Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Wear OS Widgets agent skill (wear-widgets)
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The wear-widgets skill is an instruction package for an AI coding agent, such as Claude, that teaches it how to create, migrate, update and verify Wear OS watch widgets in an Android project. It is for Android developers who are building Wear OS widgets with Google's Glance Wear and Remote Compose libraries, or moving older ProtoLayout TileService tiles to the widget API. After this guide you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to phrase a request so the agent uses it, and what it needs from your project.
Wear OS Widgetsandroid/skills · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download and unzip the skill. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it so the wear-widgets folder contains SKILL.md and the references folder.
- 2Place it where the agent can find it. Move the folder into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, into the project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project, or upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills in the Claude apps.
- 3Check your project. Confirm you have an Android project with Gradle, compileSdk 37 or higher, and network access to Google Maven.
- 4Ask for a specific widget task. Describe the widget you want and name the Wear OS pieces involved, such as GlanceWearWidget or a TileService you want migrated.
- 5Review the changes. Check the manifest entries, provider XML and Gradle edits the agent makes, then run the preview functions and build the project.
What the wear-widgets skill makes the agent do
When the skill is installed, the agent knows how to build Wear OS widgets in an Android project using androidx.glance.wear (GlanceWearWidget and GlanceWearWidgetService) together with androidx.compose.remote (Remote Compose). The skill is built around the widget service, the provider XML and the widget UI, so the agent works through those pieces rather than guessing at the API.
In practice the agent can register the widget service and provider XML in AndroidManifest.xml, write the widget UI and its local state, add click actions, and create picker preview images. It can also help migrate legacy ProtoLayout TileService tiles to widgets.
- Register the GlanceWearWidgetService and its provider XML in the manifest
- Write the widget UI with Remote Compose layouts that adapt to SMALL and LARGE containers
- Keep local state with rememberMutableRemoteInt and handle taps with pendingIntentAction
- Create rectangular widget picker PNG previews and composable previews
- Migrate older TileService tiles to Wear OS widgets
What the skill does not cover
The skill is scoped to Wear OS widgets only. It says not to use it for mobile home screen widgets that use AppWidgetProvider or GlanceAppWidget, for watch face complications, or for full-screen Wear OS activities.
How to install the wear-widgets skill
Download the ZIP from the skill page on this directory and unzip it. The skill is a folder that contains SKILL.md, a references folder and the other files listed on the page. Then put the folder in one of these places:
- Personal use across projects: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
- A single project: unzip into the project's .claude/skills/ folder
- Claude apps: upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills
How to trigger the skill with a natural request
You do not need a special command. The agent loads the skill when your request matches its description, which covers Wear OS widget work in an Android project. Name the Wear OS pieces you care about so the match is clear. The skill's description lists terms such as GlanceWearWidget, GlanceWearWidgetService, Remote Compose UI primitives, rememberMutableRemoteInt, pendingIntentAction, SMALL and LARGE provider containers, and migrating TileService tiles.
- 'Create a Wear OS widget with GlanceWearWidget that shows today's step count.'
- 'Migrate our TileService tile in the wear module to a Wear OS widget.'
- 'Add a counter widget with rememberMutableRemoteInt and a tap action.'
- 'Generate rectangular picker PNG previews for our SMALL and LARGE widget containers.'
What the skill needs from your project
The project must be an Android project that uses Gradle, with compileSdk 37 or higher and the Google Maven libraries androidx.glance.wear, androidx.compose.remote and androidx.wear.compose.remote. The skill sets compose = true in buildFeatures and keeps your existing Android and Kotlin Gradle plugin declarations intact.
Before the agent resolves library versions, it looks for a dependency lookup tool. If none is available, it fetches the latest version from Google Maven metadata, so network access to Google Maven is needed. The skill says not to run ./gradlew dependencies to resolve versions. Before changing repo-wide Gradle files it asks permission, unless you have requested widget creation, tile migration or dependency setup.
- Android project with Gradle and compileSdk 37 or higher
- Google Maven access to look up library versions when no lookup tool is available
- Permission from you before repo-wide Gradle changes, unless your request is about widgets, tile migration or dependencies
Safety notes: scripts and network access
This skill runs scripts and uses the network. The skill's Prerequisites section tells the agent to fetch version metadata from Google Maven, and its codebase exploration step may run ./gradlew :app:assembleDebug to check build health when migrating an existing tile or working in an unfamiliar multi-module project. Review what the agent proposes to run, and check its Gradle edits before you accept them.
- The skill can run Gradle build commands in your project
- The skill can fetch metadata from dl.google.com when no lookup tool exists
- Check the licence: the directory lists Apache-2.0, and the full terms are in LICENSE.txt
What people use it for
- Building a new Wear OS widget with a Remote Compose layout that adapts to SMALL and LARGE containers
- Migrating a legacy ProtoLayout TileService tile to a Wear OS widget
- Adding local counter or toggle state with tap actions that refresh the widget
- Creating rectangular picker preview PNGs for each provider container
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the wear-widgets skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What are the requirements for the wear-widgets skill?
You need an Android project that uses Gradle, with compileSdk 37 or higher and the Google Maven libraries androidx.glance.wear, androidx.compose.remote and androidx.wear.compose.remote. Network access to Google Maven is needed to look up library versions when no lookup tool is available.
Is the wear-widgets skill free to use?
The directory lists the skill under the Apache-2.0 licence. The full terms are in the LICENSE.txt file, so read that file for the exact conditions of use.
Can I use this skill for mobile home screen widgets?
No. The skill says not to use it for mobile home screen widgets that use AppWidgetProvider or GlanceAppWidget. It is only for Wear OS widgets.
Can it convert watch face complications or full-screen Wear OS apps?
No. The skill is not meant for watch face complications or full-screen Wear OS activities. Use it for Wear OS widgets and for migrating TileService tiles to widgets.
Why does the agent ask permission before editing Gradle files?
The skill asks before changing repo-wide Gradle files unless you have requested widget creation, tile migration or dependency setup. This keeps unrelated build settings from changing without your approval.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you are an Android developer building Wear OS widgets with Glance Wear and Remote Compose, or moving TileService tiles to the widget API, and you are happy for an agent to edit manifests and Gradle files under your review. Pick a different resource if you are building mobile home screen widgets, watch face complications or full-screen Wear OS activities, since the skill is explicitly out of scope for those.
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