Widgets
Add widgets from the Home Screen the usual way: long-press, then add a widget and choose Marvelist. There are three widgets, plus a Live Activity that appears on its own while a Focus block is running.
| Widget | Shows | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Today | Today’s tasks | Small, medium, and as a Lock Screen widget |
| Smart Lists | A count for each smart list | Small and medium |
| Upcoming Event | A countdown to an event | Small, medium and large |
What is due today, on the Home Screen. It also comes in the rectangular Lock Screen size, which is the version worth having: it puts the day in front of you at the moment you pick the phone up, before you have opened anything.
Smart Lists
Section titled “Smart Lists”Counts rather than contents. The medium size lists All, Important, Scheduled, Due Today and Assigned; the small size drops All and shows the other four as tiles.
There is nothing to configure. It shows every smart list at once rather than one you pick, so treat it as a dashboard: the number next to Due Today is the one that should change your afternoon.
Upcoming Event
Section titled “Upcoming Event”A countdown to one event, reading “Today”, “Tomorrow” or “in X days”, with the confirmed headcount in the corner and the event’s cover image as the background when it has one.
Configure it to pin a specific event, or leave it to track whichever event is next. Left on automatic it re-picks once an event passes, so it keeps working without attention.
The headcount is attending guests including their plus-ones, so it is the number of people rather than the number of invitations. Tapping opens the event.
The Focus Live Activity
Section titled “The Focus Live Activity”When a Focus block is running it appears on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island, showing the block type, the task if you pinned one, and the time remaining. A paused block shows as paused rather than quietly continuing to count.
This is the one that changes behaviour most. Being able to check the countdown without unlocking the phone is much of why the timer works, because checking it does not mean opening the app and finding something else to do.
Getting the most from them
Section titled “Getting the most from them”Give your lists distinct colours. Widgets are small, and colour is what makes a glance readable.
If you add only one, make it Today. It answers “what now” rather than “what exists”.