Lock screen widgets are coming to phones in Android 16 QPR1: Here’s a first look

• Google announced today that the upcoming Android 16 QPR1 release will bring lock screen widget support to phones.
• Android 16 QPR1 isn’t expected to roll out until September, but we managed to activate the feature ahead of its release to provide a first look.
• Lock screen widgets on phones may not work quite the same way they do on tablets, but this could change before the feature’s release.

---

With the previous Pixel Drop, Google introduced the ability to add widgets to the lock screen, bringing back a feature it had scrapped nearly a decade ago. Unfortunately, the company limited the feature to Android tablets, limiting its usefulness. Thankfully, Google has now confirmed that it will bring lock screen widget support to Android phones in an upcoming Android release, and we managed to activate the feature to bring you a first look.

To recap, Google reintroduced lock screen widgets in the first quarterly release of Android 15, i.e. Android 15 QPR1. The company created a dedicated page for widgets called the “glanceable hub,” accessed by swiping inward from the right edge of the lock screen. The hub page contains a 2×3 grid of widgets that scrolls horizontally. The feature is quite useful, as it allows you to easily manage your smart home devices, start timers, view key financial information, and much more, all at a glance. It would have been great if this feature had been available for phones as well; fortunately, it will be implemented later this year.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/Hx3KP8m