How to change the location of the clock on the lock screen Xiaomi: all the ways

Xiaomi’s lock screen is the first thing you see when you turn on your smartphone, and its design plays a key role in the user experience. One of the most notable elements here is the clock, which is the default one at the top of the screen. However, not everyone likes standard placement: some want to move it down for convenience, some want to move it aside to make room for the weather widget or notifications. Unfortunately, MIUI doesn’t offer a direct option to move the clock in settings, but there are several workarounds, from hidden features to using third-party themes.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change the position of the clock on the lock screen for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running MIUI 12, 13 and 14. You will learn which models support flexible configuration, how to circumvent system limitations with the help of design themes, and what to do if none of the methods worked. We will also look at common errors and give recommendations for preserving the functionality of the lock screen after changes.

Why can’t you just drag the clock on the lock screen?

Many Xiaomi users wonder why there is no obvious option to move the clock in the system - even on budget smartphones of other brands, this feature is often available. MIUI Historically, it uses a fixed lock screen pattern, where the position of key elements (hours, dates, notification icons) is rigidly fixed in the shell code:

• 🔹 Keeping Uniformity – Xiaomi is committed to a unified design across all devices so that users can easily navigate from one model to another.
• 🔹 Performance optimization – dynamically changing the location of elements requires additional computing resources, which can affect the smoothness of animations.
• 🔹 Security – some widgets on the lock screen (e.g., a camera or a camera) SOS) You must remain available in fixed areas for quick access.

However, the latest versions of MIUI 13 and MIUI 14 have hidden lock screen settings through themes and system menus that allow you to indirectly influence the position of the watch, and there are third-party solutions, but they require caution - improper actions can lead to malfunctions in the shell.

⚠️ Warning: Changing system files or using unofficial themes may result in a loss of warranty on the device.Before experimenting, back up your data in Settings → The phone. → Backup.

Method 1: Using the built-in MIUI themes

The safest and most formal way to change the location of the watch is to use pre-installed themes in the MIUI Gallery. Many themes offer alternative lock screen designs where the watch can be located at the bottom, in the center or even on the sides.

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the Lock screen section in the lower menu.
3. Scroll through the list of topics and choose one where the clock is located differently from your current one. Pay attention to the preview, where you can see the position of the clock.
4. Click Apply and confirm the changes.

Some topics where the clock is moved down or sideways:

• 🌌 Cosmic – watch in the lower left corner, minimalist design.
• 🌿 Nature Lock – clock in the center of the screen, large print.
• 📱 Digital Clock – watch on the right, style of “smart watches".

If you don't like the overall theme design but you like the clock layout, you can return the standard desktop theme by leaving only the lock screen from the new theme.

Settings → Theme → Theme setting → Lock screen → Select the current one

Method 2: Editing system files (for advanced users)

For those willing to take risks for full control of the lock screen, there is a method of manual editing system files, which requires root rights and knowledge of the Android file system. We will look at MIUI 14, but similar steps apply to older versions.

Warning: Mistakes can result in a cyclical reboot of the device or loss of functionality of the lock screen.If you are unsure of your skills, skip this section.

⚠️ Note: This method only works on devices with an unlocked bootloader and installed by Magisk or another root rights manager. 12T Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+) Changing system files can trigger antirollback and lock the device.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/media/theme/default/ This is where the standard theme files are stored, including lock screen settings.
3. Find the file. lockscreen_clock_layout.xml (The name may vary slightly depending on the version. MIUI).
4. Make sure you are in a safe place (for example, on the SD-You can edit it with a text editor, look for lines with gravity and margin, for example: <item name="clock_gravity">bottom|center_horizontal</item> It'll move the clock down the center.
5. Save the file and replace it with the original file in the system folder, having previously made a backup.
6. Reset the device.

If the lock screen stops working or doesn't display correctly after rebooting, return the original file to its place. You can use scripts in Tasker or Magisk modules to automate the process, but this requires a separate guide.

Method 3: Using third-party launchers and applications

If you don’t want to mess with themes or system files, you can use third-party apps that allow you to customize the lock screen, but note that most of these programs require you to turn off the standard MIUI lock screen, which can affect:

• 🔔 Notifications (they may not be displayed correctly).
• 🔒 Security features (fingerprint or Face Unlock may stop working).
• 📱 Battery optimization (some applications use up extra energy).

The most popular applications for customizing the lock screen:

Instructions for Always On Edge:

1. Download the app from Google Play and provide all the necessary permissions.
2. In the application settings, select Lock Screen → Clock Position.
3. Drag the clock to the right place for screen preview.
4. Activate Override MIUI Lock Screen (you may need to disable the standard blocker in Settings → Applications → By Default).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and Android 13+ Some applications for customizing the lock screen may conflict with system services. If notifications from messengers or biometric unlocking stop working after installation, return the standard lock screen.

Make a data backup

Check the compatibility of the application with your Xiaomi model

Disable the standard lock screen in the settings

Provide all requested permits

Testing the work of notifications and biometrics

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Method 4: Reset the lock screen settings to factory

If, after experimenting with themes or apps, the lock screen starts to work incorrectly (for example, the clock is lost or overlaid on notifications), you can return the standard settings without completely resetting the phone.

1. Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy.
2. Select the lock screen.
3. Click Reset the lock screen settings (on some models, the option may be called Reset by default).
4. Confirm the action with a password or pattern lock.

This procedure will bring back:

• 🕒 Standard position of the clock (top in the center).
• 📱 Original background and style of notifications.
• 🔐 Biometric unlocking settings (fingerprint/face).

If the reset option is not available, try an alternative method:

Settings → About the phone → Resetting settings → Resetting interface settings

This will return only visual parameters to the factory settings, without affecting the application data.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing the location of the clock on the lock screen, users often encounter errors, and consider the most common ones and how to fix them:

1.The clock is missing after applying the topic

If the watch has disappeared after the theme change, it is likely that the new theme uses a transparent style or conflicts with the current version of MIUI.

• 🔄 Bring back the previous topic.
• 🎨 Try another theme from the same section (for example, if you have a problem with the Cosmic theme, try Digital Clock").
• 📱 Restart the device – sometimes the watch appears after the reboot.

2.The hours are overlaid on notifications

This is a typical problem when you move the clock down.

• 📏 Adjust the indentations in the theme file (if you use manual editing).
• 🔽 In the notification settings (Settings) → Notifications) turn off the display of content on the lock screen.
• 🎭 Use the theme where the clock and notifications are spread out across different screen zones.

3. Biometric unlocking is not working

If the fingerprint scanner or Face Unlock has stopped working after changing the lock screen, the reason is usually in conflict with a third-party application.

• 🚫 Remove the third-party blocker and return the standard screen.
• 🔧 Re-register your fingerprint in Settings → Passwords and security → Fingerprint.
• 📱 Update. MIUI up to the latest version - in new assemblies, bugs with biometrics are often corrected.

💡

If after changing the theme, the lock screen began to slow down, clear the cache of the Themes application in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Themes → Clear the cache.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

💡

The safest way to change the position of the watch is to use official MIUI themes. Manual editing of system files or third-party applications can lead to unstable operation of the lock screen and loss of biometric unlock functionality.