> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://monthly-calender-widgets.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://monthly-calender-widgets.gitbook.io/docs/getting-started/add-widgets.md).

# Add widgets

## Adding Home Screen widgets

1. **Long press** on an empty area of your Home Screen until the icons start jiggling.
2. Tap the **+** button in the top-left corner (or tap **Edit Home Screen** > **Add Widget**).
3. Search for **Monthly Calendar Widgets** in the widget gallery.
4. Browse the available sizes:
   * **Small (2x2)** -- Compact calendar view.
   * **Medium (4x2)** -- Week view, Event + Calendar, or custom week widgets.
   * **Large (4x4)** -- Full month grid with event bars.
5. Swipe left/right to preview different widget styles within each size.
6. Tap **Add Widget** to place it on your Home Screen.
7. Drag the widget to your preferred position and tap **Done**.

### Customizing after adding

Once a widget is on your Home Screen:

* **Tap the widget** to open the app and change its settings (theme, colors, calendar source).
* **Long press the widget** > **Edit Widget** to access widget-level configuration if available.

## Adding Lock Screen widgets

1. **Long press** on your Lock Screen.
2. Tap **Customize** and select the Lock Screen to edit.
3. Tap the **widget area** below the time (rectangular strip) or the area above the time (inline widgets).
4. Find **Monthly Calendar Widgets** in the widget picker.
5. Choose from available Lock Screen widget types:
   * Day progress (sun arc, 24-hour ring, radial burst)
   * Year progress (orbital, month blocks, ring fill)
   * Countdown timer (various formats)
   * Dual timers
   * Stopwatch
   * Dual stopwatches
6. Tap the widget to add it, then tap **Done**.

## Widget refresh behavior

* **iOS controls widget refresh timing.** Widgets do not update in real-time -- iOS decides when to refresh them based on battery, usage patterns, and system load.
* Opening the app triggers a widget refresh.
* Changing a widget setting (like theme or color) forces an immediate update.
* Calendar data is written to shared App Group storage so the widget extension can read it independently.

## Tips and tricks

* **Stuck widget?** If a widget looks frozen or shows stale data, open the app once. This triggers a background refresh. If that doesn't work, remove the widget and re-add it.
* **Multiple widgets.** You can add as many widgets as you want -- different sizes, different themes, different calendar views. Each widget operates independently.
* **Smart Stacks.** Monthly Calendar Widgets works inside Smart Stacks. Add it to a stack for quick swipe-through access alongside other widgets.
* **StandBy mode.** Large and Medium widgets display beautifully in StandBy mode (iPhone in landscape on a charger).
* **iPad.** Widgets work on iPad Home Screen and Lock Screen the same way as iPhone, with sizes adapted for the larger display.


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