Where are widgets on Xiaomi smartphones: hidden menus and life hacks MIUI

Xiaomi widgets are mini-programs that display useful information directly on the home screen: weather, calendar, notes, smart home management or even health data. However, many users face the problem of where to find these widgets, especially after the update. MIUI In this article, we'll look at all the possible places where the Redmi widgets hide, POCO Xiaomi devices, including hidden system tools.

It is important to understand that the location of widgets depends on the shell version (MIUI 12, MIUI 13, MIUI 14 or HyperOS) and smartphone models. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro, the widget menu may look different than on the Redmi Note 10. We will look at universal methods, as well as nuances for different versions of firmware. If you don’t find the usual widget, it may have been moved to another menu or require additional activation.

1. Standard menu of widgets on the home screen

The most obvious way to add a widget is by long-pressing the free space of the home screen, which works on all versions. MIUI, But the menu may look different. Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Touch and hold your finger on an empty section of the home screen (not on the icon!).
2. In the menu that appears, select "Widgets" (on some firmwares it may be called "Add widget" or "Tools").
3. Scroll through the list of available widgets left/right, showing both system (weather, clock, calendar) and installed app widgets (e.g. Google Keep or Spotify).
4. Click on the desired widget and drag it to the free screen space.

If the widget menu does not open, check:

• 🔄 Version MIUI: on MIUI 14+ HyperOS interface may be different – widgets are sometimes hidden in the "Additional" section".
• 📱 Launcher: If you use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher), widgets are added via its menu.
• 🔒 Restrictions: Some widgets (such as Smart Home) require pre-configuration in the Mi Home app.

New versions of HyperOS (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) The widget menu can be integrated into the Control Panel. To get there, swipe down from top to bottom across the screen and find the "Widgets" tab next to the quick settings.

2. Hidden system widgets: where to look?

Not all Xiaomi widgets are available in the standard menu, some of them are hidden in the system settings or require activation through special commands.

Special attention should be paid to widgets for developers that do not appear in the standard list.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on "Version" MIUI".
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and enable the option "Show hidden widgets" (if any).
3. Reboot the smartphone.

3. Widgets in the control panel and side curtain

Starting with MIUI 12.5, some of the widgets are moved to the control panel (called by swipe from top to bottom:

• 📊 Fast settings: brightness, mobile data, Wi-Fi.
• 🎵 Media Player: Controlling Music Playback.
• 🏠 Smart home: quick access to Mi Home devices.
• 📅 Calendar and Events: Reminders from Google Calendar or Mi Calendar.

To add a widget to the control panel:

1. Open the control panel (swipe from top to bottom).
2. Click on the icon "⚙️" (Settings) in upper right corner.
3. Select "Change the panel" or "Add widgets".
4. Drag the necessary elements into the active area.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) The default control panel hides the widgets. To see them, you need to turn on the "Show Media Player" or "Display Events" option in the panel settings".

Also, widgets can be hidden in a side curtain (called by a swipe from right to left of the edge of the screen).

• 📱 Quick contacts (selected numbers).
• 📝 Quick notes (if you have Google Keep or Mi Notes installed).
• 🔍 Search by phone (Mi Search widget).

Widgets in applications: how to "pull" them on the main screen

Many apps (e.g. Spotify, Google Podcasts, Yandex.Weather) have their own widgets, but they don’t always appear in Xiaomi’s standard menu.

Make sure the app is installed and updated

Open the widget menu on the main screen

Scroll through the list to the "Other widgets" or "Applications" section.

If the widget does not appear, restart the application-->

Some widgets require pre-configuration in the app itself, such as:

• 🎧 For the Spotify widget, you need to launch the application at least once and log into your account.
• 📊 Google Fit widget will only appear after health data sync.
• 💰 Widget SberBank Online or Tinkoff requires permission to display balance in security settings.

If the app widget isn't showing up, try:

1. Remove and reinstall the application.
2. Clear the app cache in Settings → Applications → Application management.
3. Check the permissions of the application (especially "Map on top of other windows").

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 13+ Some widgets (for example, from VK or Telegram) can be blocked by the system as "potentially dangerous." To unlock them, go to Settings → Confidentiality → Special permits → Display over other windows and enable access for the desired application.

5. Widgets on the lock screen: how to add and configure

Xiaomi can place widgets not only on the home screen, but also on the lock screen, which is convenient for quick access to the weather, calendar or player.

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select "Widgets on the lock screen" (some firmwares call this item "Additional information").
3. Turn on the switch next to the desired widget (for example, "Weather" or "Calendar").
4. Customize the information displayed (such as choosing a city for the weather or a calendar for events).

Available widgets for the lock screen:

• 🌤️ Weather (current temperature, forecast).
• 📅 Calendar (proximate events).
• 🎵 Music player (current track).
• 🏃 Shagomer (data from Mi Band).

Nana MIUI 14+ And HyperOS has the ability to customize the weather widget on the lock screen:

• Display style (minimalistic, detailed, with animation).
• Data source (Mi Weather, Google Weather, AccuWeather)
• Additional information (humidity, pressure, wind).

💡

If the weather widget on the lock screen is not updated, try manually synchronizing data in the Weather app or resetting it to Settings. → Annexes → Weather. → Warehouse → Clear the data.

6.Widget problems: why they disappear or don't work

Xiaomi users often find that the widgets Suddenly disappear or stop updating. Here are the main reasons and ways to eliminate them:

If the widget stopped working after updating the firmware, try:

1. Remove the widget from the main screen and add it again.
2. Update the app to which the widget belongs (e.g. Mi Weather or Google).
3. Reset the launcher settings: press your finger on the main screen → "Home screen settings" → "Reset the settings".

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) When you reset the widgets, they can disappear completely, and then you can only add each widget again manually, and check if you have Light Mode on in the settings, which turns off all the widgets.

7.Hidden chips: undocumented widgets and secret menus

Xiaomi hides some widgets that aren't meant for regular users, but can be useful. Here's how to find them:

Equipment test widget:

• Open the Phone app.
• Enter the code ##4636##.
• In the menu that appears, select "Equipment Testing".
• Close the menu and now the system diagnostics will appear in the list of widgets.

Developer Mode widget:

• Activate the developer mode (7 taps according to "Version" MIUI" phone-setting).
• Return to the widget menu and a new section will appear on the developer tools.

Widget "Hidden settings" (available on the MIUI 13+):

• Add the Search widget to the home screen (if not, install the Google Widget from the Play Market).
• Enter "hidden settings" in the search.
• The results will contain a link to a hidden menu where you can add widgets for the Lab. MIUI".

💡

Some widgets (e.g. Network Monitor or Battery Analysis) only appear after installing special widgets. APK-You can find them on forums. XDA Developers or 4PDA, Beware: Installation of unofficial modules may disrupt the system.

8. widgets on new models: Xiaomi 14, Redmi K70 hyperos

With the release of HyperOS (replacement) MIUI And on new devices, the widgets have changed:

Changes to HyperOS:

• 📱 There is a “Dynamic Island” (similar to Dynamic Island from Apple), which can be configured as a widget for notifications.

How to add a widget to HyperOS:

1. At the top of the screen will appear a panel with categories: "Recommended", "System", "Applications".

Xiaomi 14 Pro and Redmi K70 Pro has come up with interactive widgets that respond to gestures:

• 👆 Swipe up the Weather widget to see the forecast for the week.
• 👉 Swipe right through the Music widget to switch the track.
• 🤏 Clutch the Calendar widget with two fingers to see a monthly review.

If the widgets are unstable on HyperOS, try:

1. Update the firmware to the latest version.
2. Reset Launcher Settings: Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear Data.
3. Disable the option "Change animation" in the developer settings (if it is enabled).

Frequently asked questions