Android weather widgets: What they are, how to use them, and more

Google introduced a new design language with Android 12, dubbed Material You (the evolution of Material Design). It’s one of the most significant user interface improvements we’ve seen come to Android, and it came with plenty of features. One of people’s favorite inclusions is the addition of a couple of Android weather widgets.

Editor’s note: These steps were put together using a Google Pixel 7 running Android 13. Some steps may differ depending on your hardware and software.

About Android weather widgets

As mentioned above, these new Android weather widgets were introduced with Material You on Android 12. As such, these widgets were only obtainable through Android 12’s beta program, which has ended for Pixel devices.

There are now plenty of phones with Android 12, though, and most modern ones have moved on to Android 13. You can get the new weather widgets on any smartphone with said software versions, and there are plenty of them now. Not to mention most modern smartphones will eventually get the update, if they haven’t yet. Regardless, there are now ways to get almost identical widgets on non-Android 12 devices (more on that later).

Google’s new weather widgets became very popular for multiple reasons. They are simple, informative, and adaptable. You can make them smaller for a quick glance at the weather. It’s also possible to make one of them larger to obtain much more weather information.

How to use Android weather widgets

Those with an Android 12 or 13 device will have no issue using the widgets.

How to add weather widgets on Android 12 or newer:

1. Tap and hold on to any empty area of your home screen.
2. Tap on Widgets.
3. Scroll down to find Weather and expand the section.
4. Tap and hold on to your widget of preference, then drag it to your home screen.
5. When the widget shows up on your home screen, you can tap and hold onto it and release it. This will allow you to resize the widget.

The smaller widget will show much less information. If you expand the larger, square widget, you’ll get information like the forecast, weather by time, and weather by day. Additionally, tapping on the widgets will open the Weather app, where you can get full access to more details.

Get the new weather widgets on Android 11 or older

It’s really not possible to get the new weather widgets without Android 12 or higher. You can, however, download apps that mimic the looks and functionality you get from them. There are plenty on the Google Play Store, but we recommend Pixel Weather Widget & Themes by developer Mohamed Ibrahem. It’s free and works like a charm.

How to add weather widgets on Android 11 or older:

1. Download and Install the Pixel Weather Widget & Themes app from the Google Play Store.
2. Tap and hold on to any empty area of your home screen.
3. Tap on Widgets.
4. Expand the Pixel Weather widget option and pick your favorite one.
5. Tap and hold on to the widget and drag it to your home screen.

Sadly, these aren’t as interactive as the real ones found on Material You. They don’t adapt to size, and tapping on them doesn’t open the app. At least you’ll get the general look, though.

Widget vs shortcut

While the weather widget from Android 12 is exclusive to newer Android devices, another popular tool is the Google weather shortcut. The difference with the shortcut is that it will show up as an icon on your home screen, with no information. It will look just like any other app. A widget will showcase information, such as the current temperature and further details. Check out our guide on how to get the Google Weather shortcut on you Android device for more details.

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