A sticky note widget for iPhone, on the Home Screen and Lock Screen

To keep a sticky note on your iPhone, add a note widget: touch and hold an empty spot on the Home Screen, tap Edit, then Add Widget. Apple's Notes widget does this on the Home Screen. TackNote's Note widget shows the one note you choose, at three Home Screen sizes and on the Lock Screen, and never shows a private note's words.

Which one fits depends on where you want the note and what is written on it. Here is how each works, including where TackNote falls short.

Apple Notes: built in, on the Home Screen

Apple's Notes widget comes with your iPhone, in small, medium and large sizes. Touch and hold it and tap Edit Widget to pick any one of your notes, or a folder. If your notes already live in Apple Notes, it is free and already there.

TackNote for iPhone: one note, always in sight

TackNote's Note widget shows a single note on its own paper color:

• The note you choose. Pick one note, or leave it empty and the widget follows the note you edited last.
• Home Screen and Lock Screen. Small, medium and large on the Home Screen, plus a Lock Screen widget under the clock.
• To-dos first. What is still to do comes first and ticked items move below, so a long list shows what is left.
• Private stays private. A private note shows as Private note on its color. Its words are never given to the widget, so they cannot appear on the Lock Screen.
• Never blank. If the pinned note is deleted, or TackNote has not been opened yet, the widget says so instead of going empty.

How to add the TackNote widget

1. Open TackNote once, so the widget has your notes to show.
2. Touch and hold an empty spot on your Home Screen, tap Edit, then Add Widget.
3. Find TackNote, choose small, medium or large, and tap Add Widget. It shows the note you edited last.
4. Choose a note. Touch and hold the widget, tap Edit Widget, and pick one under Note. Leave it empty to follow the note you edited last.
5. For the Lock Screen, touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, and add TackNote to the row of widgets under the clock.

The TackNote for iPhone guide covers the rest of the app.

Where TackNote falls short

• You cannot tick or type on the widget. A tap opens the note in TackNote.
• One note per widget. To keep several notes in sight, add one widget for each.
• It needs iOS 26 or later. On an older iPhone, Apple's Notes widget is the option.
• It is not free forever. Everything works for 7 days, then $24.99 once. No subscription.

Which one fits you

• The Home Screen is enough, or your iPhone is older than iOS 26: use Apple's Notes widget.
• You want a note on the Lock Screen too, one you choose or the one you edited last: use TackNote's Note widget.
• Some notes are private, or your lists are long: TackNote keeps private words off the widget and puts what is left to do first.

Common questions

Can Apple Notes put a note on the Home Screen?

Yes. Add the Notes widget, then touch and hold it and tap Edit Widget to choose what it shows. You can pick any single note or a folder. TackNote's widget shows one note you choose, on the Home Screen or the Lock Screen.

Can TackNote's widget go on the Lock Screen?

Yes. Touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, and add TackNote to the row of widgets under the clock.

Does a private note show on the TackNote widget?

No words, ever. A private note shows as Private note on its own color, and the widget never receives what is written on it.

Can you tick off a checklist on the TackNote widget?

No. Tapping the widget opens the note in TackNote, where you tick items. What is still to do is shown first.

Which iPhones does the TackNote widget work on?

TackNote for iPhone needs iOS 26 or later. The widget comes with the app, with nothing extra to install.