How to change the clock on the lock screen Xiaomi Redmi 9: from format to design

The lock screen Xiaomi Redmi 9 is not just protection from accidental clicks, but a full dashboard, which displays notifications, weather, quick actions and, of course, the watch – the main element that users look at dozens of times a day. But what if you don't like the standard time view? You might want to see seconds, change the 12-hour format to the 24-hour format, or hide the clock altogether for minimalist design. In this article, we will analyze all available ways to customize the watch on the Redmi 9 lock – from the basic settings. MIUI to hidden functions that are not written in official manuals.

Many people mistakenly believe that changing the clock requires root rights or third-party launchers. In fact, 90 percent of the tasks are solved with standard MIUI tools if you know where to look. We tested all the methods on MIUI 12.5, 13 and 14 firmware — instructions are relevant for all versions supported by Redmi 9. And if you're a fan of experiments, at the end of this article you will find advanced tricks for power users.

⚠️ Note: Change system fonts or install custom themes through APK This can cause a lock screen to crash. Before experimenting, back up your Settings. → The phone. → Backup.

Basic time settings: 24/12 hours, date and seconds

To start with, the simplest way to change the format of the display time. By default, Redmi 9 uses a 24-hour format, but it is easy to change it to the usual 12-hour format with AM/PM designations. You can also turn on the display of seconds or dates next to the clock.

To change the format:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the section Additional → Date and time.
3. Slip on the item Time format.
4. Choose the right option: 24 hours or 12 hours (AM/PM).
5. Activate the slider Show seconds if you want to see the stopwatch on the lock.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI This is due to Xiaomi's policy of optimizing the battery - the second hand animation consumes additional resources.

You can also set up automatic date and time determination or manually in this menu, and if the lock clock is not updated, check if the date and time Autodetermination option is enabled and if the time zone is selected correctly.

2. Changing the style of watches through MIUI themes

MIUI It's famous for its system, which allows you to radically change the appearance of the interface. The lock screen watch is no exception. You can choose from hundreds of ready-made styles, from minimalistic digital watches to animations. 3D-variant.

How to change the style of the watch:

• 🎨 Open the Themes app (brush icon on the home screen).
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter the lock screen clock or lockscreen clock request.
• 📱 Choose your favorite theme and click Apply. Pay attention to the rating and the number of downloads – this will help to avoid low-quality themes.
• 🔄 If the clock doesn’t change immediately, restart your phone or re-apply the theme.

Tip: Some themes only change the clock, while others affect the entire lock screen, including notification fonts and icons. To return the standard look of the remaining elements, after applying the theme, go to Settings → Lock Screen → Style and select Default for individual components.

⚠️ Note: Some topics from third-party sources (not from the official store) MIUI) They may contain advertising modules or malicious code. Install only proven high-ranking themes.

3. Hidden clock settings: color, size and position

If standard settings and themes don’t offer the flexibility you need, you can use hidden MIUI options that aren’t dokumented in official manuals, which allow you to change the color of the watch, its size, and even shift the position on the screen.

To access hidden settings:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until you become a developer!

Settings

For developers

Local settings of the lock screen

Lockscreen customization

• Size of watches (from 80% to 120% of the standard).
• Colors (RGB palette or ready presets).
• vertical and horizontal positions (pixel displacement).

Important: These settings may reset after the MIUI update. To save the changes, export the configuration via the Settings Export menu in the same section.

4. Removal of the clock from the lock screen

Not everyone likes a watch on the lock screen — some prefer a minimalist design without unnecessary elements. Unfortunately, the standard settings of Redmi 9 do not have the option to completely hide the watch.

Method 1: Using an empty topic

• 🔍 In the theme store, find and install a theme called Minimalist Lock or No Clock.
• 📥 Download it and use it. The watch should be gone, but there will be notifications and badges.
• ⚠️ Some topics may hide not only the watch but also other items (e.g., the battery indicator).

Method 2: Editing system files (for experienced)

This method requires root rights and file system work, and if you're not sure about your skills, you'd better use the former.

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
2. Go to /system/media/theme/default/lockscreen.
3. Find the file. clock_style.xml and edit the visibility setting on gone.
4. Save the changes and restart the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to bootloop (locked phone boot).Before making changes, create a full backup through TWRP.

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If you need to temporarily hide the clock (for example, to shoot video from the lock screen), use the screen demo mode in Settings → Special features → Screen demo.

5. Additional time widgets: weather, calendar, world time zone

The lock screen clock can be supplemented with useful information, such as weather, calendar or time in another city, and you don't need to install third-party apps, everything is configured through standard MIUI features.

How to add a weather widget:

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select Widgets or Additional Information.
3. Activate the weather slider.
4. Click on Weather Settings and select the city whose data will be displayed.

How to add a second time zone:

• ⏰ In the date and time settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Date and time) Enable the option Double Hours.
• 🌍 Select the second city from the list or enter its name manually.
• 🔄 The lock screen will now display both times – local and for the selected city.

Tip: If the weather widget isn't updated, check the permissions for the weather app in Settings → Apps → Permissions. Make sure Location and Auto Run are enabled.

6. Advanced tricks: animation, custom fonts and ADB-team

For those who want to make the most of the Redmi 9, there are some advanced customization methods that require more effort, but offer a unique lock screen experience.

1. Animated clock with second hand

If your firmware does not have the option of displaying seconds, you can force it to activate via ADB:

adb shell settings put global lock_screen_show_seconds 1

Once you've completed the command, restart the phone. Seconds will appear next to the main time.

2. Installation of custom font for watches

• 📱 Download the font in.ttf format (for example, from the DaFont website).
• 📁 Put the file in the folder. /sdcard/MIUI/theme/fonts (Create it if it doesn’t exist).
• 🔧 In the themes settings, select Local → Fonts and apply a new font.

3. Change of date format

By default, the date is displayed as a day month (e.g., May 5). To change it to a month/day or a day.month-year, use the command:

adb shell settings put global lock_screen_date_format "MM/dd/yyyy"

⚠️ Attention: ADB-Teams may not work on some custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience). MIUI.

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Use of the ADB-Teams are the most flexible way to customize, but it requires caution. One syntax error can cause system settings to fail. Always check commands on reliable sources (for example, the official Xiaomi forum).

Frequently asked questions