Widget Setup

Add a NeatHub widget to your phone's home screen to see expiring items without opening the app.

What Is a Widget

A widget is a small window on your phone's home screen that shows information from an app without having to open it. The NeatHub widget displays items that are about to expire right on your home screen — a quick glance each day tells you what needs to be used up or discarded.

When to Use It

  • Food in the fridge often expires unnoticed — place a widget on your home screen for a daily reminder
  • Track expiry dates for cosmetics and medications to avoid using expired products
  • Short-shelf-life items like fresh flowers and produce — use them up in time to reduce waste
  • Membership cards and gift vouchers nearing expiry — use them before they expire

Widget Display Content

  • Item name and attributes
  • Expiry date
  • Days remaining: Different colors indicate urgency levels
    • Red: Already expired or expiring very soon (1–3 days)
    • Orange: Moderately urgent (4–7 days)
    • Green: Plenty of time (more than 7 days)

Adding a Widget on iOS / iPadOS

  • Long press on an empty area of the home screen to enter edit mode (icons start jiggling)
  • Tap the "+" button in the top left corner
  • Search for "NeatHub"
  • Choose a widget size
  • Tap "Add Widget"
  • Drag it to your preferred position and tap anywhere on the screen to exit edit mode
Screenshot: iOS widget setup process

Widget Sizes

  • Small: Shows up to 2 expiring items — fits nicely in a corner
  • Medium: Shows up to 4 expiring items — a good balance of information
  • Large: Shows up to 8 expiring items — see everything at a glance

Adding a Widget on Android

  • Long press on an empty area of the home screen
  • Select "Widgets"
  • Find "NeatHub"
  • Long press the widget icon and drag it to your preferred position on the home screen
Screenshot: Android widget setup
Note for Custom Android Skins

Some manufacturer skins (MIUI, ColorOS, etc.) may have different entry points. You can usually find it under "Home Screen Settings" or "Long press home screen → Widgets".

Widget Interaction

  • Tap anywhere on the widget: Opens the NeatHub app and navigates to the Expiry Reminders page
  • Tap a specific item: Opens the app and navigates to that item's detail page (supported on some devices)

Widget Refresh Frequency

Widget data updates automatically:

  • Refreshes automatically every 12 hours
  • Refreshes immediately when you open the app
  • After adding new items or changing expiry dates, the widget will reflect the changes at the next refresh

Use Cases

Scenario 1: Fridge Manager

Log your fridge contents into the app with expiry dates, and place a medium widget on your home screen. A quick glance before heading out each day helps you prioritize items nearing expiry — saving a lot of waste over the year.

Scenario 2: Cosmetics Freshness

Cosmetics have a shelf life after opening. Log the opening date when you start using them, and the widget shows which ones are expiring soon. A quick check before your daily routine keeps you from using expired products.

Scenario 3: Medications and Supplements

Medications and supplements at home often pile up without anyone keeping track. The widget highlights items nearing expiry for regular cleanup.

Things to Note

  • The widget requires you to be logged in to display data
  • The web version and HarmonyOS do not currently support widgets
  • The widget only shows items with an "Expiry Date" attribute set — you can add this attribute to items in Attribute Management
Widget showing no data?

Common reasons: 1) Not logged in; 2) No items have an expiry date attribute set; 3) All items are still far from expiring — in this case the widget shows "No expiring items", which is actually a good thing.

Related Documentation