How to add a widget screen Android Xiaomi Redmi

Modern smartphones from the Redmi and Xiaomi lineup running MIUI or the new HyperOS offer users a huge amount of personalization. One of the most effective ways to make the interface unique and functional is to use widgets. These mini-applications allow you to display important information on the home screen: weather, currency exchange, meeting schedules or battery level without running the main application.

However, beginners often have difficulty placing the desired item on the desktop. Xiaomi’s shell interface has its own specifics, different from pure Android. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to add a widget to the screen of the Xiaomi Redmi Android, what are the hidden features of the system and what to do if standard methods do not work.

Understanding the MIUI shell will allow you to not only decorate the screen, but also optimize the work with the device. We will consider both standard system tools and third-party solutions that can be useful for owners of popular models like the Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 13T.

Standard method of adding widgets through the editing menu

The most common and easy way to place items on the desktop is for everyone to use immediately after purchasing a device, without having to install additional software or get super-user rights.

To open the editing menu, you need to swipe through a free space on your desktop, and it's important to touch the blank area, not the application icon. In the bottom menu that opens, you need to find the "Widgets" or "Add widgets" button, which is usually located in the center or left.

Once you click, you open up a library of available items, and you can sort them into categories or you can put them in a long list, and you can find the right item, like "Hours" or "Weather," and you can click on it and hold your finger, drag it to the free space of the screen.

• 📱 Press and hold your finger on the empty desktop space until the menu appears.
• 🔍 Select the "Widgets" item in the bottom toolbar.
• 📌 Find the item in the list and drag it to the screen.
• 📐 Release your finger to lock the widget in the selected grid cell.

💡

If the widget does not fit into the selected area, the system will suggest moving other icons or changing the size of the widget itself by pulling the edges.

Some widgets are fixed in size, while others, like a calendar or a music player, can be scaled, and you have to click on the widget to resize and hold it until you have a frame to pull, and you can tailor the interface to your needs, making it more informative.

Working with widgets in the new shell HyperOS

Owners of new devices, such as Xiaomi 14 or updated versions of Redmi Note 13, may encounter the HyperOS interface. In this system, the approach to widgets has been significantly revised and has become more like iOS.

To add an element to HyperOS, the method of dragging from the Negative Screen (the tape of widgets to the left of the main screen) or through long-pressing on empty space is often used.The system offers a more flexible look setting, allowing you to change the transparency and style of the fonts directly in the preview menu.

⚠️ Note: In HyperOS, some system widgets may conflict with third-party launchers. If you use a custom theme, make sure it is fully compatible with the current firmware version, otherwise the widgets may not display properly.

One of the key features of the new system is the ability to create a stack of widgets, which allows you to place several elements in one screen cell, swipe between them up or down, which saves space and makes the desktop more neat.

To access advanced settings in HyperOS, you often need to tap the gear or triplet icon after adding the widget, and you can adjust the refresh rate of the data, which directly affects the autonomy of the device. Frequent updates can consume battery power faster.

Using the Themes app to install widgets

The standard widget set may seem limited, but the Xiaomi theme store offers thousands of options.Themes app is not only about wallpaper and icons, but also a powerful tool for customizing functional elements of the screen.

To find new widgets, open the Themes app and go to Profile or search for Widgets, where you can download individual widget packages as well as entire themes that will replace the standard set with a more stylish and modern one.

Once you download and apply the theme, the new widgets will appear in the general widget menu. It is worth noting that some third-party themes may require the use of a specific launcher (desktop shell) that comes with the theme, and the system itself will suggest switching to it when you use it.

When installing widgets from third-party themes, it is important to pay attention to the permissions they request. Although the Xiaomi store checks the content, it is always better to be careful. Some widgets may request access to geolocation for weather display or contacts for quick dialing.

Setting up the size and grid of the desktop

The correct display of widgets depends on the settings of the screen grid. If the widget "does not fit" or looks too small, it may be worth changing the number of cells, this is done through the system settings, not through the editing menu.

Go to Settings → Desktop. Here you will find the item “Grid.” Increase the number of rows and columns (for example, from 4x6 to 5x7) will make icons and widgets smaller, but will allow you to accommodate more elements. Reducing the grid, on the contrary, will enlarge them.

You can also find the “Enlarged Widgets” setting or a similar option that allows you to stretch the standard 2x2 widgets over a large area, especially for weather widgets or news feeds, where it is important to see more information at once.

Remember, changing the grid can shift the icons that are already installed, so before a global change, it's better to think about the outcome. On AMOLED devices, large black widgets help save energy.

Solving problems with the display and disappearance of widgets

Xiaomi users often face a situation where the widget spontaneously disappears from the screen or stops updating data, due to the aggressive MIUI energy saving system, which “sleeps down” background processes to save charge.

To make the widget work consistently, add the appropriate app to the exception list. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the app that owns the widget (for example, “Weather” or “Calendar”), and select “Energy Saving”.

In the menu that opens, select No Limits mode, which will prevent the system from forcibly closing the widget process, and it is also useful to lock the application in memory by opening a list of running tasks, clicking on the app widget and selecting the lock icon.

⚠️ Warning: Setting “No Limits” mode for a large number of applications can result in faster battery discharge. Use this setting only for mission-critical widgets.

Another reason for the disappearance could be a crowded launcher cache: If widgets start to “glutch”, try clearing the cache of the system application “Themes” or “Desktop” through the application management menu.

Third-party launchers and Google widgets

If standard MIUI features don’t suit you, you can always install a third-party launcher, such as a Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which allows you to add Google widgets that may not be available or limited in stock firmware.

Google widgets (Google Discover, Google Keep, Fit) often require Google Play services installed. Once the launcher is installed, the process of adding widgets becomes classic for Android: long clicking on empty space → Widgets → Element selection.

Using third-party launchers gives you complete freedom in setting up the grid, animations and behavior of widgets. However, it is worth considering that they can consume more RAM resources than the optimized system launcher Xiaomi.

💡

Third-party launchers are the best choice for those who want to completely ignore the limitations of MIUI and get an interface close to stock Android or iOS.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)