How to Add and Use the Claude Widget on Android

Adding the Claude widget — a small shortcut panel that lives on your Android home screen so you can use core features without opening the app first — lets you start a chat, snap a photo, or dictate to Claude with a single tap. If you have the prerequisites ready, the whole setup takes about five minutes.

What you'll be able to do

You'll add the Claude widget to your Android home screen so you can start a new chat, take a photo, or dictate to Claude without opening the app first. Adding the widget itself takes 1-2 minutes; reading and following the whole guide takes about five minutes.

Before you start

• Android 8.0 (Oreo) or later — the widget isn't supported on earlier versions. You can check your Android version under your device's "About phone" settings.
• The Claude app must already be installed for it to show up in your widget list.
• A home screen you're able to edit freely (no launcher restrictions in place).

Quick term glossary

• Widget — a small feature panel you place on your home screen to use core functions without opening the full app.
• Dictation — a voice feature that converts what you say into text in real time.
• Spark icon — the star-shaped icon on the widget's main chat button, marking it as the button that starts a new conversation.

Step-by-step: adding the widget

1. Touch and hold an empty area on your home screen.
2. Tap "Widgets" in the menu that appears.
3. Find and tap "Claude" in the widget list.
4. Drag the widget to your desired location.
5. Release to place it.
6. Optional: drag the edges of the widget to resize it.

You'll know it worked when your home screen shows a small panel with three buttons side by side — chat (spark icon), camera, and microphone.

What the three buttons do

Each button behaves differently:

• Chat button (spark icon) — tap it to instantly start a new conversation.
• Camera button — tap it to start a new chat and immediately open your camera. Capture an image and share it with Claude for analysis.
• Microphone button — tap it to start a new chat and begin voice dictation right away. The first time you use this feature, you'll see a brief explanation of how automatic recording works.

Common snags & fixes

• Tapping the microphone button doesn't start recording — you likely haven't granted voice permissions yet. According to the official article, you may need to grant these permissions the first time you use dictation. Allow the permission when your device prompts you.
• "Claude" doesn't appear in your widget list — check that the Claude app is installed first; it needs to be installed to show up as a widget option.
• The widget menu looks different on your device — the exact location or label of the "Widgets" menu can vary by manufacturer and launcher. Follow whatever label actually appears on your screen.

Note: Every chat, photo analysis, or voice dictation you start through the widget counts toward your usage limit, exactly like using the full app. The widget's convenience doesn't exempt it from that limit.

Going further

If you want to get more out of voice dictation started from the widget, it's worth exploring dictation across the full Claude Mobile app, and if you also use an iPhone, the equivalent app intents, shortcuts, and widgets on iOS. You might also look into voice mode for talking to Claude without a widget, and using Claude alongside other Android apps.

Related articles

• How to Use Claude Projects: Knowledge & Instructions to Cut Repetition
• Claude Artifacts: How to Create, Edit, Publish & Share (2026)
• How to Use Claude in Chrome Safely — Official Guide
• Claude Chat vs. Cowork — Which One for This Task? A Simple Decision Guide
• Claude Projects, Artifacts & Memory: What They Are and How to Use Them