Posted by Tyler Beneke – Product Supervisor, and Lucas Silva – Software program Engineer
Widgets are actually out there in your Pixel Pill lock screens! Lock display screen widgets empower customers to create a personalised, always-on expertise. Whether or not you wish to simply handle sensible dwelling gadgets like lights and thermostats, or construct dashboards for fast entry and management of significant data, this weblog put up will reply your key questions on lock display screen widgets on Android. Learn on to find when, the place, how, and why they will be on a lock display screen close to you.
Q: When will lock display screen widgets be out there?
A: Lock display screen widgets might be out there 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 season 2025. Lock display screen widgets are already out there on Pixel Tablets.
Q: Are there any particular necessities for widgets to be allowed on the lock display screen?
A: No, widgets allowed on the lock display screen have the identical necessities as another widgets. Widgets on the lock display screen ought to observe the identical high quality tips as dwelling display screen widgets together with high quality, sizing, and configuration. If a widget launches an exercise from the lock display screen, 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 screen?
A: Presently, lock display screen widgets could be examined on Pixel Pill gadgets. You possibly can allow lock display screen widgets and add your widget.
Q: Which widgets could be displayed on this expertise?
A: All widgets are appropriate with the lock display screen widget expertise. To prioritize consumer selection and customization, we have made all widgets out there. For the very best expertise, please be sure your widget helps dynamic colour and dynamic resizing. Lock display screen widgets are sized to roughly 4 cells huge by 3 cells tall on the launcher, however actual dimensions differ by machine.
Q: Can my widget opt-out of the expertise?
A:Vital: Apps can select to limit using their widgets on the lock display screen 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 screen widgets?
A: No, there aren’t any particular CDD necessities solely for lock display screen widgets. Nevertheless, 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 screen widgets be enabled on current gadgets?
A: Sure, lock display screen widgets had been launched on the Pixel Pill in 2024 Different machine producers might replace their gadgets as effectively as soon as the characteristic is out there in AOSP.
Q: Does the machine should be docked to make use of lock display screen widgets?
A: The mechanism that triggers the lock display screen 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 routinely show default widgets.
Q: Can OEMs customise the consumer interface for lock display screen widgets?
A: Customization of the lock display screen widget consumer interface by OEMs will not be supported within the preliminary launch. All lock display screen widgets could have the identical developer expertise on all gadgets.
Lock display screen widgets are poised to present your customers new methods to work together together with your app on their gadgets. At the moment you’ll be able to leverage your current widget designs and experiences on the lock display screen with Pixel Tablets. To study extra about constructing widgets, please try our sources on developer.android.com
This weblog put up is a part of our collection: 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 possibly can learn extra within the overview of Highlight Week: Widgets, which might be up to date all through the week.