Widgets and Siri

1 min readUpdated 2 October 2026

Family Trees can show today’s family moments without opening the app: on your Home Screen and Lock Screen, in StandBy, and through Siri, Shortcuts and Spotlight.

  1. Add a Home Screen widget

    Touch and hold an empty part of the Home Screen until the apps jiggle, tap Edit, then Add Widget. Search for Family Trees, choose a size and tap Add Widget.

  2. Add a Lock Screen widget

    Touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, then choose the Lock Screen. Tap the widget area and choose a Family Trees widget.

  3. Use StandBy

    Charge your iPhone on its side while it’s locked. Swipe to the widgets view and add Family Trees for a bedside view of today’s family.

  4. Use Siri and Shortcuts

    Open the Shortcuts app to see the Family Trees actions and add them to your own shortcuts. You can run any shortcut by asking Siri.

  5. Find anyone with Spotlight

    Swipe down on the Home Screen and type a name. People from your family appear in the results; tap one to open their page.

Tips

  • Widgets, Siri and Spotlight read your family from your device. Nothing is sent to us or anyone else to make them work.
  • The steps for adding widgets belong to iOS and can vary a little between versions.
  • For a notification on family dates, turn on the daily reminder in Moments. See Moments and reminders.

Still stuck? Email support@familytreesapp.com and a person will reply.