Google is set to reintroduce lock screen widgets to Android smartphones with the upcoming Android 16 QPR1 release, scheduled for late Summer 2025. The feature, which was previously available only on Android tablets, will allow users to access widgets directly from their phone’s lock screen, marking a significant enhancement to Android’s device security and authentication framework.
Lock screen widgets were initially introduced with Android 5.0 Lollipop but were removed approximately a decade ago due to security concerns. The feature made its return on tablets with Android 15 QPR1, implemented through a “glanceable hub” that users could access by swiping inward from the right edge of the lock screen. The reintroduction is part of Google’s broader initiative to strengthen Android security while improving user experience.
The smartphone implementation will differ from the tablet version due to display size constraints. While tablets feature a 2×3 grid of widgets that scrolls horizontally, phones will display one column of widgets at a time. Users can access the glanceable hub by triggering the screen saver, typically by placing the phone on a charger or dock. Future updates may enable screen saver activation when placing the phone upright on a stand.
All existing Android widgets will be compatible with the lock screen feature by default. Developers can enable their widgets to launch activities without user authentication by declaring “android:showWhenLocked=’true’” in their applications. They also have the option to prevent specific widgets from appearing on the lock screen by setting their categories to ‘not keyguard’. The flexibility allows developers to maintain appropriate security measures, particularly important given the recent rise in sophisticated Android malware targeting mobile users.
While device manufacturers can customize how users trigger the lock screen widget experience, Google has specified that the interface itself must remain standardized across devices. The requirement matches Google’s recent efforts to ensure consistency in security features across the Android ecosystem, including the implementation of Identity Check biometric authentication. The feature will be part of Android 16’s first quarterly platform release, which typically arrives in September.
Early demonstrations of the feature show its functionality on phones, highlighting the modified interface compared to the tablet version while maintaining the core utility of accessing widget information directly from the lock screen. The development comes as Android continues to evolve its security architecture, balancing convenience with robust protection against emerging threats.
Sources: Android Authority, BizzBuzz
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