How to Use Lock Screen Widgets on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean brings to the table a few new features from the previous version of Android, Android 4.1 Jelly Bea. One such feature is the new lock screen widgets, which now dominate the top of the lock screen on devices running Android 4.2.

Widgets are a big part of Android as they are small apps that can be placed on the Android home screen and now on the lock screen that can show updated information from time to time. They also act as shortcuts for larger apps.

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For the first time, Google has rolled out widgets for the lock screen, which is a bit of a mixed bag for Android users. While some may not want Google to touch the minimalist lock screen, other Android users like me jumped at the opportunity to add easily accessible information to one of the most accessible parts of Android’s user interface.

So what are these new rectangles on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean home screen and how exactly do they work?

Here we will take a look at how to install these new lock screen widgets, review each one, and even suggest some different widgets that can be placed on the lock screen.

How to Use Lock Screen Widgets on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

When you run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean for the first time, you will see a strange white line on the left side of the lock screen when the device wakes up. These are your new lock screen widgets. Smartphone users can swipe right to find easy access to the camera app.

To start installing these apps, you’ll want to swipe to reveal a full rectangle with a plus sign in the middle of another opaque rectangle. Then, tapping the plus sign will take you to a screen with a total of five options to choose from. There will be four for tablet owners.

These options include widgets for calendar, clock, messages, song search – think Shazaam or Soundhound and email. Tapping one of the options will add that widget to your home screen. The result will be that the once empty rectangle is now filled. Widgets can be changed easily. Pressing hard will let you move them, and pressing down and dragging them to the top of the screen will let them out of the lock screen.

Now, let’s take a look at each of the stock widget options.

Calendar

Calendar lock screen widget provides a simple way to check your schedule from the lock screen for those who are busy with the calendar. Have a meeting scheduled for 14:00? It will appear here. Is Thursday Thanksgiving? Calendar lock screen widget will remind you.

Hour

The digital clock is exactly what it sounds like, a clock updated with date and time. Clock widget will be set based on whether you have added any world clock from clock app. For example, I added Cleveland, Ohio to my lock screen so I could better follow an editorial friend’s schedule.

Inbox

The Inbox widget is a simple and easy way to browse your Inbox faster without actually having to unlock the tablet or smartphone. It shows your four most recent messages in your main inbox along with the source of the email as well as part of the email. This way, you will immediately know if you need to unlock the device and open the main email application.

It does present some privacy concerns, so those interested in wandering eyes seeing email will probably want to disable this widget. Personally, it’s the one I use the most.

Messages

Like Inbox, this is a simple way to browse through your messages without having to open your phone or tablet. Shows the source of the message and a snapshot of the message if it is long. Those who use two-step authentication for Gmail must be tired of using this feature as Google will show the code on the lock screen when they send a message.

Hopefully, Google will do something to fix this.

Song search

Finally, a handy little widget that allows users to search for a currently playing song. If the song is available, and in almost all cases it can, it will show up with the artist and song title, along with a link to buy it on Google.

alternatives

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean is relatively new, meaning there isn’t a lot of third-party support yet for its features, including lock screen widgets. However, it seems to be making progress as it is popular HD Widgets The app on the Play Store has been updated with lock screen support, bringing phone owners seven new lock screen widgets and five to the table for Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 owners.

There’s a widget for the weather, some fancy clocks, and even a Wi-Fi toggle. The widgets cost $1.99, which is a small price to pay for those who want to go beyond the stock lock screen widgets that come with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.