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Summary
While some people constantly tweak their widgets, I’m more of a set-it-and-forget-it type. One thing that’s stayed front and center on all my Android phones since my first one in 2013 is a widget you probably don’t even use.
It’s the Humble Clock Widget
You were probably expecting some flashy, niche widget you’ve never heard of, but it couldn’t be further from that. My most important widget comes straight from theGoogle Clockapp. It’s about as simple as a widget can get.
Interestingly, there’s some history behind how it ended up on my home screen. My first smartphone was the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus, a cheap little thing that I got for high school. Unlike today’sbudget phones that deliver a flagship-level of quality, this poor fella didn’t have an always-on display that could tell you the time at a glance.
Instead, its default layout featured a large clock widget front and center, along with weather, a Google search bar, and a row of icons. It made checking the time easy whenever the phone was unlocked instead of having to squint to see the tiny status bar clock.
Surprisingly, although I’ve used many phones since (most of which hadalways-on displays), that layout stuck with me—along with the clock widget that eventually became a staple, and I still use it to this day.
The only real change I’ve made over the years was swapping the weather and clock widgets. This way, the clock widget is front and center, which is right where I want it.
All the Reasons Why I Just Can’t Live Without It
Let’s start with the obvious: I keep a large clock widget at the center of my screen because I need to know the time quickly and easily. Being able to glance at the time helps me stay organized and avoid being late for appointments.
Sure, technically speaking, I could check my smartwatch, wall clock, always-on display, or even the small clock in the phone’s status bar, but if my phone is already unlocked and on the home screen, nothing beats that quick glance at a big clock that’s right in the center of my screen.
The widget also shows the exact date and my next alarm, the latter of which my phone doesn’t display anywhere else. It’s essential to my daily routine; I can’t imagine digging through my app list or tapping a tiny icon just to check when I need to wake up.
Another reason I rely on the widget is that I barely ever see my lock screen long enough to read the time.
I usually press the unlock button as I pull my phone out of my pocket, and by the time I raise it to my face, it’s already unlocked viafingerprintorfacial recognition. Having the clock right where the lock screen or AOD would normally show the time means I’m not losing that quick-glance convenience even after my phone is unlocked.
In addition to telling the time, date, and next alarm, the widget also doubles as a shortcut to open the Clock app. I use it multiple times a day to set or adjust alarms, start a timer for pasta, or launch the stopwatch to track rest times at the gym.
By the way, one nice perk of the Google Clock app (though not unique to it) is that I can keep an unlimited number of alarms and timers saved and ready to go with just a few taps. I rarely have to set them up from scratch now that I have a timer for each pasta shape.
Give the Clock Widget a Shot—You Might Actually Love It
If you’ve never used a clock widget on your smartphone, you’re seriously missing out on some big-time convenience.
Fumbling through menus to find the Clock app when I’m half-asleep or trying not to overcook dinner is the last thing I want to do. Keeping this multi-functional widget front and center on my home screen saves me swipes, taps, and mental effort for something I use multiple times a day.
If you don’t like placing it front and center like me, consider resizing it so that it sits on the side next to another one of your widgets.
Admittedly, my clock isn’t the most aesthetic of widgets, and Google only offers one digital and one analog option.
Fortunately, if you’re the type who likes to customize, I find that theDigital Clock Widgetapp works rather well. You can customize the widget and set it to open the Google Clock app (or your preferred clock app) when you tap it, and it can even pull alarm data from your calendar if you enable the option.
I know, a clock widget isn’t cool, quirky, or fancy—but it doesn’t have to be. Despite being simple and easy to set up, it’s one of themost useful widgetsyou’ll ever use. It’s been on my home screen for over a decade, and as far as I’m concerned, it’ll stay there for decades to come.
