Android widgets

Following the “quick actions” redesign earlier this year, Google Drive for Android has now updated the “Suggested files” widget with M3 Expressive.

Following the Pixel Launcher shortcut, you can now add AI Mode to the Google Search homescreen widget on any Android device.

Following yesterday’s announcement, Google is widely rolling out the new Pixel VIPs widget to the Pixel 6+ on Android 16 (and QPR1).

After beta testing earlier this month, the Google app on Android is rolling out a redesign of the Search bar homescreen widget to all users.

Google is rolling out a redesign of the Search bar homescreen widget on Android that better emphasizes the optional shortcut.

• Apps & Updates
• Gemini
• Android widgets

Gemini app update adds Android homescreen widget 

Following last week’s announcement, the Gemini app update that introduces an Android homescreen widget is widely rolling out. 

In addition to the iPhone, Google is rolling out a convenient Gemini homescreen widget for Android that follows Material 3.

• Apps & Updates
• Google Keep
• Android widgets

Google Keep for Android widget redesign rolls out 

After starting earlier this week, Google has rolled out the redesigned Keep for Android “Quick capture” widget. 

As we previously spotted, Google Keep for Android is rolling out a redesign of the Quick capture widget. 

At the start of March, Google discussed the latest in widgets, including what a high-quality design looks like. Google Keep is now redesigning and modernizing one of its Android widgets.

To round out the Widgets Spotlight Week, the Android team yesterday hosted a YouTube Q&A session. We learned about the status of stackable widgets and whether they are coming to Android XR.

Google’s widget week for developers continues with the announcement that they are coming to phone lockscreens with Android 16 QPR1.

The Android team has long offered quality tiers for apps on Wear OS, Large Screen, and other form factors. As part of this week’s push, Google is highlighting the Android Widget Quality Tiers. 

• Apps & Updates
• Google Pixel
• Android widgets
• Google Clock

Google Clock ‘Timer Starter’ widget comes to Pixel phones

Last year, Google’s Clock app introduced a Timer Starter widget for the Pixel Tablet, and it’s now available on phones with Android 15 QPR2.

The Android team this week is putting a “Spotlight” for developers on widgets, especially “high-quality” ones. Meanwhile, Android users will benefit from a new Play Store “Widgets” filter.

Back in August, the Google Search bar widget was updated with Dynamic Color, and it’s now bringing back “Custom” colors.

Back in August, the Google app’s Search bar widget on Android was updated with Dynamic Color but at the expense of other options being removed, and a customizable shortcut is now being tested. 

The last big update to Google Clock introduced weather integration on Pixel devices and the app is now adding a new “Timer Starter” widget.

Back in 2018, the Google app on Android introduced the ability to customize the Search bar widget, but a redesign takes away most of the options.

Following the announcement last week, Google Home 3.18 with the new Favorites widgets is widely rolling out via the Play Store.

As we previously spotted, the Google Home app on Android is getting a new homescreen widget and Wear OS Tile.