Quick answer
Widget updates are scheduled by the providing app and limited by Android background rules. A clock, habit count and remote weather forecast need different update paths, so there is no single universal refresh interval.
A widget update is a scheduled event
The home screen is managed by a launcher, not by keeping every app open like a video player. Widget software sends updated content to the launcher when its implementation and Android scheduling permit it. Some widgets react to user actions, others update periodically or when their underlying data changes.
A clock, weather panel and local task count do not need identical update schedules. Weather might be useful with occasional refreshes; a date needs to change when the day changes; a habit count should update after a logged action.
Try it on your home screen
- Identify which specific value you expect to change and where it comes from.
- Compare the source app's latest reading or event with the home-screen value.
- Use the provider's supported manual refresh if one exists.
- If the content becomes stale only after the phone is idle, review background and battery restrictions carefully.
What Android can limit
Power-saving modes, background restrictions, network loss and provider rate limits can delay updates. Android's background work system encourages efficient scheduling rather than constant polling. A widget claiming to update every second may use special techniques or may simply be a preview that does not reflect real home-screen timing.
Android Developers documents widget updates and persistent background work. Exact behavior depends on the app and OS version.
If something seems stale
Compare the widget to its source app, note the time and try a supported refresh action if one exists. Check whether the source itself has new data. Then inspect app permissions and battery restrictions. Avoid clearing storage until you've protected any local design you care about.
For a structured checklist, see widget not updating. If only a preview looks wrong, check sample data vs live readings.
Check the result
Changing the battery mode can increase resource use and still will not fix an expired API key or missing permission. Some widget data updates on interaction, some on a schedule, and some when the data source sends an event. Treat the documented app behavior as more useful than a generic number of minutes.
Common question: Why does my weather refresh slower than my clock?
Weather requires outside information and may follow service limits; a clock can use device time. The two should not be expected to use the same update process.