Unable to search widgets in iPhone StandBy mode

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Level 1

5 points

Unable to search widgets in iPhone StandBy mode

I'm unable to search widgets on my iPhone in StandBy mode.

I'm looking to get to the screen shown in the last screenshot in the linked article below. When I tap on the plus button that is supposed to bring me to this screen it just gives me 8 widget options without the ability to search, as shown in my screenshot below. The options don't even include the clock widget.

I tried a force restart, but didn't solve the issue.

I'm on iOS 26.2.1 (23C71) and iPhone 17.

https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/customize-widgets-standby-mode/

iPhone 17

Posted on Feb 7, 2026 2:48 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

JG2D

Level 1

14 points

Feb 18, 2026 8:51 AM in response to miklos290

——— EDIT:

I'm almost mad that this worked...

It's the "larger text" UI scaling causing the issue.

@miklos290 let me know if this fixed it for you??

See attached images for context, settings are under "display".

**** larger UI scaling breaks everything!

lol

Older folks need to see!! #accessibility

I now have my "search widgets" list on the left, in addition to the 8 big ones, after adjusting the UI scaling to "default"!!

(HomeKit buttons in StandBy, let's go!!!)

——— END OF EDIT.

I want to add that I have this EXACT SAME issue, and thank the original author for working to find a solution, I have not been able to find any fix or even mention for this issue, anywhere else online.

– Just updated my iPhone 17 pro to the latest iOS (2/16/2026) and StandBy is still broken...

– I can only see the 8 widgets as OP showed, not the side list of all available app widgets.

– I have "allow widgets" checked in my face ID/lockscreen settings.

It's funny i've never been interested in StandBy mode and when I finally do find it useful, it doesn't work, lol

There MUST be more than 2 of us out there having this issue??

Any ideas to troubleshoot this are very much appreciated!

I have a hunch it might be my "zoomed type" setting as that (way too)often causes UI problems, I'm going to try that and if it helps... I'll report back.

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Answer 2

miklos290 Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 19, 2026 3:04 PM in response to JG2D

Thank you so much for your comment JG2D!

Confirmed, this was my issue as well and would have never guessed it was Display Zoom.

Switching back to default resolved the issue on the Standby screen.

Thanks for everyone’s comments to help resolve this!

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Answer 3

SravanKrA

Level 10

435,778 points

Feb 8, 2026 4:39 AM in response to miklos290

What is available is clearly mentioned in the Article. --> Use StandBy to view information at a distance while iPhone is charging – Apple Support (MY)

Information found on websites other than Apple Inc. should be verified directly with the publisher or host of those sites.

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Answer 4

Kobold11

Level 1

8 points

Feb 14, 2026 9:46 AM in response to miklos290

Same here, tapping on plus only shows the added widgets in the middle, but not the search option where all possible widgets are listed. Why is apple getting so worse and worse? This is not acceptable such bugs, after iOS 26 is now the actual iOS for months!

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Answer 5

LD150

Level 10

104,278 points

Feb 14, 2026 3:26 PM in response to Kobold11

Kobold11 wrote:

Same here, tapping on plus only shows the added widgets in the middle, but not the search option where all possible widgets are listed. Why is apple getting so worse and worse? This is not acceptable such bugs, after iOS 26 is now the actual iOS for months!

Are you saying that Settings, FaceID & Passcode, Allow Lock Screen widgets when locked didn't work, because I would be interested.

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Answer 6

miklos290 Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 15, 2026 5:16 AM in response to SravanKrA

Thank you for your comment, but the linked article doesn't talk about the functionality to remove or add widgets on the Standby screen, so it doesn't help address my issue.

My issue is that when tapping the plus sign to add a new widget on the Standby screen it doesn't give me all available widget options, only a random selection of eight widgets and nothing else.

For example, if I remove the clock widget that was on the Standby screen by default (shown on the left hand side in the screenshot of the Apple Support article linked), then I'm unable to add it back, as the clock widget is not one the eight options available after tapping the plus sign.

I can't imagine not being able to add back the default widget is expected.

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Answer 7

miklos290 Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 15, 2026 5:21 AM in response to LD150

Thanks for your comment - I already had this allowed. Also, to clarify, I'm experiencing this issue after the phone is already unlocked with either FaceID or passcode. The phone doesn't allow me to edit widgets on the Standby screen without unlocking.

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Answer 8

Kobold11

Level 1

8 points

Feb 15, 2026 5:33 AM in response to LD150

Yes, all these settings are double checked, but still no search widgets appears, when clicking on plus icon. I really can´t believe, that such things happen, on an actual iPhone, still brand new, bought two weeks ago! Unbelievable to me!

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