Widgets and stacks reappear on iPad after reboot

I FINALLY FOUND A SOLUTION! This has been happening to me since iPadOS 16. I updated to 17.1.2 (current as of today) and it was still happening. I did some more searching and I found a tip that worked. Delete one widget or stack, then reboot. Keep doing that, deleting one at a time and rebooting, until they're all gone. Now when I reboot, they are not there anymore.

Precisely.

The iPad is a fantastic “go-to” device.

One shouldn’t have to spend time removing widgets and rearranging app icons between pages every time following the device powering down (eg flat battery).

Widgets might suit some users, but for those who don’t want them and the “faffing” around they cause after removal, they’re a completely unnecessary example of “technology can do this, so you’re having it, like it or not.”

Come on, Apple. Please give us a choice.

Remove one stack, and reboot, continue to remove next stack and reboot…Repeat this operation until all stacks are removed.

that is the most ridiculous thing ever... but brianashe's tip did work for me. not for the first time, i'm going to say "steve is rolling over in his grave". were there any grownups in the room when the iOS u/i team came up with this one? thanks for the tip, but never was a facepalm emoji more appropriate.

Same here, its frustrating to configure your home screen as your needs and taste, and discover after a restart caused by an Operating System update that all your home screen has been messed.

Current verision is iPadOS 16.6.1

Hello midlifemamatx,

Thanks for asking about issues after the update.

First, try updating to iPadOS 16.4.1: Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

If you still have issues, go ahead and delete your widgets: Use widgets on your iPad - Apple Support

"Delete a widget

1. Touch and hold a widget.
2. Tap Remove Widget, then tap Remove to confirm."

Then restart your iPad: Restart your iPad - Apple Support

Re-add and move around the new widgets as you desire.

Let us know if the issue remains after the update and deleting and last restart.

Thanks.

Thank goodness for your reply! This is the ONLY thing that worked. I have been trying every suggestion for months to permanently get rid of those very annoying widgets, all to no avail. Honestly, I had my doubts, but it worked!

@brianashe. Thank you! Thank you! The whack-a-widget problem has been driving me crazy but your solution worked (have no idea why). And saved me from the usual “update your system “ Apple solution, which usually

results in more such bugs masquerading as features.

Me too, its annoying!!!

I am on 16.6.1 and have the same problem. Nothing seems to resolve it. Any time I shut down or reboot the iPad, all widgets return and have to be manually removed.

This is a time-intensive work-around. Why have you not corrected this issue — 6 months after identified? Please stop pushing stacks and widgets on your customers. Please correct in next update.

On 16.6.1 here and the behavior described by OP persists on mine every time I reboot the iPad. Any time the pad reboots, four widgets always return on the front screen. I manually remove them. Then upon the next reboot they are always back.

I have version 16.6 and still I randomly get stacks and widgets even when I don’t reboot. I hate it when they make changes which frustrates customers without any consideration for the user.