To make a widget as large as possible, choose its largest option in that widget’s size picker or contextual menu. The available sizes depend on the specific app and widget: extra-large is not a universal option. Apple’s September 29, 2026 release notes specifically announce an XL Shortcuts widget for the Home Screen or desktop in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 27.
Make a widget larger on iPhone
- Go to the Home Screen page where you want the widget, then press and hold an empty area until the apps jiggle.
- Tap Edit, then Add Widget.
- Find and tap the widget. Swipe through the available size and style choices; select the largest size shown for that widget.
- Tap Add Widget, position it, then tap Done.
Some widgets can also be added from an app icon: press and hold the icon, then choose one of the widget-size icons in its pop-up menu. The options shown are specific to that app and widget. Apple’s iPhone widget guide.
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Choose a larger widget on iPad
On the Home Screen, press and hold the app icon or widget, then choose a widget size from the options that appear. Select extra-large if it is offered.
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Not every app provides every size. Apple’s iPad guidance says some apps offer only small and medium widgets, while others offer sizes up to extra-large. If XL is missing, the app or that particular widget may not support it; the size choices on your iPad are the practical check. Apple’s iPad Home Screen guide.
#1 Best Overall
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
Add or resize a widget on Mac
Add a desktop widget
- Control-click the desktop wallpaper and choose Edit Widgets.
- Search or browse the widget gallery, then click a widget to add it automatically, or drag it to the desktop position you want.
- Click Done.
Change an existing widget’s size
Control-click the widget and choose a different size from its contextual menu. The menu shows the sizes available for that widget.
Use Notification Center instead
Open Notification Center and use its Edit Widgets button to add widgets there. For Apple’s Mac instructions, see Add and customize widgets on Mac.
Rank #2
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
What the new XL Shortcuts widget means
Apple’s release notes dated September 29, 2026, announce that “a new XL size widget lets you quickly run a variety of shortcuts from your desktop or Home Screen.” This is a specific Shortcuts feature in the iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 27 release notes—not evidence that every app or widget now has an XL size. Check the relevant widget’s picker on your device. Apple’s 27 release notes.
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A Mac can show widgets from an iPhone when the required device, account, network, and setting conditions are met:
Rank #3
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
- The iPhone runs iOS 17 or later.
- The iPhone and Mac are signed in to the same Apple Account.
- The iPhone is nearby or connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the Mac.
- Use iPhone Widgets is enabled in System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Widgets.
If a widget asks you to open its app on the iPhone, that app is not installed on the Mac. Some third-party apps are not available on both platforms. Apple’s Mac guide explains the settings and iPhone-widget behavior: Add and customize widgets on Mac.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- Smart Connector. 3.5 mm headphone jack. Stereo speakers. On/Off - Sleep/Wake. Home/Touch ID sensor. Dual microphones. Volume up/down. Nano-SIM tray (cellular models). Lightning connector
- A10 Fusion chip.
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor,
- 8MP back camera, 1. 2MP FaceTime HD front camera.
- Stereo speakers.
If you can’t find an extra-large option
- Check the right picker. On iPhone, swipe through the widget’s size choices; on iPad, press and hold the icon or widget; on Mac, Control-click the widget.
- Check a different widget from the same app. Size options belong to the individual widget, so an app may not offer XL for every widget it provides.
- Distinguish platform support. Apple does not establish that widget sizes are identical across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Check the choices shown on the device and placement you plan to use.
- For the announced XL Shortcuts option, look for the Shortcuts widget in the relevant 27-platform widget picker; the announcement does not promise XL for other apps.
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