Home Screen widgets have become increasingly popular since the release of iOS 14. However, because this is an entirely new feature, the new iPhone glances come with a fair share of bugs and glitches. Sometimes the widgets turn grey, display a black screen or don’t load any data at all.
Widgets can also start flickering in a continuous loop! The flashing doesn’t stop until you delete the widget. Intermittent blinking can occur both on the Home Screen, as well as as in the Add Widget panel. This bug generates a system-wide reaction, causing all your widgets to flicker, making it difficult for you to determine which one causes the problem.
What Causes Widgets To Flicker?
According to Jamie, on Stackoverflow.com, the intermittent widget flashing is caused by apps that use custom fonts.
Some of the most popular third-party apps that use this option are Widgetsmith and Color Widgets. The flickering is often triggered after installing app updates or when the user re-configures a widget in its main app.
According to user mpmontanez (from Apple’s Developer forums) the flashing widgets issue occurs when iOS 14 tries to serve a cached version of a widget while initializing the updated one.
3 Ways To Fix Flickering Widgets
1. Reboot iPhone
Users have managed to stop the intermittent flickering of the widgets by force restarting iPhone. Quickly press and release Volume Up button, do the same with Volume Down and press & hold the Side button until the Apple logo is displayed on the screen. Release Side button and wait for the iPhone to boot up.
2. Re-Install Faulty Widget App
Flashing usually starts when you update, add or edit a widget. Long-press on the widget in question and remove it from the Home Screen, to stop all other widgets from blinking. Next, delete the app the causes the flashing problem and re-install it to prevent the flickering bug from re-occurring.
3. Remove Color Widget
We found that in most cases Color Widgets is the app to blame for causing the flickering widgets bug. Perhaps because it heavily relies on custom widget. In our case, we recently updated to version 1.4.9 and all the widgets on the Home Screen started blinking after adding a new color widget. Fix: The solution was to remove the widget in question. Re-configuring it from the Color Widgets app did not solve the problem and we ended up deleting the app and re-installing it.
Do you also have problems with flickering widgets in iOS 14? Have you found other troubleshooting solutions? Let us know, with the help of the comments section available below.
Nowadays all our digital life is stored on our smartphone. Photos, Contacts, Credit Card information, Online Banking details represent vital information that we use day by day. Some data is available only on the iPhone without having it written down physically. For example, when you save a new contact, you don’t also write it down in your physical agenda, because that’s time consuming.
So, having a backup of all the digital data stored on your iPhone is mandatory. This helps, in the worst case scenario, that you lose or destroy your iOS device. With a backup available, you have a way to recover your data and upload it on a new iPhone. Backups can be done via iTunes or iCloud. The difference is the iTunes ones are saved on the computer used for backing up, while the iCloud ones are stored on the cloud and available for download from anywhere an Internet connection is found.
How To Backup iPhone Via iTunes Saving a copy of your iOS device and storing it on your computer is a rapid and easy process. Here is what you have to do:
iTunes Update available prompt.
Step 1: Download & Install the iTunes software on your Mac or Windows computer. Click here and a new page with the official iTunes download information opens up. The Apple website automatically detects if you’re using a Mac or Windows machine and provides the appropriate version. Step 2: Fill in your name, email address and check the software requirements. Click Download now when you’re ready and the file will be saved on your computer. Step 3: Check the Downloads folder on your computer or Mac and run the freshly downloaded iTunes installer. Go through the regular steps of a setup process and run iTunes on your machine. Step 4: Provide your Apple ID log-in credentials when prompted. These are the same log-in details that you use on your iPhone with FaceTime, App Store and so on. Now, you’re ready to backup up your iPhone! Fact: If iTunes is already installed on your computer, skip the above. Just make sure that it’s updated to the latest version.
Step 6: Grab your iOS device and plug it in the USB port of your computer. iTunes will detect it. Let your device know that it’s a Trustable machine. Step 7: Click on the iPhone icon available in the top-left area of the iTunes interface. It will open the iPhone view. Step 8: Click Back Up Now and the process starts. The computer displays “Backing up [iPhone name]…” along with a progress bar. The Ongoing backup process is also confirmed on your iPhone by two arrows rotating clock-wise in the top-right corner of the screen. Be patient until it completes. That’s it your iPhone is now backed up.
How To Restore iPhone Backup From iTunes With a copy of your iOS device available, it’s a piece of cake to restore it using iTunes: Step 1: Open iTunes and connect your iPhone with your computer via the Lightning cable. Step 2: Click on your device icon which appears, after being detected, in the top left area of the screen. Step 3: Click on Restore from iPhone Backup and the process starts. Step 4: The iOS device will display the Restore in Progress message while, iTunes will display a progress bar on your machine. Step 5: Before the restoration is completed, the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch reboots itself. Don’t disconnect the device before you check the Home screen and make sure that everything is working fine.
One of the most important changes coming in iOS 14 are the Home Screen widgets. Apple as updated most of the stock iPhone apps with widgets, but also allows developers to add widget functionality to third-party iOS apps. To get them you have to update all your downloaded apps, in the App Store, and check if you get new widgets options in the Add Widgets menu.
In this article we’ve created a collection with the first iOS and iPadOS apps that have update with support for the iOS 14 Home Screen widgets. This is an open list. Feel free to use the comments section at the end of the article to add an app to the collection.
100 Third-Part Apps That Provide Home Screen Widgets For iPhone & iPad
Apple has previewed the 14th iOS generation at WWDC 2020. The splash screen during the keynote highlighted fifteen iOS 14 new features for the iPhone. The enhancements include the highly useful App Library, rich data widgets, picture-in-picture video playback and much more. All of them are showcased and detailed below.
Besides that, we’re currently testing out the Developer Beta and are looking for hidden iOS 14 features that haven’t been mentioned during the keynote and neither been published on Apple’s website. This article is an open document and aims to contain a complete collection and include all iOS 14 new features, that will become available for your iPhone this fall!
The 15 Most Important iOS 14 New Features
iOS 14 App Library on iPhone
1. App Library
The iOS 14 App Library is an all new section available on your iPhone’s home screen. It represents the last card of the home page and has the role to provide a single, easy-to-navigate view of all apps installed on your iOS device. The App Library is automatically curated and knows how to intelligently organize apps to provide easy access to the apps you need at a given time. Tip: Hide iPhone home screen pages to enhance quicker access to the App Library!
iPhone Home Screen widgets in iOS 14.
2. Home Screen Widgets
In iOS 14 you can drag & drop widgets from the Today view to the iPhone’s Home screen. The widgets are data rich and come in different sizes to provide useful info at a glance. There’s a new widget gallery that allows you to browse between new widgets and sizes. You can also create a Smart Stack of widgets. This new iOS 14 feature uses machine learning to display the most needed widget based on time of day, location and activity. Widgets can be customized for various areas of interest like work, sports, travel, entertainment and more. For more info check out our extended tutorial!
iOS 14 Picture-in-Picture feature.
3. Picture in Picture
iOS 14 imports this new feature from iPadOS. Now you can start watching a video on your iPhone and continue watching in thumbnail-mode even when you switch for another application or screen. You can drag the video player in any corner of the screen. Resizing is also very easy. The picture in picture new feature even supports the pinch to zoom gesture. Tip: Swipe video player to the side of the screen to hide it, while audio continues to be played in the background. This way you can continue to enjoy the video while tapping into your apps. A detailed look at the iOS 14 PIP feature is available here.
Compact Siri UI in iOS 14
4. Compact Siri UI
Siri gets a complete design revamp in iOS 14. Whenever you speak out something a smaller compact UI is displayed in the lower part of the screen to let you know that the command is being executed. Siri results appear in the same format as the notifications. In iOS 14 you can ask Siri to send an audio message. Your virtual assistant knows 3x more facts.
5. On-device dictation
In iOS 14 voice dictation is executed on device, enhancing your privacy and becoming more efficient.
iOS 14 Translate app conversation mode
6. Translate app
iOS 14 also brings a new stock app to your iPhone. Translate uses powerful neuro-language technology to instantly translate conversations between 11 languages including: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Portuguese and Russian. What’s great is that the app works offline which ensures that your conversations are kept private. Tip: Turn iPhone into landscape orientation to activate the handy Conversation mode. Check our Translate app how to article to get more detailed info about how to use this new addition.
7. Messages Inline Replies
The iOS 14 new features list continues with the inline reply option that’s added to the stock Messages app. You can now reply directly to a message in a group conversation. View replies in the full conversation or open their own thread for a focused view. Tip: Mentions are now also available. Tap the name of a group member at the start of your message to make clear that you’re expecting a reply from him / her.
8. Pinned Conversations in Messages
It’s hard to manage conversations when you have many threads in Messages. iOS 14 helps out by allowing you to pin conversations. Fact: You can pin up to 9 chats to the top of the conversation list.
9. New Memoji
iOS 14 brings new Memoji customizing options. More age groups have been added. You can also choose from over 20 new hair and headwear styles. Fact: Face covering options to trend with the COVID-19 pandemic have also been added!
10. Messages Group Photo
iOS 14 also allows you to add a visual identity to a group conversation in Messages. You can add a Memoji or an emoji. Fact: The unique visual identity of a group is interactive as it changes based on the participants that reply.
11. Maps Cycling directions
iOS 14 brings dedicated cycling directions to the native Maps app. Use your iPhone to find new ways to get to your destination. Fact: Cycling directions take in account elevation, the amount of traffic on the roads. It informs you about stairs and steep passages on your route. The Cycling directions feature a limited number of cities in the early stages. Supported cities are: New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Shanghai and Beijing in China.
12. Maps EV routing
iOS 14 also brings EV routing to Maps. This way you can eliminate range anxiety and enjoy a stress free zero carbon emission drive. Fact: EV routing takes in account route elevation as well as weather to provide accurate autonomy based on the electric car that you’re driving.
13. Maps Guides
iOS 14 adds the new guides feature to Maps allowing you find great places in a new location.
14. Car keys
Our iOS 14 new features list continues with the CarKey option for your iPhone. It allows you to use your Apple smartphone to lock / unlock your car, start the engine and drive off. Apple is currently working with BMW and Ford and plans to expand the digital car key option to many other brands. Fact: The first car to support the new CarKey feature is the 2021 BMW 5 Series.
15. App Clips
Last but not least in the iOS 14 new features list we have the App Clips. Now you can download just a small part of an app. Save storage space and discover new apps light and fast. A card pops-up on your iPhone screen mentioning the app clip. App Clips can integrate Apple Pay and you can use the Sign in with Apple feature. App Clips can be launched from the web, Messages, NFC cards, qr code and a dedicated App Clip code that contains both visual and NFC info. Fact: App Clips are less than 10 Mb in size. You can download full app from the App Store if you plan to use it often.
16. Redesigned Call UI
This is a bonus addition to the iOS 14 new features that have been highlighted by Apple during the WWDC 2020 keynote. Although not present on the splash screen provided above, it’s one of the most welcomed changes. The incoming call alert notification doesn’t take up the entire screen anymore, but slides-in nicely from the top of the screen, similar to a banner notification. This way you won’t miss anything until you decide to take or decline the call. Fact: The new iOS 14 call UI works both for cellular calls as well as FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype and other VoIP calls!
iOS 14 Hidden Features
This is an open list. iOS 14 beta testing is ongoing and new features are discovered daily and added to the following list. You can also use the comments section available at the end of this article and share a new feature.
1. Name Bluetooth Devices
In iOS 14 you can rename the Bluetooth devices that are paired to your iPhone in order to avoid confusion. Third party devices can have awkwardly similar names. Now, you can easily get rid of confusions as soon as you connect your iPhone or iPad to the specific Bluetooth loudspeaker, keyboard or any other similar device. A tutorial that explains step-by-step how to use this hidden feature is available here.
2. Emoji Search
In iOS 14 you’re finally able to search for an emoji, instead of swiping through numerous colums and straining your eyes in the process. Apple has imported the emoji search bar from macOS and you can now used it on any compatible iPhone. The feature is enabled by default, as long as the emoji keyboard is active on your iOS device. The emoji search bar is displayed right below the Messages app scrubber. All that you have to do is tap the search field and type the name or action of the emoji that you’re looking for. Emoji search suggestions are also provided to help you out. All the details of this iOS 14 new feature are available here.
3. New Notifications
iOS 14 brings a series of handy notifications for the accessories that are paired with your iPhone. One of them is the alert for a fully charged Apple Watch. This way you know right away when you can get your watchOS device from the charger. The Low Power notification for AirPods is also helpful. It let’s you know when it’s time to charger your wireless earphones. These notifications slide in as banners from the top of the screen when the iPhone is unlocked, or display on the Lock Screen if they’re generated when your iOS 14 isn’t active.
3. Sound Recognition Accessibility Feature
Our iOS 14 new features roundup continues with a very important addition. Sound Recognition allows your device to listens for specific sounds and issue alerts whenever they occur. This is a great aid for people with hearing problems but not only. There are 14 predefined sounds to choose from, including: doorbell, siren, baby crying, water running and more. Setup the feature by selecting which sounds your iPhone should listen for. A Sound Recognition on/off switch can also be added to the Control Center. This and much more can be read in our complete tutorial.
4. Captions To Photos
In iOS 14 you can finally add captions to images available in the Photos app. The new labels will sync across all your devices, as long as the iCloud Photo Library, is enabled on your other Apple devices. Captions allow you to find a picture easier, because it integrates with the Photos search option. How To: add a caption to a photo you only have to open Photos, browse to the image in question and swipe-up to unveil the ‘Add a Caption’ feature.
5. New Status Bar Indicators
iOS 14 hints you whenever an app is using your iPhone’s microphone or camera. A new dot-indicator is displayed in the status bar (on the right side of the notch), just above the carrier signal. If the indicator is orange it means that the microphone is used. A green color dot signals the the iPhone camera is active. You can check which app is using them by swiping for the Control Center. The name of the app is displayed at the top of the Control Center card.
6. AirPods Optimized Battery Charging
One of the iOS 14 new features that could pass by unnoticed is its ability to smart charge the AirPods. Optimized Battery Charging was introduced to the iPhone in iOS 13, and more recently to macOS Catalina. The feature extends to Apple’s wireless EarPhones. iOS 14 is able to learn your AirPods charging routine and start to reduce battery ageing, by charging the earphones to 80% and completing the full charge only when it anticipates that you will need them.
7. Return To Home In Settings
In iOS 14 you can long-press the Back button in the Settings app to return straight back to the home screen, instead of browsing back through each sub-menu branch.
8. Local Network Privacy
In iOS 14, apps need to ask and get your permission to be able to access devices from your local network.
9. Select Photos Privacy Feature
Now you can allow apps access only to a few photos from your library instead of granting access to your entire collection. The setting is called Select Photos
10. Approximate Location for Apps
Another privacy related feature allows you to share only your approximate location with apps that require your location. The feature is called Precise Location.
11. Back Tap iPhone For Quick Actions
One of the most popular hidden iOS 14 feature is called Back Tap. You can find it in the Accessibility section of the Settings menu. Asign predefined quick actions for your iPhone in case you back tap your device twice or three times. 12. Mirror Front Camera
13. Quick Take Video Feature
iOS 14 extends the Quick Take video feature to the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR.
Which are your favorite iOS 14 new features? Let us know in the comments section available below.
