How to change the style of the watch on Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 ways to photo and video

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular smartphones in the budget segment, but even in the basic configuration it offers a wide range of customization. One of the most noticeable elements of the interface is the clock on the lock screen and the home screen. Many users do not know that the display style of time can be changed in just a few taps, and without installing third-party applications.

In this article, we will discuss all available ways to change the style of watches: from standard settings MIUI You'll learn how to install an analog clock with a second hand, digital options with animation, or even completely remove the clock from the lock screen. MIUI 12 to MIUI 14, as the settings interface changes periodically.

If you want to make your Redmi 9 unique or just tired of the standard watch, this is the guide for you. All methods are tested on real devices and do not require root rights or complex manipulation.

1. Standard change of watch style through MIUI settings

The easiest way to change the look of a watch is to use the built-in personalization options in MIUI. This method works on all firmware versions for Redmi 9 (including MIUI 12.5, 13 and 14), but the layout of menu items may vary slightly.

To change the style of the clock on the lock screen:

Open the Settings app** (cog icon).
Go to the Lock Screen section (or Lock and Password in older versions).
Select the Clock Style or the Clock Setting.
Scroll through the list of available styles and tap on your favorite option.
Click Apply or Save in the upper right corner.

Standard firmware typically has 5-7 options: classic analog, digital with date, minimalist and animated (on MIUI 14). Some styles support color change by clicking on the palette next to the preview.

Make sure your smartphone is at least 20% charged.

Close all background applications

Check out the MIUI version in the About Phone section.

Take a screenshot of the current settings (in case of rollbacks)-->

Note: on some versions of MIUI for Redmi 9, the Watch Style option may be hidden behind an additional menu.

🔍 Go to Settings → Additional → Personalization.
📱 Reboot your phone – sometimes menu items appear after the reboot.
🔄 Update the firmware to the latest version (in MIUI 14 the interface is more flexible).

⚠️ Warning: If the watch is gone after a change of style or is not displayed correctly, check the settings for Display → Font size. Too large text can knock the layout of the locking elements.

2. Use MIUI themes to modify the clock

If you don't have enough built-in styles, you can install a full-fledged theme that will change not only the clock, but also icons, fonts, animations. Xiaomi Redmi 9 has a Themes app** (com.miui.themes).

Instructions for setting themes:

Open the “Themes” app** (Brush icon).
Go to the Categories or Recommended tab.
In the search bar, enter a query such as an analog watch, a digital dial or a minimalist watch.
Select your favorite theme and click Apply.
Confirm the change in the window that appears (some themes require additional packages to be downloaded).

Advantages of this method:

🎨 Thousands of free themes with unique watch styles are available.
🔄 You can change themes every day without having to worry about the system.
📱 Watches in themes often have additional animations (e.g., smooth color change depending on the time of day).

Disadvantages:

⚠️ Some themes may slow down the interface if they contain heavy animations.
💰 The highest quality themes are often paid (costs from 50 to 300 rubles).
🔄 After updating MIUI, the themes may be reset to standard.

Type of theme	Example of clock style	Compatible with Redmi 9	Whether payment is required
Minimalistic.	Thin numbers without background, monochrome arrows	Yes (all versions of MIUI)	Usually free.
Analog classics	Round dial with Roman numerals	Yes (starting with MIUI 12.5)	Often paid
Digital with a date	Large time + day of the week and number	Yes.	Free/paid options
Animated	Change of color depending on the time of day	Only MIUI 13+	Usually paid
Dark/AMOLED	Black background with neon numbers	Yes (recommended for AMOLED- screens)	Free of charge.

Analog (with arrows)

Digital (numbers only)

Minimalistic (without unnecessary elements)

Animated (with effects)

I don't care.-->

If you want to keep the current style of icons and fonts, but only change the clock, look for themes marked "Only Lockscreen" or "Clock Clock" themes that only affect the lock screen without changing the rest of the interface.

3. Hidden clock settings in MIUI (for power users)

MIUI firmware has hidden options that allow for more flexibility in configuring time displays.These options are not officially dokumented, but work on most Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi 9.

To access hidden settings:

Open the Phone app** and enter the code: ##4636## This will open the Testing menu**.

New items may appear in this menu:

🔄 Time-shift animation is a smooth or sharp update of numbers.

What to do if Demo Mode is not working?

On some versions of MIUI, the ##4636## code may not open the menu you want. Alternative method: 1. Install Activity Launcher from Google Play. 2. Search in the activity list com.android.settings. 3. Select.TestingSettings or.DemoMode. 4. Activate demo mode. Then the hidden settings will be available in the standard lock menu.

⚠️ Warning: Demo Mode resets after the phone is restarted. To keep the changes, after setting the clock, be sure to turn off Demo Mode and restart the device. Otherwise, test data (for example, a fictitious 12:00 time) may be displayed on the lock screen.

On the Redmi 9 with MIUI 13+, the Dynamic Watch option is available in hidden settings, which automatically changes style depending on the wallpaper (for example, a dark watch on light wallpaper and vice versa).

4. Installation of third-party launchers for customization of watches

If the built-in MIUI capabilities are not enough, you can use third-party launchers, which allow you to completely redesign the interface, including the style of displaying time on the home screen and in widgets.

The best launchers for Redmi 9 with support for customization of watches:

📱 Nova Launcher supports watch widgets with fine-tuning (color, font, animation) The free version has limitations, but they are enough for basic customization.
🎨 Lawnchair is a lightweight open source launcher that offers minimalist watch styles and adaptive icons.
🔧 Action Launcher – allows you to create your own watch widgets with a unique design (requires the Quickedit plugin).
🌌 Hyperion Launcher – specializes in animated watches and dynamic wallpaper.

Instructions for setting up the clock through Nova Launcher:

Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
Press and hold the free space on the home screen, then select Widgets.
Find a 4×1 Watch widget or a 4×2 Watch (depending on the size you want).
Drag the widget onto the screen and set it up: 🎨 Style - Analog/Digital/Text. 🔤 Font - a selection of 20+ options (including handwritten). 🎨 Color - gradient, solid or transparent. 📏 Size - from miniature to full screen.

Save the settings and return to the main screen.

Advantages of third-party launchers:

🎛️ Customization flexibility – you can change each element of the watch separately.
📱 Cross-platform – the watch’s style will continue even after the update MIUI.
🔄 Automatic change – some launchers support changing style depending on the time of day.

💡

If the clock on the lock screen has not changed since the launcher was installed, check the settings in the Security app** (com.miui.securitycenter).Sometimes MIUI blocks changes to third-party apps for the lock screen. To fix this, go to Security → Autostart and enable autostart for your launcher.

5 Manual modification of system files (for advanced users)

If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can manually replace the system files that display the watch, which requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights, but gives you maximum customization freedom.

What you need:

📱 Xiaomi Redmi 9 with unlocked bootloader.
🔧 Root access (for example, via Magisk).
💻 PC fitted ADB and Fastboot.
📁 Backup copy of the system partition (required!).

Step-by-step:

Download the custom watch archive (e.g., from the XDA Developers or 4PDA forum). Popular packs: MiuiClockMod - modified watches for MIUI. DigitalClockOverhaul - digital styles with animation.

Redmi 9

ADB

adb push path/to/clock/files /sdcard/


adb shell




su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/* /system/media/theme/default/




chmod 644 /system/media/theme/default/*




reboot

Settings → Lock screen → Watch style

⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly changing system files can result in bootloop (a looped reboot) or loss of functionality.Before you start: Create a full backup via TWRP. Check file compatibility with your version MIUI. Keep the original rollback firmware on hand.

If you are unsure of your skills, it is better to use the more secure methods from the previous sections.Manual modification of system files is recommended only for advanced users.

💡

Even with root rights, not all watch styles will work correctly. Some modifications require additional edits in framework-res.apk or SystemUI.apk files, which increases the risk of errors. Always test the changes on backup before using.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing the style of the watch on Xiaomi Redmi 9, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
The clock does not change after choosing a new style.	System cache not updated	Restart your phone or clear the cache in Settings → Apps → App Management → Topics
Disappeared item "Clock style" in the settings	MIUI update resets menu	Update your firmware to the latest version or reset the theme settings in Settings → Themes → Reset
The clock is displayed incorrectly (overlaid, cropped)	Conflict with wallpaper or font size	Change the wallpaper to standard or return the font size to the default value
Clock animation twitches or slows down	Too heavy a theme or launcher	Turn off animation in the theme settings or change the launcher to a lighter one (such as Lawnchair)
After the change of style, notifications on the lock screen disappeared	Conflict with security settings	Go to Settings → Notifications → Lock screen and enable notification display

If none of the methods helped, try resetting the themes:

Open the "Settings" → "Themes."

If the problem persists, it may be related to the corruption of system files, in which case:

🔄 Update MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
📱 Reset settings (without data loss) via Settings → Additional → Reset settings.
🛠️ Fastboot flashing (extreme case).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I install an Apple/iOS-style watch on the Redmi 9?

Yes, but it will require: Install theme "iOS Clock" from the Themes app** (there are free and paid options), or use the launcher Nova Launcher with the iWidgets widget (requires manual tuning). Note: a full copy of the iOS watch will not be possible due to the limitations of MIUI, but the visual result will be close.

Why did the MIUI update change the style of the watch?

This is standard MIUI behavior — after major updates (e.g., from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13), the system resets some personalization settings, including watch style and themes. To return to the same view: Check if your style is available in the new Settings menu → Lock screen. If there is no style, install it again through the Themes app**. For third-party launchers (e.g., Nova), it is enough to re-use the watch widget.

How do you make the clock on the lock show seconds?

In the standard Redmi 9 settings, the second display on the analog watch is disabled. To enable it: Activate Demo Mode (see Section 3). Go to Settings → Lock screen → Additional → Show seconds. If there is no point, set a second-hand theme (for example, "Analog Clock Pro" in the Themes app).

Can the clock be made transparent?

Yes, there are several ways: Through themes: Set a theme marked "Transparent Clock" (e.g., "Glass Morphism" or "Clear View"). Through launcher: In Nova Launcher or Action Launcher, set up the transparency of the watch widget (Background Transparency option). With root, you can change the transparency of the framework-miui-res.apk files (requires APKTool knowledge), and note that a fully transparent watch can be difficult to see on a AMOLED- screen.

How to return the standard watch if it disappeared after the experiments?

If the watch is missing from the lock screen or the main screen: For the lock screen: Go to Settings → Lock screen → Watch style. Select "Default" or "System." If you don't have a point, reset themes to Settings. → Topics → Home Screen Reset: If you used a launcher, delete it and go back to the standard screen. MIUI Launcher. Add the watch widget again (click and hold on the home screen) → Widgets → Clocks. Extreme case: Do a Settings Reset via Settings → Additionally. → Resetting settings (data not deleted).