Home Screen Widget

Add the iPhone widget to your Home Screen for one-tap access to your sync workflow. The widget shows sync status, last-sync context, and an action button that you control from the app’s Settings screen.

The widget requires iOS 16 or later and supports small and medium sizes.

Adding the Widget

  1. Long-press on an empty area of your iPhone Home Screen until the apps start to jiggle.
  2. Tap the + button in the top-left corner to open the widget gallery.
  3. Search for "Health Data Export" or scroll to find it in the list.
  4. Choose your preferred size -- Small or Medium.
  5. Tap "Add Widget", then position it on your Home Screen.
  6. Tap Done to save.

Widget Sizes

Small Widget

A compact widget that shows:

  • Current sync status (syncing, idle, or first sync prompt)
  • Last sync time (e.g., "1 hr ago", "2d ago")
  • Sync progress percentage when actively syncing
  • One-tap action button

Medium Widget

A wider widget with more detail:

  • Everything in the small widget, plus expanded status messages
  • Sync phase details (preparing, exporting, uploading)
  • Provider information (e.g., "Direct to Mac", "iCloud")
  • More descriptive status text with full context

Widget Actions

Open the iPhone app and go to Settings > Widget to choose what the widget does when tapped.

Action What It Does
Quick Sync (default) Opens the app and starts the sync flow using your current sync provider.
Quick Export Exports Apple Health data as XML and then opens AirDrop-first or the Share Sheet, depending on your preference.
Open Sync Screen Opens the Sync tab in the app so you can review settings before starting.

What the Widget Reads

  • Widget action comes from the iPhone app’s Settings > Widget section.
  • Displayed sync provider comes from the provider selected in the iPhone app’s Sync tab.
  • Status text comes from the app’s shared sync state, including whether you have completed a first sync.

Sync Status Indicators

The widget updates to reflect what the sync flow is doing:

Status Widget Shows
Idle "Ready to sync" with last sync time. Tap to start the configured action.
Preparing "Getting ready" -- checking permissions and settings.
Exporting "Exporting data" with a progress percentage (e.g., "30% done").
Uploading "Uploading export" with transfer progress.
Complete "Sync complete" -- your latest export has finished sending.
Failed "Sync failed" -- tap to open the app and retry.

First-Time Setup

If you add the widget before completing your first sync, it shows a First Sync prompt. After the first successful sync, it switches to showing your current status and last sync context automatically.

Export Settings

When using the Quick Export action, you can configure two additional preferences in the app:

  • Export range: Choose between the last 90 days or all-time data.
  • Delivery method: Choose AirDrop (sends directly to a nearby device) or Share Sheet (lets you choose any sharing destination).

When to Use Each Action

  • Quick Sync: best when sync is already configured and you want one-tap refresh.
  • Quick Export: best when you mostly move XML files manually.
  • Open Sync Screen: best when you want the widget as a shortcut but still want to review status before acting.

How Often Does the Widget Update?

The widget refreshes approximately every 15 minutes when idle. During an active sync, it updates more frequently to show real-time progress. The widget uses shared app storage to display the most current sync state without consuming significant battery.

Troubleshooting

Widget shows "First Sync" even after syncing

  • Make sure you completed a full sync (not just opened the sync screen).
  • Wait up to 15 minutes for the widget timeline to refresh.
  • Remove and re-add the widget if it remains stuck.

Widget shows the wrong provider

  • Open the iPhone app’s Sync tab and confirm the currently selected provider there.
  • The provider name shown in the widget does not come from the widget action picker.

Widget not updating during sync

  • Widget updates rely on iOS timeline refresh. The progress may lag slightly behind the actual sync.
  • Open the main app to see real-time sync progress.

Widget not appearing in the widget gallery

  • Make sure the app is installed and has been opened at least once.
  • Restart your iPhone if the widget doesn't appear after installation.
  • Check that you're running iOS 16 or later.

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