Control Widgets vs. Interactive Widgets

What advantages do Control Widgets offer over Interactive Widgets, besides their ability to be added to Control Center, Lock Screen, and the Action Button? As far as I understand, both types of widgets provide toggle and button actions to deep link the widget to key functions within the main app.

Answered by Engineer in 802118022

Hi,

It depends how you define advantages.

Interactive Widgets come in different sizes, all larger sizes than Control Widgets and live on the Home Screen to which the user can view when the device is unlocked.

Control Widgets are much smaller and as a result, show less glanceable information.

The underlying interaction between your App and Widget are essentially the same using App Intents. Generally, Control Widgets are designed to show minimal information or perform an action that user's are more likely to invoke from the Lock Screen.

It depends what you define as an advantage, more screen space options or viewable info / quick invocations from the Lock Screen.

Rico

WWDR - DTS - Software Engineer

Accepted Answer

Hi,

It depends how you define advantages.

Interactive Widgets come in different sizes, all larger sizes than Control Widgets and live on the Home Screen to which the user can view when the device is unlocked.

Control Widgets are much smaller and as a result, show less glanceable information.

The underlying interaction between your App and Widget are essentially the same using App Intents. Generally, Control Widgets are designed to show minimal information or perform an action that user's are more likely to invoke from the Lock Screen.

It depends what you define as an advantage, more screen space options or viewable info / quick invocations from the Lock Screen.

Rico

WWDR - DTS - Software Engineer

Control Widgets vs. Interactive Widgets
 
 
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