Every new Android update brings visual and thematic changes that refresh the stock experience. We’ve almost taken it for granted that new releases will make the Android experience better, smoother, and more functional. But there are certain elements, like the widget picker, that have been begging for a major overhaul for a long time, but haven’t gotten it. Until now.
How to add a widget to the home screen in Android 12 – Pixels
Android 12 Developer Preview 2 brings some fundamental changes to the way the widget picker is displayed. These changes make the widget picker easier on the eyes, make widgets easier to find, and show them prominently on your home screen for quick access.
The Widget Picker redesign is one of the biggest visual changes coming to Android 12. As you can see below, you still get a side-scrolling widget list. However, the widgets are now categorized into collapsible app carousels, making them much easier to navigate. Only one app carousel can be expanded at a time; expanded carousels collapse once you tap on a new one.
In previous Android iterations, widgets were categorized alphabetically and then by widget name. But the changes made in Developer Preview 2 clean up the clutter and organize them into a list. The number of widgets available for an app is listed under the app title.
