How to Open and Configure Widgets on Xiaomi Redmi 8: A Complete Guide to Solving Typical Errors

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, but its owners often face a problem: widgets are either hidden by default, or disappear after the update. MIUI. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways of activating them, from standard methods to bypassing the limitations of the system. MIUI 12 and MIUI 13, and solutions for cases where widgets suddenly disappear from the screen.

The Redmi 8 widgets allow you to quickly access the weather, calendar, notes or smart home management without opening apps. However, their placement and configuration differ from other Android devices due to the proprietary shell. MIUI. If you don't see the option to add widgets or it's blocked, don't rush to reset. Most likely, the problem lies in the launcher settings or conflict with system optimization.

In the article you will find:

• 🔹 3 Ways to Open Widgets on Redmi 8 (Including Hidden Widgets)
• 🔹 Step-by-step screenshots for MIUI 12/13/14 regionally
• 🔹 Problem Solutions: widgets are not added, disappear after the reboot, gray icons
• 🔹 Comparison of standard and third-party widgets (Nova Launcher, Kwgt)
• 🔹 Secret commands to reset launcher cache without data loss

1. Standard method: Adding widgets through MIUI launcher

The most obvious method is to use a built-in launcher MIUI. However, on Redmi 8, this feature may be hidden due to optimization of the interface for budget devices:

1. Click on the empty space on the home screen (not on the icon!).
2. At the bottom of the screen, a panel with options will appear. Select Widgets (if not, see the section on hidden widgets).
3. Scroll through the list of available widgets left/right. Click on the right one and drag it to the screen.

If the widgets are not on the menu, check:

• 📱 Version MIUI: In the firmware for Redmi 8 older MIUI 12.5 widgets can be disabled by default.
• 🌍 Regional firmware: on global versions (EEA, Global widgets are available, and Chinese widgets are often hidden.
• 🔄 Updates: After the update MIUI Widgets can “fly” – you need to restart.

Important! Redmi 8s! MIUI 12 and below weather and clock widgets may not display correctly due to time synchronization error.The solution is to enable date and time autosynchronization in Settings → System system → Date and time.

2 Hidden widgets: how to turn them on if they are not on the menu

If the widget add menu is empty or the widget item itself is missing, then the function is disabled at the system level.

• 📦 Firmware MIUI Chinese Market (without Google Services).
• 🔒 Devices with a work profile (e.g., corporate phones).
• 🛠️ Smartphones after unofficial repairs (motherboard replacements).

To return widgets, follow the following steps:

If this doesn’t help, use a secret code to reset your launcher settings (without deleting data):

#4636## → “Phone Information” → “Reset Launcher Settings”

Redmi 8 with firmware MIUI 12.0.3.0 and below widgets may be blocked due to a bug in the service com.miui.home. MIUI Up to version 12.0.4.0 or higher.

3.Alternative launchers: Nova Launcher, Apex, Kwgt

If standard widgets don’t work or can’t be activated, install a third-party launcher. Redmi 8 works best:

To install a third-party launcher:

1. Download an app from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. After installation, click Home and select the new launcher as default.
3. Long press on the screen. → Widgets → Pick the right one and drag it.

💡

If no widgets appear after installing Nova Launcher, go to its settings → "Laboratory" → Enable the option "Show widgets on the main screen".

On the Redmi. 8 s 2 GB of RAM third-party launchers can slow down. The optimal choice is Apex Launcher (consumes on the Internet). 15-20% Less memory than Nova).

4. Problem Solving: Widgets Not Added, Disappear, Grays

Typical errors when working with widgets on Redmi 8 and how to fix them:

If the widgets are missing after the update MIUI, execute:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI Launcher (com.miui.home).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data (⚠️ It'll throw off the icons!).
4. Reboot the phone.

5. Widgets for specific tasks: weather, clock, notes

The following types of widgets are available on Redmi 8 (depending on version) MIUI):

• 🌤️ Weather: displays temperature, humidity, 5-day forecast. Data is taken from the Weather app (preset in the MIUI).
• ⏰ Clock/Calendar: Analog or digital clock with date. Supports themes.
• 📝 Notes: Quick access to the latest entries from the Notes app.
• 🎵 Music: Playback control (works with Mi Music and Google Play Music).
• 🏠 Smart home: Mi Home device management (requires authorization in your Xiaomi account).

To add a weather widget:

1. Make sure that in the settings → Location enabled access for the Weather app.
2. Long press on the screen. → Widgets → Find the weather. 4×2 (size can be changed).
3. Drag the widget onto the screen and select the city manually (if autodetermination doesn’t work).

💡

The Redmi 8 weather widget updates data every 3 hours. To force an update, open the Weather app and pull the screen down.

Smart home widgets require:

• 📱 Installed Mi Home app (download to Google Play or Google Play) MIUI App Store).
• 🔑 Authorization in one Xiaomi account on the phone and in Mi Home.
• 🌐 Internet connection (widget does not work offline).

6. Performance optimization: why widgets are slowing down

On Redmi 8 with Snapdragon 439 and 2GB of RAM, widgets can slow down.

For maximum productivity:

• 🚫 Remove unnecessary widgets (everyone consumes) ~50-100 MB RAM).
• 🔄 Clean the launcher cache once a week (Settings) → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 📵 Turn off auto-update widgets in roaming (Settings) → Mobile network → Autosynchronization of data).

💡

If widgets are slowing down, try turning off "Mi-space" (Settings) → Additionally. → Mi-space. This feature consumes up to 200 MB of RAM in the background.

7. Reset to factory settings: the extreme method

If none of the methods helped, and widgets are critically necessary, perform a soft reset (without data loss):

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset Launcher Settings (not Reset All Settings!).
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Full reset (Reset all settings) will remove:

• 📱 All installed applications and their data.
• 📸 Photos and videos (if not saved on the SD-map).
• 🔑 Google and Xiaomi accounts (re-entry required).

Before discharge:

After reset, the widgets will appear in the add-on menu, but they will have to be configured again.

FAQ: Frequent questions about widgets on Redmi 8