Smartspacer is a customizable Android widget that can upgrade the built-in At a Glance widget on Pixel devices without requiring root access.
The tool addresses the limitation of Pixel's native At a Glance widget by providing a drop-in replacement that preserves existing functionality while adding extensibility. It works through an extensive plugin system that pulls data from other applications, allowing users to display contextual information dynamically. The system includes a requirements engine that shows different content based on location or other conditions—for example, displaying a gym pass when near the gym or a shopping list at a store. Smartspacer can replace the At a Glance widget on both lock and home screens on Pixels through Shizuku, and works as a widget on any launcher, including third-party options. It also offers a full-screen expanded view with dynamic widgets and shortcuts, available as a Google Discover replacement on compatible launchers.
Smartspacer suits developers and power users who want deeper customization of their Pixel's lock screen and home screen experience beyond what the standard At a Glance provides. It works best for those willing to install plugins to aggregate information from multiple apps into a single widget. The project includes an in-app plugin repository for easy discovery and installation, and provides SDK documentation for developers interested in creating plugins or integrating Smartspacer into custom launchers.
The project maintains active development with regular updates addressing user-reported issues and feature requests. The maintainer engages directly with the community through Discord and responds to GitHub issues with technical explanations and fixes. Documentation is comprehensive, including FAQ materials and detailed SDK guides with sample code for plugin developers.
