iOS 18 will remove some widgets from our iPhone: how to check if it affects us

iOS 18 will mark the end of compatibility with old widgets on our iPhone and iPad devices. This decision will only affect widgets created under the previous system, which was in effect until iOS 13, and that we may still be using in the Today view. Although the transition to a SwiftUI-based widget system began with iOS 14 and has been consolidated with improvements and new capabilities in later versions, old widgets have remained accessible until now. However, with the arrival of iOS 18, these will stop working.

iOS 18 Download

How to know if our widgets will disappear in iOS 18?

With iOS 14, Apple introduced a more flexible and dynamic framework for widgets, allowing us to interact with them and place them directly on the home screen, something that was not possible with the old designs. These changes not only offer a more harmonious visual integration with the operating system, but also improve the interactivity and functionality of these small applications.

Developers have had more than four years to adapt to the change, and yet there is still a possibility that we are still using some old widget. How to distinguish them? Very easy.

First, we access the Today view. Remember that once we are viewing the home screen, the one with all our icons, all we have to do is swipe right until we reach the Today section.

The widgets that look noticeably different in design compared to the most recent ones are probably old. Widgets prior to iOS 14 are typically rectangular and occupy the entire available width, without resizing options.

The ultimate test, however, is to try to move any widget from our Today view to the home screen. If we can add it, then it will be compatible with iOS 18. If the widget cannot be added and only works in the Today view, it is based on the old system and will be removed with the update.

If we find that some of our widgets may disappear, there are two things to keep in mind. The first is that the developer responsible for the app may release an update with the arrival of iOS 18 precisely to avoid that. That said, most developers have had enough time to adapt their applications to the new widget system, so looking for an alternative app is also a good idea.

iOS 18 Download

The removal of old widgets with iOS 18 is not by chance. Now that we can change their color at will, that we can hide the name of the apps and widgets on our iPhone screen, and that we have more options to change their size and location, the old system has become obsolete. Fortunately, almost certainly our apps have been updated, although it never hurts to check.