The lock screen of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is not just a protection against unauthorized access, but also an information panel that displays the clock, date, notifications and widgets. Many users want to personalize the appearance of the time, so that it better fits into the overall style of the smartphone or simply is more convenient for the user. However, not everyone knows that the ability to customize the watch on the Redmi Note 8 Pro goes beyond the standard settings of MIUI.
In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to change the clock on the lock screen: from the basic parameters in the settings menu to hidden functions and bypassing restrictions. MIUI. You will learn how to change the format of time (12/24 The display style (digital/analog), color and font, and how to return a standard watch if the experiments went wrong. MIUI regional firmware, which may affect the availability of certain options.
If you've tried to find these settings before, but you haven't been able to, don't be too quick to blame yourself -- MIUI often hides useful features in non-obvious sections, and some settings require activation through a developer or third-party utilities, and we've put all the relevant information in one place so you don't have to shovel forums and video instructions around for an answer.
Before you start settings, make sure your Redmi Note 8 Pro runs on the current version of MIUI (preferably MIUI 12.5 or later). Old firmware may not support some of the features described below. Also check if the device has third-party launchers or themes that can override standard lock settings.
1. Basic time and date settings on the lock screen
So, to start with, the simplest thing is to change the time and date formats that you see on the locked screen, and these are available in standard MIUI settings, and you don't need to do any more manipulation, and here's how to find them:
Open the "Settings" app» (⚙️) And then go to the lock screen section, and you're interested in two key points:
- Time format: You can choose between a 12-hour (AM/PM) and a 24-hour system.
- Date format – determines how the date will be displayed (for example, 15.05.2026 or May 15, 2026).
Note that these settings affect not only the lock screen, but also system time in status bar, notifications and some applications. If you need to change the format solely to lock, you will have to use alternative methods (discuss them below).
Also, you can activate the Show Seconds option in the same section, which is useful for those who are used to seeing the exact time with seconds on the home screen. However, keep in mind that a watch with a stopwatch can drain the battery faster due to more frequent screen updates.
2. Change in watch style: digital vs analog
By default, the Redmi Note 8 Pro displays the time on the lock screen in a digital format (for example, 14:30).However, some MIUI firmware also has an analog style (with arrows), which many people find more aesthetic, to switch between these modes:
1. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Watch style.
2. Select one of the available options:
Digital watches (classical look).
Analog clock (with hands, if supported by your firmware).
Minimalist watches (simplified digital format without frames)
If the “Style of Watches” item is not on your menu, it means one of two things:
- 🔹 Your version. MIUI Does not support this function (relevant for older firmware below) MIUI 12).
- 🔹 The smartphone has a global firmware (for example, MIUI Global, where some customization options are blocked.
In this case, you can try updating your firmware to the latest version or use dark mode, which sometimes automatically changes the style of the watch to a more contrasting one, and check for updates for the system application “Themes” (com.miui.themeeditor), which is responsible for visual settings.
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If analog watches are not available in the settings, try installing a third-party theme from the official MIUI Themes store.Some themes replace standard watches with analog watches even without manual settings.
3. Personalization of the color and font of the watch
The color and font of the watch on the Redmi Note 8 Pro lock screen depend on the theme chosen. By default, MIUI offers a limited set of color schemes, but you can expand them if you want.
1. Open "Settings" → "Subjects."
2. Select the "Fonts" or "Colors" section (depending on the MIUI version).
3. Scroll through the list of options available and use the one you like. Changes will immediately affect the lock screen.
If the standard options are few, you can download custom themes from the official MIUI Themes Store.
- 🎨 Go to "Themes» → «Online" and find themes marked "Lockscreen" (lock screen).
- 🔍 Search for keywords: clock color, font lockscreen, digital clock.
- ⚠️ Check your rating and reviews before installing – some topics may conflict with the system.
Important: After changing the theme, restart your smartphone so that the changes are correctly applied to the lock screen. If the clock remains the same, try resetting the theme settings to the standard and repeat the procedure.
How to return the standard watch after changing the theme?
4. Hidden settings through developer mode
For advanced users who don't have enough standard options, MIUI has a developer mode that allows you to change the system settings that are not available in the normal interface, including some aspects of the display of the watch.
1. Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times in a row (you will be notified “You are a developer”).
2. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers» (⚙️ → Additionally. → For developers).
3.Look for options related to the lock screen (names may vary depending on the version):
- force_dark (forced dark mode for the clock).
- lockscreen_clock_style (alternative display styles).
- show_seconds (force-play).
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Note: Not all settings in developer mode are documented and changing them can cause the lock screen to function unstable. force_dark Sometimes it makes your watch unreadable on dark wallpaper.
If you don’t find the right options, try using them. ADB-For example, to force the clock to turn on seconds, execute it in the terminal:
adb shell settings put global lockscreen_clock_show_seconds 1Replace 1 with 0 to cancel.
5. Use of third-party customization applications
If built-in MIUI tools aren’t enough, you can turn to third-party apps that extend the lock screen settings, and here are the proven Redmi Note 8 Pro-compatible utilities:
| Annex | Functions | Need root? | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Always On Display | Adds the clock to AOD mode, customization of fonts and colors | ❌ No. | Google Play |
| Lock Screen Customizer | Changes in the style, position and animation of the watch | ⚠️ Partially. | Google Play |
| Xposed Framework + GravityBox | Deep customization (requires unlocking the bootloader) | ✅ Yes. | XDA Developers |
Before installing third-party utilities, consider:
- 🔐 Applications without root may conflict with MIUI and call out the lags.
- 🛡️ Some programs require you to disable battery optimization to work properly.
- 📱 After updating MIUI Third-party application settings may be reset.
Important: Apps like Always On Display increase battery consumption because the screen remains active even when locked. AMOLED-display is less critical, but still it is worth monitoring the level of charge.
✅ Check compatibility with MIUI 12/13
✅ Disable battery optimization for utility
✅ Backup of current lock settings
✅ Read the reviews about the stability of the Redmi Note 8 Pro-->
6. Problem Solving: The clock doesn't change or disappears
Sometimes, after changing the settings, the watch on the Redmi Note 8 Pro lock screen can:
Disappear completely (only wallpaper is displayed).
Refuse to update (froze for a while).
Become unreadable (merge with the background).
Here is the algorithm for troubleshooting:
1.Reboot your smartphone – this solves 70% of display problems.
2. Reset the lock screen settings:
Go to Settings → Lock screen → Reset settings.
3. Clear the cache of system applications:
- "Settings" → "Applications" → "Applications Management" → "Themes" → "Clear the cache."
Repeat for Lock Screen (com.miui.lockscreen).
4. Check the conflicts with wallpaper:
If the clock merges with the background, try to change the wallpaper to contrasting (for example, a dark clock on a light background).
5. Update MIUI:
Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update and install the latest patches.
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Note: If the watch is lost after installing custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the problem may be in the incorrect ported version of MIUI. In this case, only flashing on the official or stable custom build will help.
If none of these methods worked, the last resort is factory resets, and before that, be sure to save important data, as all user files will be deleted.
7. Alternative methods: widgets and wallpaper with clocks
If standard and third-party methods don't work, you can go around the world by using widgets or dynamic wallpapers that mimic a clock on a lock screen.
Watch widgets:
- Install the widget on the main screen, and then take a screenshot and set it as wallpaper to lock.
Applications for creating widgets: KWGT, UCCW, Zoom Widget.
2. Live clock wallpaper:
Google Play has wallpapers that display time on top of any background (like Clock Live Wallpaper).
- Cons: such wallpaper can significantly drain the battery.
3. MIUI animated themes:
Some themes from the official MIUI Themes store contain animated watches that are updated in real time.
These methods do not replace the system clock, but they allow you to achieve a unique visual effect, the main thing is not to overload the lock screen with unnecessary elements, so as not to lose comfort.
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Widgets and live wallpaper are good for those who want unique design but are not willing to risk the stability of the system, but they are not a replacement for the system clock, they are only a complement to it.