Now You Can Finally Remove the Annoying Pixel at a Glance Widget.
I love my Pixel 9a , but there’s one glaring issue that glares at me every time I unlock the phone. It’s the “View from Above” widget, which Google simply won’t let me remove. I love a clean lock screen, and I eventually got so frustrated looking at this completely uncustomizable widget showing the time and weather that I gave up and switched to Niagara Launcher . And if you think it’s just me being picky, I can confidently say it’s not just me; Reddit is full of people complaining about this.
But it looks like after 10 Pixel iterations, Google is finally letting users get rid of this widget, making room for something better. The new option will be part of the Android 16 QPR 3 update, which will be released sometime in March 2026. But if you installed the beta, you can try it out now.
How to install Android 16 QPR 3 beta 1
Android QPR betas are updated quarterly, and any owner of a compatible Pixel device can participate. Visit the Android Beta Program website and register your device. Reboot your device, and you’ll be in the beta channel. Joining is very simple, and a factory reset is not required. However, uninstalling an installed beta isn’t so easy. After installing the latest QPR 3 beta, you’ll remain in the beta for the long term, at least until the stable release of Android 16 in March. If something goes wrong or you experience battery issues, the only way to downgrade is to completely wipe your device. So, before you begin, make sure you have a full backup .
How to Disable the At-a-Glance Widget in Android 16
The “At a Glance” feature is an interesting idea, but it’s rarely useful. It’s supposed to show relevant information like the weather, an upcoming meeting, alerts, air quality, and even offers from fitness apps and delivery updates. But instead, it displays unpredictable and rather basic information, taking up valuable screen space. Worse, it can’t be customized to improve it. I can’t wait to get rid of it once and for all.
Once you’ve installed the latest software, everything is pretty simple. Tap and hold the “At a Glance” widget and select “Settings.”
Here, disable the new “Show on Home Screen” option under the “Use at a Glance” toggle. This will immediately disable the widget from your Home screen, but you’ll still be able to access it from the Lock screen. Also disable the “Use at a Glance” toggle to remove it from everywhere.
That’s it. Your home screen is finally free. You can leave it empty if you like, or, like me, you can add a big old clock instead.
To bring back the At a Glance widget, long-press an empty space on your home screen, select Home Screen Settings , and then tap the gear icon next to At a Glance . From here, you can re-enable the widget using the Show on Home Screen toggle.