How to change the time location on the lock screen Xiaomi: all the ways

Xiaomi’s lock screen is not just a barrier to your smartphone, it’s a real business card for your device. This is where you display the time, date, notifications and other important interface elements. Many MIUI users find the standard watch layout uncomfortable or just plain dislike visually. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several ways to customize this element, from simple menu settings to hidden features for advanced users.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of changing the location of time on the lock screen for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones on different versions of MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS firmware. You will learn how to move the clock up or down, change their style, hide the date or add seconds. And for those who like experiments, we will reveal the secrets of fine-tuning through ADB and thematic packages.

Before you start making changes, consider that some options may differ depending on the smartphone model and regional firmware. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with HyperOS, the settings menu looks different than on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5. We tried to cover all options, but if your model behaves outside the box, check the version in Settings → About Phone.

Why do users want to change the time frame?

At first glance, the position of the watch on the lock screen seems small, but practice shows that it affects the usability of the smartphone.

• 👆 Uncomfortable position when holding the phone with one hand – if the watch is in the upper corner, it is difficult to see them when holding the device with the left hand (relevant for large smartphones like Xiaomi) 12S Ultra).
• 🎨 Aesthetic preferences – many people don’t like how the standard layout is combined with wallpaper or weather widget.
• 🔍 Overlapping important information – on some design topics, time may be overlaid on notifications or icons.
• 📱 Other device habit – users switching from Samsung or iPhone often look for a familiar clock location in the center or bottom.

Interestingly, MIUI 14 and HyperOS have added more customization options, but not all users are aware of these features, such as the newer versions, which allow not only to shift the clock, but also to change its size, font, or even add animation when unlocked.

Method 1: Standard MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in customization tools, which is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 12.5 and later.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Lock Screen section (or Lock and Password on older versions).
3. Select Lock Screen Style or Watch Settings (the name may vary).
4. Slip on the option Clock position - here you will see the available options: 🕒 Upper centre (standard position) 🕓 On the left, it is convenient for right-handed people) 🕔 Upper right (comfortable for left-handed people) 🕕 In the middle of the screen (minimalistic style)

Save.

Apply

On some firmware (e.g. HyperOS on Xiaomi 14), the menu may look different. Instead of a separate item, "Clock position," you will be asked to choose one of the preset lock screen styles, where the time is already placed differently, in which case just flip through the available templates and select the appropriate one.

Check the version of MIUI in "Settings → About the phone"

Take a screenshot of the current lock screen (in case of rollback)

Make sure your phone is at least 30% charged

Close all background applications-->

Method 2: Using design themes

If standard settings don't offer the right location, you can go around the process of setting a theme where the watch is placed differently, which works on all versions of MIUI and doesn't require superuser rights.

Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the Lock Screen tab or use the search for "clocks".
3. View the available topics -- look at the preview, where you can see the timing.

Apply

If the theme is paid, confirm the purchase (most cost 10-50 rubles).

Note that when you change the theme, not only will the clock change, but also the wallpaper, icons, fonts and other interface elements. If you need to save the current design, but only change the timing, this will not work, in which case you should go back to Method 1 or consider options with ADB (described below).

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Before installing a new theme, check other users' reviews. Some topics may contain ads or incorrect time displays on certain models.

Method 3: Editing through ADB (for Advanced)

If you are not satisfied with standard options, and the design too radically change the interface, you can resort to fine-tuning through ADB. This method requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and basic command line knowledge, but opens access to hidden MIUI parameters.

Here's what you're gonna need:

• 💻 Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and tool ADB (You can download from the official Android website)
• 📱 Smartphone with enabled debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock the developer mode, then additionally → For developers → Debugging by USB)
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original)

When everything is ready, follow the instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission on the phone screen.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:
3. Instead of [value] substitute one of the options: 0 - the clock at the top in the center 1 - the clock at the top left 2 - the clock at the top right 3 - the clock at the center of the screen 4 - the clock at the bottom in the center (not on all firmware)

Reboot your smartphone so that the changes take effect.

Important: on some firmware (especially Chinese or custom) these commands may not work or cause failures.

Comparison of methods of changing the location of time

To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have compiled a comparative table with the pros and cons of each method:

For most users, the best solution is a combination of Method 1 (standard settings) and Method 2 (design topics). The method with ADB is worth trying only if you are confident in your abilities or ready for possible bugs. Editing system files with root access will not be considered - this is a topic for a separate article, as it requires deep knowledge and carries risks to the stability of the system.

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On HyperOS smartphones (such as the Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), the standard settings offer more time-location options than on older versions of MIUI. If you have a new model, check the built-in options first before resorting to ADB.

Additional time settings on the lock screen

Changing the location of the watch is only half the battle, and there are a few more useful options in MIUI and HyperOS that will help make the lock screen as convenient as possible:

• 🕐 Time format: You can choose 12-hour or 24-hour format in Settings → Additionally. → Date and time.
• 📅 Date Display: In the same lock screen settings, you can turn on/off while the dates are up or change its format.
• 🎨 Color and font of watches: some themes allow you to change these settings separately from the rest of the interface.
• ⏱️ Stopwatch: Some firmwares can add a display of seconds (useful for exact time).
• 🌙 Adaptive backlighting: the watch can automatically change color depending on the wallpaper (includes in the theme settings).

Interesting life hack: If you need to quickly watch the time without unlocking your phone, tap the lock screen twice (on most Xiaomi models this includes backlighting for a few seconds). This feature is called Double tap to wake and is included in Settings → Lock screen → Additional.

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If the lock screen slows down or displays animations incorrectly after changing the location of the time, try resetting the theme settings to the standard. To do this, go to the Themes app, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Reset to a standard theme.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing the time location, users often encounter errors, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If after changing the settings through ADB The lock screen has stopped showing correctly (the clock is lost or overlaid on other elements), try resetting to the standard command: adb shell settings delete global settings lock_screen_clock_position Then restart the device.

Problem 1: There is no “Clock position” in the settings.

Solution: This means that your version of MIUI does not support this option: Try updating your firmware to the latest version or use the method with the themes of the design.

Problem 2: After the theme change, the watch is back to its standard place.

Solution: Some themes override time regardless of system settings, in which case, select another theme or manually edit it (root required).

Problem 3: The watch is not fully displayed (cut).

Solution: This may be due to a conflict with the wallpaper or weather widget. Try changing the wallpaper to the standard or disabling the widgets on the lock screen.

Problem 4: ADB does not apply changes.

Solution: Make sure that USB debugging is enabled and you have confirmed your PC's permission. Also check that you are using the current version of ADB.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with Always-On Display (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi) K60 Pro) changing the location of the clock may affect the display of information in standby mode. AOD stopped working correctly, try to disable and turn this function back on in Settings → Lock screen → Always-On Display.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions