Personalizing a smartphone interface is not just a way to stand out, it’s also an opportunity to make the device more convenient in everyday use. Owners of Xiaomi gadgets often face the desire to change the standard look of the lock screen or desktop to look fresh and original. A particularly popular request is to change the look of the watch, because it is the time we look most often. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and its modern counterpart HyperOS provide ample opportunities for customization without the need for superuser rights.
The change process can vary depending on your device model and the version of the operating system installed. The color of the watch may depend on the chosen theme, the set dial or the system settings of the font. In some cases, only the style can be changed with standard means, and in others, you will need to install third-party applications or widgets. Understanding these nuances will help you avoid confusion and quickly achieve the desired visual effect.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods for transforming the time indicator on your screen. We will look at both the built-in tools of the system and the capabilities of the Themes application, which is the main look control center in Xiaomi smartphones. You will learn how to find the perfect combination of colors and fonts that will please the eye every time you pick up the phone.
Use of built-in design themes
The easiest and most reliable way to change the color and style of the watch is to use the official theme store. Themes is pre-installed on all devices of the brand and contains millions of design options created by both the company and independent designers. When choosing a new theme, you change not only the wallpaper, but also the system icons, sounds, and the appearance of the watch on the lock screen and in the notification curtain.
To get started, run the Themes app on your smartphone. You can search for keywords like "digital clock," "neon," "minimal" or just "white" to find designs with the digit color you want. It's important to understand that when you install the theme, the clock changes on the lock screen. If you need to change the time widget on the home screen, this is done separately through the widget menu.
Once the theme is installed, the system will suggest changes. If you are only happy with the style of the watch and you do not want to change the wallpaper or icons, when using the theme, click on the "Theme Settings" button (usually the gear or checkboxes at the bottom of the screen), here you can deselect from all points except "lock screen", this will only change the time and date, preserving your usual desktop background.
It's worth noting that some themes may be paid or require you to view ads to activate. Free options are often marked with the appropriate icon. If you downloaded a theme but the color of the watch hasn't changed, check if a particular design supports time customization. Some author's themes focus only on icons and wallpaper, leaving the system clock unchanged.
Customization of the dials Always on Display
Owners of smartphones with AMOLED-screens have a unique ability to configure the display of time in Always On Display mode (AOD). It's a feature that shows the clocks and notifications when the screen is off, while consuming minimal energy. Changing the color of the watch in this mode dramatically changes the experience of the device, especially in the dark.
To set up AOD, go to the Settings menu, then select the Lock Screen section and find Always On Display. Here you will be prompted to choose one of the preset styles or download new ones from the directory. Unlike regular themes, AOD dials often have animations and can change color depending on time of day or battery power.
- 🎨 Choose the style "Digital" or "Analog" depending on your preferences.
- 🌙 Pay attention to the presence of night mode, which makes the clock less bright.
- 🔋 Set up a work schedule to save battery power at night.
Some advanced dials allow you to adjust color manually. If your chosen style supports editing, next to the preview will be a "Tune" button or palette icon. Here you can choose any shade from the spectrum, making the watch contrast to the background. Energy consumption in AOD mode is directly dependent on the brightness and number of active pixels, so the white color of the watch will consume more energy than black or dark gray.
⚠️ Attention: Constant operation of the Always On Display function can reduce the battery life of the smartphone 10-15% It is recommended to use the schedule mode or "10 seconds after touching to avoid quick discharge.
Customization of time widgets on the desktop
If your goal is to change the color of the watch directly on the home screen (desktop), then standard themes here may not help, as they affect the lock screen primarily. Desktop widgets are used. There are several types of time widgets in the MIUI and HyperOS shell, and their appearance often depends on the chosen theme, but there are ways to change them independently.
To replace the widget, press the empty space on your desktop with your finger until the menu appears at the bottom. Select Widgets. In the list that opens, find the "Clock" category. Here you will see all the available options set by the system and themes. With a finger to the left or right, you can select a widget with a different design. However, standard Xiaomi widgets often have a fixed color that automatically adjusts to the wallpaper (white on dark, black on light).
To get full control of color, font and size, it is best to install a third-party widget app, such as Overdrop, KWGT or HD Widgets. These apps allow you to create a time widget from scratch or choose from thousands of presets. Once you install such an application, the widget will appear in the system’s general list of widgets, and you can place it on your desktop by selecting any color of text and background.
☑️ Preparation for installation of widgets
Using third-party widgets is incredibly flexible, you can make your watch translucent, add a second hand, change the font to handwritten or neon, and the main advantage of this approach is that you don't have to change the theme of your design, and even if you change the theme, your custom time widget will remain the same, keeping the color and style you choose.
Change the system font to change the style of time
An interesting way to influence the look of the watch, especially in some firmware versions, is to change the system font. Since the time in the status bar (at the top of the screen) and sometimes on the lock screen is displayed in the system font, replacing it can visually change the perception of the watch, even if the color remains standard.
To do this, go to Settings, then to Screen, and select Font (or search for it in the settings). In the MIUI font store, you can download and apply a new font. Some fonts have a bolder or thinner font, which changes the weight of the numbers on the screen. Time readability is a critical parameter, so don't choose too fancy fonts that are difficult to read at a glance.
Consider that changing the font will affect the entire interface of the smartphone: menus, messages, browsers and apps. If your goal is only color, this method may be redundant. However, when combined with a specific theme matched to the new font, you can achieve a unique visual style. After applying the font, the system may require a reboot to correctly display all the interface elements.
| Method of modification | Where it changes | Difficulty | Flexibility of setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design topics | Lock screen | Low. | Medium (depending on the topic) |
| Always On Display | Screen off | Low. | High (in paid topics) |
| Third-party widgets | Desktop | Medium | Maximum |
| Systemic font | Status line | Low. | Low (style only) |
Display problems and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where after installing the theme, the color of the watch does not change or is displayed incorrectly. This may be due to the cache of the application or a version conflict. In such cases, it is recommended to clear the cache of the Themes application. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find “Themes”, select “Memory” and click “Clear Cache”.
Another common problem is automatic color inversion. The system tries to make the watch readable against any background: if the wallpaper is light, the watch turns black, and vice versa. If you have set the theme, but the watch remains white on a light background (becoming invisible), try changing the wallpaper to darker ones or check if the Simplified Mode or Read Mode mode is turned on, which forcibly changes the colors of the interface.
Why do the clocks reset after rebooting?
In rare cases, the bug may be in the firmware itself. If nothing helps, try updating the Themes app via GetApps or Google Play. Developers regularly release patches that fix graphics display errors. Also make sure the phone has the latest security update installed.
Additional personalization opportunities
Don't just limit yourself to the color of the numbers. The interface is completely harmonious with a holistic approach. You can synchronize the color of the watch with the color of the accents in the system. New versions of Android and HyperOS have a feature that automatically matches the colors of the interface elements (buttons, sliders) to the dominant color of your wallpaper. If you put a blue wallpaper, and the watch supports this feature, it can also get a bluish tint.
You can also look at the time format, and you can select the 12-hour or 24-hour format for Date and Time settings, and you can also turn on the second display. For the lock screen, some themes allow you to display a second line of time for a different time zone, which is convenient for those who often communicate with relatives or partners from other countries.
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Expert advice: Always look at screenshots of descriptions taken by other users before installing a new theme. Often, the screenshot from the developer looks perfect, but on a real device with a camera cutout (bangs), the numbers may overlap.
Experiment with combinations. You can set a theme with a bright neon clock for the lock screen to make the phone look stylish in your pocket or on the desk, and use a minimalist widget on the desktop to focus on tasks. Personalization is a creative process, and Xiaomi tools allow you to implement almost any idea.