With widgets, you get timely information from your favorite apps at a glance on your Home Screen, Lock Screen, or Today View. Some iPhone users have reported that they keep running into issues with widgets not loading, updating, or displaying data after iOS 26 update. iOS 26 bugs and conflicting settings are the cause of these issues.
So let’s check out what you can do to fix your iPhone widgets if they are not working on iOS 26.
1. Restart Your iPhone
The first thing you should do if widgets are not working on iOS 26 is to restart your iPhone. That’s a quick way to fix most issues brought about by buggy apps and system software.
To do that, start the Settings app and go to General > Shut Down. Drag the Slide to Power off slider from left to right to shut down your iPhone. After the device finishes shutting down, hold down the Side button to reboot it.
2. Update All Your Apps
If widgets are still not working on your iOS 26 device, try updating all apps on your iPhone. Newer updates versions usually come with lots of fixes for known problems preventing widgets from functioning normally.
If you don’t have automatic app updates enabled, start the App Store app and tap your account icon at the top-right corner. Next, perform a swipe-down gesture to scan for the latest updates. Finally, tap Update All to install pending app updates in one go.
3. Make sure The Latest iOS Update is Installed
Early builds of major system software iterations—such as iOS 26.0—are relatively unstable and adversely impact widget functionality. The best way to fix that is by keeping iOS up to date.
To check if a new iOS 26 update is available, start the Settings app and then tap General. Tap Software Update. If there’s an update available, tap Update Now and then follow the onscreen instructions.
You can also activate automatic system-software updates for your iPhone. To do that, tap Automatic Updates (on the same screen) and turn on the switches next to Download iOS Updates and Install iOS Updates.
4. Change the System Language
If widgets still fail to load on iOS 26, consider trying out this unusual fix that involves briefly changing the system language on your iPhone.
Start the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Language & Region. Then, tap Other Languages and pick a different 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 start the Settings app and go to General > Display & Brightness 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, start the Settings app and go to Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Mode and select Standard.
See also: iPhone Cellular Data Not Working on iOS 26? How to fix it
How to Disable Low Data Mode: Wi-Fi
iOS apply Low Data Mode for Wi-Fi on a per-connection basis. So start the Settings app and go to Wi-Fi, select your active Wi-Fi connection, and deactivate the switch next to Low Data Mode.
See also: iPhone is Connected to Wi-Fi, but No Internet Access on iOS 26? Fix!
How to Disable Low Power Mode
To disable Low Power Mode, start the Settings app and go to Battery. 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 on your iPhone.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap Location Services.
- 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 on your iPhone.
- Tap General.
- Tap Background App Refresh.
- 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.
Taking the Weather widget as an example, start by long-pressing and selecting the Edit Widget option. 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.
- Touch and hold the widget that you want to remove.
- Tap Remove Widget.
- Tap Remove again to confirm.
- 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 and tap the Plus icon at the top of the screen to bring it up. 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.
Start the Settings app and go to General > iPhone Storage. Then, pick the app you want to uninstall and tap Delete App. Tap Delete to confirm your decision. Follow that by reinstalling the app via the App Store.
10. Reset Network or All Settings
Try resetting the network settings on your iPhone. If that fails, you must reset all settings on your iOS device. That helps fix network-related and other underlying issues preventing widgets from functioning correctly.
To do that, start the Settings app and go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and use the Reset Network Settings and the Reset All Settings options.
Fixed: iPhone Widgets Working on iOS 26 Again
Keeping both the apps and iOS 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.
