How to change the time widget on the lock screen Xiaomi

The lock screen is the first thing you see when you unlock your Xiaomi smartphone. It displays base clocks and dates by default, but for many users, the standard look seems boring or not informative enough. Fortunately, the MIUI shell provides ample customization options, allowing you not just to change the wallpaper, but also completely transform the look of time widgets.

In this article, we will take a look at all the customization options available, from standard system tools to advanced themes and third-party applications. You will learn how to add a watch to the home screen, change its style on the lock screen, and even implement unique dials that other Android smartphone owners do not have. Personalization of the interface is not only about beauty, but also about the convenience of reading information.

Before we start to make changes, it's worth noting that the layout of the elements may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS. However, the basic principles remain the same throughout the Xiaomi ecosystem. Let's take a look at what tools we have in our arsenal.

Standard lock screen settings

Let's start with the most obvious and safe way to do this, which is to use the built-in features of the system. The MIUI shell allows you to set the time display in a basic way, although the options here are limited to a few preset options. To get into the desired menu, you need to open your device's Settings.

In the list that opens, look for a section that might be called Lock Screen or Wallpaper and Personalization. That's where the keys to changing the look are. If you're using the new version of HyperOS, the path might look like Settings → Wallpaper and Personalization → Lock screen.

⚠️ Note: Some global firmware versions may have limited time widgets available compared to the Chinese versions.

Inside the menu, you'll see the option "Time Format" or "Clock Style," and clicking on it, the system will offer a few options: classic digital, analog (with arrows) or minimalist. Choosing a specific style will instantly apply changes to the lock screen.

• 🕒 Digital format: displays time as numbers, often with or without seconds.
• ⏱️ Analog Style: imitates classic clocks with hourly, minute and sometimes second hands.
• 📅 Combined view: combines large numbers with date and day of the week.

It's worth remembering that standard settings don't allow you to change the font or color of the time apart from the topic. For deeper customization, other methods will be required, which we'll talk about later. However, for most users, the standard set is quite enough to refresh the appearance of the gadget.

Using the Themes app to change widgets

The most powerful tool for changing the look of Xiaomi is the official Themes app. This is where a huge number of design decisions are hidden, including unique time widgets for the lock screen.

At the bottom of the screen, look for the Profile tab (usually a person icon) or immediately go to the Watch or Lock Screen if they are displayed separately. Searches can be searched for queries like “Clock”, “Time” or “Time” to find specialized themes that change only that element.

The theme you choose can change not only the look of the watch, but also the unlock animation, and once you load the theme, the system will suggest you apply it, and you can use the theme as a whole, or you can choose "Apply Lock Screen Only" to avoid changing the application icons and other interface elements.

It is important to note that many beautiful Themes themes are paid or require you to view ads for activation for a limited time. However, free options with high-quality graphics are also abound.

After applying the theme, it is recommended to restart the device to make sure that all elements are displayed correctly and there is no conflict with the system fonts. If the time is displayed incorrectly (for example, superimposed on wallpaper), try another theme.

Adding time widgets to the desktop

Often users confuse widgets on the lock screen and widgets on the desktop (main screen). If your goal is to have a large, beautiful watch right on the desktop among the application icons, the algorithm of actions will be different.

Put two fingers in the center of the screen, or hold your finger in the empty area for a long time, and you'll see a menu at the bottom where you want to select "Widgets," and in the list that opens, look for the "Clock" category.

The system offers a variety of options, from simple digital watches to complex compositions with weather, calendar and currency rates. Choose your favorite option and drag it to the free space of the screen. Some widgets require customization on the first run.

For example, weather widgets can request geolocation access to show the current temperature. Google widgets often look stricter, while Xiaomi widgets are more vivid and animated. You can resize the widget by pulling over its edges if the selected element supports zoom.

⚠️ Warning: Installing a large number of live widgets (with animation or frequent data updates) can increase battery consumption and reduce device performance on weak processors.

If you don't like the standard set of widgets, the same menu often has a button called "Download widgets" or a link to the store to those where you can download additional sets, which allows you to create unique compositions on the desktop.

Advanced Customization through Third Party Apps

When the standard MIUI shell is scarce, Google Play apps come to the rescue. There are many programs that allow you to create time widgets of any complexity, shape or color. One of the most popular solutions is Widgetsmith or analogues like HD Widgets.

After installing such an application, you will need to create a new widget inside it, adjusting the font, color, background and even add your own images. Then the application will ask you to add its widget to the Android desktop.

However, there is a caveat: third-party widgets usually only work on the desktop, not on the lock screen. To see them when the screen is turned on, many users install these applications as Always On Display (always on screen), if such a feature is supported by the model, or use special launchers.

Launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher allow you to completely replace the Xiaomi desktop and give you access to thousands of time widgets. But remember, replacing the launcher won't change the look of the lock screen, just the desktop.

• 🎨 KWGT Kustom Widget Maker: a professional tool for creating widgets from scratch.
• ⌚ Digital Clock Widget: A Simple App With Many Pre-made Skins.
• 🌈 Color Widgets: A Popular App for Creating Bright, iOS-Like Widgets.

Using third-party solutions gives you maximum freedom, but it takes time to adjust, so you can make the time translucent, add a blur effect or tie its color change to the time of day.

Always on Display (AOD)

On modern smartphones Xiaomi with AMOLED-Always On Display is a mode where part of the screen stays active even in sleep mode, showing the time, date and notifications. It's the perfect way to see the time without touching the phone.

To set up AOD, go to Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display and Pocket Mode. Here you can turn on the feature and select the display style. Classic watches, vertical, horizontal and even animated options are available.

Always On Display is only available on AMOLED devices. If your Xiaomi has an IPS (LCD) screen, this item on the menu may be missing or inactive, as constant pixel highlighting on such screens is impossible without harming the battery.

⚠️ Always on Display increases battery consumption by 5-10% It is recommended to set up a schedule of work (for example, only with the 8:00 before 23:00), The phone doesn’t shine in your pocket at night.

In AOD settings, you can also choose whether the screen will go out completely in 10 seconds or work constantly. To save energy, you better choose automatic shutdown. Some Themes store themes offer unique, non-standard styles for AOD that look very spectacular.

If you have installed a custom AOD theme, make sure that the theme settings activate the Lock Screen and the Always On option. Sometimes, after updating the firmware, the AOD settings may reset, so they are worth checking again.

Possible problems and solutions

Users may encounter a variety of difficulties in setting up time widgets, most often because the time widget is not displayed, is overlaid with icons or displays the wrong time. Let's look at the basic scenarios.

If the time on the lock screen or widget shows the wrong time zone, the problem is solved in the general settings of the system. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time. Make sure that the option “Use Network Time” is enabled and the correct time zone is selected.

💡

If the time widget is lost after the reboot, try clearing the Themes or System Interface app cache in the application settings, which often helps to return missing design elements.

Sometimes, after installing a new theme, time becomes unreadable (for example, white numbers on light wallpaper), in this case, you should change the wallpaper to more contrasting or turn off the theme, returning the standard style. Theme conflicts are common with frequent changes in design.

Another problem is the "flying out" of the Themes app when you try to apply the widget.This may indicate cache damage or app version incompatibility. Try updating the Themes app via GetApps or Google Play.

In rare cases, the time widget may disappear after a system update, a well-known feature of some versions of MIUI, where developers change the structure of lock files, in which case only waiting for a theme update from the developer or resetting the lock screen settings helps.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)