Lockscreen Widgets Arrive on Android Phones with QPR1 Update

Android Lockscreen Widgets with Android 16 QPR1

Google announced that lock screen widgets will be available on Android devices starting with the release of Android 16 QPR1, expected in late Summer 2025. This feature was initially launched on the Pixel Tablet with Android 15 QPR1 in December and is now being extended to tablets and mobile devices through AOSP (Android Open Source Project). The update will provide a consistent developer experience across all devices, though OEM customization of the widget UI is not supported in the initial release.

Key Features:

• ** sizing**: Widgets are sized to approximately 4 cells wide by 3 cells tall on the launcher, with exact dimensions varying by device. Dynamic Color and resizing are recommended for better compatibility.
• Security: If a widget launches an activity from the lock screen, users must authenticate or the activity should declare android:showWhenLocked="true" in its manifest.
• User Choice: All widgets will be available on the lockscreen by default to prioritize user customization, but developers can opt out using an API.

Availability:

Other device manufacturers may update their devices once the feature is available in AOSP.