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How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5

Aug 14, 2014 06:16 PM
Multiple smartphone lock screens displaying different times.

The Android lock screen interface is an integral part of our everyday use. For those of us who use lock screen security, it functions as a barrier between the sensitive data contained within our smartphones and potential outside access. Even if you don't use a pattern or PIN to secure your phone, you still interact with the lock screen every time you go to use it.

Developer Hamzah Malik has created an Xposed Module that will give this central aspect of Android some long-overdue love. It's called Lockscreen Tweakbox, and it allows you to add functionality and make some visual tweaks to the Android lock screen interface.

Requirements

Install Lockscreen Tweakbox

To get the module installed, head to the Download section of your Xposed Installer app and search Lockscreen Tweakbox. From here, tap the top result, then swipe over to the Versions tab and hit the Download button next to the most recent entry.

How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5

Android's installer interface should come up momentarily, so hit Install on the next screen.

Alternative text for installation prompt of an application.
App installation confirmation for Lockscreen Tweakbox on Android.
Alternative text for installation prompt of an application.
App installation confirmation for Lockscreen Tweakbox on Android.

When that's finished, you'll get a notification from Xposed telling you that the module isn't activated yet and a reboot is needed. Just tap the Activate and reboot button on this notification to take care of both things at once.

How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5

Modify Your Lock Screen

When your phone has finished booting back up, open the Lockscreen Tweakbox app from your app drawer.

Add Unlimited Unlocking Attempts

If you use lock screen security and you don't like being locked out for 30 seconds after you've missed on 5 attempts, tick the box next to Unlimited Attempts.

Settings menu for mobile device lockscreen options.
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
Settings menu for mobile device lockscreen options.
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5

Hide the Alarm Icon or Emergency Call Button

Use the Hide Alarm option if you don't want to see Android's Upcoming Alarm icon on your lock screen.

For users with lock screen security enabled, Hide Emergency will remove the Emergency Call button from your lock screen, but as stated in the app, use this option with caution—there's a reason it's there and painless to use, but then again, if you hand your phone to a child, they can easily make unintended 911 calls, which is never a good thing.

How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5

Make Your Wallpaper Different from the Home Screen

You can change the background of your lock screen with either of the two options under the Background category. Tap Colour, and you'll be shown a menu that allows you to select a solid color as your lock screen background.

Settings menu for a lock screen customization app on a mobile device.
Color selection menu with options including Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, and Black.
Settings menu for a lock screen customization app on a mobile device.
Color selection menu with options including Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, and Black.

The Image option lets you choose any photo stored on your device to use as a lock screen background image. When you tap the entry, you'll be taken into your device's file chooser interface, where you can simply tap the picture you want to use.

Screenshot of a mobile app settings menu for customizing a lock screen with options for emergency info, background color, image, and alert notifications.
Coastal landscape with rocky shore and bridge views.
Screenshot of a mobile app settings menu for customizing a lock screen with options for emergency info, background color, image, and alert notifications.
Coastal landscape with rocky shore and bridge views.

Access the Notification Tray & Show Clock in Status Bar

Under the Statusbar category, Allow notifications lets users with lock screen security have access to their notification tray. Show Clock will show the time in the status bar area for both secured and unsecured lock screens.

Lockscreen toolbox settings interface on a mobile device.
Settings menu for a lockscreen toolbox application on a mobile device.
Lockscreen toolbox settings interface on a mobile device.
Settings menu for a lockscreen toolbox application on a mobile device.

Save Your Work

When you're satisfied with all of the changes you've made, tap the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner and select Reboot. At this point, Lockscreen Tweakbox will ask for Superuser access, so hit Grant on the next popup.

Settings menu for a lockscreen customization app displaying background and image options.
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5
Settings menu for a lockscreen customization app displaying background and image options.
How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5

When you get back up, all of your lock screen tweaks will be in effect.

How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5

No Tweaks Applied

Phone lock screen display with pattern unlock.

Clock Added to Status Bar, "Emergency Call" Removed

How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5

Notification Tray on Secure Lock Scren

How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5

No Tweaks Applied

Phone lock screen display with pattern unlock.

Clock Added to Status Bar, "Emergency Call" Removed

How to Add Functionality & Declutter the Android Lock Screen on Your Nexus 5

Notification Tray on Secure Lock Scren

Which tweaks did you apply to your lock screen? Let us know in the comments section below.

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

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