Personalization is one of the most enjoyable aspects of owning a modern smartphone. Xiaomi’s Android-based devices and MIUI or the new HyperOS, provide users with a wide range of customization options.
These miniature apps allow you to access important information instantly without running full-fledged programs. Whether it is the weather, currency exchange, event calendar or step counter, all this can be in front of you. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to add a widget to Xiaomi Android to make use of the gadget as comfortable as possible.
The process of installing elements on the desktop may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. However, the basic principles remain unchanged for most models, whether it is a budget Redmi or flagship Xiaomi. Understanding these mechanisms will help you avoid confusion and quickly adjust the screen to your needs.
What are widgets and why do they need them?
The widget is an extended version of a regular app, placed right on the home screen. Unlike a shortcut that just opens the program, the widget can display dynamic content in real time, saving time and eliminating the need to tap on the screen to get information.
Modern shells like MIUI 14 and HyperOS offer a huge range of widgets that can be functional, like showing a list of recent calls or controlling music. Others are decorative, decorating the interface with beautiful watches or animated backgrounds. It is important to understand the difference between system widgets and those installed with apps from Google Play.
Using widgets improves productivity, so you can see your appointment schedule without opening your calendar, or you can monitor your wireless headphones without going into your Bluetooth settings, and it turns your smartphone from a simple communication device into a powerful information center that's tailored to your personal habits.
⚠️ Warning: Installing too many active widgets, especially those that constantly update data over the Internet (weather, news) can significantly increase battery consumption.
It’s also worth noting that widgets occupy a certain space in the desktop grid. The standard cell size usually corresponds to the size of one application icon. Large widgets can occupy 2x2, 4x2 or even the entire screen, which requires careful planning of the workspace.
Preparation of the working space before installation
Before you start adding new elements, you need to prepare a free space on the desktop. Xiaomi interface is organized on the principle of grid, and the widget may need several free cells in a row. If there is not enough space, the system simply will not allow the item to be placed or will suggest moving other icons.
It is recommended to remove unnecessary shortcuts of rarely used applications in folders or in secondary menus in advance, this will not only free up space, but also visually unload the interface. A clean desktop is the key to easy navigation and quick access to the necessary functions without unnecessary visual noise.
☑️ Screen preparation
Also, make sure that the screen does not activate the edit lock. In some design themes or when the "Pocket" mode is on, the ability to move objects may be limited. Check the theme settings if you can not drag the object to a vacant place.
If you plan to use large widgets, such as a full-screen calendar or photo frame, it is better to immediately allocate a separate desktop page for them, which will create a unique interface design where functional elements will not conflict with application icons.
How to add a widget to Android Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions
The process of adding a widget to the MIUI and HyperOS shell is unified and intuitive. First, unlock your smartphone and go to the home screen. Make sure you're on the page where you plan to host the new item.
There are two main ways to get into the widget selection menu: the first and fastest is to make a long tap and hold finger on any free space on the desktop. The screen will shrink and the action menu will appear at the bottom. The second way is to use a pinch gesture, where you are simultaneously folding two fingers on the screen. Both methods lead to the same result.
Once the bottom menu appears, select the Widgets item, which is usually in the center or left, depending on the shell version, and clicking on it will open a complete library of available widgets, sorted by category or application.
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Use a search in the widget menu if you know the name of the app you want – it’s faster than scrolling through the entire list manually.
In the list that opens, find the app you want, and the widgets are grouped by the program names they belong to, like the weather widgets in the "Weather" or "Mi" widgets, and the task widgets in the "Notes" or "Tasks" section. Click on the app name to reveal the list of available formats.
Choose your favorite design and size. Touch the widget with your finger and drag it to a free space on your desktop. Release your finger to lock the item. If the widget supports resizing, a marker frame will appear around it.
Setting the size and appearance of widgets
Once the widget is placed on the screen, it often needs to be adapted to the overall style of the interface. Xiaomi shells allow you to resize many widgets. To do this, click on the widget and hold your finger until the menu appears, then select Change the size or just pull the corner markers if they are active.
Size change allows you to turn a small icon of a watch into a large digital watch on a half-screen or, conversely, compress the calendar to a compact list, which gives you flexibility in space planning, but not all widgets support this feature — some are fixed size.
| Type of widget | Support for resizing | Recommended seat | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clock and Date | Tall. | Top of the screen | Low. |
| Weather. | Medium | First screen | Average. |
| Calendar | Tall. | Central zone | Low. |
| Music. | Low. | Second screen | Low. |
| Systemic (CPU/RAM) | Low. | Lock screen | High. |
Some widgets (such as Mi Widgets) may need a separate app or theme store to better customize the look and feel of some widgets, where you can change color schemes, fonts and background images. Standard Android widgets often inherit the style of the current theme.
⚠️ Note: When changing the size of the widget, make sure it doesn’t overlaid important system elements like the status bar or navigation bar, otherwise controlling the smartphone can become uncomfortable.
If the widget supports content customization, double-clicking on it can open the editing menu, where you can choose the city for the weather, the calendar account or the playlist for music, which makes each widget unique to you.
Work with widgets in HyperOS and MIUI 14
With the release of new firmware versions, Xiaomi introduced an improved widget store. HyperOS and MIUI 14 introduced the "lock screen widgets" function and an expanded Mi Widget library. These are accessed through the same long-pressed desktop, but the interface has become more visually rich.
The new shells divide the widgets into two main tabs: “Recommended” and “All Apps.” The recommendation tab offers smart widgets that the system finds useful based on your behavior, such as in the morning it will offer an alarm clock and weather widget, and in the evening it will offer music or news.
The secrets of the Mi Widgets store
One of the key features of HyperOS is improved stacking, where you can place multiple widgets on top of each other in the same cell, and you can drag one widget directly to the other, swipe between them up or down the widget.
The new versions also improve integration with the smart home ecosystem, with Mi Home device management widgets now allowing you to not just open an app, but directly toggage lights, change the temperature of the air conditioner or see a security camera directly on your desktop.
Importantly, HyperOS has changed the way widgets work in the background to save energy. If the widget has stopped updating, check the power saving settings for the specific application it belongs to and select No Limits mode.
Elimination: Widgets don’t work or disappear
Users may experience a situation where the widget stops updating, shows old data or spontaneously disappears from the desktop, most often due to aggressive battery optimization, characteristic of MIUI.
To fix this, go to your smartphone settings. Find the Apps → All Apps. Find the app that malfunctions (like “Weather” or “Calendar”) in the list. Go to its settings and find AutoStart, turn it on. Also, select No Limits mode at Battery (or “Energy Saving”).
- 🔄 Check for updates for the app itself via Google Play or GetApps.
- 🔋 Make sure that the battery settings do not include the Ultra-Energy Saving mode, which disables all background processes.
- 📱 Reboot the device – this often resolves temporary launcher failures.
- 🗑️ Try removing the widget and adding it again, after clearing the app cache.
⚠️ Warning: If the widget disappears after the reboot, you may be using a third-party launcher that doesn't have the necessary autoboot permits.Go back to the standard Xiaomi launcher for a check.
Another reason could be a crowded smartphone memory: If the space in the Memory section is critically small, the system may not save changes to the configuration of the desktop, free up at least 1-2 GB of space for stable operation of widgets.