Where to look for widgets on Xiaomi Android smartphones: hidden menus and life hacks MIUI

Have you just bought a new Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, but can’t find where the widgets are hiding? or after upgrading to MIUI 14, the usual interface elements disappeared from the desktop? This problem is familiar to many users of Xiaomi smartphones – the manufacturer regularly changes the layout of functions in its shell, and the standard Android interface here works differently than on the “naked” Android.

In this article, we will not only show where the widgets on Xiaomi are located, but also reveal all the nuances of adding, configuring and eliminating typical bugs. You will learn why some widgets do not appear in the list, how to return deleted items and even how to create your own mini programs through third-party launchers. The material is relevant for all modern models – from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra – and covers the shell versions from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14 (including HyperOS for new devices).

Why Xiaomi widgets are hidden deeper than other Android smartphones

Unlike pure Android (like the Google Pixel), where widgets are accessible through long-pressing on the desktop, MIUI uses its own interface logic.

• 🔹 Two types of widgets: system (weather, watch) and applications (Google Keep, Spotify.
• 🔹 Dynamic panels: in MIUI 13/14 part of the widgets moved to the side curtain (Swipe on the right).
• 🔹 Regional restrictions: on some firmware (e.g. India) Google widgets are disabled by default.

Xiaomi is also actively promoting its own services, such as the Mi Fit widget for smartwatches or the Mi Home for smart home control, which can overlap with standard Android widgets in the list of available ones.

Method 1: Standard menu widgets with long press

This is the most obvious method, but it doesn't work on all versions of MIUI.

1. Click and hold the empty space on your desktop (not on the icon!).
2. In the menu that appears, select Widgets (or Widgets in English firmware).
3. Scroll down the list – all installed widgets grouped by application are displayed here.

If the Widget item is not in the context menu, your firmware uses an alternative way of access (see the next section). Also check if there is a third-party launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher) on the phone - in this case, the logic of adding widgets will be different.

Method 2: Sidebar widgets (for MIUI 13/14 and HyperOS)

Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi introduced a dynamic sidebar, where it took some of the widgets, to open it:

1. Swipe from right to left of the screen edge (as if you were opening the notification curtain, but on the opposite side).
2. At the bottom of the panel, click on the icon. ➕ (or edit).
3. Select the Widgets tab - available mini-programs will be displayed here.

Note that this panel only displays system widgets (weather, calendar, notes) and widgets from Xiaomi (Mi Fit, Mi Home). Third-party widgets (such as Google Podcasts or Yandex Music) are not here - they must be added after a long press on the desktop.

Method 3: Add widgets through launcher settings

If standard methods fail, widgets can be enabled through hidden launcher settings, which is relevant for firmware with limited functionality (e.g., the Chinese version of MIUI):

1. Open the Settings. → Home screen.
2. Select Additional Settings (or Advanced Settings).
3. Activate the Widget Show switch (if any).
4. Return to the desktop and try a long press again.

On some models (e.g. POCO F4), this item may be called Screen Settings → Widgets. If there is no option, then your firmware does not support manual widget management, and only resets the launcher settings (see the Problems section).

Update the firmware to the latest version

Clear the launcher cache (Settings → Applications → Launcher)

Check if a third-party launcher is installed

Make sure the widget is supported by your version. MIUI-->

Why widgets don’t appear in the list: 5 reasons and solutions

A common problem is that you try to add a widget, but it's not on the menu. Here are the main reasons and ways to fix them:

• 🚫 Widget disabled in application settings: Go to the settings of the desired application (for example, Google or Yandex Weather) and check the Widgets or Display section on the desktop.
• 🌍 Regional restrictions: Google widgets are hidden by default on Chinese firmware.The solution is to change the region to India or Russia in the phone settings.
• 🔄 Outdated version of the app: Update the app to Google Play. For example, the Spotify widget only appeared in version 8.6+.
• 📱 Incompatibility with MIUI: Some widgets (such as those from Samsung Health) don't work on Xiaomi. check compatibility on the developer's website.
• 🔧 Launcher restrictions: Third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher) can block system widgets.

Critical information: On MIUI firmware for China, Google widgets are completely removed from the system. To return them, you need root access or custom firmware installation (for example, xiaomi.eu).

💡

If the weather widget is not updated, check the permissions for the weather app in Settings → Apps → Permissions → Geodata. Often the problem is solved by enabling an accurate location.

How to create your own widget on Xiaomi (without root)

If you don’t have enough standard widgets, you can create your own with third-party apps. Here’s a step-by-step guide for KWGT Kustom Widget Maker (the free version is available on Google Play):

1. Install KWGT and KWGT Pro Key (to unlock all features).
2. Open the app and select Add a widget to the home screen.
3. In the list of widgets, the KWGT item will appear – select it and specify the size (for example, 4×2).
4. Click on the widget to open the editor, and you can set up the time, weather, battery, and even add interactive elements.
5. Save the changes – the widget will appear on the desktop.

For advanced users: KWGT allows you to import pre-made themes from Kustom Rocks. For example, popular widgets in the style of iOS or Material You. The main thing is to check compatibility with your version of MIUI, as some elements may not display correctly.

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Own widgets use more battery than standard widgets via KWGT. If you notice a quick discharge, limit the frequency of updating data in the widget settings (for example, update the weather once an hour instead of every 10 minutes).

Frequent mistakes and how to fix them

Even after successful addition, widgets may not work properly.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI The widgets have disappeared from the desktop, don't try to restore them through a backup. This can cause the launcher to crash. Instead, remove the widget and add it again.

• ❌ Widget not updated: Check background data for the application (Settings) → Annexes → [Name of the annex] → Battery → No restrictions).
• ❌ Widget turned transparent: It's a bug MIUI 14.Solution - change the theme to standard (Settings) → Theme → Standard).
• ❌ You cannot change the size of the widget: MIUI Not all widgets support zoom. Try another launcher (like Nova Launcher).
• ❌ Widget disappears after reboot: Clear launcher cache (Settings) → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

If the problem persists, try resetting the launcher settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Dots (⋮) → Default Resetting

⚠️ Warning: Resetting the launcher will remove all widgets from the desktop, folders and icon locations. Before the procedure, take screenshots of the current arrangement to quickly restore it.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions