Google is reportedly in the process of reintroducing lock screen widgets to Android, a feature that was present in early Android versions but removed with Android 5.0 Lollipop. A code snippet discovered in the Android 15 beta release suggests that Google is working on two potential approaches. The first method involves users swiping inward from the right of the lock screen to reveal options on the right side, allowing them to add widgets like Google Lock and Calendar.
According to reports, the reason for this reintroduction might be related to the need for apps to have a category called KEYGUARD to display widgets on the lock screen, similar to the trigger used in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The feature is currently under development, with the clock overlapping the widgets.
It is speculated that lock screen widgets could be limited to Pixel Tablets or Android devices with large screens supporting hub mode. Google might also implement a system that only displays widgets considered safe for Android devices with multiple users.
Another potential avenue for reintroducing lock screen widgets is through the ‘At a Glance’ widget. Although not a traditional widget, Google could utilize the Smartspace API that powers this feature. While the Smartspace API currently lacks support for the RemoteView API that widgets are based on, Google appears to be working on integrating the two.
However, these details are subject to change as Google continues development, and users will need to wait for Android 15’s official release to see if lock screen widgets make a comeback.
