How to change the color of the watch on the lock screen Xiaomi: all ways + error solving

Why does the color of the watch on the lock screen Xiaomi does not change standard methods?

Xiaomi's lock screen is the first thing you see when you turn on your smartphone, and the color of the watch plays a key role in how you experience the interface. Many Redmi, POCO or Mi users face a problem: everything changes in the theme settings except the shade of time, the reason lies in the architecture of the MIUI shell, where the color of the watch is often tied not to the topic, but to system styles or even firmware.

Depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13 or 14) and the device model (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, etc.), the methods of color change can be radically different. Somewhere you need to change the topic, and somewhere you need to edit system files through ADB or install third-party launchers. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for 2026, including hidden settings and circumventing the limitations of MIUI.

It's important to understand that some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, which can lead to a loss of warranty, and we'll mark these with special warnings, starting with the simplest and safest options.

Method 1: Color change with standard MIUI settings

The most obvious way is to use built-in shell tools. In the latest versions of MIUI 13/14, developers have added flexible settings for the lock screen, but not all users know where to look for them.

Go to: Settings → Lock screen → Watch style

Here you will see several pre-set styles (e.g. Digital, Analog, Minimalist) and in some styles the color of the watch changes automatically depending on the wallpaper (Adaptive Color function). If this option is active, turn it off to manually select the shade.

• 🎨 Color palette: In some styles (e.g., Digital) a circular palette appears when you press the clock to select the color.
• 🖼️ Wallpaper color: If the adaptive color function is enabled, the system takes the dominant hue from the wallpaper. Try changing the wallpaper to monochromatic.
• 🔄 Reset style: If the color "hangs" and does not change, reset the style of the watch to the standard and choose again.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi K50 Pro) some colors may be dim due to the energy-saving mode. To fix this, turn off the Settings option. → Display. → Color scheme → Energy conservation.

Method 2: Using themes from the MIUI store

MIUI Themes offers thousands of free and paid themes, many of which change the color of the clock on the lock screen. However, not all themes correctly apply changes to the clock - some only affect wallpaper or icons.

How to choose the right topic:

1. Open the Themes app (Themes).
2. In the search bar, type in lockscreen clock color or watch screen lock color.
3. View themes marked "Lockscreen" or "Always On Display".
4. Before using, click “Preview” to see what the lock screen will look like.

Look for themes called "Colorful Clock," "Neon Lock," or "Minimal Dark" -- they usually offer flexible color settings. If the watch hasn't changed after you apply the theme, try rebooting the device.

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Some themes require an internet connection to download additional items. If the hours are the same after applying the theme, check the network connection.

Method 3: Edit system files via ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods don't work, you can manually change the color of the watch by editing the system files, which requires developer mode on and ADB access.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Enable debugging via USB: Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging via USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
4. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
5. Download the file with the clock settings: adb pull /data/system/lockscreen_clock_config.xml
6. Open the downloaded file in any text editor and find the line: <color value="#FFFFFFFF"/> Replace #FFFFFFFFFFFFFF with the desired color in ARGB format (for example, #FF00FF00 for green).
7. Save the file and download it back: adb push lockscreen_clock_config.xml /data/system/
8. Reboot the device: adb reboot

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can cause a bot to recover or reset settings.Before you start, make a backup through Settings → Memory. → Backup. If the phone doesn't boot after the changes, try resetting the lock screen settings via fastboot:

fastboot erase locksettings

Method 4: Installation of a third-party launcher with lock customization

If you don't want to mess with system files, you can install an alternative launcher that supports lock screen settings.

• 📱 Nova Launcher + Nova Lockscreen plugin (paid, but with trial period) allows you to change the color, font and position of the watch.
• 🎭 Action Launcher (free version with restrictions) Supports adaptive wallpaper-based colors.
• 🔧 Smart Launcher 6. The pro version has a lock screen editor with a choice of color palette.
• 🖌️ Before Launcher (minimalist design) is ideal for devices with Always On Display.

Example of settings through Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher and Nova Lockscreen from Google Play.
2. Launch Nova Settings and go to Lockscreen → Clock Style.
3. Select the style of the watch and click "Customize".
4. In the Colors section, set the desired shade for hours, dates and notifications.
5. Save the changes and restart the device.

⚠️ Note: Some launchers may conflict with Xiaomi system services, such as Second Space or App Lock. If your fingerprint or face unlock stops working after installing the launcher, return to the standard launcher via Settings → Annexes → By default. → Launcher.

Make a backup of current settings

Check the compatibility of the launcher with the Android version

Disable battery optimization for launcher

Restart the phone after installation-->

Method 5: Using Magisk modules (root required)

If your device is unlocked and installed by Magisk, you can use special modules to deeply customize the lock screen.

• 🔧 Lockscreen Customizer – allows you to change the color, font, size and position of the watch.
• 🎨 AOD Customizer – Advanced settings for Always On Display (including animations).
• 🖥️ MIUI Clock Mod – a specialized module for changing the style of watches on Xiaomi.

Installation instructions:

1. Download a module (e.g. Lockscreen Customizer) in.zip format.
2. Open Magisk Manager and go to the Modules section.
3. Click "Install from storage" and select the downloaded file.
4. Reset the device.
5. After downloading, open the module app (like Lockscreen Customizer) and adjust the color of the watch.

The advantage of this method is flexibility: you can not only change the color, but also add seconds, change the font to Google Sans or Roboto, and adjust the display of dates and notifications. However, remember: root access disables the ability to use banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.) and some services (Google Pay).

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Magisk modules allow you to change system files without direct editing, which reduces the risk of “bricking” the device. However, before installing any module, check for feedback on forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA Developers).

Problem Solving: The watch doesn’t change color or disappears

If after all the manipulations the color of the watch remained the same or they completely disappeared from the lock screen, check the following points:

If neither of these methods worked, your Xiaomi model may have firmware limitations, and there are two options left:

1. Update MIUI to the latest version (sometimes new builds add flexibility to settings).
2. Install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS) where lock screen settings are more open.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the color of the watch on Xiaomi