How to install a clock on the Xiaomi desktop: official and hidden methods

Why Xiaomi doesn’t have default clock widgets – and how to fix it

You just upgraded your Xiaomi smartphone to a new MIUI — and you found out that you don't have a desktop watch, or you want to add an analog watch instead of a digital one? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and other models. The fact is that since MIUI 12, Xiaomi has simplified the interface by removing some widgets from quick access. But that doesn't mean that they can't be returned!

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to install a clock on your desktop, from standard solutions to hidden shell features. We tested all methods on current firmware (including HyperOS for new models) and ensure that at least one of them will work on your device. And if you like customization, at the end there is a bonus about the side widgets with animation and weather.

Before you start, make sure that on your smartphone:

📱 Version. MIUI at least 12 (check the settings) → On the old versions (MIUI 11 and below, some methods may not work.
🔄 Updates are installed. Sometimes widgets appear after the system app update.
📦 There are no restrictions on widgets (relevant for work profiles or children's accounts).

📊 What kind of Xiaomi model do you have?

Redmi Note 10/11/12

POCO X3/X4/X5

Mi 11/12/13

Another model

I don't know.

The easiest method is to use a built-in widget that is hidden in the add-on menu, which works on 90% of Xiaomi devices (except some budget models like the Redmi A1).

Step 1. Press and hold the empty space on your desktop (not on the icon!) and the settings menu will appear.
Step 2. Select Widgets (or Widgets in English firmware).
Step 3. Scroll down to the Clock. There may be options: ⏰ Digital clocks (show time, date, alarm clocks). ⏱️ Analog clock (with dial, sometimes with weather). 🌍 World Time (for several time zones).

Step 4.

If there's no Watch block in the widget list, it's the default on your model. Go to Method 2.

Update the “Clock” app in Google Play|Reboot your smartphone|Try another launcher (like Nova Launcher)|Check the screen settings (possibly the "Light Interface" mode is enabled")-->

⚠️ Note: Some of the scoring for POCO The watch widget may be called Clock & Weather, and if it's not, check if the com.android.deskclock system app is disabled in the app settings.

Method 2: Adding through the MIUI launcher settings

If the standard widget doesn’t appear, it can be unlocked through hidden shell settings, a method that works even on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra and other flagships with HyperOS.

Instructions:

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
In the search box, type in the launcher (or launcher). Select the MIUI Launcher app (or POCO Launcher for POCO devices).
Click Storage → Clear cache and Clear data (this will reset your desktop settings, but won’t delete apps!).
Return to your desktop, make a long press, and check the widget list – the watch should show up.

If this method does not work, try an alternative way:

Settings → Desktop → Additional settings → Default widgets

Turn on the tick opposite the clock.

💡

Once the launcher is reset, you may lose your app sorting, so to quickly restore it, click three dots in the dock and select Sort → Alphabetically.

Xiaomi model	Does the standard watch widget support the watch?	Notes
Redmi Note 12 Pro+	✅ Yes.	The widget is available in MIUI 14, but may not be available in HyperOS (update needed).
POCO X5 Pro	✅ Yes. POCO Launcher)	Analog watches are hidden – look for the “POCO Widgets” section.
Xiaomi 13 Lite	✅ Yes.	Supports weather and calendar widgets.
Redmi A2	❌ No.	Budget model without widgets. Use method 4 or 5.
Mi 11 Ultra	✅ Yes. MIUI 13+)	You can add up to 3 hours of widgets to a single screen.

Few people know, but the Clock app in MIUI can work as a widget.

Find the Watch app icon on your desktop (usually in the Tools folder).
Press and hold it, then drag it to the top of the screen where the words Delete/Widget appear.
Release your finger when you see the option to Create a widget (not on all models!).
Select the size of the widget (for example, 4×2 for large watches).

How to determine:

Download your favorite app from Google Play.
Open it and select your favorite watch pattern.
Return to desktop, make a long press → Widgets → find the widget of the installed application (for example, KWGT 4×2).
Drag it on the screen and adjust the size/style.

On HyperOS models (Xiaomi 14, 13T, etc.), some widgets may not update the time in the background. To fix this, add the app to the battery optimization exceptions: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All apps → Find the widget → Disable optimization.

Method 5: The hidden function "Always on Display" AMOLED-screen)

If your Xiaomi AMOLED-screen (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi K50 You can use the same option, always on display (AOD) It's an alternative to widgets, and it shows the time, date and notifications even on a locked screen.

How to turn on:

Go to Settings → Screen → Always On Display
Choose the style of the watch (analog, digital and even animated options are available).
Set up a schedule (you can leave Always or set an interval).
Activate the option to Show when lifting, so that the screen is turned on when moving.

AOD consumes a minimum battery charge (about 1-2% per hour), but only works on devices with AMOLED-matrix. Redmi Note 10 and other smartphones with IPS-screens this feature is not.

💡

Always On Display is the best option for those who want to see time without unlocking their phone.It doesn't replace the desktop widget, but saves space and battery.

Bonus: How to make a watch transparent or with animation

If you're tired of standard watches, you can customize them with MIUI themes or third-party apps. Here are two ways:

1. Through MIUI themes

The MIUI shell allows you to change the style of the watch through the themes:

Open the Themes (or Themes) app.
Go to the Watch or Lockscreen section (depending on version).
Choose your favorite style (there are animated, transparent and even 3D-clockwork).
Apply the theme – the changes will affect the widget and lock screen.

2. Using the Good Lock app (for advanced users)

If you have Xiaomi running Android 12+, you can use the Nice Lock module from Good Lock (requires installation via APK):

🔧 Download Nice Lock from Samsung Good Lock (Yes, it works on Xiaomi too!).
🎨 In the ClockFace section, select the style of the watch (there is even an Apple Watch-style watch).
🔄 Apply changes and restart the launcher.

These methods don’t work on all models, but if you like experimentation, it’s worth a try!

FAQ: Frequent questions about watch widgets on Xiaomi

❓ Why After Updating MIUI The clock is missing from the desktop?

This is a known problem when switching to MIUI 13/14 or HyperOS. Widgets are reset due to a change in the launcher structure. Solution: Clear the launcher cache (see Method 2). Check if the Watch app is disabled in the settings. If nothing helps, install a third-party widget (see Method 4).

❓ Can I put the clock on the lock screen?

Yes, for this: Go to Settings → Lock screen. Select Watch Style and set the time/date display. On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro) you can add a weather widget next to the clock. Note: the lock screen only displays the system clock - third-party widgets do not work here.

❓ Why the watch widget doesn’t automatically update?

This is because of battery optimization. To fix: Open Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization. Find the app responsible for the widget (like KWGT) and turn off the optimization for it. Reboot the phone. If the widget is still not updated, try: Set a fixed refresh interval in the widget settings. Turn off the power saving mode.

❓ How to change the size of the watch widget?

The standard widget size changes like this: Press and hold the widget on your desktop. The corners will have white dots — pull at them to change the size. Release your finger when you get the right size. For third-party widgets (like KWGT), the size changes when you add: select a grid (like 4×2 or 3×1).

❓ Does this work on POCO phones?

Yes, but with nuances: On the POCO F4/F5, the standard watch widget is hidden in the POCO Widgets section. On the POCO X3 NFC and older models, you may need to reset the launcher (see Method 2). Always On Display is only available on the POCO F4 GT and new flagships. If you have a POCO Launcher, try switching to the standard MIUI Launcher in theme settings.