Where are the clocks on Xiaomi smartphones: search, setup and problem solving

You just updated your Xiaomi firmware and suddenly you find that your watch on your lock screen or status bar has disappeared? Or maybe you picked up your smartphone for the first time and can't find where the time is displayed at all? Don't worry, this is a typical situation for MIUI users, where the location of the watch depends on the shell version, the device model and even regional settings.

In this article, we will not only show you where the watch is in Xiaomi, but also take a look at all possible places of display, from the lock screen to the notification panel, you will learn how to return the watch if it is missing after the update, how to change its format (12/24 hours), and why some models can duplicate time in unexpected places, and also reveal secret MIUI chips, which are not written even in the official instructions.

Spoiler: The Xiaomi 14 Pro and Redmi Note 13 have a different way of hiding than the old Redmi 9A or POCO X3. If you have a device with a MIUI 14/15, get ready for surprises — the shell has become even more “customizable” but also more confusing for beginners. Let’s start with the most obvious place where everyone is looking for time first.

Watch on the lock screen: where to look and how to return

The lock screen is the first place users look to find out the time, and in MIUI, the clock can be displayed in three ways:

• 🕒 Central watches – large digital or analog dial in the center of the screen (standard for most models).
• 📱 The watch in the status bar – small numbers in the upper right corner (found on older versions) MIUI or after resetting).
• 🔄 Dynamic watches – animated or interactive widgets (available on flagships such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra).

If the clock is not locked at all, the problem lies in the settings of the theme or mode of energy saving.

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select the Block Style or Themes (the name depends on the version of MIUI).
3. Scroll down to the Watch section and turn on the Show Clock switch.
4. If you don’t have an option, try changing the theme to a standard one (Basic or MIUI).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) The clock on the lock screen may disappear due to activated Reading or Pocket Mode. Check these settings in Settings → Display. → Screen modes.

2. Clock in status bar (notification panels)

At the top of the screen (where notification icons and battery power are located), the default time is displayed, but in MIUI, this element can be accidentally removed or lost after the update.

Go to Settings → Notification Panel and Status bar. Here you are interested in two parameters:

• ⏰ Show the clock - the main switch (must be active).
• 🔄 Clock position – the choice between left or right corner (on some models).

If the Show Watch Switch is not on the menu, your MIUI version doesn’t support it (as it happens on budget models like the Redmi A2), in which case the watch in the status bar is always displayed and you can’t remove it.

💡 Secret life hack: On Xiaomi with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) The watch in the status bar can be made always visible (even when the screen is off) through the Always-on Display settings:

Settings → Display → Always-on Display → Select a style with a watch

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If the clock in the status bar is displayed in 12-hour (AM/PM) format and you need a 24-hour format, change the regional settings: Settings → Additional → Language and Region → Time format.

3. Watch on the main screen: widgets and wallpaper

Many users don’t know that Xiaomi can display time directly to your desktop with a widget or live wallpaper, which is handy if you check the time often and don’t want to unlock your phone.

To add a clock widget:

1. Press and hold your finger in the free place of the main screen.
2. Select Widgets from the bottom menu.
3. Find the Watch widget (may be called Analog Clock or Digital Clock).
4. Drag it on the screen and adjust the size.

The new MIUI 14/15 features interactive weather and time widgets, such as the Weather and Clock widget, which shows not only the time, but also the temperature, humidity and forecast for the day.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (especially custom ones like Xiaomi.EU), watch widgets may not update automatically. If the time on the widget is frozen, try restarting your phone or updating the widget manually (touch it and hold it, then click Update).

4 Why the clock disappeared after the MIUI update

One of the most common problems is that you lose a clock after you update your firmware.

• 🔄 Resetting theme settings — MIUI Sometimes resets customization to standard after the update.
• 📱 Changes to the display policy in new versions MIUI The clock may be hidden by default (for example, in the MIUI 15 for the European Region).
• ⚙️ Battery optimization conflict – the system can block time display to save energy.

To get the clock back:

Check the lock screen settings (Settings → Lock screen → Watch)

Reset the theme to standard (Settings → Themes → My Themes → Basic)

Turn off the power saving mode (Settings → Battery → Power saving mode)

Reboot your phone (sometimes it helps even without additional action)-->

If nothing helps, try clearing the cache of system applications:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three points (menu) → Show system → Find “MIUI System Interface” → Storage → Clear cache

Important: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Lite), after upgrading to MIUI, 14 hours in the status bar can be duplicated - displayed on both the left and right. This is a firmware bug that is corrected only by rolling back on the previous version or waiting for a patch.

5. How to change the format of time (12/24 hours)

Xiaomi uses a 24-hour time format by default, but if you need to switch to 12-hour time (with AM/PM) or vice versa, do the following:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Language and Region.
2. Select the time format.
3. Switch the option between 24-hour and 12-hour.

💡 Lifehack: If your region has a default 12-hour format (like the U.S.) but you need a 24-hour format, change the region to Russia or Germany in the same settings. This will automatically change the format of the time throughout the system, including the clock on the lock screen.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g. global version for the POCO M5) Changing the time format can reset the alarm clock settings!

6. Secret Chips of a MIUI Watch You Didn't Know About

MIUI hides a few non-obvious features related to time mapping.

• 🌙 Night mode for watches: On AMOLED-On screens (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro) the clock on the lock screen can be turned red to reduce eye strain at night. → Display. → Night mode. → Color temperature of the clock.
• 🔊 Voice of the time: In Settings → Special facilities → Time voiceover can be enabled to automatically voice the current time when you press the clock in the status bar (does not work on all models).
• 🎨 Clock font customization: C Settings → Topics → Fonts can be selected for a unique font to display time (e.g. Mi Sans or Roboto).

🔍 Hidden setting: On some devices (e.g. Redmi) K60) You can turn on the second hand on the analog clock of the lock screen:

Settings → Lock screen → Watch → Additional settings → Show seconds

This option is not available in all regions and may disappear after updates.

7. Hours in game mode and other special modes

If you activate Game Turbo or Movie Mode, the watch can disappear or move, and this is done to reduce distractions, but not everyone likes it.

To return the clock to game mode:

1. Open the settings → Game mode.
2. Select the display settings.
3. Activate the option to Show the clock in game mode.

In Movie Mode, the clock is completely hidden, which is a feature of MIUI, and you can not turn it off. However, you can quickly watch the time by swiping your finger on the top of the screen (the notification panel will appear).

⚠️ Attention: POCO-In game mode, the watch can be displayed as a floating window (e.g., in the corner of the screen). If this window interferes, it can be dragged to another location or turned off in the Game Turbo settings.

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On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, the game mode watch can be customized separately for each application, for example, in PUBG it will be on the right, and in Genshin Impact it will be on the left.

Frequently asked questions