Posted by Tyler Beneke – Product Supervisor, and Lucas Silva – Software program Engineer

Widgets are actually accessible in your Pixel Pill lock screens! Lock display widgets empower customers to create a personalised, always-on expertise. Whether or not you wish to simply handle sensible house gadgets like lights and thermostats, or construct dashboards for fast entry and management of significant data, this weblog publish will reply your key questions on lock display widgets on Android. Learn on to find when, the place, how, and why they’re going to be on a lock display close to you.

Q: When will lock display widgets be accessible?

A: Lock display widgets will likely be accessible in AOSP for tablets and cell beginning with the discharge after Android 16 (QPR1). This replace is scheduled to be pushed to AOSP in late Summer time 2025. Lock display widgets are already accessible on Pixel Tablets.

Q: Are there any particular necessities for widgets to be allowed on the lock display?

A: No, widgets allowed on the lock display have the identical necessities as some other widgets. Widgets on the lock display ought to observe the identical high quality tips as house display widgets together with high quality, sizing, and configuration. If a widget launches an exercise from the lock display, customers should authenticate to launch the exercise, or the exercise ought to declare android:showWhenLocked=”true” in its manifest entry.

Q: How can I check my widget on the lock display?

A: Presently, lock display widgets will be examined on Pixel Pill gadgets. You may allow lock display widgets and add your widget.

Q: Which widgets will be displayed on this expertise?

A: All widgets are appropriate with the lock display widget expertise. To prioritize consumer alternative and customization, we have made all widgets accessible. For the perfect expertise, please be certain your widget helps dynamic colour and dynamic resizing. Lock display widgets are sized to roughly 4 cells vast by 3 cells tall on the launcher, however actual dimensions range by gadget.

Q: Can my widget opt-out of the expertise?

A:Necessary: Apps can select to limit using their widgets on the lock display utilizing an opt-out API. To opt-out, use the widget class “not_keyguard” in your appwidget information xml file. Place this file in an xml-36 useful resource folder to make sure backwards compatibility.

Q: Are there any CDD necessities particularly for lock display widgets?

A: No, there are not any particular CDD necessities solely for lock display widgets. Nonetheless, it is essential to make sure that any widgets and screensavers that combine with the framework adhere to the usual CDD necessities for these options.

Q: Will lock display widgets be enabled on current gadgets?

A: Sure, lock display widgets have been launched on the Pixel Pill in 2024 Different gadget producers might replace their gadgets as nicely as soon as the characteristic is accessible in AOSP.

Q: Does the gadget have to be docked to make use of lock display widgets?

A: The mechanism that triggers the lock display widget expertise is customizable by the OEM. For instance, OEMs can select to make use of charging or docking standing as triggers. Third-party OEMs might want to implement their very own posture detection if desired.

Q: Can OEMs set their very own default widgets?

A: Sure! {Hardware} suppliers can pre-set and robotically show default widgets.

Q: Can OEMs customise the consumer interface for lock display widgets?

A: Customization of the lock display widget consumer interface by OEMs isn’t supported within the preliminary launch. All lock display widgets could have the identical developer expertise on all gadgets.

Lock display widgets are poised to present your customers new methods to work together together with your app on their gadgets. At present you possibly can leverage your current widget designs and experiences on the lock display with Pixel Tablets. To study extra about constructing widgets, please take a look at our sources on developer.android.com

This weblog publish is a part of our sequence: Highlight Week on Widgets, the place we offer sources—weblog posts, movies, pattern code, and extra—all designed that can assist you design and create widgets. You may learn extra within the overview of Highlight Week: Widgets, which will likely be up to date all through the week.