diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/aconfig/systemui.aconfig b/packages/SystemUI/aconfig/systemui.aconfig
index f84f627..2cd2746 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/aconfig/systemui.aconfig
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/aconfig/systemui.aconfig
@@ -1039,6 +1039,16 @@
 }
 
 flag {
+  name: "glanceable_hub_animate_timer_activity_starts"
+  namespace: "systemui"
+  description: "Properly animates activity starts from live timers on the glanceable hub"
+  bug: "345741071"
+  metadata {
+    purpose: PURPOSE_BUGFIX
+  }
+}
+
+flag {
   name: "new_touchpad_gestures_tutorial"
   namespace: "systemui"
   description: "Enables new interactive tutorial for learning touchpad gestures"
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalContent.kt b/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalContent.kt
index 77665155..60b6f62 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalContent.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalContent.kt
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 import com.android.compose.animation.scene.SceneScope
 import com.android.compose.theme.LocalAndroidColorScheme
 import com.android.systemui.communal.ui.viewmodel.CommunalViewModel
+import com.android.systemui.communal.widgets.WidgetInteractionHandler
 import com.android.systemui.keyguard.ui.composable.blueprint.BlueprintAlignmentLines
 import com.android.systemui.keyguard.ui.composable.section.LockSection
 import com.android.systemui.statusbar.phone.SystemUIDialogFactory
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@
 @Inject
 constructor(
     private val viewModel: CommunalViewModel,
+    private val interactionHandler: WidgetInteractionHandler,
     private val dialogFactory: SystemUIDialogFactory,
     private val lockSection: LockSection,
 ) {
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@
             content = {
                 CommunalHub(
                     viewModel = viewModel,
+                    interactionHandler = interactionHandler,
                     dialogFactory = dialogFactory,
                     modifier = Modifier.element(Communal.Elements.Grid)
                 )
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalHub.kt b/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalHub.kt
index 1f7f07b..eccb072 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalHub.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalHub.kt
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@
 
 package com.android.systemui.communal.ui.compose
 
-import android.appwidget.AppWidgetHostView
 import android.graphics.drawable.Icon
 import android.os.Bundle
 import android.util.SizeF
 import android.view.View.IMPORTANT_FOR_ACCESSIBILITY_AUTO
 import android.view.View.IMPORTANT_FOR_ACCESSIBILITY_NO_HIDE_DESCENDANTS
 import android.widget.FrameLayout
+import android.widget.RemoteViews
 import androidx.annotation.VisibleForTesting
 import androidx.compose.animation.AnimatedVisibility
 import androidx.compose.animation.AnimatedVisibilityScope
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@
 import com.android.compose.theme.LocalAndroidColorScheme
 import com.android.compose.ui.graphics.painter.rememberDrawablePainter
 import com.android.internal.R.dimen.system_app_widget_background_radius
+import com.android.systemui.Flags.glanceableHubAnimateTimerActivityStarts
 import com.android.systemui.communal.domain.model.CommunalContentModel
 import com.android.systemui.communal.shared.model.CommunalContentSize
 import com.android.systemui.communal.shared.model.CommunalScenes
@@ -144,6 +145,7 @@
 import com.android.systemui.communal.ui.viewmodel.CommunalEditModeViewModel
 import com.android.systemui.communal.ui.viewmodel.CommunalViewModel
 import com.android.systemui.communal.ui.viewmodel.PopupType
+import com.android.systemui.communal.widgets.SmartspaceAppWidgetHostView
 import com.android.systemui.communal.widgets.WidgetConfigurator
 import com.android.systemui.res.R
 import com.android.systemui.statusbar.phone.SystemUIDialogFactory
@@ -154,6 +156,7 @@
 fun CommunalHub(
     modifier: Modifier = Modifier,
     viewModel: BaseCommunalViewModel,
+    interactionHandler: RemoteViews.InteractionHandler? = null,
     dialogFactory: SystemUIDialogFactory? = null,
     widgetConfigurator: WidgetConfigurator? = null,
     onOpenWidgetPicker: (() -> Unit)? = null,
@@ -262,6 +265,7 @@
                     contentListState = contentListState,
                     selectedKey = selectedKey,
                     widgetConfigurator = widgetConfigurator,
+                    interactionHandler = interactionHandler,
                 )
             }
         }
@@ -391,6 +395,7 @@
     setGridCoordinates: (coordinates: LayoutCoordinates) -> Unit,
     updateDragPositionForRemove: (offset: Offset) -> Boolean,
     widgetConfigurator: WidgetConfigurator?,
+    interactionHandler: RemoteViews.InteractionHandler?,
 ) {
     var gridModifier =
         Modifier.align(Alignment.TopStart).onGloballyPositioned { setGridCoordinates(it) }
@@ -468,7 +473,8 @@
                         selected = selected && !isDragging,
                         widgetConfigurator = widgetConfigurator,
                         index = index,
-                        contentListState = contentListState
+                        contentListState = contentListState,
+                        interactionHandler = interactionHandler,
                     )
                 }
             } else {
@@ -479,7 +485,8 @@
                     size = size,
                     selected = false,
                     index = index,
-                    contentListState = contentListState
+                    contentListState = contentListState,
+                    interactionHandler = interactionHandler,
                 )
             }
         }
@@ -759,6 +766,7 @@
     widgetConfigurator: WidgetConfigurator? = null,
     index: Int,
     contentListState: ContentListState,
+    interactionHandler: RemoteViews.InteractionHandler?,
 ) {
     when (model) {
         is CommunalContentModel.WidgetContent.Widget ->
@@ -778,7 +786,7 @@
         is CommunalContentModel.WidgetContent.PendingWidget ->
             PendingWidgetPlaceholder(model, modifier)
         is CommunalContentModel.CtaTileInViewMode -> CtaTileInViewModeContent(viewModel, modifier)
-        is CommunalContentModel.Smartspace -> SmartspaceContent(model, modifier)
+        is CommunalContentModel.Smartspace -> SmartspaceContent(interactionHandler, model, modifier)
         is CommunalContentModel.Tutorial -> TutorialContent(modifier)
         is CommunalContentModel.Umo -> Umo(viewModel, modifier)
     }
@@ -1091,13 +1099,19 @@
 
 @Composable
 private fun SmartspaceContent(
+    interactionHandler: RemoteViews.InteractionHandler?,
     model: CommunalContentModel.Smartspace,
     modifier: Modifier = Modifier,
 ) {
     AndroidView(
         modifier = modifier,
         factory = { context ->
-            AppWidgetHostView(context).apply { updateAppWidget(model.remoteViews) }
+            SmartspaceAppWidgetHostView(context).apply {
+                if (glanceableHubAnimateTimerActivityStarts()) {
+                    interactionHandler?.let { setInteractionHandler(it) }
+                }
+                updateAppWidget(model.remoteViews)
+            }
         },
         // For reusing composition in lazy lists.
         onReset = {},
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalScene.kt b/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalScene.kt
index 9e905ac..94018bb 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalScene.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/compose/features/src/com/android/systemui/communal/ui/compose/CommunalScene.kt
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 import com.android.compose.animation.scene.UserAction
 import com.android.compose.animation.scene.UserActionResult
 import com.android.systemui.communal.ui.viewmodel.CommunalViewModel
+import com.android.systemui.communal.widgets.WidgetInteractionHandler
 import com.android.systemui.dagger.SysUISingleton
 import com.android.systemui.scene.shared.model.Scenes
 import com.android.systemui.scene.ui.composable.ComposableScene
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@
 constructor(
     private val viewModel: CommunalViewModel,
     private val dialogFactory: SystemUIDialogFactory,
+    private val interactionHandler: WidgetInteractionHandler,
 ) : ComposableScene {
     override val key = Scenes.Communal
 
@@ -53,6 +55,6 @@
 
     @Composable
     override fun SceneScope.Content(modifier: Modifier) {
-        CommunalHub(modifier, viewModel, dialogFactory)
+        CommunalHub(modifier, viewModel, interactionHandler, dialogFactory)
     }
 }
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/multivalentTests/src/com/android/systemui/communal/widgets/WidgetInteractionHandlerTest.kt b/packages/SystemUI/multivalentTests/src/com/android/systemui/communal/widgets/WidgetInteractionHandlerTest.kt
index 420b11c..df7b291 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/multivalentTests/src/com/android/systemui/communal/widgets/WidgetInteractionHandlerTest.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/multivalentTests/src/com/android/systemui/communal/widgets/WidgetInteractionHandlerTest.kt
@@ -27,23 +27,19 @@
 import androidx.test.filters.SmallTest
 import com.android.systemui.SysuiTestCase
 import com.android.systemui.plugins.ActivityStarter
-import com.android.systemui.util.mockito.eq
-import org.junit.Before
 import org.junit.Test
 import org.junit.runner.RunWith
-import org.mockito.ArgumentMatchers.refEq
-import org.mockito.Mock
-import org.mockito.Mockito.isNull
-import org.mockito.Mockito.notNull
-import org.mockito.Mockito.verify
-import org.mockito.MockitoAnnotations
+import org.mockito.kotlin.eq
+import org.mockito.kotlin.isNull
+import org.mockito.kotlin.mock
+import org.mockito.kotlin.notNull
+import org.mockito.kotlin.refEq
+import org.mockito.kotlin.verify
 
 @SmallTest
 @RunWith(AndroidJUnit4::class)
 class WidgetInteractionHandlerTest : SysuiTestCase() {
-    @Mock private lateinit var activityStarter: ActivityStarter
-
-    private lateinit var underTest: WidgetInteractionHandler
+    private val activityStarter = mock<ActivityStarter>()
 
     private val testIntent =
         PendingIntent.getActivity(
@@ -54,10 +50,8 @@
         )
     private val testResponse = RemoteResponse.fromPendingIntent(testIntent)
 
-    @Before
-    fun setUp() {
-        MockitoAnnotations.initMocks(this)
-        underTest = WidgetInteractionHandler(activityStarter)
+    private val underTest: WidgetInteractionHandler by lazy {
+        WidgetInteractionHandler(activityStarter)
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -81,6 +75,26 @@
     }
 
     @Test
+    fun launchAnimatorIsUsedForSmartspaceView() {
+        val parent = FrameLayout(context)
+        val view = SmartspaceAppWidgetHostView(context)
+        parent.addView(view)
+        val (fillInIntent, activityOptions) = testResponse.getLaunchOptions(view)
+
+        underTest.onInteraction(view, testIntent, testResponse)
+
+        verify(activityStarter)
+            .startPendingIntentMaybeDismissingKeyguard(
+                eq(testIntent),
+                eq(false),
+                isNull(),
+                notNull(),
+                refEq(fillInIntent),
+                refEq(activityOptions.toBundle()),
+            )
+    }
+
+    @Test
     fun launchAnimatorIsNotUsedForRegularView() {
         val parent = FrameLayout(context)
         val view = View(context)
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/communal/widgets/SmartspaceAppWidgetHostView.kt b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/communal/widgets/SmartspaceAppWidgetHostView.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7f11463
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/communal/widgets/SmartspaceAppWidgetHostView.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2024 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.android.systemui.communal.widgets
+
+import android.appwidget.AppWidgetHostView
+import android.appwidget.AppWidgetProviderInfo
+import android.content.Context
+import com.android.systemui.animation.LaunchableView
+import com.android.systemui.animation.LaunchableViewDelegate
+
+/** AppWidgetHostView that displays in communal hub to show smartspace content. */
+class SmartspaceAppWidgetHostView(context: Context) : AppWidgetHostView(context), LaunchableView {
+    private val launchableViewDelegate =
+        LaunchableViewDelegate(
+            this,
+            superSetVisibility = { super.setVisibility(it) },
+        )
+
+    override fun setAppWidget(appWidgetId: Int, info: AppWidgetProviderInfo?) {
+        super.setAppWidget(appWidgetId, info)
+        setPadding(0, 0, 0, 0)
+    }
+
+    override fun getRemoteContextEnsuringCorrectCachedApkPath(): Context? {
+        // Silence errors
+        return null
+    }
+
+    override fun setShouldBlockVisibilityChanges(block: Boolean) =
+        launchableViewDelegate.setShouldBlockVisibilityChanges(block)
+
+    override fun setVisibility(visibility: Int) = launchableViewDelegate.setVisibility(visibility)
+}
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/communal/widgets/WidgetInteractionHandler.kt b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/communal/widgets/WidgetInteractionHandler.kt
index 51a3a6d..e88a8b5 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/communal/widgets/WidgetInteractionHandler.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/communal/widgets/WidgetInteractionHandler.kt
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 import android.app.ActivityOptions
 import android.app.PendingIntent
+import android.appwidget.AppWidgetHostView
 import android.content.Intent
 import android.util.Pair
 import android.view.View
@@ -26,9 +27,11 @@
 import androidx.core.util.component2
 import com.android.systemui.animation.ActivityTransitionAnimator
 import com.android.systemui.common.ui.view.getNearestParent
+import com.android.systemui.dagger.SysUISingleton
 import com.android.systemui.plugins.ActivityStarter
 import javax.inject.Inject
 
+@SysUISingleton
 class WidgetInteractionHandler
 @Inject
 constructor(
@@ -55,7 +58,7 @@
         pendingIntent: PendingIntent,
         launchOptions: Pair<Intent, ActivityOptions>,
     ): Boolean {
-        val hostView = view.getNearestParent<CommunalAppWidgetHostView>()
+        val hostView = view.getNearestParent<AppWidgetHostView>()
         val animationController = hostView?.let(ActivityTransitionAnimator.Controller::fromView)
         val (fillInIntent, activityOptions) = launchOptions