Google updates iPhone apps with widgets for iOS 14

Google is updating its iPhone app with support for home screen widgets on devices running iOS 14 or later.

Home screen widgets are new additions to Apple’s mobile operating system that allow faster access to different functions within applications.

Before iOS 14, the home screen was limited to rows of apps with little room for customization.

Widgets add a level of customization to iPhones that Android users are used to from the start.

If you are an Android user and you are reading this, you may be thinking that this sounds like something that you already have on your phone for years. That’s because you have.

Now, iPhone users can see what they were missing. Also, it is now possible to set Google apps like Chrome and Gmail as system defaults.

Here’s more information on how to get the most out of Google services in iOS 14.

How to Add Google Search Widgets to the iOS 14 Home Screen

The Google app for iPhone and iPad is now updated with support for widgets.

There are two different versions of the Google search widget available to choose from.

To add widgets to your home screen, first make sure that both your device and the Google app are up to date to the latest versions.

Then follow the steps below:

• Press and hold on the home screen until “jiggle mode” is activated.
• Touch the plus sign “+” at the top left of the screen.
• Scroll down until you see Google in the app list.

From there, you can choose a square or rectangular widget.

The square widget, which takes up the equivalent of 4 normal app icons, gives users direct access to the Google search bar.

It’s a bit more convenient than tapping on the app because it takes users to the search bar instead of the Google Discover screen.

The rectangular widget, which occupies the space equivalent to 6 normal application icons, offers more functions.

In addition to direct access to the Google search bar, the widget also provides access to Google Lens, voice search, and incognito search.

Tapping on the lens icon opens the iPhone camera, allowing users to quickly perform a visual search.

By tapping the microphone icon, users can immediately search using their voice.

Lastly, the incognito icon allows users to open an incognito search window with a quick tap.

Here’s what they look like when added to the home screen:

How to set Chrome and Gmail as system defaults on iPhone

Another major change in iOS 14 is the ability to set third-party apps as system defaults.

That means iPhone users can, for the first time, change their default browser from Safari to Chrome.

Users can also change the system’s default mail application to Gmail (or any other email application of their choice).

Change the default browser to Google Chrome:

• Open the settings app on your iPhone or iPad
• Scroll down until you see “Chrome” and tap on it.
• Tap “Default browser app”
• Choose “Chrome”

Change the default mail app to Gmail:

• Open the settings app on your iPhone or iPad
• Scroll down until you see “Chrome” and tap on it.
• Tap “Default browser app”
• Choose “Chrome”

You are now up to date with the major Google-related changes in iOS 14!

The company says there are more widget variations on the way, so be sure to keep your app up to date.

In the future I would like to see a ‘Search Trends’ widget or maybe a dedicated Google Discover widget.

Source: Google