How to change the clock on the lock screen Xiaomi: all the ways and hidden settings

Why Xiaomi doesn’t display a lock-on clock — and how to fix it

The lock screen on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is not just a random tap protection, but a full-fledged dashboard. It displays notifications, weather, fast actions and, of course, hours. But what if the time is shown in an uncomfortable format, too small or even lost? This problem is most often associated with system settings, MIUI/HyperOS updates or third-party themes.

In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to change the clock on the lock screen: from the basic change of formats (12/24 hours) to hidden functions such as dial animation or return of classic style MIUI 11. You will also learn why seconds or dates have disappeared after the update, and how to return them without resetting the settings. 10 Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Before you start settings, make sure your device has the latest firmware installed. In HyperOS (new shell instead of MIUI), some menu items have moved, and the old manuals may be misleading. If you don't know the version of your system, check it in Settings → About Phone → MIUI/HyperOS version.

Method 1: Basic setting of time and date formats

The easiest way to change the look of a watch is to use standard system settings, which works on all versions of MIUI and HyperOS, but the options available may vary slightly depending on the model.

To change the format of the display time:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Lock Screen section (HyperOS may call it Lock and Password).
3. Select the watch style or watch settings.
4. Here you will see a few options: 🕒 12-clock-form (AM/PM) — It is suitable for the United States and some European countries. ⏰ 24-Watch format - standard for Russia and CIS. 📅 Show date – turns on/off the day of the week and the number. ⚙️ Additional settings (in some firmware) – here you can change the font or color.

If the watch style item is not on the menu, then your firmware does not support it. In this case, try the following methods:

Method 2: Change the theme of the design (including the clock)

At Xiaomi, the look of the watch on the lock screen is tightly tied to the theme of the design. If you want to radically change the style (for example, make the numbers larger or add animation), the easiest way to change the theme is through the MIUI Themes store.

How to do this:

1. Open the Themes app (brush icon on the home screen).
2. In the lower menu, select the Lock section.
3. Scroll through the list of available topics. Pay attention to the preview, and you can see what the watch will look like.
4. Click on your favorite topic and select Apply.

Some themes offer dynamic watches with smooth animations or changing backgrounds depending on the time of day, such as the theme “AOD Digital” adds the effect of “breathing” numbers, and “Neumorphic” – volume watches in the style of skeumorphism.

Important! When you change the theme, you can change not only the style of the watch, but also the fonts, notification icons, even sounds. If you don't like the change, return the standard theme to the same menu.

Method 3: Manual editing of system files (for advanced)

If you didn't have the standard settings, you can manually edit the system files that display time, which requires root rights and is only suitable for advanced users, and the wrong actions can cause a system failure or a device brick!

Instructions for MIUI 12-14:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/media/theme/default/.
3. Find the file. lockscreen_clock_style.xml (The name may vary depending on the version).
4. Open it in the text editor and change the settings: 🔢 clock_size="24" — font size (default) 24sp). 🎨 clock_color="#FFFFFFFF" — color in hex format (default white). 📏 clock_margin_top="50" — margin.

Save the changes and restart the phone.

For HyperOS, the path may be different – look for files in /product/media/theme/ or /vendor/overlay/. Make sure to back up the original file before editing!

Method 4: Using third-party launchers and Magisk modules

If you don't have the flexibility of standard settings, you can use third-party tools, such as Magisk modules, which allow you to fine-tune the look of the watch without manually editing system files.

Popular solutions:

• 🔧 MiuiClock is a module for changing the font, color and position of the watch. MIUI 12-14.
• 🎭 Lockscreen Customizer – allows you to hide the watch completely or replace it with a weather widget.
• 🔄 HyperOS Tweaks – a set of patches for the new shell, including setting up lock animations.

To install the module:

1. Download the file from the XDA Developers or 4PDA forum.
2. Open Magisk Manager and go to the Modules section.
3. Click Install from Storage and select the downloaded file.
4. Reboot the phone.

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Before installing any module, check that it is compatible with your version of MIUI/HyperOS. Some modules may conflict with system updates and cause errors.

Method 5: Reset the lock screen settings

If the watch is missing after updating or changing the theme, sometimes resetting the lock settings to factory helps, which does not affect user data, but will return the standard style of design.

How to reset your settings:

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Scroll down and select Settings Reset (in HyperOS it can be called Default Reset).
3. Confirm the action.

Once reset, the watch will return to its standard view, but all your personal settings (wallpaper, notifications, quick actions) will reset. If the problem was the configuration file failure, this method will solve it.

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Resetting lock settings does not delete app data or files in the phone’s memory; it only affects visual elements: theme, fonts, widget layout and watch style.

Table: Method compatibility with MIUI and HyperOS versions

⚠️ Attention! In HyperOS, some methods may not work well due to changes in the system structure. Before experimenting with manual editing or modules, back up through Settings. → Memory. → Backup.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Sometimes the clock on the lock screen is not behaving correctly, disappearing, showing the wrong time or not updating. Here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• ⏱️ The clock is not updated – check the time settings in Settings → Additionally. → Date and time. Make sure Autodetermination is enabled.
• 🕳️ Watch is missing after the update – reset the lock settings (see Method 5) or set a standard theme.
• 🔍 Small print watches - try changing the theme to one of the series "Big Clock" in the theme store.
• 🔄 The clock resets after the reset is a sign of conflict of Magisk modules.

If none of these methods worked, it may be a system service failure, which can only help you reset your phone completely to factory settings (don’t forget to back up!).

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Before resetting to factory settings, try clearing the system cache: turn off the phone, press Power + Volume up, select Wipe Cache. This won't delete your data, but can solve the clock problem.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions