How to change the color of the watch Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: all ways

Why the color of the Redmi Note 7 watches doesn’t change by standard methods

Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 often face a problem: the color of the watch on the lock screen or in Always On Display (AOD) mode seems too dull, does not match the wallpaper or just bored. Unlike Xiaomi flagship models, where the color setting of the watch is integrated into the firmware, in the Redmi Note 7 this option is either hidden or absent, the reason lies in the MIUI version: budget devices get “cut” builds with limited customization options.

But that doesn't mean you can't change the color of the watch. There are at least 5 working methods, from official settings to third-party apps to even manual editing of system files. The key is to understand that some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which can affect the warranty and security of the device. In this article, we'll look at all the options, from the simplest to the most advanced ones, and also explain how to return everything if the result doesn't like.

Before you start, check the MIUI version on your device: Settings path → About phone → MIUI version. Current firmware (starting with MIUI 12) supports more customization options, but even on them, the color of the watch can be blocked for a particular model. If your Redmi Note 7 runs on MIUI 11 or older, some methods may not work - we will warn you about this in advance.

Method 1: Standard MIUI settings (not working on all versions)

The safest and most obvious way is to look for the color settings on the MIUI menu, which is unfortunately not available in Redmi Note 7, but you can find it on some firmware.

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Scroll down to the "Style of Watches" or "Setting up AOD" section (if any).
3. If you see the Color of Watch option, tap it and select the appropriate shade from the palette. Some versions of MIUI 12.5+ have predefined themes available here (e.g. Classic, Digital, Analog with different color schemes).

If there is no such item, don’t despair — that’s normal for the Redmi Note 7. The manufacturer often limits customization in budget models.

⚠️ Attention: firmware MIUI 10 and below, the color change option is not even in the hidden menus. ADB modified APK This can cause a lock screen to fail.

If standard settings don’t work, try updating your firmware to the latest version. Sometimes after upgrading to MIUI 12/13, additional options appear. Check for updates along the way: Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Method 2: Use MIUI themes (the easiest method)

One of the most reliable ways to change the color of a watch is to set the MIUI theme with the right palette, and not only do the themes change the wallpaper and icons, but they also change the way you display time on the lock screen and in AOD mode.

1. Open the “Themes” app (icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the "lock screen" or "AOD" section (depending on where you want to change the color).
3. Choose your favorite theme with the right color of the watch. Pay attention to the preview, which usually shows what time will look like.
4. Click "Apply" and wait for the installation to be completed.

Some themes offer dynamic watch colors that change depending on wallpaper or time of day. For example, the Dark Nebula theme uses blue and purple, and Minimal White theme uses black and white, and the downside of this method is that the themes change not only the clock, but also other interface elements, and if you need to keep the current design other than the watch, this is not the right way to go.

• 🎨 Pros: No root rights, safe, fast.
• 🔄 Cons: changes the entire style of the interface, limited choice of colors.
• 🔍 Tip: Use search by topic with keywords "AOD color or "clock color".

If you don't find a suitable theme, try creating your own.

1. In the “Themes” app, go to “My Topics” → “Theme Editor”.
2. Select "lock screen" and edit the color of the watch manually (if the option is available).
3. Save and apply the new topic.

💡

Check other users’ reviews before installing themes – some themes may contain ads or work incorrectly on the Redmi Note 7.

Method 3: Third-party applications for AOD customization

If standard methods don't work, third-party apps will come to the rescue. There are several proven utilities that allow you to change the color of the watch without root rights. The main condition is that you have Always On Display mode on your device. If you don't, first activate AOD through settings or special applications (for example, Always On AMOLED).

The best apps for changing the color of the watch:

Let’s look at the example of Always on AMOLED:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and provide the necessary permissions (access to notifications, auto-start).
3. Go to the "Clock" section.
4. Select the time display style and press "Color".
5. Set the desired shade with a palette or enter HEX-colour.
6. Save the settings and activate the AOD mode.

⚠️ Attention: third-party applications for AOD They can increase battery consumption by 5 to 15 percent because of the constant activity of the screen. If you notice a strong heat or rapid discharge, turn off the application and return to the standard screen. AOD.

If the app doesn’t display the clock or doesn’t work properly, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Clear the application cache in settings (Settings) → Annexes → Always On AMOLED → Memory. → Clear the cache).
• 🔒 Provide all permissions requested, including “Overlapping other applications".

Disable standard AOD in MIUI settings

Provide access to notifications

Add an app to auto-start

Clean the cache after installation-->

Method 4: Editing system files (for advanced users)

If you're willing to take risks, you can change the color of the watch by editing system files. This method requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights, as well as knowledge of working with the Android file system. 7 clock color is stored in a file /system/media/theme/default/lockscreen_clock_color.xml, But its modification can cause the lock screen to fail.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Mi Unlock tool (instructions on the Xiaomi website).
2. Install custom recovery (such as TWRP) and get root rights through Magisk.
3. Download a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
4. Cross the path. /system/media/theme/default/ Find the file that determines the color of the watch (usually lockscreen_clock_color.xml or aod_colors.xml).
5. Make a backup copy of the file (copy it on the SD-map).
6. Open the file in the text editor and find the line with HEX-colour code (e.g, #FFFFFFFF Replace it with the desired color (e.g., white, #FF0000FF red).
7. Save the changes, set the rights 644 (r-w-r--r---) and restart the device.

If the lock screen fails after rebooting or the clock is gone, return the original file from the backup.This method does not guarantee success, as configuration files may differ from one version of MIUI.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to a “bootloop” ( looped reboot).If you are not sure about your actions, use the more secure methods in this article.

Alternatively, custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) is installed, where the color setting of the watch is implemented at the system level, but this requires deep knowledge and may be unwarranted.

Method 5: Use ADB-commands without root)

Less risky than editing system files, but still requires caution, changing the color of the watch through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on some versions of MIUI and does not require root rights, but requires debugging mode and a computer.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone and tap on the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable “Debugging by USB”.
3. Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable and install drivers ADB (You can download it through Mi. PC Suite or Platform Tools from Google).
4. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_clock_color FF0000FF

Where FF0000FF — HEX-Replace it with the color code (in this case red) and replace it with the color code (for example, red, FF00FF00 green-colored).

If you're not running the command correctly, restart the phone. The clock on the lock screen should change color. If you're not, try the other commands:

adb shell settings put secure aod_clock_color FF0000FF


adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_aod_clock_color FF0000FF

Not all versions of MIUI support these commands, and if you get a "Setting not found" error, your firmware doesn't allow you to change the color of your watch through ADB.

• 🔧 Pros: does not require root, reversible.
• ⚠️ Cons: It doesn’t work on all versions MIUI, You need skills to work with ADB.
• 💡 Tip: Before experimenting, back up your settings via adb backup.

💡

ADB-Teams are the safest of the "advanced" ones, but their support depends on the version. MIUI. If the team doesn’t work, try other methods.

How to return the standard color of the watch

If the experiments with the color of the watch were not successful or the result did not suit you, you can return everything in several ways, depending on the method used:

• 🔙 After using the topics MIUI: Set a standard theme (Settings) → Topics → Standard).
• 📱 After third-party apps: delete the app or reset its settings to factory.
• 🔧 After editing system files: restore the original file from a backup or reflash the firmware.
• 💻 After ADB-Commands: execute commands with original color (usually FFFFFFFF For white: adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_clock_color FFFFFFFF

If after the changes the lock screen stopped working correctly (the clock disappeared, artifacts appeared), reset the lock screen settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Lock Screen or System UI (depending on the MIUI version).
3. Press "Storage" → "Clear the data".
4. Reboot the phone.

Factory resetting will help in the extreme, but only use it if other methods have not worked.

Frequently asked questions