Where to look for widgets on Xiaomi Redmi: all the ways and hidden features

Widgets on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are not just a desktop decoration, but a powerful tool for quick access to information. However, many users face the problem: where to look for them? Depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13 or 14) and the phone model (Redmi Note 12, Redmi 10C, POCO X5, etc.), the location and functionality of widgets can be radically different. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to find and configure widgets, including hidden chips that are not written about even in the official instructions.

The peculiarity of MIUI firmware is that it is constantly evolving: what worked on Redmi 9 in 2020 may not work on Redmi Note 13 Pro+ in 2026. We took into account all the nuances and collected current methods for the latest versions of the software.

1. Standard method: long pressing on the desktop

The most obvious, but not always working, method is to call the widget menu through a long press on the free space of the screen. On most Xiaomi Redmi models, the algorithm is as follows:

1. Unlock your phone and go to the main screen (not in the app menu!).
2. Press and hold your finger on an empty spot (not on the icon!) for 1-2 seconds.
3. In the menu that appears, select the Widgets item (on some firmwares it may be called Add a widget or Screen Settings).

If after a long press you have only the opportunity to change the wallpaper or move the icons, then:

• 📱 Your version. MIUI It is outdated (relevant to Redmi). 8/9 s MIUI 11 lower).
• ⚙️ The widget function is disabled in the settings (see Section 3).
• 🔄 You are using a third-party launcher (such as Nova Launcher or Hyperion).

On new models (Redmi Note 12 Pro, POCO F5), after a long press, a panel at the bottom of the screen with tabs Wallpaper, Widgets and Settings may appear. If there are no tabs on Widgets, move to the next section.

2. Alternative path: via the application menu

If a long press doesn’t work, try another way:

1. Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. In the upper right corner, find the icon. ⋮ (three points; or ⚙️ (junction, and press it.
3. In the drop-down menu, select Widgets or Add a widget.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 Global), this path may look different:

Application menu → Search (magnifying glass) → Enter “Widgets” → Select “Add widget”

If this method didn't work, check if the widgets in the system settings are disabled, and this is discussed in the next section.

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On the Redmi Note 11 and later, widgets can be added even from a locked screen! To do this, swipe right on the lock screen and click Configure at the bottom of the screen.

3. Enabling widgets in MIUI settings

Sometimes widgets are not lost because of an error, but because they are disabled in the settings, which can happen after resetting the settings, updating the firmware or installing a third-party launcher.

1. Go to Settings. → Desktop.
2. Find the Widgets and folders section (on some models it may be called Screen Settings or Additional).
3. Make sure the Show Widgets switch is in the on position.
4. If you have a widget style option, choose MIUI (not Android or Standard).

On the Redmi with MIUI 14, the path may be different:

Settings → Screen → Home Screen → Widgets → Enable

After turning on, try adding the widget again through a long press on your desktop.If nothing has changed, there may be a problem in the launcher (Android shell).

Widgets in MIUI 14: new chips and hidden features

In MIUI 14 (relevant to Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Redmi K60 and later), widgets have received significant updates. They are now not only more informative, but also more customizable. Here's what has changed:

• 📊 Dynamic widgets: automatically change size and content depending on the time of day (for example, the weather widget shows the daytime). UV-index, and at night, the phase of the moon).
• 🔄 Interactive elements: in the music widget you can rewind the track directly from the desktop, and in the notes widget - add a new record.
• 🎨 Themes for widgets: now their appearance is tied to the theme of design MIUI (light/dark/colored).
• 🔒 Secure widgets: Some widgets (such as Quick Payments or Private Notes) require fingerprint unlocking.

To access the new widget:

1. Update your firmware to MIUI 14 (or newer).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. After the update, reset the launcher settings (see spoiler in Section 3).

The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G and POCO F5 Pro have an exclusive Game Boost widget that shows the FPS and CPU temperature in real time right on the desktop.

Settings → Special features → Game turbo mode → Monitoring widget → Enable

5. Widget problems: why don't they work?

If widgets are not added, lost or updated, the reasons may be as follows:

One of the most common problems is that widgets don't update data (for example, the weather shows yesterday's temperature and the calendar shows old events) and this is due to optimizing the battery in MIUI.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the app that the widget belongs to (like Weather or Calendar).
3. Choose AutoRun and Without Limitations.
4. In the Battery section, install No Limits.

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If the widget stopped working after the MIUI update, try removing it from your desktop and adding it again, often solving the problem without resetting the settings.

6 Hidden widgets: how to find something that is not on the menu?

MIUI has widgets that don't appear on the standard list, but can be activated through secret combinations or third-party apps.

• 🔋 Battery widget with detailed statistics: shows voltage, temperature and wear of the battery. To add it: Install the AccuBattery app from Google Play. Launch it and grant all permissions. Return to desktop, long press. → Widgets → Find AccuBattery.

Network monitoring widget

NetSpeed Indicator

Quick access widget to hidden folders

Gallery → Albums → Hidden

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On Redmi with Snapdragon processor (e.g. Redmi K50, POCO F4 GT) there is a hidden performance widget that shows CPU/GPU load and temperature. To turn it on:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 5 times in a row) → Return to Settings → Additional → System Widgets → Performance

Attention! Some hidden widgets may interfere with the system, for example, a network monitoring widget can cause increased battery consumption (up to 10-15% per hour), if after adding such a widget the phone starts to warm or quickly discharge, remove it.

Make sure you have the latest version of MIUI.

Make a backup copy of the data

Check the space available on your phone (needs at least 1 GB)

Turn off battery optimization for launcher-->

7. Widgets from third-party applications: how to add?

Many apps (e.g. Google Weather, Spotify, Yandex Maps) offer their own widgets, but in MIUI they don't always appear in the standard menu.

1. Install the desired application from Google Play or GetApps.
2. Open the app and wait until it fully loads (sometimes you need to restart).
3. Return to the desktop, make a long press → Widgets.
4. Scroll down the list – Third-party app widgets are usually at the end.

If the widget doesn’t appear even after installing the app, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 🗑️ Clear the launcher cache (Settings) → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 📥 Update the application to the latest version.
• 🔧 Enable permission to display over other windows (Settings) → Special facilities → Widgets).

For example, to add a Google Keep widget to the Redmi Note 11 Pro:

1. Install Google Keep from Google Play.




2. Open the application and create at least one note.




3. Return to the desktop → long press → Widgets.




4. Search in the list of "Keep: Notes" and drag to the screen.

Attention! Some Google widgets (e.g. Google Search or Google Feed) may conflict with MIUI system services. If they start to freeze or reboot after adding them, remove the widget and clear the cache of the Google Play Services app.

8. Alternative solutions: if widgets do not work

If none of these methods worked, consider alternatives:

• 📲 Third-party launchers: Nova Launcher, Hyperion Launcher or Lawnchair offer advanced widget features including size resizing, transparency and animation. 5-10%.
• 🖼️ KWGT (Kustom Widget Maker: an app to create custom widgets from scratch. It requires design skills but allows you to make a unique desktop. It works stable on Redmi, but can brake on weak models (Redmi) 9A, Redmi 8).
• 🔄 Resetting launcher settings: if widgets are missing after the update, try resetting shell settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear data Attention! This will remove all your desktop settings (wallpaper, folders, icon location).
• 📥 Firmware: If the problem occurred after a failed update, you can roll back to the previous version MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Three points. → Select a Service Package.

If you decide to use Nova Launcher, here is a quick guide to set up widgets:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.




2. Make it the default launcher (the first start will be a suggestion).




3. Long press on the desktop → Widgets.




4.In Nova, widgets can be scaled (stretched with your fingers) and customized transparency.

On Redmi with a small amount of RAM (2-3 GB), third-party launchers can cause slowdowns, in which case it is better to limit yourself to standard MIUI capabilities or use light alternatives like Lawnchair.

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Before resetting your launcher settings or flashing backup data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will save your contacts, messages and application settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about widgets on Xiaomi Redmi