Google Completes Rollout of iOS 16 Lock Screen Widgets With Updates to Maps and Search

Google has now rolled out all of the promised Lock Screen widgets for its iPhone apps, including the Google app, Gmail, Google Maps, Chrome, Google News, and Google Drive.

Google Lock Screen Widgets iOS 16
The rollout was completed today with two Lock Screen widgets for Maps, following five widgets for the Google app that were released on Wednesday. In version 233.0 of the Google app, the widgets include the following descriptions, with two widget sizes for Search:

  • Search: Access Google Search from your Lock Screen
  • Voice Search: Ask a question, hum a song or search for content with your voice
  • Lens: Search with your camera or any image
  • Lens shortcuts: Easily access your favorite Lens feature. Translate, shop, or solve homework with your camera.

Google Search Lock Screen Widget

Version 6.40 of Google Maps adds widgets for Search and Frequent Trips, with the latter displaying the location, estimated time of arrival, and traffic conditions:

  • Frequent Trips: Get directions and an estimated time of arrival for your frequent trips.
  • Search: Search in Google Maps for restaurants, petrol stations, and more.

Google Maps Lock Screen Widget

Equivalent widgets can be found in Google News, Gmail, Drive, and Chrome. Once the apps are updated on your device, launch the new versions first before trying to add the widgets, otherwise they won't appear in the Lock Screen editor.

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Top Rated Comments

1557750 Avatar
30 months ago
Like the widgets.

But, I avoid anything Google.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Love-hate ? relationship Avatar
30 months ago
Nice !

I wish apple allocated more space to widgets . Since they hide notifications by default anyway,why not allow the widgets to get further to the bottom ?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Godspeed8230 Avatar
30 months ago
Imho those lock screen widgets are nice to have but nothing more.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FaasNat Avatar
30 months ago

Nice !

I wish apple allocated more space to widgets . Since they hide notifications by default anyway,why not allow the widgets to get further to the bottom ?
Yeah, it would be nice to be able to use more widgets. If Apple wants to keep it to one row to make it the "clean" look, maybe at least let have pages for widgets (like the Home Screen) or stacks (like widgets on the home/today screen) that we can swipe through. Swiping would be done just in the widget area so we don't affect access to the camera or today screens.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
30 months ago
Looks cool but I realized quickly that I do not spent much time on the Lockscreen and therefore I have deactivated all my widgets again. I guess it makes more sense on an iPhone 14 Pro with an Always On screen or if you do not have an Apple Watch.

If I did use them, I hope Apple will allow more customisations on iOS 17. Maybe a carusel to easily flip between MORE widgets? I also find the limited arrangement of the widgets somewhat ugly, especially when you only have one widget enabled. I wish it could be placed in the center.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1557750 Avatar
30 months ago

Nice !

I wish apple allocated more space to widgets . Since they hide notifications by default anyway,why not allow the widgets to get further to the bottom ?
Agreed. Since we have the option for stackable notifications at the bottom; Wish you could either toggle on more rows, or change grid size to allow larger widgets.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)