Android widgets are a fun way to customize your home screen and get quick info without unlocking. But it’s been almost 10 years since Google took away the ability to add widgets to the lock screen too. Good news though – it looks like widgets might be coming back to the lock screen with the next Android version!
Why Were Widgets Removed?
When Android Jelly Bean came out in 2012, Google showed off how you could put widgets on the lock screen. But starting with Android Lollipop in 2015, that feature went away. Not many apps added support for lock screen widgets since, so Google stopped including it.
What’s Changing in Android 15?
Android’s latest beta release hides some clues that widgets may return. Code added suggests exploring two options – a special “community space” on tablets, or upgrades to the At a Glance widget on phones.
The Communal Space
On larger devices like tablets, Google’s testing a new right-swipe area called the “communal space.” Here you can select widgets just for this shared lock screen view, without unlocking. Only certain safe widgets might be allowed though, for multi-user devices.
Upgrading At a Glance
Pixel phones have the handy At a Glance widget that shows info without unlocking. Google’s making it smarter by adding support for more interactive widget-like cards. This could let At a Glance pull in full widgets too, to customize the lock screen from favorite apps.
Still a Work in Progress
The communal space and Smartspace upgrades are works in progress. Details still unclear if all devices and apps will get lock screen widgets. But bringing this classic Android feature back would be a fun update, especially as iPhones already offer lock screen customization! Stay tuned for Android 15 to see widgets return to where they all began.
