Retro music widget

What a retro music widget shows

A now-playing widget shows cover art, the track and artist, a progress line and three controls. It works with whichever app is playing, not one particular service.

Reading the current track needs Android's notification access and a media connection, which is a Pro feature in WidgetCraft. The controls send play, pause and skip to the app that is playing.

How the retro style shapes it

Retro widgets use the palette of 1970s posters and record sleeves: mustard, burnt orange, brown and cream, with curved stripes and chunky rounded lettering.

• Photos: Add a warm faded tint and a cream border like an old print.
• Text: Use a chunky rounded face or a script for the title and plain sans for details.
• Bars and rings: Use thick bars in orange and mustard stacked like stripes on a van.

Retro music widget recipe

Retro color palette

• Cream #F3E3C3Background
• Sand #E8CF9FSurface and tracks
• Chocolate #3E2A1FText
• Walnut #8A6E55Labels
• Burnt orange #D9622BAccent

How to make a retro music widget in WidgetCraft

1. Create a widget and open Canvas. Set the size to 360 × 180, the background to #F3E3C3 and the corner radius to 20.
2. Open Data and set up the media connection; Android will ask for notification access.
3. Add an Image layer, 140 × 140 with radius 10, and connect it to the cover art.
4. Add two Text layers connected to the track title (size 20, #3E2A1F) and the artist (size 14, #8A6E55).
5. Add a Progress layer as a thick 12-point bar with rounded ends in #D9622B, then three shapes for the controls. In Tap, assign previous, play/pause and next.
6. Add the retro ornament with Shape layers and move them below the other layers in Layers: three vertical stripes down the right edge in burnt orange, mustard and chocolate.
7. Tap Save, then Add to home screen and resize the widget on your launcher if needed.

The layout and styling are free. The live data connection for this widget needs WidgetCraft Pro, a one-time purchase.

Tips for retro music widgets

• Use cream instead of white and brown instead of black.
• Stack two or three stripes as decoration.
• Long titles must truncate on one line; never let them wrap into the controls.
• Make each control at least 48 dp wide so it is easy to hit.
• The widget only shows a track while a media app has an active session.
• Do not use cool blues or greys.
• Do not use thin modern type.

Questions about the retro music widget

What size is a retro music widget?

It is designed for 4 × 2 home screen cells on a 360 × 180 canvas. You can resize it on the launcher and the design scales in proportion.

Which colors does it use?

Cream (#F3E3C3) for the background, Chocolate (#3E2A1F) for the main text, Walnut (#8A6E55) for labels and Burnt orange (#D9622B) as the accent.

Is it free to make?

The retro design is free to build. Showing live track details needs the one-time Pro upgrade.

What else is this style called?

People also search for vintage music widget, 70s music widget, retro aesthetic music widget. They describe the same look as this retro music widget.

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Music player widgets in other styles

• Boho music widget
• Autumn music widget
• Bauhaus music widget
• All music widgets