Where in the phone Xiaomi are widgets: a step-by-step guide with photos

Widgets on Xiaomi smartphones are mini-apps that display useful information directly on the home screen: weather, calendar, quick settings or even data from Google Keep and Spotify. Where do you even look for these widgets if they're not in the obvious places? Unlike pure Android, shell MIUI hides them not in the usual menu, but in a separate section - and its location depends on the firmware version.

In this article, we will analyze all ways to access widgets on Xiaomi, Redmi phones, POCO Black Shark from older versions MIUI 12 to fresh MIUI 14 (and even HyperOS) You'll learn how to add a widget to the screen, remove an unnecessary one, and where to look for hidden system widgets that aren't on the main list.If you've just switched from an iPhone or Samsung, this guide will save you hours of searching!

1. Standard method: how to open the widget menu in MIUI

The easiest method is through a long tap on the home screen, which works on 90% of Xiaomi devices regardless of the model (whether it is Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 13 Ultra).

1. Unlock your phone and go to the main screen (not in the app menu!).
2. Make a long tap on any free screen spot (not on the icon!).
3. At the bottom of the screen will appear a panel with three tabs: Wallpaper, Widgets and Settings.
4. Select the Widgets tab – all available mini-applications will be displayed here.

If there's no Widget tab, don't panic!

• 📱 You have an outdated version. MIUI (Try the method in the next section.
• 🔧 You've turned off the widgets in the settings. How to turn on -- see the settings section.
• 🛠️ The phone has a custom launcher (for example, Nova Launcher), in which case the widgets are searched through the menu of the launcher itself.

V MIUI 14 and HyperOS widget menu interface has changed a little: now there is a search bar, and the widgets themselves are grouped into categories (Weather, Media, Utilities). If you don't see the desired widget, try scrolling the list to the left or search for it.

Alternative method: through the notification panel (for the purpose of MIUI 12 and newer)

Few people know, but in MIUI 12+ You can add widgets directly from the notification bar, which is convenient if you need to quickly place a weather widget or player on the screen:

1. Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Swipe down again - now a full panel with quick settings will open.
3. Find the Edit button (pencil icon) at the bottom and click on it.
4. In the list of available elements, find the Widgets section - here you can drag the desired widget to the panel or main screen.

This method does not work on all models, for example, on the POCO F4 redmi K50 It's available, and it's on Xiaomi. 11T If you don't have a Widget button, use the basic method.

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If the widget doesn’t appear in the list, try updating the app it relates to (e.g. Google for the search widget or Spotify for the player).

3.Where to look for widgets on older versions MIUI (12th)

If you have a smartphone with MIUI 11 or older (e.g. Redmi 8 or Xiaomi Mi) A3), The interface will be different. In these versions, the widgets are hidden in the app menu:

1. Open the application menu (swipe up from the main screen).
2. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select the Widgets.
3. You'll see a list of all the widgets available, and if you press them long enough, you'll drag them to the home screen.

On some devices (for example, Xiaomi Mi 9 with the MIUI (10) the path may differ:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Main screen screen.
• 📱 Select Widgets – you can turn them on here.
• 🔧 If there is no option, update the firmware to MIUI 12+ (instruction in the section on updates).

4. How to add a widget to the main screen: step-by-step instructions

Finding a widget is only half the battle. Now you have to add it right. Here's the universal guide for all versions. MIUI:

Open the widget menu (long tap on the home screen)

Find the right widget in the list

Click its icon and drag it to the free screen space.

Release your finger - the widget is fixed

If necessary, change the size (stretch the corners)

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Some widgets (such as weather or calendar) support resizing.

1. Long press on the added widget.
2. There will be white dots in the corners - pull them to stretch the widget.
3. Press Ready or just release the screen.

If the widget does not want to be added, check:

• 🔋 Is there enough free space on the screen (some widgets take up) 2×2 or 4×2 cell).
• 📵 Is the power saving mode on – it can block the update of widgets.
• 🔄 Is the app to which the widget belongs updated (for example, the latest version of the Google app is needed for the Google Search widget).

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Weather and time widgets are updated automatically only when the Internet is active. If the data does not change, check the network connection or permissions for the Weather application.

5. Hidden widgets: where to look for system mini-applications

V MIUI There are hidden widgets that don't appear in the main list, and they're system utilities, and they include:

• 🔋 Battery widget (shows detailed charge statistics).
• 📊 Traffic Monitor (tracks mobile internet usage).
• 🔊 Sound widget (quick volume control of media, calls, alarm clocks).
• 🛡️ Security (Virus scanner and memory cleanup).

To find them:

1. Open the widget menu (as in the first method).
2. Scroll through the list to the end and click More or System.
3. If you do not have an option, try entering the widget name in the search bar (in the MIUI 14+).

On some firmware (for example, on the POCO X3 Pro MIUI 13) system widgets are hidden in Settings → Annexes → Application management → System applications. Find the right one (for example, Security for the security widget) and click the Widget.

6. How to remove or change the widget on Xiaomi

If the widget is no longer needed or takes up too much space, it can be easily removed:

1. Make a long press on the widget.
2. At the top of the screen will appear the icon Remove (basket).
3. Drag the widget into the basket and let go.

To change the widget settings (for example, changing the city in the weather widget):

• 🔧 Short tap on the widget – the associated app will open (for example, Weather or Calendar).
• ⚙️ In some widgets (for example, Google Keep) when you click, a menu with options appears.

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If after removing the widget it appears again after the restart - reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Clear the data.

Nana MIUI 14 and HyperOS, we got a widget grouping function to merge multiple widgets into one folder:

1. Long press on one widget.
2. Drag it to another widget (like when you create an app folder).
3. Let go, there will be a folder that can be renamed.

7. Widget settings: how to enable, disable or optimize

If the widgets don’t work or behave strangely, check their settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Main screen screen.
2. Find the Widgets section and make sure the switch is on.
3. Individual widgets (such as weather) may require permission to access a location.

To allow widgets to be updated automatically:

• 🔄 Enable background activity for the associated application: Settings → Annexes → Application management → [Title of the annex] → Battery → Background activity.
• 📶 Make sure you have mobile internet or Wi-Fi enabled (some widgets don’t update without a network).
• 🔋 Turn off the power saving mode for the widget application.

8.Update MIUI for accessing new widgets

If your Xiaomi doesn’t have modern widgets (like a smart assistant or health widget), the problem may be with outdated firmware. MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, download it and install it.

On some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) The updates are delayed, and in this case, you can:

• 🔄 Install the update manually through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Select the update file (download the firmware from the official Xiaomi website).
• 🛠️ Use it. MIUI bootloader (application for automatic search for updates).

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Before updating, back up your data! In rare cases, a factory reset may be required to install a new firmware.

After updating to MIUI 14 or HyperOS you will get access to new widgets, including:

• 📱 Smart home widget (management of Mi Home devices).
• 🏃 Health widget (steps, pulse, sleep).
• 🎵 Media player with gesture support.

Frequent Widget Problems on Xiaomi and Their Solutions

Even after you set it up properly, widgets can malfunction.-5 problems and solutions:

1. Check the permissions for the application (for example, for a weather widget you need access to the location and the Internet).
2. The widget disappears after the reboot It's a bug of some versions MIUI. Solution: Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) or upgrade your firmware.
3. Not all widgets support zooming. Try a different widget or update the app it relates to.
4. Widgets don't appear in the list Make sure the app providing the widget is installed and updated. For example, a Google Search widget needs a Google app.
5. Widget slows or lags Clear cache and application data: Settings → Annexes → [Name of name] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

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If the Spotify widget doesn’t work, make sure that the App settings include the option to Show the Player widget.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions about Xiaomi widgets