How to set up widgets on Xiaomi: a complete guide with expert tips

Widgets on Xiaomi smartphones are not just desktop decoration, but a powerful tool for quick access to information, which can track the weather, manage a smart home, control battery power or even run your favorite apps with a single touch, but many users still do not use widgets to the fullest extent, limited to standard hours or weather.

In this article, we will discuss not only the basic operations of how to add or remove a widget, but also advanced settings: resizing, grouping, hiding unnecessary elements and even creating your own widgets through third-party applications. MIUI 14/15, So if you want to make your Redmi, Poco, or Xiaomi a truly personalized device, read on.

What are widgets and why do they need on Xiaomi

A widget is a mini-program that appears directly on the desktop of a smartphone. Unlike normal app icons, widgets provide dynamic information in real time, such as the current temperature, battery level, latest messaging, or even managing Mi Home smart light bulbs.

Xiaomi widgets integrated into the shell MIUI They're available from a special menu, and they're divided into several categories:

• 📊 Information: weather, calendar, exchange rates, pedometer.
• ⚙️ Controls: screen brightness, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do not disturb mode".
• 🎵 Multimedia: player, gallery, quick access to the camera.
• 🏠 For smart home: managing devices Mi Home or Google Home.
• 📱 Third-party: widgets from apps like Spotify, Yandex.Weather or Telegram.

The main advantage of widgets is that they save time. Instead of opening an app, you get the data you want right on the screen. For example, the Mi Fit widget will show you the number of steps you've walked, and the Google Keep widget will show you the latest notes, and you can customize the transparency, size and even the style of many widgets on Xiaomi.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, Poco X5 Pro or Poco F5) Some widgets may be missing due to customized firmware, in which case they can be installed via Topics. → Widgets.

How to add a widget to Xiaomi desktop

The process of adding widgets to Xiaomi depends on the version MIUI, But it's still intuitive, and let's look at the one-size-fits-all approach that works on most models, from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

Steps to add the widget:

1. Press and hold the empty space on your desktop (not on the icon!).
2. In the menu that appears, select the Widgets item (on some models - Add a widget).
3. Scroll through the list of available widgets or use the search by name.
4. Click on the desired widget and hold it to drag it to the desktop.
5. Release your finger to hold the widget, and if necessary, resize it by pulling corners.

If the widget doesn’t appear in the list, check:

• 🔄 Is the firmware updated (Settings) → The phone. → Update MIUI).
• 📥 Is the application to which the widget belongs installed (for example, for the Spotify widget you need to download the application itself).
• 🎨 Are the widgets disabled in the theme settings (Themes) → Settings → Widgets).

On new devices (for example, Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) Widgets can be added directly from the notification panel: swipe down from the top edge of the screen, find the widget icon and drag it to the desktop.

Size change and appearance adjustment

One of the strengths MIUI You can also adjust the size of widgets, but you can also adjust the transparency, the color scheme, and even hide the individual elements.

How to change the size of the widget:

1. Press and hold the widget on the desktop.
2. There will be white dots on the corners – pull them to enlarge or shrink the widget.
3. Some widgets (like Weather or Calendar) support multiple fixed sizes – choose the right one.

For deeper customization:

1. So, touch the widget with one finger (without holding it!).
2. If the widget supports settings, an icon will appear. ⚙️ or ⋯ — press it.
3. In the settings menu you can select: 🎨 Display style (for example, dark or light theme). 🔄 Frequency of update (for weather, currency rates). 👁️ Transparency of the background (useful for aesthetics). 📊 Displayed data (for example, hide humidity in the weather widget).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 13 Pro or Redmi K60) It is recommended to establish transparency of widgets on 30-50%. This will reduce power consumption and extend the life of the display.

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If the widget doesn’t update automatically (like the weather or currency rates), try to manually update its data: tap the widget and pull down, as when updating the page in the browser.

Removing and hiding unnecessary widgets

Over time, a lot of unnecessary widgets can accumulate on the desktop, which only take up space and slow down the system. It is easy to remove them, but there are a few nuances.

How to remove the widget:

1. Press and hold the widget you want to remove.
2. At the top of the screen will appear basket (🗑️ Delete - drag the widget there.
3. Confirm the action if necessary.

To hide the system widgets:

1. Go to Settings. → Desktop.
2. Select the widget settings (or additional settings).
3. Turn off the boxes in front of unnecessary widgets (such as Mi Video or Mi Music).

Advanced features: grouping and smart widgets

V MIUI 14/15 There are new widget features that make the desktop even more convenient, and one of them is folding widgets into folders.

How to group widgets:

1. Press and hold one widget, then drag it to another.
2. Release your finger and the widgets will be combined into a folder.
3. Tap the folder to rename it (e.g., “Weather and Time” or “Smart Home”).

Another useful feature is Smart Widgets, which automatically change their appearance depending on the context.

• 🌞 The weather widget can show UV-daytime and nighttime temperature.
• 🎧 The Music widget will display the last track heard on Spotify or Mi Music.
• 🏋️ Widget Mi Fit will adapt to your activity: show steps during the day and sleep at night.

To enable smart widgets:

1. Add a widget to your desktop that supports this feature (like Weather or Google).
2. Tap the widget and select Settings. → Smart mode.
3. Activate the switch and set up the display rules.

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Widget grouping and smart widgets are available only on MIUI 14 and newer. If you have an older version, upgrade your firmware or use third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Hyperion Launcher.

Smart Home Widgets: Managing Mi Home and Google Home

If you use Xiaomi Mi Home devices (lamps, sockets, robot vacuum cleaners), widgets will be an indispensable tool for quick management.

How to add a widget for a smart home:

1. Make sure that the Mi Home or Google Home app is installed and devices are added to it.
2. Add the Mi Home or Google Home widget to your desktop (see How to Add a Widget).
3. In the widget settings, select the devices you want to control (e.g. Yeelight or Mi Robot Vacuum).

Examples of useful widgets for a smart home:

• 💡 Light control: Turning on/off Yeelight or Philips Hue lamps.
• 🔌 Sockets: remote control of smart sockets Mi Smart Plug.
• 🤖 Robot vacuum cleaner: quick start of cleaning or return to base.
• 🌡️ Sensors: Temperature and Humidity Sensor with Mi Temperature and Humidity Sensor.

For Google Home devices, you can use the Google Assistant widget, which supports voice commands, for example, say, "OK, Google, turn off the lights in the living room," and the widget will execute a command without opening the app.

⚠️ Note: Mi Home widgets only work when you are actively connected to the Internet. If Wi-Fi or mobile data is disabled, device management will not be available. For local management, use the Mi Home app manually.

Third-party widgets: how to install and configure

If the standard widgets MIUI You can't do it enough, you can install third-party from Google Play:

• 🎨 KWGT (Kustom Widget Maker – widget designer with huge customization capabilities.
• 📊 UCCW (Ultimate Custom Widget is another powerful tool for creating unique widgets.
• 🌦️ Transparent Clock & Weather – beautiful weather widgets with transparent background.
• 📅 Month: Calendar Widget is a Minimalist Calendar Widget.
• 🎵 Musixmatch – a widget with lyrics for a player.

How to install a third-party widget:

1. Download and install the widget app from Google Play.
2. Add a widget to your desktop (see the section "How to add a widget").
3. In the list of widgets, find the section with the name of the installed application (for example, KWGT).
4. Choose the template you like and set it up through the application.

For KWGT and such applications will require additional configuration:

• 📥 Download widget templates (called kustom packs) from Google Play or specialized sites.
• 🎨 Open up. KWGT, import the template and apply it to the widget on the desktop.
• ⚙️ Customize colors, fonts and data to your needs.

Solving Widget Problems on Xiaomi

Sometimes widgets on Xiaomi don't work properly: they don't update, disappear after a reboot, or don't show up completely. Let's look at the most common problems and their solutions.

If the widget still doesn’t work, try:

• 🔄 Reset Launcher Settings: Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Reset.
• 📱 Install a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) that supports more widgets.
• 🔧 Reverse the update of the problem application: Settings → Annexes → [Name of name] → ⋮ → Remove updates.

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If the widget stops working after the update MIUI, Check if the permissions for the application have been reset, and often after an update, the system blocks autostart and operation in the background, which leads to a stop of widgets.

FAQ: Frequent questions about widgets on Xiaomi