How to Change the Color of a Xiaomi Watch on the Home Screen of MIUI 12

Xiaomi’s current MIUI 12 smartphones offer users the widest range of customization options. However, many device owners have difficulty changing the appearance of the desktop time widget. Standard settings are not always obvious, and the desire to personalize the gadget to your own style requires understanding the logic of the system.

Changing the color of a dial is not just an aesthetic whim, but also a way to make the interface more readable or, conversely, minimalist. In this article, we will examine in detail all the methods available, from using embedded themes to installing third-party widgets, you will learn why sometimes the color changes automatically and how to force the desired shade.

It is worth considering that MIUI 12 has its own features of rendering graphic elements. Some methods may work differently on the Redmi Note 9 and Xiaomi Mi 11 models. We will consider universal solutions that will suit most of the current devices of the brand.

Features of the watch widget in MIUI 12

Xiaomi’s visual style has undergone significant changes with the twelfth version of the firmware. The time widget, which is the default on the home screen, is now tightly integrated with the design system, often colored by the theme or active wallpaper, creating a live interface.

Users often confuse the standard widget with the clock built into the lock screen. It is important to understand that the lock screen settings (Always On Display) and the main desktop (Home Screen) are separated. Changing the color of the clock on the locked screen will not affect the widget after unlocking the device.

⚠️ Note: The standard watch widget in the Classic basic theme may not have text color settings. If you don't see the change options, then the current theme doesn't support this feature without modifications.

The system time widget in MIUI 12 often uses dynamic colors, which means it can adapt to the dominant color of your wallpaper. If you want a static, fixed color, you'll either have to change the wallpaper or use third-party solutions.

Change color through theme settings

The easiest and safest way to change the look of a watch is to use the built-in Theme app. The Xiaomi Theme Store contains thousands of designs, where the design of time widgets is radically different from the stock one. Installing a new theme is a comprehensive solution that changes icons, notification curtains and, of course, the watch.

To start, open the Topics app on your smartphone. Go to Profile (usually the person icon in the lower right corner) and select Topics. Here you can search for queries like Digital Clock or Neon Time. Many themes allow you to use only a specific component without changing the entire interface.

• 🎨 Open the Themes app and find your favorite design.
• ⬇️ Press the download button and then select Apply.
• 🔧 If the theme supports customization, go to Settings → Lock screen or Theme settings.
• ⏱️ Select the “Clock” component and adjust the color or style of the dial.

Some advanced themes allow you to edit options after installation. Go to Settings → Wallpaper and personalization → Theme. If the theme supports deep customization, you will see the Customize button. Inside you can find sliders to change the shade of numbers or the background of the widget.

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Before installing a new theme, make sure to take a screenshot of your current desktop, which will help you quickly return to your familiar look if the new design does not like.

Use of Google widgets and third-party apps

If standard MIUI tools seem too limited, widgets from Google or third-party developers come to the rescue. Google Watch Widget (Digital Clock) is often installed with Google services and offers a concise design with the ability to choose colors.

To add a Google widget, pinch the empty space on your desktop and select Widgets. In the list, find the Watch (Google icon). Drag the widget onto the screen. Unlike the standard Xiaomi widget, there is often a customization button (cog) right on the widget or through long pressing, where you can select the color of the numbers manually.

For more complex tasks, there are specialized applications from Google Play, such as HD Widgets or Overdrop. These programs provide designers where you draw a widget yourself: choose font, color, background transparency and even add weather.

Using heavy widgets with live animations or complex scripts can increase battery consumption. If you notice that the smartphone started to discharge faster after installing a new widget, try choosing a more static design option.

Setting up through the “Always screen on” menu

Many users want to change the color of the watch on the screen when the device is locked, and in MIUI 12, AOD (Always On Display) is responsible for this.

Go to Settings → Lock screen. Find Always on screen and activate it. The system will suggest you choose the display style. Some styles, such as Digital or Element, allow you to change color. Click on palette icon or style settings to select a shade from the range offered.

This is the most energy efficient option. AOD color watches consume more energy because they light up extra subpixels.

⚠️ Note: The Always On Screen feature may not be available on models with IPS-In this case, the settings section may not be available in the settings section.

Problems with inversion and dark theme

One of the common reasons for the color of a watch to go missing is the dark theme turned on (Dark Mode). MIUI 12 has a smart color inversion of the interface. If you put black numbers on dark wallpaper, the system can automatically invert them to white for contrast, ignoring your theme settings.

Check the display settings. Go to Settings → Screen → Dark Mode. You can set the schedule or exclude certain applications, but it is difficult to globally manage the behavior of widgets. Often it helps to simply change the wallpaper to lighter or completely black.

Also worth checking is the special features settings. Settings path → Advanced settings → Special. features → Visuals can contain activated color filters or inversions that affect the entire interface, including the watch.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The flexibility of customizing colors in MIUI 12 depends on the chosen theme. For maximum control over color, use specialized widgets from Google Play.