Residing in Oregon for ten years has afforded firsthand experience during numerous wildfire seasons. It becomes apparent that monitoring air quality is crucial in such circumstances. Continuous exposure to detrimental air can lead to various health issues, making it wise to limit outdoor activities when air quality declines.

The Breathable application is a helpful tool developed by the Portland agency Karbon, providing a free Air Quality Index (AQI) widget for your Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac. After installing the app, users can add a widget to their devices, making air quality updates readily accessible whenever they check their phone. While Apple’s Weather app displays AQI data, it lacks a dedicated widget.

Although the app is free, initial setup requires a bit of effort. Users must acquire API keys from at least one service for functionality. Fortunately, the setup process is straightforward and easy-to-follow documentation is available to assist. First, navigate to IQAir.com, create an account, select the free plan, and copy your API key. If you are located in the United States and desire data from the EPA, you can also set up an account at Airnow.gov. Don’t forget to configure the app settings to specify the location for which you want AQI data.

Once the app is set up, users can easily place widgets on their devices as they prefer. Breathable provides two widget sizes: small and medium. These widgets can be positioned on the home screen of an iPhone or iPad, added as complications on an Apple Watch, or displayed on a Mac desktop. These options present AQI information visually, both numerically and in chart format.

Users can also personalize the widget’s appearance, including adjustments to font, gradient, and layout. While the options are somewhat limited, there is enough flexibility to achieve a desired aesthetic.

An additional feature allows users to represent the AQI using emojis instead of numerical values—this can simplify quick assessments for some individuals. The default emoji set features facial expressions, but users have the option to customize the widget using their favorite emojis.