How to set up widgets on the lock screen Xiaomi

The lock screen in Xiaomi smartphones has long ceased to be just a protective barrier, turning into an information hub that the user sees first.Widgets displaying the weather, date or steps add functionality, but often interfere with minimalist perception of wallpaper or unlocking the device. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO often face the need to fine-tune this space to remove the extra or, conversely, add useful.

The MIUI interface and the new HyperOS operating system offer flexible personalization tools, but the logic of their work can be confusing: some elements are tightly tied to system themes, others are controlled through hidden “Decoration” settings. Understanding the structure of the screens allows you to create a unique look of the smartphone, adapted to your usage habits.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at all the available ways to manage widgets, from the standard switch to advanced themes store editing techniques. You’ll learn why widgets may not show up, how to move them, and what limitations the shell version imposes. A key feature of MIUI is separating system widgets and elements into those that require different editing approaches.

Standard widgets: Date, time and steps

The basic equipment of any Xiaomi smartphone includes a mandatory set of elements: a watch, a calendar and often a step counter. These components are integrated directly into the shell system code and displayed on top of any third-party themes. To activate or deactivate them, you do not need to dive deep into the developer menu, just use standard settings.

The basic elements are managed through the Lock Screen section, where the user can choose whether to display the current time in a 12-hour or 24-hour format, whether to show the date in full or only a number, and the Step Counter, in turn, requires permissions to access the physical activity data that are requested when first turned on.

It’s worth noting that recent versions of HyperOS have the ability to change the time font regardless of the theme chosen, which provides an additional level of customization without having to download third-party design files, but the functionality remains limited compared to full-fledged Android widgets.

To configure the standard elements, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open Settings and go to the Lock Screen section.
• ⏰ Find the time format item and select your preferred display option.
• 👟 Activate or disable the step counter switch, depending on the need.
• 🔒 Check your Lock in your pocket settings so that widgets don’t turn on accidentally.

It is important to understand that removing a system clock is completely impossible without installing a third-party theme that covers this interface layer, and standard functionality allows you to only modify their appearance or hide some secondary elements, such as seconds or the day of the week.

Managing widgets through the “Themes” app

The main source of visual diversity in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the built-in Themes app. This is where the design packages are stored, which completely replace the standard lock screen, including all widgets. If you want to change the style of the watch, add animations or change the location of the date, you will have to work with this tool.

The process of replacing widgets through themes is by applying and checking. You can't take a widget from one theme and a watch from another without creating custom builds, which requires designer skills. But the library of official themes is huge, and you can find the right style by matching it.

When you install a new theme, the system will warn you to change the current lock screen settings, which means that your previous widgets will be completely removed and replaced with those that are embedded in the design of the new theme. MIUI does not support partial application of elements in standard mode.

⚠️ Note: Third-party themes may contain ads or require permanent internet connections to run widgets. Before installing, read reviews carefully and check the access rights the theme requests.

The algorithm for changing widgets through the theme store is as follows:

• 🎨 Launch the Themes app on your device.
• 🔍 In search, type in a query like “minimalism” or “anime” and select the category Lock screen.
• 👁️ Click on the theme preview to see how the widgets will look live.
• ⬇️ Download and apply the theme by confirming the replacement of the current style.

If the standard theme store does not offer the desired option, many users turn to third-party resources such as HyperThemes or MIUICZ. There you can find modified themes with advanced widget functionality that are not available in the official Xiaomi directory.

Setting up the widget “Tag” and quick actions

A special place in the lock interface is the Shortcut widget, which is usually located at the bottom of the screen, and by default, there are camera and phone icons that allow you to quickly run these applications by double tap or swipe, but the functionality of this widget is much wider and allows you to run any installed programs.

Changing the shortcut is an easy way to adapt your smartphone to your needs, such as replacing your camera with a recorder if you record appointments frequently, or setting the navigator up if your phone is used as a car gadget.

To edit shortcuts, you don't have to go deep, just swipe right or left on a locked screen (depending on the version of MIUI) to see the edit menu, or go to the lock screen settings.

Instructions for setting up labels:

• 🔓 Unlock your phone and go to Settings → Lock screen.
• 📍 Find the Shortcuts or Shortcut Management section.
• 📱 Select left or right shortcut and click on it to change the app.
• ✅ Confirm the selection from the list of installed programs.

Some firmware versions, especially the Chinese MIUI CN builds, have a Magic Shortcut feature available that dynamically changes the icon depending on the time of day or location, suggesting that you start an alarm in the morning or music in the evening.

Advanced customization through Lock Screen Magazine

The Lock Screen Magazine feature in Xiaomi devices is not just a picture change, but a full-fledged widget platform. Unlike the static lock screen, the Carousel allows you to add interactive widgets on top of images, such as the story of the day, quotes, news or even mini-games.

Activating this mode completely changes the logic of the lock screen: Standard time and date widgets can be hidden or moved, giving way to content from the tape.

Turning on and setting up the wallpaper carousel:

• 🖼️ Go to Settings. → Lock screen.
• 🔄 Activate the wallpaper carousel switch.
• ⚙️ Click Carousel Settings to select image sources.
• ➕ In the Carousel menu, add widgets such as “Historical Reference” or “Tip of the Day».

Consider that wallpaper carusole consumes more CPU and RAM than a static picture, which can lead to micro-delays when unlocking the device on older smartphone models.

⚠️ Attention: Using a wallpaper carousel can significantly increase mobile traffic consumption if you do not limit the download of images only over Wi-Fi.

Comparison of widgets in MIUI and HyperOS

With the release of HyperOS, Xiaomi has redesigned many visual elements, including the lock screen. The new system offers smoother animations, improved font readability and a changed logic for interacting with widgets. Understanding the differences between the old MIUI and the new system will help you set up the device properly.

With HyperOS, widgets have become more integrated into the overall design concept, they respond better to touch and have deeper animations when unlocked. However, some familiar features from MIUI 14 can be hidden or moved to other menus.

Comparative table of widget capabilities:

Users who upgraded from MIUI to HyperOS often note that widgets have taken up less screen space, giving way to more wallpaper and photo space, in line with the current trend of minimalist interface design.

Solving problems with widget display

Despite the stability of the system, users can encounter bugs when widgets stop showing, show incorrect data or disappear after a reboot, most often due to conflict or lack of permissions from system services.

If the time widget is missing or shows a black square, the first thing to do is check if the corrupted theme is installed. Resetting the theme to the standard ("Official") often solves the problem instantly, and it's also worth checking for system updates.

The main methods of diagnosis and correction:

• 🔄 Reset theme: Return to the classic theme in the Topics app to rule out software conflict.
• 🧹 Cache Clearing: Go to Settings → Annexes → All applications → Topics and clear the data.
• 🔋 Energy savings: Check if the background work limit for widgets is worth it in the Battery section».
• 📲 Reboot: A banal but effective way to restart widget system services.

In rare cases, especially on custom firmware or after a failed update, it may be necessary to completely reset the lock screen settings.Do this only if other methods have not worked, as this will remove all your personalizations.