Modern Xiaomi smartphones offer users a huge opportunity to personalize the appearance of the interface. Redmi 9A, being a popular budget model, also supports flexible customization of visual elements, including the lock screen. Many owners want to know how to change the applications, widgets or just the appearance of this start page to make the device more convenient and unique. However, the standard MIUI interface has its own features that can confuse the beginner.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can change the contents of the lock screen, learn how to manage application shortcuts, change the style of watches and where to look for hidden personalization settings. It is important to understand that the full functionality depends on the version of the installed firmware and the regional features of the shell.
The setup process does not require root rights or complex technical manipulations, all actions are performed through the standard settings menu or the Themes app, and we will look at both the basic changes and more advanced customization methods available for your device.
The main ways to change widgets and shortcuts
The first thing that catches your eye on a locked screen is the clock, the date, and the two round icons at the bottom that serve as quick access to applications. In the standard configuration, Redmi 9A usually offers access to the camera and phone, but these shortcuts can be replaced with any other installed programs.
To change the bottom icons, you need to unlock your phone and go to the settings menu. Find the Lock Screen section, which is often hidden within the Always On and Lock screen category. This is where the basic visual controls are located. The MIUI interface lets you choose from a list of pre-installed apps or any other downloaded from Google Play.
In addition, some versions of the shell have a "Wallpaper Carousel" feature, which also affects the display elements. If you want to see news, hints or beautiful phrases on the lock screen, this mode must be activated separately, it automatically changes the background image and can add additional widgets on top of the picture.
⚠️ Warning: When you turn on Wallpaper Carousel, the lock screen may consume more battery power due to the constant download of new images via mobile internet or Wi-Fi.
For users who care about minimalism, you can turn off the extra items completely, you can only give them time, or you can add a weather widget and pedometer, all of which are grouped into a single menu, making it easier to configure to suit your needs.
Setting up the style of the watch and date on the Redmi 9A
Visual perception of the lock screen depends largely on how the time is displayed. Redmi 9A owners can choose between digital and analog formats, as well as change fonts and colors. This is done through the Xiaomi theme store or built-in style settings. A variety of options allows you to choose a design that will harmonize with the installed wallpaper.
To change style, open the Themes app and go to the user profile, and select "Configure" or "Block Style" from there, the system will offer several ready-made options that you can (preview) before installing, and customization is available even without downloading full themes if you use built-in styles.
- 🕒 Digital format – a classic time display, convenient for quick reading.
- ⏱️ Analog format - imitation of a hand clock, adds aesthetics.
- 🎨 Color accent – the ability to choose a color of numbers other than white.
- 📅 Date and day of the week – optional display of additional information.
Some watch styles may overlap notifications or take up too much space, in which case it is better to return to standard design, and it is worth considering that complex animated watches may slightly affect the power consumption of the device in standby mode.
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Use dark watch styles with black background if you have a dark watch. AMOLED-screen (although in 9A IPS), To visually allocate time and save energy on contrast.
Using themes to completely change design
The most radical way to change apps and how they appear on the lock screen is to install a new theme in its entirety. Themes store in Xiaomi contains thousands of options created by both a team and independent designers. When installing a theme, not only the background but also shortcut icons, time fonts and even notification sounds often change.
To find the right design, type in keywords like “Minimal”, “Neon” or “Nature” in your search. Before downloading, be sure to click the preview button to see how the theme will look on the Redmi 9A. Pay attention to the ranking and the number of downloads – this will help to avoid low-quality or “big” designs.
| Type of topic | Impact on the system | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Official. | Minimum | Recommended for stability |
| Third-party (Designer) | Average. | Check compatibility |
| Animated | High (battery) | Use with caution |
| Static. | Low. | The best choice for 9A |
After applying the theme, the lock screen will be updated instantly. If you don’t like the new design, you can return to the standard design at any time through the My Pages menu in the theme app. Resetting the theme will not delete your personal data or installed applications.
☑️ Checking before setting the topic
Management of notifications and their display
The lock screen is also a notification control center, and Redmi 9A allows you to flexibly configure which apps are allowed to display messages on a locked screen, which helps to keep privacy and avoid visual noise when the phone is lying on the table.
Go to Notifications and Status bar, then select Lock Screen, and here you will see a list of all the apps installed, you can manually turn on or off content display for each of them, for example, messages from instant messengers can be made visible, and notifications from games can be hidden.
⚠️ Note: If you turn off notifications for important applications (e.g, SMS or calls, you may miss an urgent message while the phone is locked.
It also has a Hide Content feature that will only show the name of the app (like Telegram) on the screen when it is activated, but the text will remain hidden until the device is unlocked, a useful public safety feature.
For those who prefer full order, there is a possibility to sort notifications, MIUI allows you to group them by application or display a list, the choice of format depends on the user's personal preferences and the frequency of messages.
Hiding the camera and phone icon
A common problem with Redmi 9A users is accidentally launching a camera or calling emergency services because of clicking on icons in your pocket or bag. Fortunately, the system allows you to completely remove these shortcuts from the lock screen, which frees up space and prevents false positives.
To disable shortcuts, go to Settings → Lock screen. Find the Camera Shortcut and Phone Shortcut (or Emergency Call) switches. Turn them to Off. After that, the bottom of the screen will be clean and random starts will stop.
- 📷 Camera shortcut – quick access to shooting without unlocking.
- 📞 Phone tag - access to emergency numbers.
- 🚫 Disconnection – Increases security from pocket kits.
- ⚙️ Flexibility – Only one of the labels can be turned off.
It is worth noting that even after removing the shortcut, the camera can be triggered by a combination of buttons (for example, double pressing the volume button) if this feature is activated in the settings.
Secret shutdown function
Solving problems with setting up the lock screen
Sometimes users are faced with situations where the settings are not saved or the lock screen is not working correctly, this may be due to overflowing cache of the system with certain errors in a particular version of MIUI. In such cases, cleaning the data of the Themes application helps.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find “Themes” and select “Clean” → “All data.” Don’t worry, your downloaded themes won’t be deleted, but the interface settings will reset to factory ones. After that, try reapplying the desired style.
If the problem is that the lock screen is not responsive to touch or "blinks," it may be a third-party launcher or conflicting widget installed.Try to remove newly installed applications that have access to the lock screen.Systability often depends on the absence of software conflicts.
⚠️ Note: Resetting the Themes app will return the standard style of the watch and wallpaper, so save screenshots of your favorite settings in advance if you plan to restore them.
In rare cases, a system update may be required. Check for new versions of Android or security patches in the About Phone section. Xiaomi developers regularly release patches for interface bugs.
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Resetting theme settings and clearing the cache is the first action at any visual glitch of the lock screen on the Redmi 9A.
Additional features Always on Display (AOD)
Thought Redmi 9A fitted IPS-a screen that technically does not support a true Always On Display (constant glow of individual pixels without energy consumption, as in the case of a computer). AMOLED), In firmware, you may see a simulation of this feature or a smart lift mode, and in these modes, the screen lights up when you receive a notification or take the phone in your hands.
You can set these settings in the Always On and Lock screen section, where you can select the activity time (for example, “Within 10 seconds after touching” or “8:00 to 23:00”), which helps save charge by not activating the screen at night.
Some themes can add their own widgets. AOD, It looks like a permanent clock on a black background. IPS-In the matrix, this will still mean the backlight of the entire screen, which significantly affects the autonomy of the device. 9A not always.
However, for short-term use or at parties, this can be an interesting visual effect: Experiment with timer settings to find a balance between convenience and battery life.