Google Previews New iOS 16 Lock Screen Widgets for Gmail, Chrome, and More

Just a few hours before Apple releases iOS 16 to the public, Google has previewed its upcoming Lock Screen widgets for its iPhone apps, including the Google app, Gmail, Google Maps, Chrome, Google News, and Google Drive.

Google says the Lock Screen widgets will be available in the "coming weeks" as its iPhone apps are gradually updated on the App Store.

The widgets allow users to quickly launch into Google apps from the Lock Screen and provide real-time information at a glance:

• Google: Initiate a search via text, voice, or the camera
• Gmail: View the number of messages in your inbox
• Chrome: Initiate a search, including by voice or in incognito mode
• Google Drive: Quickly access starred files and folders
• Google Maps: View real-time traffic updates and estimated travel times to frequently traveled places like home and work
• Google News: View real-time headlines

Note that the Google search widget does not allow you to complete a search on the Lock Screen directly and simply opens the app.

A key new feature of iOS 16 is the ability to personalize the Lock Screen with widgets, multi-layered wallpapers, custom fonts for the date and time, and more. You can also select a set of photos to shuffle on the Lock Screen throughout the day.

The new Lock Screen gallery showcases a range of Lock Screen options, including a new Weather wallpaper with live weather conditions and an Astronomy wallpaper that provides views of the Earth, Moon, and Solar System. iOS 16 includes support for multiple Lock Screen designs, allowing you to switch between your favorites with a swipe.