Have you just bought a Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 and want to personalize your desktop? Or have you used a smartphone for a long time but still don’t know how to bring your watch to the home screen? MIUI prior to the installation of custom solutions.
Unlike iPhone or Samsung, where the default watch is displayed in the status bar, Xiaomi has to add it manually, with a variety of options, from minimalistic digital widgets to animated analog dials. We tested all the ways on the Redmi Note 9 with firmware MIUI 12.5–14 and identified key differences.
Why is the Redmi Note 9 not the default desktop clock?
It's a shell feature. MIUI, Xiaomi decided that the user should choose which widgets he needs to avoid cluttering the screen, but this creates confusion for beginners: many owners of the Redmi Note 9 mistakenly think that the feature is disabled or requires root rights.
The widget is actually built into the system, but hidden in the widget menu, and you can't see it right after you buy your phone, because:
- 📱 By default, only application icons are displayed on the desktop.
- ⚙️ Widgets must be added manually through a long press on the screen
- 🔄 In some versions MIUI The clock is hidden in the "Tools" section"
- 📲 On high-resolution screens (2340×1080 on the Redmi Note 9) Widgets can be scaled automatically
Interesting fact: in the first versions MIUI 12 for the Redmi Note 9 was a bug that caused the watch widget to disappear after the reboot. MIUI 13+ the problem is fixed, but some devices may need to reset launcher settings.
Method 1: Adding a standard watch widget through the menu MIUI
It's the easiest and most secure method that works without installing third-party apps. MIUI Redmi Note 9 (including Redmi Note 9) MIUI 14).
Instructions:
- Tap and hold the empty space on your desktop (not on the app icon!).
- In the menu that appears, select Widgets (or Widgets in English firmware).
- Scroll down to the Tools section.
- Find the Watch widget (the icon with the dial) and drag it to the desktop.
- Release your finger when the accommodation frame appears.
Once added, the widget automatically syncs to system time. If the clock doesn't update, check:
- ⏰ Date and time settings in Settings → System system → Date and time
- 🔄 Automatic synchronization with the network (Autodetermination must be enabled)
- 📶 Internet connection stability (widget can “hang” without a network)
Check the version of MIUI (Settings → About the phone)
Make sure there is a free space on the desktop
Disable power saving for the launcher (Settings) → Battery → Choice of applications)
Reboot your phone if the widgets have not previously been displayed-->
Important! On the Redmi Note 9 with MIUI 12.5 and below, the standard watch widget has limited settings: you can only change the size (small/medium/large) and text color (dark/light.
Method 2: Using Xiaomi’s Weather and Watch Widget
This widget combines time, date and weather forecast in one block, is more informative than a standard watch, but takes up more screen space, and is suitable for users who want to see the weather without opening a separate app.
How do I add:
- Long press on the desktop → Widgets.
- Find the Weather widget (the icon with the sun and the cloud).
- Choose a size: 4×1 (compact 4×2 (prognosis 5 days).
- Drag to the desktop and confirm the placement.
Features of the widget:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto-update | Weather data is updated every 3 hours (or when manually swipe down the widget) |
| Geolocation | Requires permission to access location for accurate forecasting |
| Color schemes | Adapts to the dark/light theme of the system |
| Language | Supports Russian, English and 15 other languages |
| Battery consumption | ~1-2% on a day (with automatic update) |
On the Redmi Note 9 with firmware MIUI 13.0.5+ The weather widget may conflict with some custom launchers (like Nova Launcher), in which case the clock is displayed and the weather is not. Solution: go back to the standard launcher or update the Weather app via the App Store.
💡
If the weather widget shows incorrect data, try manually specifying the city: open the Weather app" → Settings → Location → Add it manually.
Method 3: Install third-party watch widgets from Google Play
If you don't like the standard solutions, you can install alternative widgets.
- ⏱️ Chronus – customizable watch with support for themes and complications
- 🌈 KWGT Kustom Widget Maker – widget designer with animation
- 🎨 UCCW — to create unique dial designs
- ⚡ Digital Clock Widget – Minimalistic digital watch with font setting
Example of Digital Clock Widget installation:
- Download the app from Google Play.
- After installation, a long press on the desktop → Widgets.
- Find Digital Clock in the list (may be in the Others section).
- Select a size and drag it to the screen.
- Click on the widget to set up: change the font, color, format of time (12/24 hour).
Advantages of third-party widgets:
- 🎭 Wide possibilities of customization (colors, fonts, animations)
- 📱 Adaptation to different screen resolutions (including: FHD+ on the Redmi Note 9)
- 🔄 Automatic change of topics (day/night)
- 📊 Additional information (battery, memory, weather in one widget)
How to remove unnecessary widgets from the desktop?
Attention! Some Google Play widgets may contain ads or collect location data. Check the app's reviews and permissions before installing. On Redmi Note 9 with MIUI 14 it is recommended to use widgets with a rating of not less than 4.5 and the number of installations from 100 000.
Method 4: Watches on the lock screen – an alternative to widgets
If you don't really want to see the watch on your desktop, you can set it up on the lock screen, which is convenient for quickly viewing the time without unlocking the phone.
How to turn on:
- Go to Settings → Lock screen.
- Select the Lock screen style.
- Scroll down and activate the option to Show the clock.
- Click on Setting up the clock to select style (analog/digital).
- Turn on Always Show if you want to see time without screen lighting.
On the Redmi Note 9, 5 watch styles are available for the lock screen:
| Style. | Description | Energy consumption |
|---|---|---|
| Digital | Big numbers with seconds | Low. |
| Analog | Classic dial with arrows | Average. |
| Minimalist | Only hours and minutes without seconds. | Very low. |
| Dynamic | Animated watch (requires) MIUI 13+) | High. |
| Weather + time | Combo with temperature and time | Average. |
If the clock on the lock screen is not displayed after setting up, check:
- 🔋 Power saving mode (disable for System interface)
- 📱 Design theme (some custom themes hide the clock)
- 🔄 Rebooting your phone (sometimes helps reset the lock screen cache)
💡
The clock on the lock screen consumes less battery than the widgets on the desktop, as it only activates when the display is turned on.
Method 5: Using a live clock wallpaper
For those who like custom solutions, live wallpaper with integrated clocks will work, replacing the standard desktop background and displaying time on top of the wallpaper.
Popular applications for Redmi Note 9:
- 🌌 Wallpaper Clock - Animated Background Clock
- 🖼️ Live Wallpaper: Clock & Weather + time-time
- ⏳ Minimal Live Wallpaper – Minimal Watch with Transparency
How to determine:
- Download the app from Google Play.
- Open it and choose your favorite watch style.
- Click Set Wallpaper and confirm the choice.
- Return to the desktop – the clock will be displayed over the icons.
Warning, a live clock wallpaper can:
⚠️ Attention: Redmi Note 9 with MIUI 12.5 some live wallpaper causes slowdowns when scrolling your desktop. If you notice lags, go back to standard wallpaper or reduce the frequency of updating animations in the app settings.
The benefits of live wallpaper:
- 🎨 Unique design (watches become part of the background)
- 🔄 Dynamic change depending on the time of day
- 📱 No need to add a separate widget
Cons:
- 🔋 Increased battery consumption (~3-5% day-to-day)
- 🐢 Possible lags on weak processors (on the Redmi Note 9 with Helio) G85 stable)
- 🎭 Limited Customization in Free Versions
Problem Solving: The clock is not displayed or is not working properly
If after all the manipulations, the watch did not appear on the Redmi Note 9 desktop, check the following points:
1. widget added but not visible
- 📱 Make sure the widget isn’t hidden under other icons (try moving it to an empty area of the screen).
- 🔍 Check the scale: some widgets become transparent when size is reduced.
- 🎨 Change the theme: dark widgets can merge with dark wallpaper.
2.The clock shows the wrong time
- ⏰ Enable automatic time synchronization in Settings → System system → Date and time.
- 🌍 Check your time zone (should fit your region).
- 🔄 Reboot the phone – it will reset the cache of the system clock.
3.The widget disappears after the reboot
⚠️ Attention: Redmi Note 9 with MIUI 12.0-12.5 is a bug that causes widgets to be reset when clearing the launcher cache. To avoid this, turn off automatic cleaning in Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Clearing the cache.
4 Third-party widgets are not working
- 📋 Check permissions for the application (access to time, location, storage).
- 🔄 Update the widget to the latest version.
- 📱 Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) if the problem is in the standard interface. MIUI.
If nothing helps, try resetting the launcher settings:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the launcher (or MIUI Launcher).
- Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
- Reboot the phone.
On the Redmi Note 9 Pro (model) M2003J6A1G) After the launcher is dropped, the watch widgets can be duplicated. Remove the extra ones manually by holding and dragging them into the basket.