A screen lock widget is one of the most underused features in Android. Instead of reaching for the power button or fumbling to find a floating button, you tap a single widget on your home screen and the phone locks instantly. It takes two minutes to set up and saves thousands of button presses per year.
This guide shows you exactly how to add a lock screen widget on Android using Turn Off Screen.
What Is a Lock Screen Widget?
A lock screen widget is a tappable element on your Android home screen that triggers an action - in this case, immediately locking the screen and turning off the display.
It is different from a lock screen wallpaper or the lock screen itself. The widget lives on your home screen, and tapping it puts the screen to sleep - just like pressing the power button.
Requirements
- An Android phone (version 5.0 or higher)
- Turn Off Screen installed (free)
- On Android 9+: Accessibility permission granted to the app
Step-by-Step: Adding the Lock Widget
Step 1 - Install Turn Off Screen
Download and install Turn Off Screen from the Play Store. It is free to download.
On first launch, the app will ask for a permission depending on your Android version:
- Android 9+: Accessibility Service permission
- Android 8 and below: Device Administrator permission
Grant the permission so the lock function works correctly.
Step 2 - Open the Widget Menu
The exact gesture varies slightly by launcher, but the process is the same:
On most launchers (Pixel, Samsung One UI, MIUI, etc.):
- Long-press an empty area on the home screen
- Tap Widgets from the menu that appears
On Samsung One UI specifically:
- Long-press the home screen
- Swipe left to find the Widgets panel
- Search for "Turn Off Screen" in the widget list
On Xiaomi MIUI:
- Long-press the home screen
- Tap Widgets
- Scroll to find Turn Off Screen
Step 3 - Find and Place the Widget
In the widget picker, scroll through the list or use the search bar to find Turn Off Screen. The app offers a lock button widget in one or more sizes.
Long-press the widget and drag it to any open spot on your home screen. Release to place it.
Step 4 - Test It
Tap the widget. Your screen should lock and turn off immediately. Pick up the phone - your fingerprint sensor or Smart Lock will unlock it as normal.
If the screen does not lock, check that the required permission (Accessibility or Device Admin) is still granted. You can verify this in the Turn Off Screen app settings.
Best Placement for the Lock Widget
The most effective placement is wherever your thumb naturally rests when holding the phone one-handed. Common choices:
- Bottom-right corner of the home screen (right-handed users)
- Bottom-left corner (left-handed users)
- On a dedicated quick-access panel - many launchers support a swipe-left or swipe-right panel for frequently used shortcuts
For maximum convenience, pair the lock widget with your most-used apps so locking becomes part of your natural end-of-session flow.
Can You Add a Lock Widget to the Lock Screen?
Some Android launchers and manufacturers support widgets on the lock screen itself (the screen you see before unlocking). Samsung in particular has supported lock screen widgets in various forms.
The practical value of a lock widget on the lock screen is limited - the screen is already locked when you see it. However, if you want to re-lock after a brief wakeup without unlocking, some setups support this.
For most users, the home screen widget is the right choice.
What About MIUI, One UI, ColorOS Battery Killing?
Xiaomi MIUI, Samsung One UI, and OPPO ColorOS are known for aggressively killing background services to save battery. This can cause Turn Off Screen's Accessibility Service to be revoked when the system decides to kill the app.
Fix for Xiaomi/MIUI:
- Settings → Apps → Manage Apps → Turn Off Screen → Autostart → Enable
- Settings → Battery & Performance → choose Turn Off Screen → set to No Restrictions
Fix for Samsung One UI:
- Settings → Battery and Device Care → Battery → Background usage limits
- Remove Turn Off Screen from the "Sleeping apps" or "Deep sleeping apps" list
- Set it to Unrestricted
Fix for OnePlus/OxygenOS:
- Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → Turn Off Screen → Don't optimize
After this one-time setup, the Accessibility Service stays active and the lock widget will work every time.
Notification Shortcut vs. Widget: Which Is Better?
Turn Off Screen offers two always-available lock methods: a notification shortcut and a home screen widget. They do the same thing. The difference is ergonomics:
| Notification Shortcut | Home Screen Widget | |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | Pull down notification shade | Tap directly on home screen |
| Steps to lock | 2 (swipe + tap) | 1 (tap widget) |
| Works from any app | Yes | No (must be on home screen) |
| Screen real estate | None (lives in notifications) | One icon size on home screen |
If you frequently lock from the home screen, the widget is faster. If you lock from anywhere in the middle of using an app, the notification shortcut is more useful. Most users set up both.
Summary
A lock screen widget on Android is a two-minute setup that replaces hundreds of power button presses per month. With Turn Off Screen, the widget works on every Android version, every launcher, and every manufacturer - and your fingerprint sensor and Smart Lock continue to work exactly as before.
No sign-up. Works on Android.