-
-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 55
Widgets
Anjishnu Nandi edited this page Jun 21, 2026
·
2 revisions
Complete guide to setting up and customizing Rhythm's home screen widgets.
Rhythm offers three types of widgets to suit different needs:
- Purpose: Display current track lyrics on your home screen
- Real-time: Synced with playback position
- Compact: Minimal footprint with scrolling text
- Technology: Built with Jetpack Glance framework
- Design: Material 3 with dynamic theming
- Layouts: 6 responsive sizes
- Requirements: Android 8.0+
- Features: Real-time updates, customizable appearance
- Technology: Traditional RemoteViews
- Compatibility: Maximum compatibility across devices
- Layouts: 7 sizes including 5x5
- Requirements: Android 8.0+
- Features: Battery-efficient, theme-adaptive
- Size: 110dp × 48dp (2×1 cells)
-
Features:
- Song title and artist (scrolling text)
- Play/pause button
- Compact horizontal layout
- Best for: Quick glance at current track
- Size: 120dp × 120dp (2×2 cells)
-
Features:
- Album artwork
- Song title and artist
- Play/pause and skip controls
- Compact square layout
- Best for: Minimal home screen footprint
- Size: 250dp × 120dp (3×2 cells)
-
Features:
- Album artwork
- Song title, artist, album
- Full playback controls
- Horizontal layout
- Best for: Standard widget size
- Size: 320dp × 120dp (4×2 cells)
-
Features:
- Large album artwork
- Complete metadata
- Full playback controls
- Extended horizontal layout
- Best for: Wide home screens
- Size: 250dp × 250dp (3×3 cells)
-
Features:
- Large album artwork
- Complete track information
- Full playback controls
- Vertical layout with maximum info
- Best for: Dedicated music widget space
- Size: 320dp × 320dp (4×4 cells)
-
Features:
- Maximum album artwork display
- All metadata visible
- Large playback controls
- Premium visual experience
- Best for: Music-focused home screen
- Extra Small (2x1): Minimal horizontal strip
- Small (2x2): Compact square
- Medium (3x2): Standard horizontal
- Large (3x3): Large square
- Wide (4x2/5x2): Extended horizontal
- Extra Large (4x4): Large display
- 5x5: Maximum size with full controls
- Long-press on your home screen
- Tap Widgets
- Scroll to find Rhythm Music
- Choose between:
- Rhythm Widget (Glance - Modern)
- Rhythm Music Widget (Legacy)
- Drag to home screen
- Resize to desired size using corner handles
- Widget auto-updates to optimal layout
- Long-press on empty home screen area
- Tap Widgets in popup menu
- Find Rhythm in widget list
- Long-press and drag widget to home screen
- Drop in desired location
- Resize using corner/edge handles
Access widget settings: Rhythm → Settings → Widget Settings
- Range: 0-32dp
- Default: 24dp
- Effect: Rounded corners for modern look
- Note: Glance widgets only
- Range: 0-100%
- Default: 85%
- Effect: Widget background opacity
- Note: Adapts to wallpaper
- Toggle: Show/hide album artwork
- Default: Enabled
- Effect: Display current track artwork
- Show/hide song title
- Show/hide artist name
- Show/hide album name
- Customizable metadata visibility
Widgets update automatically when:
- Track changes
- Playback state changes (play/pause)
- Metadata is edited
- Artwork is updated
Update Method: WorkManager background tasks Frequency: Real-time for playback events Battery Impact: Minimal, optimized scheduling
- Play/Pause: Toggle playback
- Skip Next: Jump to next track
- Skip Previous: Return to previous track
- Tap Album Art: Open Rhythm app
- No seek bar (due to widget size constraints)
- No volume control (use system controls)
- No queue management (open app for full features)
Widgets update instantly for:
- ✅ Track changes
- ✅ Play/pause state
- ✅ Album artwork changes
- ✅ Metadata edits
- Technology: WorkManager periodic tasks
- Frequency: Event-driven
- Battery: Optimized with job scheduling
- Restrictions: Respects Android Doze mode
Solutions:
-
Disable Battery Optimization:
- Settings → Apps → Rhythm → Battery
- Select "Unrestricted"
-
Grant Notification Permission:
- Required for foreground service
- Settings → Apps → Rhythm → Permissions → Notifications
-
Remove and Re-add Widget:
- Long-press widget → Remove
- Add widget again from widget menu
-
Update Rhythm:
- Check for latest version
- Install updates from GitHub/F-Droid
Causes:
- App not running in background
- Permissions not granted
- Widget cache corruption
Solutions:
- Open Rhythm app once
- Play a song
- Minimize app (don't force close)
- Widget should populate
Checks:
- Ensure Rhythm has required permissions
- Verify app is not force-stopped
- Check notification access is enabled
- Restart device if issue persists
Launcher Compatibility:
- Some launchers have widget sizing issues
- Try different widget layout size
- Use stock launcher for best compatibility
- Report launcher-specific issues on GitHub
- Phone Portrait: 3×2 Medium or 4×2 Wide
- Phone Landscape: 4×2 Wide or 5×2 Extended
- Tablet: 4×4 Extra Large or 5×5 Maximum
- Foldable (Closed): 2×2 Small or 3×2 Medium
- Foldable (Open): 4×4 or 5×5
- Widgets are highly optimized
- Updates only when necessary
- No polling for changes
- Event-driven architecture
- Minimal battery impact (<1%)
- Placement: Put widget where you frequently glance
- Size: Match widget to your usage (controls vs. artwork)
- Theme: Glance widgets auto-adapt to Material You colors
- Wallpaper: Choose wallpaper that complements widget transparency
- Density: Don't overcrowd home screen with multiple widgets
- Custom widget themes
- Multiple widget instances with different settings
- Lock screen widgets (Android 13+)
- Queue preview
- Playback progress bar
| Feature | Glance Widgets | Legacy Widgets |
|---|---|---|
| Material 3 Design | ✅ Yes | |
| Dynamic Theming | ✅ Full | |
| Customizable Corners | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Transparency Control | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Layout Count | 6 | 7 |
| Max Size | 4×4 | 5×5 |
| Battery Efficiency | ✅ Optimized | ✅ Optimized |
| Update Speed | ⚡ Instant | ⚡ Instant |
Recommendation: Use Glance widgets for modern design and customization.
Need help? Join our Telegram Community or Discord Server!