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How to enable pop-up widgets on the BlackBerry Priv

BlackBerry has provided several small enhancements throughout its first Android smartphone; this is one of them.

Jason Cipriani Contributing Writer, ZDNet
Jason Cipriani is based out of beautiful Colorado and has been covering mobile technology news and reviewing the latest gadgets for the last six years. His work can also be found on sister site CNET in the How To section, as well as across several more online publications.
Jason Cipriani
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The BlackBerry Priv's Android-powered software is full of small tweaks and customizations BlackBerry has implemented, all with the goal of providing a better user experience.

One such feature is called Pop-Up Widgets, which makes it possible to activate a widget from an app's icon without taking up precious real estate.

As useful as the feature may sound, Pop-Up Widgets aren't enabled by default. Luckily, turning them on only takes a few seconds and just a few taps.

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Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
  • Open the App Drawer.
  • Tap on the Settings icon.
  • Check the box next to Pop-Up Widgets.

With the feature enabled, you'll notice some app icons now have three small dots just below them. These dots serve as an indicator, letting you know the app has a widget.

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Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Opening a widget is done by placing your finger on the app's icon, the swiping up in one quick gesture. For apps with more than one widget, you'll have to select the widget you want to display the first time you use the feature.

Pop-up widgets provide a quick and easy method for glancing at info inside an app without actually launching the app.

Additionally, you're no longer forced into creating extra home screens just to take advantage of widgets thanks to the feature.