How to change the color of the watch on the lock screen Xiaomi Redmi 7: 3 working methods + solving typical errors

The lock screen Xiaomi Redmi 7 is not just protection from accidental clicks, but also a business card of your smartphone. the color of the watch on it can both harmoniously fit into the overall design and annoy the eye with an unfortunate combination. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not always provide flexible settings for this feature, especially on budget models like Redmi 7 with MIUI 10-12 firmware.

In this article, we will look at all the available ways to change the color of watches, from standard settings to workarounds using themes and third-party applications. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden MIUI function, which allows you to change the color of watches without root rights, but requires strict follow-up instructions, and you will learn why after updating the system color can be reset to factory and how to fix it.

Why can’t Redmi 7 just change the color of the watch?

Unlike Xiaomi’s flagship models (such as the Mi 10 or Redmi K40), where the color of the watch is adjusted in several taps, the Redmi 7 is deprived of this option out of the box.

  • πŸ“± Firmware restrictions MIUI β€” budget devices get stripped-down versions of the shell with a minimum set of customizations.
  • 🎨 Lack of support for Always-On Display (AOD) β€” Redmi 7 does not have a permanent time display function, so color settings are kept to a minimum.
  • πŸ”’ Xiaomi policy – the company purposefully simplifies the interface for inexperienced users, hiding Advanced-options.

However, this doesn’t mean that the task is impossible. Below we will look at the workarounds that work on the Redmi 7 with any versions of MIUI (including global and Chinese).

πŸ“Š What color do you like on the lock screen?
Black.
White
Colored (under the subject)
Own shade

Method 1: Use of embedded MIUI themes (without root)

The safest way to change the color of a watch is to use a theme from the official MIUI Themes store. Many themes automatically adjust the shade of a watch to the general palette.

  1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
  2. Go to the Online section and find a topic marked β€œLockscreen” or β€œBlock screen”.
  3. Select your favorite theme and click Apply.
  4. Restart the device (required!) to make the changes effective.

πŸ”Ή Note: Not all themes change the color of a watch β€” look for phrases like "Custom lockscreen clock" or "Adaptive watch" in the description. Popular themes for Redmi 7 are "Dark Matter", "Neon Glow", "Minimal" OS".

Make sure the theme supports your version of MIUI| Check reviews – are there any complaints about clock bugs | Download a theme rated above 4.5| Backup your current theme (Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ Backup)

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Method 2: Manually modifying hidden settings (requires MIUI 11+)

In MIUI 11 and later, there is an undocumented ability to change the color of the watch through the Functions Lab, which does not require superuser rights, but does not work on all devices:

  1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
  2. Return to Settings β†’ Additional β†’ For developers and enable USB debugging.
  3. Install the application "MIUI Hidden Settings" from Google Play.
  4. In the app, go to Lockscreen β†’ Clock Style and select a color from the palette.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI 12.5 This method may result in the wallpaper resetting of the lock screen. Before changing, take a screenshot of the current settings (Power) + Volume Down).

What to do if the color does not change?
If the clock is the same color after you have applied the settings, try: 1. Switch to another theme and back again. 2. Clear the theme app cache (Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management β†’ Themes β†’ Clear the cache). 3. Install the Lockscreen Editor app (requires Android 9+).

Method 3: Third-party applications (with security risks)

If the first two methods didn't work, you can use third-party utilities.

  • πŸ”§ Always On Display AMOLED β€” Despite the name, it works on LCD-It allows you to adjust the color, font and position of the watch.
  • 🎨 Lockscreen Customizer: Flexible setting of all lock screen elements, including the clock. MIUI-Optimization in the Developer Settings.
  • πŸ› οΈ Xposed Framework + GravityBox module is the most powerful tool, but root rights and experience with custom firmware are needed.

⚠️ Note: Apps from unverified sources may contain malicious code.Install only from Google Play or the official repository XDA Before installing, check the permissions of the application – if it requests access to the app. SMS or contacts for "clock settings," it's suspicious.

πŸ’‘

Before installing third-party apps, create a restore point in TWRP (if installed), which will help roll back changes if the smartphone starts to glitches.

Compatibility table with MIUI versions

MethodMIUI 10MIUI 11MIUI 12/12.5Requires root.Risk to the system
Built-in themesβœ… Yes.βœ… Yes.βœ… Yes.❌ No.⚠️ Low.
Hidden settings❌ No.βœ… Yes.βœ… Partially.❌ No.⚠️ Medium.
Always On Display AMOLEDβœ… Yes.βœ… Yes.βœ… Yes.❌ No.⚠️ High (battery)
Xposed + GravityBoxβœ… Yes.βœ… Yes.βœ… Yes.βœ… Yes.❗ critical

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after a successful color change, Redmi 7 users are plagued with bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

  • ⏳ Color resets after rebooting β†’ Check if Auto Update is enabled in the settings. Turn it off and re-apply the theme.
  • πŸ”„ The clock blinks or disappears β†’ This is a conflict with energy saving mode. Add an app to adjust the clock to exceptions (Settings) β†’ Battery β†’ Optimizing the battery).
  • 🎭 The color has changed, but the font has become unreadable. β†’ Manually select a contrasting shade in the theme settings or go back to the factory style.

If none of the methods worked, you may have a modified firmware installed on your device (e.g., from a third-party developer).

  1. Check out the MIUI version in Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI version.
  2. If the version contains a postfix like "-custom" or "-port", contact the firmware author for instructions.
  3. In extreme cases, perform a factory reset (Settings β†’ Additional β†’ Restore and Reset), but this will delete all data!

πŸ’‘

On Redmi 7 with the original MIUI 12.5 firmware, the most reliable way is to combine themes from the official store and the β€œAlways On Display AMOLED” app with the animations disabled.

Can I change the color of the watch without installing additional apps?
Yes, but only if your firmware supports hidden settings (see Method 2). On MIUI 10, this is not possible without third-party software. The alternative is to use embedded themes that indirectly change the color of the watch.
Why did the MIUI update change the color of the watch?
Updates often reset the user's lock screen settings. This is because Xiaomi overwrites the system files responsible for display. To avoid a problem, before updating: Take a screenshot of the current settings. Remember the name of the theme used. Turn off automatic themes in Settings β†’ Theme settings β†’ Theme settings.
Will the battery run out faster if you use a colored watch?
On the Redmi. 7 s LCD-screen AMOLED) The color of the watch has little effect on battery consumption, as the backlight works the same for all colors, but if you use third-party apps like "Always On Display", the consumption can increase by a few hours. 5-15% due to the constant activity of the screen.
Can I adjust the gradient or animation for the watch?
On stock firmware, no. These effects will require: Install custom firmware (e.g., "Pixel Experience" or "LineageOS"). Use Xposed modules (requires root); Apply animated theme (search in "Xposed"); MIUI Themes tagged "Animated" or "Dynamic"). ⚠️ Warning: Castom firmware can take away your warranty and cause sensor problems (e.g., a fingerprint scanner).
Where to download secure themes for the lock screen?
Official sources: πŸ“± Built-in Themes app (checked by Xiaomi). 🌐 Website themes.xiaomi.com (for Chinese firmware only). πŸ›‘οΈ XDA Developers (section "MIUI Avoid topics from sites like miuithemes.com, which often contain advertising software.