Spotify introduces an iPhone Lock Screen widget for easy access to its app

Spotify adopts iOS lock screen. The company today announced that it is introducing a new iPhone Lock Screen widget for all users running iOS 16 or later, which lets you tap the Spotify icon to launch the app directly before unlocking your device. phone.

Support for Lock Screen widgets was rolled out with the release of iOS 16 last fall to place visible information directly on the phone screen as round or rectangular widgets below the date and time or as a line of text just above it. A number of developers big and small have been quick to adopt Lock Screen widgets, including big tech companies like Google (including YouTube), Facebook, Snap and others. But Spotify didn’t.

Although largely designed as another way to connect people to their app information, some lock screen widgets can also be used as shortcuts that launch apps directly. This provides faster and easier access to the apps you use most. For example, one of Google’s widgets lets you search directly from the iPhone’s lock screen.

In the case of Spotify, the app will simply open the Spotify app, saving you time to unlock your phone, then find the app icon or widget and tap it. This can be useful when you want to access your music or podcasts on the go or in the car and don’t have time to wade through apps and screens.

Previously, users who wanted Spotify on their lock screen would take advantage of third-party widget customization apps, like Widgetsmith, to create their own widgets.

Aesthetically, Spotify’s rounded icon also suits other popular circular icons that adorn users’ lock screens, like Apple’s default weather and activity widgets, if you care about that sort of thing.

To add Spotify’s new widget, you press and hold your finger on your lock screen to bring up the “Customize” button at the bottom. Tap on it to access the area where you can choose to add widgets and search for Spotify in the alphabetical list. You can then tap Spotify or swipe the widget to add it to the lock screen and exit the personalization screens.

In addition to the new Lock Screen widget, the company supports other widgets, including two sizes of home screen widgets for easy access to the music and podcasts you’ve most recently listened to. It also supports Apple’s Live Activities, which puts music controls at the bottom of the lock screen when you’re actively using the app.

Spotify notes that you’ll need to update its iOS app to the latest version to access its new Lock Screen widget feature. Users also need to have iOS 16 or later to use these types of widgets.