iOS 17 revolutionized iPhone widgets with new interactive features, StandBy Mode, and advanced customization. YourFins takes full advantage of these innovations so you have your financial information always visible, updated, and accessible without opening the app.
In this guide you'll discover 10 advanced tricks that will transform how you use YourFins widgets on your iPhone. From the lock screen to StandBy Mode, including customizations that 90% of users don't know about.
🎯 Why Use Widgets in iOS 17?
iOS 17 widgets aren't just decoration. They're productivity tools that allow you to:
- Check balances without unlocking your iPhone
- See summaries updated in real-time
- Quick access to key functions with one tap
- Control expenses from the home screen
- Automate visual reminders
🔟 The 10 Tricks That Will Change Your Life
What's new: You no longer need to open YourFins to mark expenses as completed.
How to use it:
- Long press the "Pending Expenses" widget
- Checkboxes will appear next to each expense
- Tap the checkbox to mark as completed
- The widget updates instantly
Time saved: 15 seconds per expense = ~5 minutes per day
What it is: Turns your iPhone into a financial information station while charging.
Perfect setup:
- Place your iPhone horizontally while charging
- StandBy activates automatically
- Swipe until you find YourFins widgets
- You'll see your balance, daily expenses, and remaining budget on a large screen
Ideal for: Nightstand → review finances before sleeping
What you didn't know: You can use 4 different widgets on the lock screen simultaneously.
Recommended YourFins combination:
- Top: Date + Total Balance (single line)
- Bottom left: Daily Expenses
- Bottom center: Remaining Budget
- Bottom right: Most Recent Expense
Color coding: Green = under budget | Yellow = 70% used | Red = limit reached
The magic: iOS 17 learns when you check each widget and rotates it automatically.
How to create your smart financial stack:
- Long press a YourFins widget
- Drag another widget on top until a stack is created
- Add: General Summary, Expenses, Income, Savings
- Enable "Smart Rotate" in stack options
Learned behavior:
- Mornings → Shows general summary
- After shopping → Shows recent expenses
- End of month → Shows accumulated savings
iPad exclusive: Extra large size with complete graphs.
What the XL widget includes:
- Bar chart of expenses by category (last 7 days)
- Balance of all your bank accounts
- End-of-month projection
- Pending expenses to complete
- Direct "Add Expense" button
Perfect for: iPad multitasking mode while working
Expert level: Make widgets blend perfectly with your wallpaper.
Advanced steps:
- Go to Settings → Wallpaper
- Choose an image with light and dark areas
- iOS 17 automatically detects the best color for widgets
- YourFins widgets adapt: light background = dark text
- Adjust opacity in Settings → Accessibility → Display
Result: Widgets that look native to the system
What changes: Tap on different parts of the widget opens specific functions.
Interactive zones of YourFins widget:
- Tap on "Total Balance" → Opens complete dashboard
- Tap on "Expenses" → List of month's expenses
- Tap on "Income" → Record new income
- Tap on "+" → Quick add expense
- Tap on camera icon → Direct receipt scan
Saves: 3-4 taps per action = 80% faster access
Bonus: If you have Apple Watch, YourFins widgets also work on your wrist.
Information available on Watch:
- Current balance in watch face complication
- Last recorded expense
- Remaining daily budget
- Limit notifications
Perfect use: Shop without taking iPhone out of pocket
Professional level: Different widgets depending on your activity.
Configuration examples:
Focus "Work":
- Monthly budget widget visible
- Expenses hidden to avoid distraction
Focus "Shopping":
- Daily expenses widget highlighted
- "Add Expense" button in foreground
Focus "Sleep":
- Only monthly savings widget (motivational)
- Minimalist lock screen
Setup: Settings → Focus → Customize screen
iOS 17 AI: Widgets learn your financial patterns.
Automatic predictions that YourFins + iOS generate:
- Monday at 8:00 → Suggests "Weekly Budget" widget
- Friday afternoon → Shows "Weekend leisure expenses" widget
- Day 1 of month → "Monthly Planning" widget in foreground
- Near stores → Interactive "Add expense" widget appears in suggestions
Without configuring anything: iOS learns on its own in 2-3 weeks of use
📱 Widget Sizes: Which to Choose
Small Widget (2×2)
Ideal for: Lock screen and minimalists
- Shows: Total balance or most recent expense
- Updates: Every 5 minutes
- Tap: Opens dashboard
Medium Widget (4×2)
Ideal for: Main home screen
- Shows: Complete summary (income, expenses, balance)
- Updates: In real-time
- Multiple taps: 3 interactive zones
Large Widget (4×4)
Ideal for: Complete financial view
- Shows: Chart + expense list + action buttons
- Updates: Continuous
- Multiple taps: 6+ interactive zones
XL Widget (iPad Only)
Ideal for: Multitasking mode and desktop
- Shows: Complete dashboard with advanced charts
- Updates: Live
- Multiple taps: 10+ quick actions
⚙️ Optimal Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1: Add Your First Widget
- Long press the home screen until icons jiggle
- Tap the "+" icon in the top left
- Search for "YourFins"
- Swipe to see different sizes
- Tap "Add Widget"
- Place it where you want
- Tap "Done"
Step 2: Customize Displayed Information
- Long press the widget
- Tap "Edit Widget"
- Choose what information to show:
- Total balance
- Daily/weekly/monthly expenses
- Pending income
- Remaining budget
- Savings goal
- Select time period
- Tap outside to save
Step 3: Add to Lock Screen
- Long press the lock screen
- Tap "Customize"
- Tap on widget areas
- Search for "YourFins"
- Select small widget
- Drag to desired position
- Tap "Done"
Create 3 different lock screens with Focus Modes: one for work (budget), another for shopping (expenses), and another for rest (savings). They automatically change based on your location and time of day.
🚀 Real Use Cases
Case 1: The Compulsive Shopper Who Got Control
Problem: Maria spent without control and lost count.
Solution: Large widget on home screen showing "Today's Remaining Budget" in red/green.
Result: 40% reduction in unnecessary expenses by seeing the limit before each purchase.
Case 2: The Freelancer Who Forgot to Invoice
Problem: Carlos forgot to record client income.
Solution: Lock screen widget with "Month's Pending Income".
Result: Zero forgotten invoices. Constant visual reminder.
Case 3: The Family That Saves Together
Problem: Family savings goal without tracking.
Solution: Widget on iPad StandBy Mode in kitchen showing savings progress.
Result: Reached goal 2 months early. Daily visual motivation.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Widgets
Do widgets drain battery?
Answer: Minimally. iOS 17 optimizes updates. YourFins consumes <1% daily battery for widgets.
Do they update in real-time?
Answer: Medium and large widgets yes. Small ones every 5-15 minutes (iOS limitation).
Do they work without opening the app?
Answer: Yes. Widgets update in the background automatically.
Can I have multiple YourFins widgets?
Answer: Yes, unlimited. You can have one on home screen, another on lock screen, another in StandBy, etc.
Do widgets show sensitive information?
Answer: You can configure it. In YourFins Settings → Privacy → Hide balances in widgets when iPhone locked.
✅ Checklist: Your Perfect Widget Setup
Copy this setup tested by 10,000+ users:
Home Screen (Page 1):
- ☐ Large widget (4×4) top: General Summary + Chart
- ☐ Medium widget (4×2) center: Daily Expenses
- ☐ Widget stack bottom: Income + Savings + Budget (Smart Rotate enabled)
Lock Screen:
- ☐ Small widget top: Total Balance
- ☐ Small widget bottom left: Today's Expenses
- ☐ Small widget bottom center: Remaining Budget
- ☐ Small widget bottom right: Month's Savings
StandBy Mode:
- ☐ Large widget: Complete Dashboard with Charts
Apple Watch (if you have one):
- ☐ Complication: Total Balance
- ☐ Widget in Dock: Last Expense
🎁 Bonus: Secret Developer Widget
Long press the YourFins widget for 5 seconds + tap 3 times quickly on the top right corner.
Unlocks: "Developer Mode" widget with advanced statistics:
- Average expense per hour of day
- Categories with highest weekly growth
- End-of-month prediction with AI
- Real-time comparison vs last month
*Experimental feature available in YourFins 3.0+
🚀 Conclusion
iOS 17 widgets aren't just information windows. They're financial productivity tools that, well configured, can save you time, money, and stress.
Implement these 10 tricks gradually. Start with #1 (interactive widgets) and #3 (lock screen). In a week, add #4 (smart stacks) and #9 (Focus Modes). The rest are optimizations you can apply once you master the basics.
Expected result: Check your finances 10 times more per day, but in 5 seconds instead of 30. Total: you invest less time but have more control.
Ready to master your finances with widgets?
Download YourFins for free and activate your first widget in 30 seconds
Download on App Store →