How to Find Widgets on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer users not just a set of applications, but a deeply personalized environment. One of the main tools for customization is widgets, small interactive blocks that display important information directly to the home screen. However, after upgrading to new versions of MIUI or switching to HyperOS, users often find that familiar interface elements disappear or change their location.

This article will explain in detail where to look for widgets on your device, how to install and configure them correctly. We will look at the differences between classic mode and folder mode, and also discuss the common problems with displaying them. You will learn how to effectively use screen space for quick access to the weather, currency rates, pedometer and news.

Understanding the logic of Xiaomi’s interface will allow you to turn your standard lock screen and desktop into a convenient information center. Whether you own a budget model Redmi or the flagship of the Pro series, the basic principles of widget management remain the same throughout the brand ecosystem. Let’s figure out how to regain control of the visual part of your gadget.

Basic ways to find widgets on the desktop

The most obvious and common way to access widgets on Xiaomi smartphones is to use the desktop editing menu, which requires a long tap and hold on any free area of the screen where there are no app icons, and the system instantly goes into editing mode, and at the bottom of the display will appear the toolbar, which is where the button "Widgets" is located.

The second is for swipes, for most people. MIUI HyperOS, if you pull your finger from the left edge of the screen to the right (swipe to the right), you will be taken into the so-called space «-1 The screen" or "Mi Vision. At the top of this screen is often a button to add or edit widgets, although the functionality here may be limited to system suggestions. This method is less versatile, because it depends on the settings of a particular launcher.

The third option is through the theme settings, and if you don't like the standard set of items, you can go to the Themes app, go to the profile, and select the widget section, and there are often additional packages that are integrated into the system, but the first two methods are better for quick installation, because they provide direct access to the widget registry.

• 📱 Make a long tap on the empty desktop space and select “Widgets” at the bottom.
• 👆 Swipe to the right of the left edge of the screen to access the widget tape.
• 🎨 Use the Themes app to find third-party widget sets.
• 🔍 Use the search in the application menu by entering the word “Widget».

⚠️ Note: On some global firmware versions, swipe right may open Google Discover instead of Xiaomi widget menus.

Importantly, newer versions of the HyperOS shell may have a slightly different interface than the classic MIUI. Instead of a separate button on the bottom menu, widgets can be integrated into the app selection menu with a long press, in which case the system will prompt you to select the category “All widgets” or show them a list immediately after entering edit mode.

Differences in Widget Search in MIUI and HyperOS

With the release of the new HyperOS operating system, Xiaomi has made a significant change in the logic of the interface: while in the classic MIUI widgets were brought to a separate menu, accessible through long pressing, in HyperOS they have become more integrated. Now, with a long click on the application icon, the system often immediately offers available widgets for this application, which speeds up the process of adding.

In the old MIUI, there was a clear separation: on the left, the app menu, on the right, the widget menu (depending on the settings), and in HyperOS, this separation became more dynamic. When you go into desktop editing mode, you'll see tabs or switches that allow you to instantly change categories between Apps and Widgets, which is especially convenient on high-diagonal screens, where it's not easy to scroll through long lists.

Another key difference is the sizes and formats: the new shell supports a more flexible widget grid, allowing you to stretch them not only horizontally, but also vertically with greater pitch, which means that finding the desired format (for example, 2x2 or 4x2) has become more intuitive.

Widgets created for MIUI tend to run on HyperOS without problems, but backwards compatibility can be compromised. If you upgrade to a new system and old widgets from third-party developers are missing, you may need to update the source apps themselves through the GetApps store or Google Play.

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Use a search inside the widget menu, typing the app name to quickly find the item you want, instead of manually scrolling through the list.

Instructions for installation and configuration of widgets

The process of installing a widget on the Xiaomi desktop is as simple as possible, but it has its own nuances. Once you find the right item in the widget menu (through a long press on the desktop), you will see a library of available sizes. You need to choose the appropriate format. The system will show a preview of how the widget will look on the screen. After choosing the size of the widget will stick to your finger, and you can drag it to the right place.

If the selected place is occupied by other icons, the system will automatically move them to free up space. However, if the space is critically small, the widget may not stand up, in which case you will need to pre-delete the extra applications or move them to another page, this is the standard launcher behavior, designed to keep order on the desktop.

Once a widget is placed, it often needs to be set up initially, such as the Weather widget can show data immediately, and the Calendar widget will require you to select an account. To set up the widget, tap the settings button (usually a gear or three dots) to change the color, font, or data source.

Special attention should be paid to media and management widgets. The Music or Recorder widget may require permission to access files. If the widget displays a blank screen or error, check the permission settings in the Settings menu → Apps → All apps. Find the app that owns the widget and make sure it has the necessary rights.

⚠️ Warning: Do not delete the application that owns the widget. If you delete the program, the widget will stop working and turn into a black square with an error.

Working with widgets in the “Folders” and “Classical” mode

Xiaomi’s interface offers two main desktop modes: Classic and With Folders (or Folder Mode). The mode you choose determines where and how the widgets will be displayed. In Classic mode, all installed apps are on desktops, and widgets are added right between the icons, occupying grid cells. This is a traditional approach that many Android users are accustomed to.

In "With folders" mode, all applications are removed to a separate menu (swipes up), and only shortcuts remain on the desktop. In this mode, widgets behave more freely: they can overlap on the grid, but they are still tied to cells. The main difference is that in folder mode, widgets often look more organic, since they do not mix with dozens of application icons.

You can switch between modes in the launcher settings. To do this, go to Settings → Desktop and select the desired mode. After switching, the location of the icons may change, but the widgets are usually saved. However, in some cases, when you change the mode, widgets can “fly” to the extreme pages and you will have to reinstall them.

• 📂 In the “Folders” mode, widgets are easier to group by topic.
• 📱 In the “Classic” mode, widgets take the place of application icons.
• ⚙️ Mode change may require reconfiguration of widgets.
• 🖼 Widget styles can automatically adapt to the selected mode.

It is important to understand that some system widgets, such as Search or Global Search, can only be accessed in certain modes or occupy a fixed position (for example, at the top of the screen), which is a restriction set by developers to preserve search functionality. If you can't find the search bar widget, check if it is hidden in the desktop settings.

Popular system widgets and their functions

Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers a wide range of pre-installed widgets that cover most everyday needs, including health, media and system information widgets, and understanding their features helps you use your smartphone as efficiently as possible.

One of the most useful is the Battery widget, which not only shows the percentage of charge, but can also display the charging status of connected devices if you use the Xiaomi ecosystem (earphones, watches, electric scooters), which allows you to control the charge of all gadgets from one screen.

The Stepmer or Sport widget syncs with the Mi Fitness app or the built-in tracker, and it motivates you to go more by showing you progress in real time, and the Dictophone widget, which allows you to start recording with one touch without opening the app itself, is also popular, and this is critical for journalists, students and anyone who values time.

The smart home widgets deserve special attention. If you have Mi Home devices, you can put control of lights, sockets or cameras on your desktop, which turns your smartphone into a full-fledged apartment control panel. The widget can display the status of the device (on/off) and allow you to change modes without logging into the application.

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System widgets consume less power than their third-party counterparts, as they are optimized specifically for Snapdragon and MediaTek processors in Xiaomi devices.

Problem Solving: Widgets are missing or not working

Users often experience a situation where widgets disappear or stop updating after a system update. The most common reason is aggressive energy saving. MIUI/HyperOS can kill the widget process to save battery power. To fix this, you need to go to the battery settings, find the widget source app and set the "No Limits" mode.

The second problem is a crowded launcher cache. If the desktop is slow or the widgets are not displayed correctly (black screen, broken graphics), try clearing the cache of the system application "Luncher". This is done through Settings → Applications → All Applications → Launcher → Memory → Clear the cache. This will not delete your icons, but update the cache of the interface.

Third-party launcher conflict: If you have installed a Nova Launcher or other interface, Xiaomi widgets may not work properly, in which case it is recommended to either return to the standard launcher or install special plugins to ensure that MIUI widgets are compatible with other shells.

• 🔋 Check the energy saving settings for the widget app.
• 🧹 Clear the launcher cache and the system application "Widgets».
• 🔄 Remove the problem widget and add it again.
• 📲 Update the app that owns the widget to the latest version.

⚠️ Warning: If the widget shows an error "Can't download", check the Internet connection and availability of free RAM. 2-3 GB RAM complex widgets may not work.

Also worth mentioning is the problem with access rights: the weather widget will not work without geolocation, and the contact widget will not work without access to the phone book. When installing, always allow the requested rights. If you accidentally refused access, the widget will be empty. You can return the rights from the application settings menu.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)