Do you keep running into issues with widgets not loading, updating, or displaying data on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max? Software-related bugs and conflicting settings often cause that.
So let’s check out what you can do to fix your iPhone widgets, either in the Today View or on the Home screen.
1. Restart Your iPhone 18 Pro Max
If a specific widget or set of widgets appears blank or won’t load, it’s best to kick things off by restarting your iPhone. That’s a quick way to fix most issues brought about by buggy apps and system software.
To do that, open the Settings app and select General > Shut Down. After the device finishes shutting down, hold down the Side button to reboot it.
2. Update the Apps on Your iPhone
Try updating the apps on your iPhone. Newer update versions usually come with lots of fixes for known problems preventing widgets from functioning normally.
If you don’t have automatic app updates enabled, just open the App Store, tap your picture and select App Updates. Next, perform a swipe-down gesture to scan for the latest updates and tap Update All to install them.
3. Update iOS
Early builds of major system software iterations are relatively unstable and adversely impact widget functionality. The best way to fix that is by keeping iOS up to date.
Start by heading over to General > Software Update to scan for new system software updates. Follow that by tapping Update Now to apply them.
You can also activate automatic system-software updates for your iPhone 18 Pro Max. To do that, tap Automatic Updates (on the same screen). Automatically Install: When an update is available, iPhone downloads and installs it overnight while charging and connected to Wi-Fi.
4. Change the System Language
If widgets still fail to load, consider trying out this unusual fix that involves briefly changing the system language on your iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Head over to Settings > General > Language & Region. Tap Add Language, then select a language. That should automatically restart the device.
Follow this by switching back to your preferred language and double-check your widgets to see if they’ve started working correctly.
Another fix that can resolve issues with malfunctioning widgets requires making the text bold on your iPhone.
To do that, simply go to Settings > Appearance and turn on the switch next to Bold Text. In case that helps, disable the bold text and check if the issue recurs.
5. Disable Low Data Mode and Low Power Mode
Low Data Mode and Low Power Mode can impair widget-related activity. Try disabling them and check if that helps.
How to Disable Low Data Mode: Cellular
If you use cellular data for internet connectivity, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Mode and turn off Low Data Mode.
How to Disable Low Data Mode: Wi-Fi
iOS applies Low Data Mode for Wi-Fi on a per-connection basis. So head over to Settings > Wi-Fi, select your active Wi-Fi connection, and deactivate the switch next to Low Data Mode.
How to Disable Low Power Mode
To disable Low Power Mode, head over to Settings > Battery > Power Mode and turn off the switch next to Low Power Mode.
6. Check System Settings for Apps
If a specific widget has trouble presenting up-to-date information, check if Location Services and Background App Refresh are set up for the relevant app.
How to Check Location Services
Open the Settings app and go to Privacy & Security > Location Services. Then, tap the relevant app and select While Using the App or Always. That should allow the app (and its widget) to display data based on location.
How to Check Background App Refresh
Open the Settings app and go to General > Background App Refresh. Then, turn on the switch next to the app in question. That should allow the app (and its widget in turn) to refresh automatically in the background.
7. Edit the Widget Preferences
If a widget displays the wrong information, you must check if it’s set up correctly.
Touch and hold the Weather widget on your Home Screen. Tap Edit “Weather” or Edit Stack. You can then tap My Location to search for and pick the correct location. Follow that by tapping outside the widget area to save your changes.
8. Remove and Re-add Widgets
Removing and re-adding a widget that has loading or other issues can also help.
To do that, long-press a widget and select Remove Widget. If it’s part of a Smart Stack, select Edit Stack and tap the Remove button instead.
You can then re-add the widget via the widgets gallery. Just long-press a vacant area in the Today View or on the Home screen, tap the Edit button, then tap Add Widget. Then, locate the widget and tap Add Widget.
9. Reinstall Related Apps
If the issue is restricted to a specific widget, you should try re-installing the relevant app. You can do that without losing any app-related data by offloading it.
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Then, pick the app you want to remove and tap Offload App. Follow that by reinstalling the app via the App Store.
10. Reset Network or All Settings
Try resetting the network settings on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max. If that fails, you must reset all settings on your iPhone. That helps fix network-related and other underlying issues preventing widgets from functioning correctly.
To do that, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and use the Reset Network Settings and the Reset All Settings options.
Fixed: Widgets Working Correctly Again
Keeping both the apps and the system software up-to-date is the best way to minimize widget-related issues going forward. Also, don’t forget to check any widget-specific settings to ensure that everything’s been set up correctly.
