How to add widgets to the lock screen Xiaomi

Modern Xiaomi smartphones provide users with extensive personalization options, allowing them to turn a standard lock screen into an informative control panel. Device owners often wonder how to output useful information such as weather, currency rates or steps immediately when the display wakes up. This is not only convenient, but also saves time, eliminating the need to unlock the gadget and search for the desired application.

MIUI and the new HyperOS shell have different ways of implementing this feature, depending on the firmware version and region. Standard features allow you to implement widgets through Google services or embedded themes, but advanced customization may require additional tools. Understanding the architecture of the lock screen will help avoid program conflicts and ensure stable operation of the device.

In this article, we will cover all the current methods of adding widgets, from simple settings in the menu to installing specialized applications. You will learn how to bypass the limitations of the system and make the interface as functional as possible. It is important to follow the instructions carefully, since some methods require changing system security parameters.

Features of the lock screen in MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi’s ecosystem has a unique lock-screen display structure that is significantly different from pure Android, often with Glance or Lock Screen Magazine, which dynamically change wallpaper and offer news feeds, but these services can conflict with standard widgets if not configured correctly.

Users need to understand the difference between desktop widgets and lock screen widgets. Android system restrictions prohibit heavy scripts from running in sleep mode to save battery life. Therefore, widgets on a locked screen usually have simplified functionality and are updated at a lower frequency.

⚠️ Warning: Installing too many active widgets on the lock screen can lead to accelerated battery discharge and braking when unlocking the device.

The new versions of the HyperOS shell have introduced a more flexible widget system, reminiscent of iOS, which allows for scaling and deeper integration with system services, but the basic principle remains the same: the widget on the lock screen is essentially a “live” image that requires constant updates.

Use of Google widgets (Google Discover)

One of the easiest and most stable ways to add informative blocks is to use native integration of Google services. In many regions, Xiaomi firmware offers the default feature "Ribbon widgets" or Google Discover, which is called by swiping right on the lock screen or desktop.

To activate, you need to go to the system settings. Find the partition responsible for the desktop or lock screen. Depending on the version of MIUI, the path may differ, but the logic remains the same: you need to allow the display of Google feed.

Once you turn on the feature, you can customize the information you display, and the system will suggest you to choose categories of interest: sports, finance, weather or transportation, and this data will be downloaded automatically when you have an Internet connection.

• 📱 Open the settings of your smartphone.
• 🔍 Go to the Desktop or Lock Screen section.
• ✅ Find the widget tape or Google Discover item and activate the switch.
• 🌐 If necessary, log in to your Google account to personalize your search results.

Importantly, this method does not allow you to place widgets directly in the center of the screen over the watch, but only adds a sidebar. For many users, this is a limitation, but this approach guarantees maximum compatibility and no errors in the system.

Configure widgets through the Topics app

Xiaomi’s official Theme Store has a powerful customization tool, and many modern themes have built-in widgets that appear on the lock screen immediately after the design is applied, a legal and safe way to change the look of the device.

To find a suitable theme, search within the app. Enter keywords such as "Widgets", "Lockscreen" or "Info". The theme description usually indicates whether it supports widgets on the lock screen. Once the theme is installed, widgets may appear automatically or require additional activation in the editing menu.

It is worth considering that some elements of the themes may be paid or require viewing ads for activation. In addition, third-party themes can sometimes overlap system notifications, so after installation, carefully check the notifications from messengers.

If the standard theme gallery doesn’t work, you can try changing the region in your smartphone settings. In some regions (for example, India or Indonesia), exclusive themes with advanced widget functionality are available, which are hidden for users from other countries.

Use of third-party applications to block

When standard tools are not enough, Google Play apps come to the rescue, replacing the lock screen entirely, with apps like Lock Screen & Notifications or Hi Locker leading the way.

Once you install an application, the system will require you to give it special permissions, you will need to allow access to surfaces on top of other applications, access to notifications, and in some cases, device administrator rights, without these permissions, the application will not be able to intercept the locking process.

Using third-party blockers has its risks: Aggressive battery optimization in MIUI can kill the process of a third-party application, and the lock screen will no longer display correctly. To avoid this, you need to fix the application in memory and remove the restrictions of background activity.

⚠️ Warning: When installing a third-party screen blocker, make sure you have an alternative way to unlock (such as a side-face fingerprint scanner) in case the app freezes.

Advanced Customization through KWGT and Shizuku

For users seeking maximum control, the KWGT Kustom Widget Maker and Shizuku bundle offers unlimited possibilities. KWGT allows you to create widgets of any complexity, and Shizuku gives them the necessary rights to work on the lock screen without root rights.

The setup process requires technical literacy, first installing Shizuku and activating it wirelessly, then in the KWGT settings, providing access through Shizuku, and then the widget can be displayed on the lock screen using third-party launchers or KWGT-enabled locker applications.

Creating your own widget in KWGT takes time, but the result is worth it. You can download pre-built widget packages for KWGT that already contain ready-made designs for the lock screen, and just activate them. This will save time drawing the interface.

Solutions and optimization of work

A common problem on Xiaomi smartphones is that widgets disappear after rebooting or clearing memory. This is due to the MIUI Optimization mechanism. To make the widget work consistently, find its process in the application list, go to Activity Control and select No Limits option.

It's also worth checking the autorun permission, and if the widget application doesn't have the right to autorun, the system won't let it run the widget when you turn on the screen, which is a critical parameter that's often overlooked.

• 🔋 Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity.
• 📂 Find the right app in the list.
• ⚙️ Set the mode No restrictions.
• 🚀 Turn on Autostart.

Another nuance is related to the theme: If you use a third-party theme, some system widgets may not display correctly (the background disappears, the fonts go away), in which case it is recommended to return to the standard theme or update the system interface components through the System Interface Components application in the GetApps store.

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Stable operation of widgets on Xiaomi is possible only when removing the energy saving restrictions for a specific widget source application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)