How to Add a Plane Tracker Widget to Your iPhone Home Screen
Last updated: January 2025
Want to see what plane is flying overhead without opening an app? Adding a flight tracking widget to your iPhone Home Screen is the fastest way to identify aircraft in real-time. Here's how to set it up with What Plane? in under a minute.
Why Use a Plane Tracker Widget?
Traditional flight tracking apps like Flightradar24 and FlightAware require you to:
- Unlock your phone
- Find and open the app
- Wait for the map to load
- Zoom to your location
- Find the nearest aircraft
By the time you've done all that, the plane you heard overhead has often disappeared.
A home screen widget solves this by showing the nearest aircraft at a glance — no app opening required. For the "what's that plane?" moment, speed matters.
Step 1: Download What Plane?
Download What Plane? on the App Store
The app is free and requires location access to detect nearby aircraft.
Step 2: Add the Widget
- Long-press on an empty area of your Home Screen
- Tap the + button in the top-left corner
- Search for "What Plane?"
- Choose your preferred widget size (small, medium, or large)
- Tap Add Widget
- Position it where you can see it easily
Step 3: Allow Location Access
When you first open What Plane?, the app will request location permission. Choose "While Using the App" or "Always" for the best experience.
Your location is used only to calculate the distance and direction of nearby aircraft relative to your position. It is not stored or shared with third parties.
What the Widget Shows
The What Plane? widget displays:
- Flight number — the aircraft's current callsign (e.g., BAW677)
- Aircraft type — specific model (e.g., Airbus A320neo)
- Airline — the operating carrier
- Altitude — current barometric altitude
- Speed — ground speed in mph
- Distance — how far the aircraft is from your position
- Compass Ring — a visual indicator showing the aircraft's direction
When an aircraft is overhead, the widget displays the airline's livery on the aircraft model, making identification even more intuitive.
Tips for Best Results
- Position the widget on your primary Home Screen for instant access
- Use the large widget for the most detail (includes aircraft image)
- Tap the widget to open the full app for expanded aircraft information
- Keep location services enabled for real-time updates
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the widget work without Wi-Fi?
Yes. The widget uses your cellular data connection to fetch aircraft data. It works anywhere you have mobile signal.
How often does the widget update?
The widget updates continuously while the app is running in the background. iOS may limit background updates to conserve battery, but the widget will refresh whenever you view your Home Screen.
Can I track military aircraft?
Military aircraft that broadcast ADS-B data will appear in the widget. Many military aircraft do not broadcast, so they won't show up — this is a limitation of the ADS-B network, not the app.
Related Articles
- What Plane Is Flying Over Me Right Now?
- What Is ADS-B Flight Tracking Explained?
- Plane Spotting for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Ready to identify planes instantly? Download What Plane? on the App Store →