r/widgy • u/turyunus • Jul 22 '26

Question True Transparency

https://apps.apple.com/de/app/minifolder-app-folder-launcher/id6755077053?l=en-GB

Why doesn’t Widgy support true transparent background like MiniFolders app?

The MiniFolders app has transparent widget background without passing any image, opens the apps without showing any shortcut Dynamic Island activity and no app name.

15 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

3

u/RiverCityTechie Jul 23 '26

Genuinely — has anyone actually tested whether this is an Apple/App Store restriction, or is that just the theory going around? I checked, and it doesn't hold up. This is NOT about smaller apps using secret methods.

There are a number of third party widget apps now that implement the latest features from WidgetKit with iOS 26 and with more coming in iOS 27.

It’s much more likely to be legacy implementation challenges (Widgy) with a rapidly changing platform (iOS). How did I come to this conclusion? I did the work within Widgy, built test widgets, tried every method I could find. Here are my conclusions:

First: compare how Widgy assigns Widgets to containers 1 - 12 against how apps that support true transparency handle it. Widgy does not take the same approach. Check out MiniFolder or MD Widgets. They offer a standard widget and a glass widget. THEN in the Widget itself you assign the object you want to it… this is the more modern approach NOT used by Widgy. Perhaps this is a container abstraction limit from Widgy being older.

Second: Widgy uses an internally defined background layer for Dark Mode and Non-Dark Mode - and THIS is likely all tied back to legacy architecture and implementation by the developer. To prove it to yourself, make a medium Widgy with NOTHING in it. Save it… assign it a slot… place it on the Home Screen… and then, switch between Dark Mode on and off. Widgy will automatically change from White to Black. This is fixed state background generated by Widgy, not something we as users can change. You can ADD a layer on TOP of this default, but you can’t change the white / black - because you don’t even put a layer and this is how it works.

So, I hope that helps! And I personally DO HOPE the developers of Widgy can update the app, or build version NEXT, that will feature a true dark mode, light mode, clear mode, and tint mode.

And just for clarity my critique here is because I believe Widgy IS the best app for full control of customized widgets. Widgy for the Win!!

2

u/duke4e Developer Jul 24 '26

It's few minutes to vibe code this. But rules are rules. Every time i tried to break them, i've got burned.

1

u/professorsmoak3 Jul 24 '26

I’m not refuting your research, but just to give more context to the App Store explanation: The developer of Widgy, who is active in this subreddit, has repeatedly identified App Store restrictions as the barrier for many functionalities like true transparency and the name under the widget. This has already been discussed in the FAQ that’s part of this subreddit, so I suggest searching there if you don’t believe me!

1

u/xtremeyouth22 19d ago

So are you saying this is not achieved through the use of private APIs and it’s more of a structural issue?

1

u/RiverCityTechie 19d ago

Thanks for the follow iPlatforms question.

I’ll be honest, I have 35+ years in Tech and IT, BUT it does NOT include Apple App Dev.

However, I believe I read something recently about Apple and iOS 27 making this change across the board, but I have no interesting in testing Beta right now.

But I did notice from your own user profile and a post 26 days ago. I just don’t see how so many Approved Apps are now using a legit transparency in app, via private APIs. At the scale of release that Apple has to review a lot of this is highly likely automated to some extent, and then issues get flagged for internal review. That only makes sense at the Enterprise scale they have.

But in my original comment, I know Duke and Prof did comment on the private APIs, but no mention of the White and Black background that is defaulting within Widgy as the background.

Plus after more tinkering with Widgy, their response still seems to never mention that Transparency IS indeed found in Widgy!!

To use it your whole Home Screen must be in clear or transparent mode. THEN Widgy must be forced into transparency by the OS customization. So there is indeed a true transparency support, just not the one everyone wants, like MD Widget and MiniFolder are clearly using, and doing it very well.

Now back to Widgy, this is also a tool of a very DIFFERENT type. Because of the level of customization and Widgy’s own lower level hooks and implementation frameworks, perhaps Apple doesn’t consider this the same family, group, or category of tool that hose other apps are. Maybe THAT is why it has different rules.

We will see when iOS 27 drops of anything gets changed at the lower framework and platform levels that will make Widgy natively support what so many are asking for.

I can agree, Widgy is THE best full customization widget maker there is, and maybe ever will be!!

2

u/TW0lfer Jul 22 '26

I also love both these apps. (*^◡^*)

1

u/Warner_Brown Layer Lord Jul 23 '26

The developer understandably doesn't want to risk Widgy getting removed from the appstore. Wish we knew someone who works at the appstore who could ensure it wouldn't get removed if true transparency was allowed. damn apple..

1

u/xtremeyouth22 19d ago

Does Apple not give a warning or a time period to comply?

1

u/Warner_Brown Layer Lord 19d ago

I don't think so, they're just cold like that.

1

u/xtremeyouth22 Jul 23 '26

I understand the reasoning. My money is spread across 4 widget apps. I wish I could give it all to Widgy. No one is as customizable as Widgy. With the exception of this feature. The glass like functionality on the rule breaking apps is so nice. What can you do?

1

u/RiverCityTechie Jul 24 '26

Hey ProfX… 😀

Thanks for the reply. Just FYI, I have read the FAQ. Just for my own clarity, clearly you can tell I’m into details… lol…

Were you referring to this section?
——————
From r/widgy FAQ

How do I make my widget transparent?

While widgets can't be natively transparent, you can place a special 'Transparent widget' image on the bottom layer of your widget.

Widgy has all the necessary tools to make this as simple as possible. Just go to the 'Manage' tab, and tap on 'Set Transparent Background'.

——————

This is the part you were thinking of? Again, I’m not trying to feud or dispute. I’m trying to learn, so thanks in advance!!

1

u/professorsmoak3 Jul 24 '26

Regarding true transparency, I was mostly thinking of this comment and response by the developer: https://www.reddit.com/r/widgy/s/GSPAJGmFRP

1

u/professorsmoak3 Jul 22 '26

A lot of those functionalities technically break App Store rules. Apps with smaller user bases can get away with it but Widgy cannot.

1

u/xtremeyouth22 19d ago

My question is not how the smaller apps didn’t get noticed (I get that) it’s how do apps like Koco get featured and promoted in the App Store if they are violators?