Quick answer
A live weather widget requires a provider, a location and a refresh process. An attractive number in a template can be sample text; do not treat it as a forecast until the data source is connected.
Weather is a network reading, not a decoration
A temperature design can use a fixed example number in the editor. A live weather widget needs an actual weather service, an agreed location and a refresh method. Readings may be delayed, rounded or different from another service because providers use different models and stations.
Decide whether a manually chosen city is enough. Location permission should not be requested when the design can work with a city you entered yourself. If a provider is contacted, it can process the request and ordinary network information.
Try it on your home screen
- Identify which weather service or linked application supplies the temperature.
- Select the intended city or grant the narrow location permission needed by the feature.
- Compare the shown reading and its update time with the actual source.
- If the number is blank, test the provider directly before changing fonts or colors.
Pick a readable forecast scope
For a compact panel, current temperature and condition may be enough. A larger panel can add high and low or a short forecast. Do not squeeze a week of tiny icons into a 2×2 grid. Show units clearly when there's a risk of mixing Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Check provider access before promising the feature
Commercial use rights, attribution rules, data limits and account requirements vary by weather provider. A visually finished mockup does not prove the service is ready for public commercial use. WidgetCraft's weather source remains an optional advanced area with commercial licensing still a release consideration.
If the widget goes stale, inspect connectivity and the provider's request limits as well as Android background behavior. Read why widgets stop updating for device checks that do not depend on the weather app.
Check the result
Two forecasts can differ because the apps use different observations or update schedules. A city chosen manually may not need continuous precise location. If the provider is unavailable, a cached value is not the same as a fresh reading; look for an update timestamp when possible.
Common question: Why do two weather widgets show different temperatures?
They may use different providers, locations and observation times. Check those details before deciding either widget is malfunctioning.