How To Turn On And Customize Lock Screen Widgets On Your Pixel

Google’s Android 16 QPR2 update is here, and one of the nicest additions is something Pixel users have been waiting on for a long time. Lock screen widgets finally work on Pixel phones. The Pixel Tablet had them first, but phones are only getting the feature now, and it genuinely changes how quickly you can get to important info.

If you’ve updated your phone and want to try it, here’s a simple guide.

Step 1: Turn On Lock Screen Widgets

The feature doesn’t switch on automatically after updating, so you’ll need to enable it yourself.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Display & touch.
3. Tap Lock screen.
4. Turn on Widgets on lock screen.

If the toggle shows a checkmark, you’re all set. There’s no extra confirmation screen.

Step 2: Find Your Widgets On The Lock Screen

Now go to your lock screen and swipe left. That’s where your widgets live.

Google adds a few by default, like:

• Gemini
• Pixel Weather
• Google Finance Watchlist

You can keep these or change things up however you like.

Step 3: Add, Remove, Or Rearrange Widgets

Press and hold any widget to enter edit mode. Here’s what you can do:

• Resize a widget
• Remove widgets you don’t need
• Rearrange them
• Add new widgets (pretty much any regular Android widget works here)

Tip: If you don’t see the “Add widget” button, tap the currently selected widget. The top-left button will switch from Remove to Add widget.

Step 4: Organize Multiple Pages

You aren’t limited to one screen. You can create multiple widget pages and swipe between them. The swipe gesture can feel sensitive, so don’t be surprised if you move past a page by accident.

You can place up to three widgets per page in the standard size. Some widgets can stretch across two slots, while others can fill the entire page.