In this guide, we will show you the steps to fix the issue of being unable to add third-party widgets to the lock screen on your iPhone running iOS 16. The latest iteration of the OS build has bought quite a few noteworthy features to the fore. These include the ability to edit, unsend, and unread Messages, carry out tons of customizations on the lock screen, revamped Live text and Focus Mode, and numerous under-the-hood changes.
On the flip side though, there have been a few questionable changes as well. The removal of default wallpapers, modified way of accessing notifications, and the inability to set different wallpapers for the home and lock screen are just some of them. And now, numerous users have voiced their concern that they are unable to add third-party widgets to the lock screen on their iPhone running iOS 16.
This issue seems to be affecting numerous popular widgets such as Fantastical, Cardhop, Countdown, Subtrack, Overcast, and WaterMinder -even though all of them are compatible with iOS 16. If you are currently getting bugged with this issue, then this guide shall help you out. Follow along for the fix.
Fix Cannot add third-party widget to Lock Screen in iOS 16
In order to rectify this issue, you will have to offload unused apps and then reinstall them from the App Store. Here’s how it could be done:
- Head over to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Now tap on Enable next to Offload unused apps.
- Once done, reinstall all those apps from the App Store.
- [UPDATE] Rather than offloading apps, some users were able to fix this issue after a complete uninstallation of that widget app and then reinstalling it from App Store. So you could give it a try as well, if offloading doesn’t work for you.
That’s it. This should fix the issue of being unable to add third-party widgets to the lock screen on your iPhone running iOS 16. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.
CaptainAwesome
I’ve tried this. It doesn’t work. Neither does a restart. Apple needs to fix this ASAP.
Sadique Hassan
Sorry mate that it didn’t work out for you. If possible, could you please try uninstalling and then re-installing the affected widget apps [instead of offloading them] and then let us know the results?
CaptainAwesome
Looks like uninstalling the app completely then re-installing it fixed the issue temporarily! Thanks!
Cheers!
Sadique Hassan
Thanks for the confirmation mate, and glad that it worked out for you.