How to change the color of the watch on the lock screen Xiaomi

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the desire to personalize their gadget by making it look unique. One of the most noticeable parts of the interface is the lock screen, where time is displayed most quickly. However, the standard settings of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS do not always allow you to change the color of the dial with a simple switch in the menu.

Many users mistakenly believe that the only way to change the shade of numbers is to install third-party themes, but that's not the only way. There are several methods to achieve the desired visual effect, from built-in features to the use of specialized applications. It's important to understand that the options available depend on the version of the operating system and the model of your device.

In this article, we will take a look at all the current customization methods, we will look at both the regular personalization tools and the opportunities that open up when using apps for themes, you will learn how to adjust the font, size and, of course, the color of the dial to make your smartphone look exactly the way you want.

Personalization capabilities in MIUI and HyperOS

To start with, the system itself offers no additional software. In the latest versions of the MIUI 14 and HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has significantly expanded the widgets and lock screen style, so you can change not only the wallpaper, but also the style of display time.

To access the basic settings, you need to go to the personalization menu, and here the system will offer several preset design options, and note that the color of the numbers is often tied to the chosen style or automatically adjusts to the dominant colors of the installed wallpaper.

• 🎨 Open the Topics app on the desktop.
• 🎨 Go to the user profile (the person icon in the lower right corner).
• 🎨 Select Lock Screen or Personalization.
• 🎨 Click on the Customize button under the current style.

In the menu that opens, you'll see different ways of placing the watch, some styles that allow you to change the color of the text manually, choosing from the palette, but if the color you want is not in the standard palette, you'll have to resort to more advanced customization methods.

⚠️ Note: On some models of smartphones of the budget segment, the lock screen customization functions can be reduced by the manufacturer to save system resources.

It's also worth noting that HyperOS has a smart color change feature that analyzes the image on the screensaver and offers harmonious color schemes for widgets and watches, allowing you to create a single visual style without deep immersion in technical settings.

Using the Themes app to change style

The most effective way to change the color of the watch on the lock screen Xiaomi is to use the official theme store. Unlike standard settings, the store offers thousands of design options, where the color, font and animation of the dial are already set by designers.

When searching for a topic, look for lock screen screenshots. Often users search for a specific color, such as gold, neon or minimalist black. In the theme store search box, you can use relevant keywords to quickly find the right option.

The process of installing the theme is simple and does not require root rights. Once you download and apply the theme, the changes take effect instantly. If you like the visual style of the theme but don't like the call icon, for example, you can only use the Lock Screen component.

Free options are also common and are not inferior in functionality to paid counterparts. When installing a third-party theme, the system can request confirmation to change the system fonts - agree if you want to see changes.

Sometimes, after you install a new theme, the color of the watch may not change immediately, so try to switch the lock screen in the settings to the standard one, and then return the selected theme, which forcefully updates the GUI cache.

Set up fonts to change color perception

Interestingly, changing the system font can visually change how you perceive the color and style of a watch. The Xiaomi theme store has a separate font section where you can find options with customized marking.

Some fonts have a built-in color scheme or gradient effect that applies to text throughout the system, including the lock screen.This is a great way to make the interface unique without setting heavy themes with many elements.

To install the font, go to the theme store profile and select the Fonts section. Once you download and apply the font, the changes will affect all text elements of the interface. Be careful: too pretentious fonts can reduce the readability of text in the settings menu.

• 🔤 Fonts affect the whole system, not just the clock.
• 🔤 Some fonts may incorrectly display Cyrillic (Russian letters).
• 🔤 To return to the original form, it is enough to select a standard font in the settings.

⚠️ Note: When installing fonts from unverified sources outside the official theme store, there is a risk of impairing the stability of the interface or the appearance of “squares” instead of letters.

When combined with certain wallpapers, even standard white font can look different thanks to contrast. Experiment with combinations of "dark wallpaper + light font" or "light wallpaper + dark font" to achieve the result.

Customization through Always On Display

Owners of smartphones with AMOLED-screens have a unique opportunity to configure a permanently on display (Always On Display or AOD). In this mode, the clock is displayed even when the screen is formally off, and there are separate color settings available.

AOD settings often have one of many dial styles, some of which allow you to manually set the color of the watch, independent of the color of the main theme, and this is especially important for energy savings, since black backgrounds and colored numbers consume minimal resources.

To set up AOD, go to Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display. Here you will see a gallery of available styles. Choose the one that allows color editing, and specify the desired shade from the palette.

It’s worth noting that constantly displaying time can slightly increase battery consumption, although on modern Xiaomi models this optimization is minimized. You can also adjust the AOD schedule to only turn on at certain times of the day.

Using custom-colored AOD is not only beautiful, it's practical. You can see the time without unlocking your phone or turning on the main screen, which is especially convenient during meetings or at night.

Third-party applications for the lock screen

If standard tools are not enough, third-party apps from Google Play come to the rescue. Programs like Lock Screen & Password or specialized widgets allow you to completely redraw the lock screen, replacing the standard MIUI interface.

These apps offer almost unlimited options: you can change color, size, font, add weather widgets, pedometer and more, but it’s worth remembering that a third-party lock screen can consume more power and sometimes conflict with system security features.

When installing such software, Android will request special permissions to display over other windows and access data, granting these rights only to trusted applications with high ratings and a large number of reviews.

• 📲 Additional security permits are required.
• 📲 Can reduce the autonomy of the device.
• 📲 Provide maximum flexibility in color settings.

⚠️ Note: Using third-party lock screens can cause the fingerprint scanner or face unlock to work slower or unstable.

For most users, the optimal solution is still the use of built-in themes, as they are better optimized for working with Xiaomi hardware. Third-party applications should be considered as a last resort, when the standard functionality categorically does not meet the requirements.

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