A decade ago, Google phased out native support for lock screen widgets, beginning with Android 5.0 Lollipop. However, Galaxy users could keep enjoying this feature, as Samsung continued to offer native lock screen widget support. Fast forward to the present, and quite surprisingly, Samsung has dropped support for full lock screen widgets with the One UI 7.0 beta. Ironically, this change comes just as Google is gearing up to bring lock screen widgets back in its upcoming Android 15 quarterly update.
Samsung removes full lock screen widgets support with One UI 7.0
Not all that glitters is gold. While Samsung has certainly nailed the aesthetics with the latest beta, it’s hard to understand why it would remove support for full lock screen widgets. The change was first spotted by a Reddit user and reported by Android Authority. If this decision makes it into the stable release of One UI 7.0, it would mean the end of full lock screen widget support altogether. It’s a puzzling move, to say the least.
As Mishaal reports, the option to add full-sized lock screen widgets is no longer available in the One UI 7.0 beta. In One UI 6.1.1, this option can be found under Settings > Lock Screen and AOD > Widgets. Mishaal suggests that Samsung likely removed it because most people don’t use the feature behind the lock screen clock. The move could help simplify things, especially with all the excitement around the new Now Bar.
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- One UI 6.1.1 Lock Screen Widgets
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- One UI 7.0 Lock Screen Widgets are absent
For now, it’s best to wait and see what Samsung is planning for us. Considering that we’re still rocking the beta version, we hope the lock screen widgets make it to the final (or stable) version. Keep in mind, the condensed Lock Screen widgets just under the clock are still available in One UI 7.0.
The One UI 7.0 beta is rolling out at full pace on the Galaxy S24 series in select countries. Some lucky ones got the preview build right after the rollout, while some are still waiting. It sticks to the promises and brings some cool changes and enhancements. You can check out our full One UI 7.0 beta coverage.
