen, Edit, Add Widget | Hold Lock Screen, Customize, Add Widgets |
These paths come from Apple’s widget instructions ↗. Apple’s Lock Screen guide ↗ also explains how to adjust the wallpaper and clock.
Why you might not find the same app in both places
Developers choose which widget families and contexts to support. Apple’s widget design guidance ↗ lists different shapes for Home Screen and Lock Screen use. If an app appears in one picker but not the other, check the app’s description before treating it as an installation problem.
Where Aquarium Widgets fits
Aquarium Widgets is presented as a Home Screen aquarium, with fish and optional clock or calendar elements in the tank. Its App Store listing ↗ is the place to verify current compatibility. Do not expect the full aquarium to appear in a small Lock Screen widget slot just because the app has a Home Screen widget.
Want to place one now? Follow our Home Screen setup guide. If the app is missing from the picker you are using, try the troubleshooting checklist.