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

The color of the watch on the lock screen Xiaomi is one of those little things that form the overall impression of the smartphone. For some users it is a matter of aesthetics, for others it is a matter of convenience at different times of the day. Unfortunately, not everyone knows that the manufacturer offers several ways to customize this element, not only through standard MIUI settings, but also through hidden functions or third-party applications.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of changing the color of watches, from basic settings in Themes to manual editing of system files for advanced users. We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of firmware (MIUI 12/13/14) and popular series (Redmi Note, POCO, Xiaomi 11/12/13). If you want a clock on a locked screen to harmonize with wallpaper or just stand out from the background, read further - there is a solution for any level of preparation.

Why does Xiaomi’s watch color change in standard ways?

Many users are faced with a situation where the option to change the color of the watch in the settings is simply absent or does not work, the reasons are several, and they depend on the firmware version and device model:

• 🔄 Version. MIUI Below 12.5: In older builds, the customization function of the watch was limited or absent. 9A s MIUI 12.0.3 was only possible to select the display style (analog/digital), but not the color.
• 📱 Models with AMOLED-Screens: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T Pro) the color of the watch is tied to the theme of design and changes automatically when changing the wallpaper through the Themes → Lock screen.
• 🔒 Manufacturer's limitations: On budget models (Redmi) 10A, POCO C31) Part of the lock functions are reduced to save resources.
• 🛠️ Custom firmware: If you use informal firmware (such as Pixel Experience or LineageOS), the clock settings may differ or require manual editing of system files.

Before you go to radical methods, check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If it is older than 12.5, update the firmware first - this can solve the problem without additional manipulation.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI For example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G) Some of the customization features of the lock can be disabled due to local restrictions, in which case the change of region to India or Global will help (but this will require resetting the settings!).

Method 1: Change color through theme settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It is suitable for most modern models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5 and later) with MIUI 12.5+ firmware.

Instructions:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the Lock Screen section.
3. Choose any style of watch (e.g. Digital or Analog).
4. Click on the Palitre icon (or Color) in the lower right corner.
5. Choose one of the suggested shades or create your own with the RGB slider.
6. Save the changes with the Apply button.

If you don't have a color change option on your menu, try applying any other theme from Popular first, and then go back to the clock settings. Sometimes this unlocks hidden settings.

Make sure that the MIUI version is not lower than 12.5

Check for updates in Settings → Software Update

Reboot your phone if color option doesn’t show up

Try to change the region to India (for global firmware)

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On some devices (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro), the color of the watch automatically adjusts to the wallpaper.

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Turn off the Automatic Color (or Adaptive Design) option.
3. You can now choose the color manually.

Method 2: Use of third-party launchers and widgets

If the standard settings don’t provide the necessary flexibility, you can use third-party solutions, which is suitable for all Xiaomi models, including outdated ones (Redmi 8, POCO X3 NFC).

The most popular applications:

• 🎨 KWGT Kustom Widget Maker: Allows custom watches with any color, font and animation, requires editorial skills, but gives maximum freedom.
• ⏰ Digital Clock Widget: Simple app with pre-configured watch styles, including color change.
• 🖌️ UCCW (Ultimate Custom Clock Widget: A handy constructor for creating unique watches on the lock screen.
• 🌈 Hex Installer: A Module for Magisk that Unlocks Hidden Settings MIUI, including extended customization of clocks.

Example of settings via KWGT:

1. Install KWGT from Google Play.
2. Download any watch template (like Minimal Clock or Neon Digital).
3. Add the widget to the home screen, then drag it to the lock screen (if supported).
4. In the editor, find the Text Color option and change it to the desired shade (for example, #FF00FF for purple).
5. Save and apply the changes.

⚠️ Note: Widgets on the lock screen may not work on devices with MIUI 14 and newer due to tightening security policy, in which case you'll have to use the ADB-commands (see Method 4) or roll back to an older firmware version.

For POCO users with MIUI firmware for POCO, there is a separate solution – the POCO Launcher app. It allows you to adjust the color of the watch through the Themes menu → Lock screen → Additional settings.

Standard settings of MIUI

Third-party launchers (Nova, POCO Launcher)

Widgets (KWGT, UCCW)

Manual editing of system files

Don't customize.

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Method 3: Editing system files (for advanced)

This method is suitable for those who are ready to work with system files and have root rights or access to ADB. It allows you to change the color of the watch at the firmware level, which guarantees stability even after updates.

You'll need:

• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with unlocked bootloader and root (or Magisk).
• 💻 Computer with installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 📂 Backup of the system (required!).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the ADB terminal.
2. Enter the command to access system files: adb shell su
3. Go to the folder with the clock settings: cd /system/priv-app/MiuiSystemUI/MiuiSystemUI.apk/res/values
4. Open the file. colors.xml in a text editor (for example, through MT Manager on the phone).
5. Find the lines with the parameters: <color name="lockscreen_time_color">#FFFFFFFF</color> <color name="lockscreen_date_color">#B3FFFFFF</color> Replace #FFFFFFFF (white) in the desired colour (e.g, #FF0000 red).
6. Save the file, set the rights to 644: chmod 644 colors.xml
7. Reboot the phone.

If the watch has not changed color after the reboot, clear the system cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three dots → Clear the cache.

Method 4: ADB-Color change commands without root

If you don't have root rights, but you have access to ADB, you can change the color of your watch with special commands, which works on MIUI 12.5-14 and doesn't require a hack.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times on MIUI Version, then return to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and check the connection with the command: Adb devices
3. Enter a command to change the color of the watch (replace #FF0000 fittingly HEX-code): adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_clock_color #FF0000
4. Reboot the device: adb reboot

If the team doesn’t work, try an alternative:

adb shell am start -n com.android.themes/.activity.ThemePreviewActivity --es theme_id "default" --es clock_color "#FF0000"

On some devices (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X4 Pro) this method works only after changing the theme to the standard (default).

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Topics.

2. Press the Battery → No restrictions.

3. Repeat input ADB-team.

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Method 5: Using Magisk Modules

For owners of Magisk devices, there is an easier way to do this: customization modules that don’t require manual file editing and are often updated by the community.

Popular modules:

• 🔧 MIUI Clock Mod: Allows you to change the color, font and size of the watch. Compatible with MIUI 12–14.
• 🎨 Lockscreen Customizer: Advanced lock settings, including animation and transparency.
• 🖥️ MIUI SystemUI Tuner: Module for fine-tuning the interface, including the color of the watch.

How to determine:

1. Download a module (e.g. MIUI Clock Mod) from the XDA Developers forum.
2. Open Magisk Manager and go to the Modules section.
3. Click Install from Storage and select the downloaded file.
4. Reboot the phone.
5. After downloading, open the module app (if required) and select the color of the watch.

The advantage of this method is the ability to return standard settings in one click (just turn off the module in Magisk).However, be careful: not all modules are compatible with the latest versions of MIUI 14, so read the reviews on the forum before installing.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing the color of the watch, users often encounter common mistakes, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

• ❌ Color does not change after settings are applied: Check if Auto Color is included in Settings → Lock screen. Also try changing the theme to standard and back again.
• ❌ ADB-Teams are not working: Make sure that the debugging is done USB plugged in ADB It's installed correctly. Try reconnecting the device or using another one. USB-cable.
• ❌ After editing system files, the phone does not turn on: Restore backup via TWRP Or run the original firmware with the Mi Flash Tool.
• ❌ Widgets are not displayed on the lock screen: MIUI 14 this function is disabled by default. Try to roll back on MIUI 13 or use Magisk modules to unlock.
• ❌ Watch color resets after update: This is normal behavior - system files are overwritten when you update. To avoid the problem, use Magisk modules or re-apply ADB-team.

If none of these methods worked, check to see if your device has manufacturer restrictions, such as some Chinese models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra CN) that have some locking features locked at the firmware level.

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before any manipulation of system files or ADB-Make sure to create a backup copy through TWRP or Mi PC This will allow you to quickly restore the device to work in case of an error.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions