Can't add widgets to lock screen. PIN problem?

Hi all,

In the middle of setting up the Nexus 4 I received a couple of hours ago. I like it a lot so far, but that godawful clock on the lock screen has got to go. So ugly.
Except... every time I swipe the clock, it just highlights, asks me to enter my PIN, and then I go to the clock settings. Is this something anyone else has seen? Is it to do with the PIN (mandated by my work's email, unfortunately)? I have a Nexus 7 and I've not seen this problem on it. I can swipe back and forth on the lockscreen widgets and add them without issue. On my N4, it won't let me. Extremely frustrating.
Anyone have any suggestions?

Not sure if you can remove it (don't have a nexus 4 to try it) but I know there are some videos out there that use android applications widgets for their lock screen.
It probably isn't your pin, you have to enter your pin because when you swiped the clock it registers as you want to enter the clock settings but you have to put ur pin to get into it.

Long press the clock widget, the option to remove it will pop up.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums

It does not. If I long press the clock highlights even if I press and hold for 20 seconds, and then when I enter the PIN it takes me to the associated clock app.

try this: Tap and hold on the clock widget and slide down so the "box" opens. Then long press and drag to remove.

So sort of progress, I guess. I can do that and remove the widget. However, I'm not able to swipe to add another widget from there, and after removing the clock widget, the next time I lock the device, it returns.

Huh. So that's interesting. I removed my corporate email, turned off the PIN, and changed the widget. I then added my corporate email back in, which reinstated the PIN. Lost my lockscreen widgets. Back to the original clock. This wouldn't bug me quite so much if Google hadn't added the ugliest clock on the planet to the lock screen. But it looks like there's no way around it.

I started a similar thread the other day but nobody had any answers. I don't even know if I would use lock screen widgets but I wouldn't mind the chance to find out.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

From the lock screen I believe you can just swipe to the right and it will bring up a screen with a plus sign on it, then you can add widgets from there. At least thats how it works on my Galaxy Nexus running 4.2.1. If you don't like the clock widget you can replace it with "Fixed Clock" from the Play Store.

coughwidgetlockercough

FYI, you can download the Fixed 4.2 Clock Widget to at least change the font of the lockscreen clock so it's not half bold and half regular.

I'll take a look at widget locker, thanks.

eddiesmiles, I'm aware of Fixed 4.2 Clock Widget. In fact, I had already downloaded it when I discovered I'm unable to change lockscreen widgets. That's kind of the point of the post, you know? That I can't use an alternate clock?

How's this alternate for ya?

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Widget locker is awesome. Combined with beautiful widgets.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wcrandall [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

From the lock screen I believe you can just swipe to the right and it will bring up a screen with a plus sign on it, then you can add widgets from there. At least thats how it works on my Galaxy Nexus running 4.2.1. If you don't like the clock widget you can replace it with "Fixed Clock" from the Play Store.

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This does not work, I get the concept as I have it on my N7 that is not connected to the same exchange account

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Basscase, is that compatible with a PIN unlock, though? Because that's the issue I'm running in to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mmaestro [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Basscase, is that compatible with a PIN unlock, though? Because that's the issue I'm running in to.

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I have to use a pin too. Yes it's compatible, but it does make it a two step process. I have my phone set to lock after 5 min of the screen shut off. So at least I have 5 minutes before I have to put the pin back in.

Is well worth it in my opinion.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

A similar thing happened on my Nexus S with Google Now. It wouldn't work and wouldn't work and I couldn't find anything on it...and then I realized if I removed my Google Apps for Business account it worked fine.

...so the issue is whoever controls your business email system needs to actually *enable* the lockscreen widgets in Google Apps for Domains administrator mobile options. Way down at the bottom, in a section with the option to enable Google Now.

I was in the same boat as you re: lockscreen widgets on my Nexus 4 until I dug down into my Gapps settings and found the above. Enabled it and everything works wonderfully.

Good luck! It's possible I misunderstood and your work doesn't use Google Apps. I hope they do, though, and I hope they're willing to check that box.

This is not a bug and it has nothing to do with using a pin. As a Google apps administrator, I can confirm that this is being cause because of a google apps device policy. Unless you can remove the account that requires Google Apps Device Policy to be installed, you will not be able to add widgets to your lock-screen. [IMG]Screen Shot 2012-12-15 at 10.30.17 PM.png[/IMG]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zack Juhasz [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

This is not a bug and it has nothing to do with using a pin. As a Google apps administrator, I can confirm that this is being cause because of a google apps device policy. Unless you can remove the account that requires Google Apps Device Policy to be installed, you will not be able to add widgets to your lock-screen. [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

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Well this thread has been dead for 9 days.

companies allow users to use their own devices for work (BYOD) instead of providing users with phones... in doing so, you'll notice that when you set up your corp email, like exchange, you will notice that before it will do so you must agree to controls that exchange will have like being able to remotely lock and wipe your phone if you lose it... also it can force a passcode lock for security. sounds like your company is also using MDM software that will manage and lock down your phone tighter than a... well... tight. depending on the software they can probably lock it down where you can't even change the wallpaper. disabling lockscreen widgets would probably be a no brainer since there can be lockscreen widgets that will work and override the need for passcode which is a no-no for security. glowfly is such an app.

Talk to your admin.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mmaestro [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Huh. So that's interesting. I removed my corporate email, turned off the PIN, and changed the widget. I then added my corporate email back in, which reinstated the PIN. Lost my lockscreen widgets. Back to the original clock. This wouldn't bug me quite so much if Google hadn't added the ugliest clock on the planet to the lock screen. But it looks like there's no way around it.

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so what happens if my IT department doesn't use GApps?

Your IT department likely has a policy set in ActiceSync to require use of a passcode for accessing your mailbox. Android respects this and forces the passcode requirement as soon as you add the account. You can't turn it off if you still want to read your work email. Companies have to protect their data - requiring a passcode is one layer of many.

Yeah, it's just so annoying sometimes.

You have to have another widget to replace the clock.. You cant just have a lockscreen with nothing on there

I have the same problem!
Could you please elaborate more on how to *enable* the lockscreen widgets in Google Apps for Domains administrator mobile options.
I cannot not find in my Nexus 4 setting. Very appreciated.