Complications: Mini Widgets Explained

Hello, everyone! Your clock face looks great, and then you want one more thing on it: the battery level, or proof that tomorrow's alarm is really set. StandBy Mode is an Android app that turns a charging phone or tablet into a smart display, and complications are how you add that one extra fact without giving up the screen. They are two small slots at the top corners of your widget, and each slot shows a single glanceable readout. The name comes from watchmaking, where the little sub-dials on a watch face are called complications too.

But it is not at all complicated. Here's a quick look at them in action:

New to the app? Start with our guide to StandBy Mode on Android, then come back here and dress up your clock face.

What can a complication show?

There are 17 complications to choose from in StandBy Mode, grouped in five families:

• Battery: three styles, full, minimal without the percentage, or muted.
• Date and greetings: the date, a time-of-day greeting, or both together.
• Progress trackers: how far along the year, the month or the week is, as a thin bar or a circle.
• Next alarm: see at a glance that tomorrow's alarm is actually set.
• Quotes and time: a rotating quote, or a second time readout with seconds.

Which widgets support complications?

Most screens in StandBy Mode support complications, including every clock face. The exceptions are Schedule, Settings, Timer Fullscreen, Notification Mini, Countdown Duo, Todo List, Command Center, Alarms and the six third-party

slots. On those screens the corner slots simply do not appear, because the widget already fills the space with its own information.

Complications are not the same thing as Android widgets. If you want a full widget from another app on your display, follow the third-party widgets tutorial instead.

How to add and edit complications

1. Access the Settings screen;
2. On the Complications section, tap the Edit Complications button;
3. Tap the "+" button to add a new complication or "x" to remove it.

It's that simple.

The left and right slots are independent, so a battery on one side and the next alarm on the other is a perfectly normal setup.

Three complication combos worth stealing

• Bedside: Inspirational quote and Battery. You’ll see your battery at a glance and get a fresh quote to greet the morning.
• Desk: Week progress and Date. A gentle deadline nudge every time you look up.

Btw, it's Carol here. I manage StandBy Mode's socials and support. If a complication is not showing up where you expect it, e-mail me at support@zetabitapps.com and tell me which widget you are on. Drop a comment too if you have a combo worth stealing. :)

Try it on your Android

Prop your charging phone sideways and StandBy Mode turns it into a smart display with 100+ clock faces, widgets from any app and a photo frame. Download StandBy Mode free on Google Play.

Questions go to me, Carol, in the app or at support@zetabitapps.com. Want a complication that does not exist yet? Ask for it on UserJot, the roadmap is voted by the community.