How to Get Lock Screen Widgets on Android

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You can use lock-screen widgets on some Android devices, but there is no single Android-wide setup. Samsung Galaxy phones with supported One UI versions use Brief widgets. Google documents native lock-screen widgets for the Pixel Tablet. On Pixel phones and other Android devices, availability depends on the exact model, software build, and manufacturer.

If your lock-screen editor has an Add widgets option, use it. If it does not, your device may support only notifications, media controls, At a Glance, or other manufacturer-specific panels—not general app widgets.

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First, check whether your Android device supports lock-screen widgets

Before following a menu path, identify your device and software version:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap About phone or About tablet.
3. Note the manufacturer, model, Android version, and—on Samsung devices—the One UI version.

Android’s compatibility rules make lock-screen app widgets optional. The Android 16 Compatibility Definition says devices may support application widgets on the lock screen; it does not require every Android phone to provide them. See the Android 16 Compatibility Definition.

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Search Settings for lock screen, widgets, Brief widgets, FaceWidget, or At a Glance. The feature may be under Lock screen, Wallpaper and style, Display, or Personalization.

Samsung Galaxy: add Brief widgets

On current supported Galaxy software, Samsung calls its lock-screen widgets Brief widgets. Older guides may call the feature FaceWidget or Lock screen widgets.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Wallpaper and style.
3. Select the current lock screen preview.
4. Tap Add widgets.
5. Choose a supported Brief widget.
6. Select the available widget style.
7. Tap Done.

Samsung also says you can press and hold the lock screen to open its lock-screen customization controls. The icon and labels can differ by Galaxy model, One UI version, and region. Samsung’s current instructions are available in its Brief widgets support guide.

Samsung limitations

• Only apps supported by Samsung’s Brief widget implementation appear in its picker.
• A widget available on your home screen does not automatically become a Brief widget.
• Samsung can add, remove, or change supported apps through software updates.
• Older instructions using “FaceWidget” may describe an earlier name for related functionality.

Pixel Tablet: enable and add lock-screen widgets

Google specifically documents lock-screen widgets for the Pixel Tablet. That documentation should not be treated as proof that every Pixel phone has the same feature.

1. Open the tablet’s Settings.
2. Search Settings for lock screen widgets if the option is not immediately visible.
3. Enable the lock-screen-widget feature.
4. Lock the tablet.
5. Open the lock-screen widget surface using the gesture or control shown on the tablet.
6. Tap Add widgets.
7. Select and configure the widgets you want to use.
8. Lock the screen again and test what can be viewed or operated without authentication.

Google describes the Pixel Tablet lock-screen layout as approximately four cells wide by three cells tall, although the exact layout can vary. Google also says widgets are generally compatible unless an app opts out. See the Android Developers lock-screen widgets FAQ for the platform details.

Because Google’s developer FAQ does not provide one complete consumer-facing sequence for every current tablet build, the labels and gesture may differ on your device. Search Settings rather than assuming a Pixel-phone procedure will apply.

Pixel phones and other Android phones

Do not assume that Android 16—or any particular Android version—guarantees lock-screen widgets on a phone. Google allows manufacturers to decide whether and how to implement the feature, and manufacturers can replace it with their own lock-screen panels.

On a Pixel phone, check the current lock-screen customization controls for your exact model and build. Google’s Pixel lock-screen support page is the appropriate place to check device-specific options.

On other brands, open the lock-screen editor and look for Add widgets, Lock screen widgets, or a manufacturer-specific name. If those controls are absent after updating, the phone may not offer general lock-screen widgets.

What counts as a lock-screen widget?

Several Android features look similar but are not interchangeable:

Google’s At a Glance documentation says it may appear on the lock screen on some devices, while the full experience is available on Pixel devices running Android 12 or later. At a Glance should not be described as a way to place any home-screen widget on the lock screen.

Why is there no “Add widgets” option?

Work through these checks in order:

1. Confirm the model and software. Record the manufacturer, model, Android version, and One UI or other manufacturer software version.
2. Install system updates. Lock-screen features can depend on a manufacturer update, not just the Android version.
3. Search Settings. Try “lock screen,” “widgets,” “Brief widgets,” “FaceWidget,” and “At a Glance.”
4. Open the lock-screen editor. On Samsung, use Wallpaper and style or press and hold the lock screen. Other phones may place the editor under Display or Personalization.
5. Check the app itself. An app without a home-screen AppWidget generally cannot appear in a true widget picker.
6. Check the form factor. Pixel Tablet support does not establish identical support on Pixel phones, and tablet features do not necessarily carry over to phones.
7. Check restrictions. Work profiles, enterprise management, parental controls, or regional firmware can limit customization.
8. Restart after updating. This can reload the launcher or System UI after a software change.

If a home-screen widget exists but does not appear on the lock screen, the manufacturer may restrict lock-screen widgets to a curated list, the app may have opted out, or the phone may support only a special lock-screen format.

Which apps can appear on a lock screen?

Availability depends on the platform:

• Google’s documented lock-screen-widget implementation is broadly compatible with widgets by default, but an app developer can opt out.
• Samsung Brief widgets use Samsung’s supported-app list, which can change over time.
• A widget may technically be compatible but display less information, resize awkwardly, or require the device to be unlocked.
• Apps that depend on a logged-in session, sensitive data, or background access may show limited content while the device is locked.

For developers, Google documents the not_keyguard widget category as an opt-out mechanism. That is an app-development detail, not a consumer workaround.

What can you do without unlocking?

Lock-screen access has security boundaries:

• Viewing: A widget may show information while the device is locked.
• Tapping: A tap may open a secure action or request authentication.
• Launching an app: Usually requires authentication. Google notes that an activity launched from a lock-screen widget must authenticate unless it is explicitly allowed to show while locked.
• Device controls: Smart-home or other controls can have their own authentication rules.

Do not place private messages, financial details, passwords, sensitive calendar information, or confidential notes in a widget visible to people nearby. Review lock-screen notification privacy and sensitive-content settings as well.

Safe alternatives when native widgets are unavailable

Notifications

Notifications are the most broadly compatible substitute. They work well for calendar events, weather updates, reminders, delivery tracking, music playback, and smart-home status. They are less persistent and customizable than widgets, and privacy settings may hide their content.

Media controls

For music and podcasts, use the lock-screen media player. It provides playback controls without being a general widget system.

Device controls

Some phones expose smart-home controls through the lock screen, Quick Settings, or a manufacturer control panel. Availability depends on the device and app.

At a Glance

On supported devices, At a Glance can provide selected information such as weather or calendar details. It cannot be treated as a general widget shelf.

Always-on display

An always-on display can show the time and notification indicators, but it does not replace an interactive lock-screen widget.

Be cautious with third-party lock-screen apps. Apps that imitate native widgets may request notification access, accessibility access, overlay permission, or device-admin privileges. Those permissions can expose notifications, interact with other apps, or affect the security model. Do not install such an app merely because it promises to bypass a missing native feature unless you have checked its compatibility, privacy policy, update history, permissions, and behavior on your exact Android build.

Common problems and fixes

The widget is on the home screen but not in the lock-screen picker

Try updating the phone and app, reopening the manufacturer’s lock-screen editor, and testing a built-in widget. On Samsung, the app may simply not be included in Brief widgets. Otherwise, use notifications or device controls.

The widget picker is empty

There may be no compatible widgets, the feature may not be supported, or a work profile may be restricting it. Restart the device, update or reinstall the relevant app, and test a built-in system widget.

The widget is blank

Unlock the device once and open the app, then remove and re-add the widget. Also check background permissions and battery restrictions. If the widget still remains blank, the app may not display its data while locked or may not fit the available lock-screen layout.

The widget disappeared after an update

1. Restart the device.
2. Re-add the widget from the picker.
3. Update the widget’s app.
4. Check whether the manufacturer renamed or replaced the feature.
5. Check the exact model’s current support documentation.

A system downgrade is not a sensible first response, especially to restore an unofficial workaround.

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