If you’re looking for another kick up the butt to get your Duolingo lessons done, then the Duolingo widget could be just the thing you’re looking for!
While most widgets are a bit passive and, well, boring, the Duolingo widget is anything but.
The guys at Duolingo have been developing it for a long time, and it’s now easily one of the most memorable (and genuinely useful) widgets available!
But what makes it so special? How do you get it? And just how weird does this thing get?
(Spoiler: it gets VERY weird VERY quickly!)
Want to know more?
Let’s dive in!
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What is the Duolingo widget?
The Duolingo widget is Duolingo’s official widget, available on IOS and Android devices.
Like any widget, it sits on your device’s home screen and gives you quick and easy access to the Duolingo app.
However, the Duolingo widget is much, much more than a basic shortcut…
The main part of Duolingo’s widget sits on your device’s home screen and displays your current streak total, alongside some, let’s say, interesting, images of the Duolingo owl…
The image displayed changes depending on the time of day and your streak total.
The longer you go without completing your daily lesson, the more desperate (and terrifying!) the owl becomes.
(We’ll look at some of these expressions in a sec!)
The other part of the Duolingo widget is a bit more minimalistic. There are no images — it’s just a basic streak counter that you can add to your lock screen.
How to get the Duolingo widget
The Duolingo widget is available on IOS and Android devices, and installing it is really easy.
However, the process will be slightly different depending on which device you’re using, and which version of the widget you go for.
IOS
IOS devices get two different Duolingo widgets: the main one, which can be added to your home pages, and the lock screen one.
To install the home screen widget widget, simply unlock your IOS device and, on one of your home pages, press your finger to the screen until all of your apps start jiggling…
Then, tap the + icon in the top left corner…
Then type Duolingo in the search box and select it from the results page…
Tap “Add Widget” to add it to one of your home pages…
Then find a home for your new widget…
To install the lock-screen widget, you’ll need to head over to the lock screen and press your finger to the screen until you enter customization mode…
Then, tap “Customize”, then “Lock Screen”…
Tap the third widget tray and scroll down to Duolingo. You should get a couple of options…
Select the widget that takes your fancy, and then tap Done…
Android
Installing the Duolingo widget is just as easy on Android devices.
On the home screen, press your finger to the screen and hold, then select “Widgets”…
Then, search for the Duolingo widget…
Then tap the widget and add it to your home screen…
Duolingo widget update
Earlier this month, Duolingo rolled out a brand new update to the Duolingo widget.
The goal? To make it even more weird and wonderful — all in the interests of keeping your Duolingo streak alive.
Before the makeover, the widget had some pretty interesting looks going on…
But now, the Duolingo owl has gone to a whole new level of crazy…
Some might look at the widget and think it’s a bit goofy. Like, what’s the point?
Well, the guys at Duolingo have found that the widget actually has a really positive effect on users doing their lessons. Many even reported that the widget was just as effective as Duo’s iconic push notifications!
There’s just something about the owl getting weirder and angrier as the day goes on. You just can’t ignore it.
And if ever you get to this guy… well, it was nice knowing you!
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