Xiaomi’s Redmi line of smartphones is famous for their functionality, but MIUI sometimes hides obvious settings. Many users have difficulty personalizing the home screen by adding widgets. Especially often the question of how to display a lock or desktop large, convenient watch is not just a matter of aesthetics, but the need for quick access to information about the time without unlocking the phone or opening apps.
In this article, we will discuss the process of installing a watch widget on your device’s desktop. We will look at the regular capabilities of the MIUI shell, and also touch on the nuances of setting up third-party applications if standard functionality is not enough. You will learn to change the styles, sizes and formats of displaying time, turning your smartphone screen into a useful information center.
The way you add widgets to your Xiaomi devices is standardized, but it's different depending on the firmware version. Understanding the logic of the widget menu will allow you to not only set the clock, but also organize the screen space in a smart way. Let's start with a detailed analysis of all the methods available.
Standard watch widgets in the shell of MIUI
The MIUI shell installed on Redmi 9 by default offers a wide range of built-in widgets that are optimized to work with the system, consume minimal energy and do not require the installation of additional software, accessed through a special menu, which is called by a long touch or swipe.
To open the widget menu, you need to unlock your smartphone and go to the main screen. Then you need to press the empty area of the screen and hold the touch for 1-2 seconds, or pinch the two fingers (mix them together). At the bottom of the screen, you will see a toolbar where you want to select the Widgets, which is where all the available design elements are hidden.
In the list that opens, scroll down to the "Clock" section, and you'll see a variety of options, from simple digital indicators to complex analog second hand mechanisms. MIUI allows you to choose between different styles that can display the date, day of the week, and even the weather. Choose your favorite and drag it to the free desktop space.
- 🕰️ Digital watch: classic version with large numbers, easy to read from a distance.
- ⏱️ Analog clock: imitation of a classic dial with hands, suitable for minimalist themes.
- 🌤️ Weather Watch: Combined widget showing time and current temperature.
- 📅 Calendar clock: displays the current date and week number along with the time.
⚠️ Note: Some watch widgets require an active internet connection to correctly display date and weather data. If the widget shows an incorrect time, check the sync settings in the Settings section. → Additionally. → Date and time.
Why can't the widget display the weather?
Step-by-step instruction for installing the widget
The process of installing the widget on Redmi 9 requires accuracy, especially if the screen is filled with application icons. It is important to choose the right size of the grid so that the widget stands flat and does not shift other elements. Below is a detailed guide to help avoid errors.
First, free up space on your desktop. Widgets take up a certain number of cells (e.g., 2x2 or 4x2). Remove unnecessary shortcuts or move them to other pages. Then call the widget menu as described in the previous section. Find the desired watch style and click on it with your finger held.
Drag the widget to the right area. The system will automatically highlight the area that the widget will occupy. Release your finger to lock the widget. If you can change the size of the widget, there will be size markers around it. Pull over them to stretch or compress the widget vertically or horizontally, adjusting it to your taste.
☑️ Verification of widget installation
Once installed, the widget is ready to go. However, if you use a dark theme, make sure that the watch style you choose supports it. Some older widgets may have a white background that will glow brightly in the dark, interfering with view, in which case you should choose the option specifically labeled as "Dark" or "Adaptive".
Setting up the format and style of display
Many users are unaware that standard MIUI watches are often fine-tuned, allowing them to be customized to suit the overall style of the interface or theme downloaded from Themes Store. Settings can include selecting a 12- or 24-hour format, displaying seconds and font.
To access the settings, click on the installed watch widget (sometimes a long press is required, and sometimes a single one, depending on the version). MIUI). In the menu that opens, you can see the switches. 24-Time-format will allow you to get rid of the designations AM/PM, It's also possible to have a second display option that makes the widget more dynamic.
If standard settings aren't enough, you can change the theme itself. Go to Themes, select an active theme, and click Set. You can often replace the system clock with an alternative one that automatically applies to all time widgets. This is the deep integration that is characteristic of the Xiaomi ecosystem.
| Parameter | Description | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| 12/24 hours | Time of day display format | It doesn't. |
| Second hand. | Constantly updating the screen every second | Minimum |
| Weather online | Downloading temperature data | Average (spending traffic) |
| Animation. | Movement of dial elements | High (for complex widgets) |
💡
Using a second hand or live animation on a watch widget can be insignificant, but increase battery consumption, especially on the watch. AMOLED-screens when the pixels are constantly changing color.
Use of the application "Notepad" and third-party widgets
If you find a standard set of widgets boring, the Google Play app store offers thousands of alternatives. Apps like Google Watch, HD Widgets or Overclock Widget offer limitless customization options, but installing them on Redmi 9 has its own peculiarities due to aggressive battery optimization in MIUI.
Once you install a third-party app, the widget won't appear on your desktop automatically. You need to reopen the widget menu (long tap on the screen) and find the name of the installed app in the list. Drag it to the screen. Immediately after that, the system can warn you that the widget may not be updated due to energy savings.
To make the widget work properly, you need to give it permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find your watch app. In the charge saving section, select "No limits." This is a critical step, otherwise the widget will freeze in 10-15 minutes and stop showing the current time.
- 📲 Google Watch: Minimalist design, sync with Google account.
- 🎨 HD Widgets: a huge selection of skins and the ability to create your own designs.
- ⚡ Overclock: widgets with system information display (CPU, memory) together with time.
- 🌌 KWGT: Professional tool for creating widgets of any complexity (requires training).
⚠️ Warning: Third-party widgets often require permanent permits to work in the background.This can lead to faster battery discharge compared to standard widgets MIUI. Use them only if you really need a unique design.
Solution: Widget not updated or disappeared
Redmi 9 users sometimes face a situation where the watch widget stops showing the current time or completely disappears from the desktop after a reboot. This is not a hardware malfunction, but a feature of the Android operating system in conjunction with the manufacturer's shell. The system tries to keep the charge "killing" background processes.
The first thing you need to do is check if the application that the widget belongs to is blocked. Go to the menu of running apps (swipe up and hold), find the card of the watch application and press the lock. This will lock the application in memory and prevent the system from closing it. Also make sure that the date and time settings check the "Use network time" box.
If the widget is missing after the system update, the launcher settings may have gone wrong. Try clearing the cache of the Themes and Screen Lock app. Go to Settings → Applications → App Management, find the desired application and select Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear All Data, otherwise your themes will fly.
Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 times to log into developer mode)
→ Additional settings → For developers → Non-active applications (check restrictions)In rare cases, the problem is overflowing memory. If Redmi 9 has more than 90% of internal memory, widgets may stop functioning properly. Make room by deleting unnecessary videos or files, and the problem should disappear.