How to add a watch to the desktop Redmi Note 8 Pro: all ways with pictures

Why do you need a desktop clock and what MIUI offers?

The desktop of the smartphone is the first thing you see when unlocking the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro. In addition to wallpaper and app icons, you can place widgets that show up-to-date information without having to open programs. The watch is one of the most popular widgets: they not only demonstrate the current time, but also serve as a stylish design element.

The official MIUI shell (even in the current versions for the Redmi Note 8 Pro) offers several built-in time display options. However, not everyone knows where to look for these settings — especially if they have not previously worked with Xiaomi widget systems. Moreover, standard MIUI watches have limited customization options: you can not change the font, color or add a second hand. Here come third-party apps from Google Play, which extend the functionality to the level of premium smartphones.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to add a watch to the Redmi Note 8 Pro desktop, including hidden MIUI 12/14 chips and bypass system limitations.

• 🔹 Install a standard watch widget from Xiaomi (even if it doesn’t appear in the menu)
• 🔹 Set up animated or analog watches via Google Play
• 🔹 Add a weather and time widget in one block
• 🔹 Change the size and transparency of watches without root rights

Method 1: Standard Widget of MIUI Watches

The easiest way is to use the built-in shell tools. In the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the watch widget can be hidden in the depths of the menu, but it's easy to find if you know the way. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Press and hold the empty space on your desktop (not on the app icon!).
2. In the menu that appears, select Widgets (or Widgets if you have English firmware).
3. Scroll down to the Tools section, and there should be a Clock widget.
4. Press the widget and drag it to the free desktop space.

If the watch widget is not listed, it could mean:

• 🔸 You have an outdated version. MIUI (Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔸 The widget has been disabled in the settings. To return it, go to Settings. → Main screen screen → Widget settings and enable the option to Show system widgets.
• 🔸 On the smartphone installed custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience), where widgets MIUI removed.

Update MIUI to the latest version

Check the availability of the widget in the "Tools" section

Free up space on the desktop

Reboot your phone without a widget-->

Limitations of the standard widget:

• 🔸 Digital format only (analog clocks are not available).
• 🔸 Fixed size (cannot be stretched over the entire screen).
• 🔸 No color or font settings.

💡

If the watch widget doesn’t show up, try resetting the launcher settings: go to Settings → Apps → Application Management → Launcher and press Storage → Clear Data. This will return the standard widgets without losing personal data.

Method 2: Watch widgets from Google Play

If the built-in MIUI watch doesn't suit you, Google Play has hundreds of alternatives with advanced features, and we tested the top apps and picked the best ones for the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

How to install the widget from Google Play:

1. Download and install the selected application.
2. Return to the desktop, press and hold your finger in a free place.
3. Select Widgets → find the name of the installed application (for example, Chronus 4×2) in the list.
4. Drag the widget onto the screen and adjust its size (stretch the frame if needed).
5. Click on the widget to open the customization menu (color, font, displayed information).

Digital (simple style)

Analog (with arrows)

With the weather and the date.

Animated (with effects)

I don't care.-->

Important nuances:

• 🔹 Some widgets don't update time in power saving mode. Turn off battery optimization for clock application in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
• 🔹 Weather widgets require access to location and internet.
• 🔹 On the Redmi Note. 8 Pro widget size 5×2 They can be superimposed on the dock. Use the size. 4×2 perfect-mapping.

Method 3: Watches through wallpapers with time

If you don’t like widgets but want to see time on wallpaper, use a dynamic wallpaper with an integrated watch, a technique that works for the Redmi Note 8 Pro, as the smartphone supports animated background images without lags.

The best apps for live wallpaper with clocks:

• 🌌 KWGT Kustom Widget Maker, which allows you to create custom wallpapers with watches, weather and animations, is difficult for beginners, but gives maximums.
• 🌈 Wallpaper Clock is a simple tool for overlaying time on top of any wallpaper.
• ⚡ Muzei Live Wallpaper – automatically changes wallpaper and displays time in a minimalist style.

How to set up:

1. Install one of the applications (e.g. Wallpaper Clock).
2. Open the settings → Wallpaper → Live wallpaper.
3. Select the installed application and adjust the display style of the time.
4. Apply the wallpaper to the main screen.

💡

Dynamic clock wallpaper consumes more battery than conventional widgets. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, this can reduce autonomy by 5-10%.

Challenges and solutions:

• 🔸 The clock is not updated → Check if it kills. MIUI background processes. Add the app to Settings → Battery → No restrictions.
• 🔸 The clock text merges with the wallpaper → In the widget settings, select a contrasting color or add shadow.
• 🔸 Animation slows down → Reduce. FPS in live wallpaper settings or choose a static style.

Hidden MIUI chips for watches

The MIUI shell hides a few useful features related to time display, and here’s what you can do on the Redmi Note 8 Pro without third-party apps:

1. Watch on lock screen: Go to Settings → Lock screen → Watch style. Here you can choose from 5+ styles (including analog) and even adjust the color.
2. Double time: If you need to see time in another time zone, activate the option in Settings → Additional → Date and Time → Double clock.
3. Voice Time Alert: In Settings → Special Features → Voice Assistant, turn on the option to voice the time (it will be every 30 minutes).

MIUI also has a secret mode for displaying seconds on the lock clock:

1. Open the Watch app (standard from Xiaomi).


2. Go to the "Alarm clock" tab.




3. Click on the icon "⋮" (three dots) in the upper right corner.




4. Select "Settings" → "Show seconds on the lock screen."

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If your watch settings are missing after the MIUI update, try clearing the Topic app cache (Settings → Applications → Topic → Clear cache) and this will bring back the standard display styles.

Solving the problems with the watch on the Redmi Note 8 Pro

Sometimes the clock on the desktop or lock screen doesn't work properly, and here are the typical problems and solutions.

Features of the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

• 🔹 When using themes of design MIUI The locking clock can change color automatically (depending on the wallpaper).

Customization of clocks: fonts, colors, animation

The standard MIUI watch doesn't allow you to customize the look deeply, but with third-party tools, you can create a unique style.

• 🌈 Zooper Widget – Tasker support for automation (e.g. changing the color of the watch depending on the time of day).

Example of settings in KWGT:

1. Install KWGT and download any free template (like KWGT Kustom Pack).
2. Add the KWGT widget to your desktop (size 4×2 or larger).
3. Click on the widget → select the downloaded template.
4. In the editor, change: Tx Color. Font (Font → upload your.ttf file. Size (Scale). Add the second hand.

Save it and apply it.

Where to get fonts and icons:

• 🔹 DaFont - Free fonts for watches.
• 🔹 Flaticon – Icons for weather and notifications.
• 🔹 Kustom Rocks - ready-made templates for the KWGT.

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For the Redmi Note 8 Pro, it is better to use widgets no larger than 4×2 in size – large widgets (5×3) can cause lags when scrolling the desktop.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note 8 Pro