Android 16 Brings Back An Interesting Fan-Favorite Feature, Nearly Ten Years Later

After more than a decade in the wilderness, lock screen widgets are making a triumphant return to Android phones, Google announced today at its developer preview event. First introduced in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean back in 2012 and axed with Android 5.0 Lollipop in 2014, the feature will land with Android 16’s first quarterly platform release (QPR1), expected in late summer 2025.

The revival promises to supercharge convenience for millions, letting users glance at weather, calendars, or smart home controls without unlocking their device, a nod to the Pixel Tablet’s successful 2024 debut and years of user pleas for more at-a-glance utility.

What’s New With Android 16?

The update, detailed in the Android Developers Blog, will integrate lock screen widgets into the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) for phones and tablets alike, arriving around September 2025 as part of QPR1’s “features only” drop. On phones, expect a vertical stack layout to fit narrower screens, swipe left from the lock screen to access up to three widgets per page, with multiple pages for more.

“This empowers users to create a personalized, always-on experience,” Google wrote, emphasizing dynamic color support and resizing for seamless adaptation.

Developers get a uniform toolkit: all widgets are compatible by default, but apps can opt out if needed, and activities (e.g., opening a smart lock app) trigger authentication via fingerprint, PIN, or face unlock for security.

How to Access It

CHere is how Android users will customize:

Head to Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen > Widgets on lock screen to toggle and arrange.

OEMs cannot overhaul the UI in this initial release, ensuring consistency across devices., but if rumors are true, they are coming very soon.

Early beta tests on Pixel phones (via Android 16 QPR2 in December 2025 previews) showed it shines for quick hits like fitness trackers or news briefs, but the full rollout awaits QPR1’s stable push.

Interesting Functionality Lies Ahead

Imagine controlling Nest thermostats or viewing stock tickers without fumbling for the PIN. Or have widgets sized to 4×3 cells (device-variable), with recommendations for dynamic resizing.

As Android 16 QPR1 nears, lock screen widgets signal Google’s bet on “always-on” smarts. After 11 years, the feature’s resurrection will also have an effect on iOS, for they still have not updates their widgets functionality in a few years.