How to change the color of the watch on the Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

The clock dial on the lock screen or in Always On Display (AOD) mode is not just a functional element, but part of the individual style of your Xiaomi smartphone. Many users do not even realize that the color, font and design of the displayed time can be easily changed without installing additional applications. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods, from standard MIUI settings to hidden features and third-party solutions.

Owners of Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi devices often find that after updating the firmware, the watch interface is reset to factory settings. And some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5) offer advanced customization options, which the manufacturer does not mention in the official documentation, We collected current methods for all versions of MIUI 12-14 and showed how to circumvent the system limitations.

If you want not only to change the color, but also completely transform the appearance of the watch - the article has a section about dark and light themes, as well as instructions for installing custom dials through the window. APK-And for those of you who love experimentation, we've developed a unique way to change the color of a watch through the ADB-Teams (even working on blocked loaders).

1. Standard MIUI settings: change the color of the watch without apps

The easiest way to change the color of the watch is to use the built-in MIUI options. This method works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with a firmware version at least MIUI 12. Importantly, on some budget models (for example, Redmi 9A or POCO M3), some functions can be reduced.

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

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select the watch style (on some devices it is called the dial).
3. Scroll down to the Color section and tap the palette.
4. Choose one of the suggested shades or create your own with the RGB slider.

On models with Always On Display (AOD) (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi K50 Pro), the path will be slightly different:

• 🔹 Go to Settings. → Always on screen.
• 🔹 Choose the time display style (usually available 3-5 options).
• 🔹 Press Set up. → Colour of text.
• 🔹 Choose a shade from the palette or enter a hex code (for example, #FF5733 orange-colored).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or POCO X5 Pro) when choosing light colours for AOD Battery consumption increases. Optimal shades are dark blue (#1E3A8A) or green (#166534).

2.Use MIUI themes to change the design of the watch

If you don't have a lot of options in standard settings, you can use the theme. In MIUI, the themes change not only the wallpaper and icons, but also the style of displaying time on the lock screen and in AOD mode. This method is suitable for all devices, including the Redmi Note 11 and the POCO X4 Pro.

How to use the theme to change the color of the watch:

1. Open the Themes app (brush icon on your desktop).
2. In the Recommended or Top section, find a topic marked Changes the dial (usually Dark, Neon or Minimal themes).
3. Tapping on the subject. → Apply.
4. Restart the device (sometimes the changes only take effect after restarting).

Topics advice:

• 🌙 Topics AMOLED Black automatically adjusts the color of the watch to a dark background, saving battery power.
• 🎨 Colorful Themes offer up to 10 color schemes for the dial.
• ⚡ Free themes often have limited settings – you will have to buy a premium version for full control (cost). ~100-200 rubles).

💡

Check reviews before installing the theme – some users complain that the system clock font settings get lost after applying them. In this case, a reset to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Topics → Storage → Clear data will help.

3. Always On Display: Hidden Color Settings

Always On Display (AOD) is available on Xiaomi’s flagship and some mid-budget models (e.g., Xiaomi 12T, Redmi K60, POCO F4 GT). Unlike the lock screen, here the watch color settings are hidden deeper and depend on the firmware version.

How to change color in AOD:

1. Activate AOD Mode: Settings → Always on the screen → Enable.
2. Choose the display style (usually available 3-5 options: Digital, Analog, Minimalist, etc.).
3. In some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 for Xiaomi 13) after choosing a style, the button “Tune” appears – you can change the color there.
4. If there is no button, try long pressing the watch in preview mode - sometimes this opens an additional menu.

On devices with MIUI 13 and below, you may need a workaround:

• 🔧 Set up a topic that supports customization AOD (For example, Always On Custom from the Theme Store).
• 📱 Use the AODNotify app (available on Google Play), which allows you to change the color of your watch even on unofficial firmware.
• 🔄 If, after the change, AOD stopped working, restart your phone or reset your screen settings in Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting the lock screen settings.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro or POCO M5) customization AOD They may cause lags due to limitations of display drivers. Check compatibility on forums before installing. 4PDA or XDA Developers.

4. Third-party applications for full customization

If MIUI's built-in capabilities aren't enough, you can use third-party apps that not only change color, but also set animated dials, add weather widgets, and even create your own styles.

Top.-3 Apps to change the clock on Xiaomi:

• 🎨 KWGT Kustom Widget Maker is the most powerful customization solution, allowing you to create unique dials from scratch or download ready-made templates from the community.
• ⏰ Clockology is a dedicated app for lock screen clocks that supports animations, gradients and dynamic colors. Plus: there is a free version with basic features.
• 🖌️ Always on Display Edge – an alternative to the standard AOD With advanced color and font settings, note: some devices require you to disable the standard AOD customized.

Instructions for setting up KWGT:

1. Install KWGT Kustom Widget Maker from Google Play.
2. Download your favorite watch template (for example, on the Kustom Rocks website).
3. Import the template into the app and apply it as a widget on the home screen.
4. To change the color, open the KWGT editor, search for the Text Color option, and enter the desired hex code (e.g. #FF00FF for purple).

5. ADB-Teams: Color change for advanced users

If you're not afraid to work with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can change the color of your watch at the system level, which works even on devices with a locked bootloader and does not require root rights. Warning: wrong commands can lead to interface failures.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with drivers installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap according to the version → return to → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-Type C Cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
3. Use the command to change the color of the watch (example for white): adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_clock_color "#FFFFFFFF" Replace #FFFFFFFF the desired hex code (for example, #FF0000FF red).
4. Reboot the device: adb reboot

List of popular colors for ADB:

• 🔴 Red: #FFFF0000
• 🔵 Blue: #FF0000FF
• 🟢 Green: #FF00FF00
• 🟣 Purple: #FFFF00FF
• ⚫ Black: #FF000000 (It may not be on the dark wallpaper)

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T Pro after ADB-To return the standard settings, execute the command: adb shell settings delete secure lock_screen_clock_color

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you change the color of your watch, Xiaomi users often encounter common mistakes, and we've collected the most common problems and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: The color of the watch does not change after the theme is applied.

• 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes changes only apply after a reboot.
• 🧹 Clear the app's cache Themes in Settings.
• 📱 Check if the theme conflicts with other modifications (e.g. Xposed or Magisk modules).

Problem 2: In AOD mode, the clock is displayed incorrectly (alignment is lost, numbers are lost).

• 🔧 Turn it off and turn it on again. AOD customized.
• 📉 Reduce screen brightness manually – sometimes it fixes artifacts.
• 🔄 Set a standard theme and check if the problem persists.

Problem 3: After the MIUI update, the color settings reset.

• 📋 Check if the active theme has dropped (sometimes the standard update is used).
• 🔧 Repeat the color settings through the settings → Lock screen.
• 📱 If you use ADB, Re-apply the command (update may reset system settings).

Problem 4: Third-party apps (such as KWGT) don’t display the clock on the lock screen.

• 🔐 Allow the app to access notifications: Settings → Annexes → Application management → [Title of the annex] → Notifications → Permission.
• 🛡️ Disable battery optimization for the app.
• 🔄 Reinstall the application and reset the settings.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions