How to Get Lockscreen Widgets on Android
Widgets make up an important UI element on Android devices, allowing users to set up interactive displays which can use data from other apps and present it in a more efficient and convenient manner. While earlier versions of Android restricted widgets to home screens, with newer versions like Android 4.2, lockscreen widgets have become a reality. Keep reading this article to learn how you can set them up.
Instructions
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1
If you already have Android 4.2 installed on your device, you need to go to your lockscreen settings and set up a lock, for instance the pattern lock or a pin code to protect your device. This ensures that no one can access your device without the code or pattern you set, and also gives you the lockscreen to play with. If you don’t set up a security lock, your phone might wake up directly on the home screen.
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Once you have set up the lockscreen, you need to switch off your screen and turn it on again to land on the lockscreen. Here, you can swipe left or right to rotate the available screens. By default, a clock widget might be placed on the first screen, but you can long press it to drag and remove it.
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When you swipe the screens around, you will see a plus logo on widget-less screens, and can tap it to open up the widget selector tool. You might need to enter your passcode or pattern to proceed.
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If you don’t have Android 4.2, you will need to install apps to help you place widgets on the lockscreen. Make sure you have internet connectivity and open up the Google Play Store.
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Use the store’s search functionality to look for WidgetLocker, an app developed by TeslaCoil. Download and install it to your device and run it.
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The app will let you set up an alternative lockscreen, which you can design with the help of widgets. However, it may not be as secure as your phone’s stock lockscreen.
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Moreover, if you are looking for a free app, you can try searching for Go Locker on the Play Store. The app is developed by the team behind the popular Go Launcher, and is free to download.
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Once the app is installed, you will have to set it up to replace your stock lockscreen. There are several themes available for Go Locker and a lot of them include functionality you might find useful in the absence of widgets.
