# How to reliably update widgets on Android

DevFeed: [How to reliably update widgets on Android](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/how-to-reliably-update-widgets-on-android-37168.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://arkadiuszchmura.com/posts/how-to-reliably-update-widgets-on-android/>)

Published: 2022-02-12T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Arkadiusz Chmura](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/arkadiusz-chmura.md>)

Topics: [Android](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/android.md>), [Jetpack](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/jetpack.md>), [App](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/app.md>)

Tags: [android](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android.md>), [android-jetpack](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android-jetpack.md>), [background](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/background.md>), [battery](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/battery.md>), [implementation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/implementation.md>), [setup](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/setup.md>), [widget](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/widget.md>), [workmanager](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/workmanager.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial explains why Android widgets may not update reliably using android:updatePeriodMillis alone, particularly on devices whose vendors restrict background processing. It presents Android Jetpack WorkManager as a way to schedule periodic work that updates widget instances through AppWidgetManager.

## Source excerpt

The default solution with android:updatePeriodMillis doesn't always work.