Google Confirmed Android 16 will support Lock Screen Widget
The Pixel Tablet was the first device to get lock screen widget functionality, but Google has now confirmed that Android 16 will understand widgets on smartphone lock screens later this year. The update will enable users to interact with the latest version of their widgets on their lock screens, although app developers can choose not to give this ability to their apps. More sensitive actions like launching apps via widgets will still call for biometric authentication (fingerprint, face unlock,) or a password for security.
As reported on the Android Developers Blog, the feature will be a part of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) in the quarterly update after Android 16’s official release, which will be in June. Tech journalist Mishaal Rahman managed to enable lock screen widgets manually and noticed some critical differences compared to the tablet version at the moment. On phones, widgets are only temporarily available in screensaver mode —enabled when the device is charging or docked — not like the Pixel Tablet’s swipe-right gesture from the home screen. Google goes on to point out that it has different device manufacturers so how exactly widgets come up may vary from brand to brand.
Rahman also said phone widgets are presented vertically in a scrollable list, rather than conforming to the tablet’s two-column grid. This format restricts how many widgets are visible per screen, forcing users to swipe to see the rest of the widgets available. Some features may vary in the final design and accessibility as it is released later this year.
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