How to put a watch on the screen of the phone Xiaomi

Personalizing the interface of a smartphone is the first thing a user does after buying a device. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO gadgets often face the desire to change the standard view of time on the display, since the MIUI or HyperOS shell provides extensive opportunities for this. Installing widgets allows you not only to decorate the device, but also to quickly access important information without unlocking the phone.

There are several ways to do this, from using built-in features to installing third-party applications. The lock screen and the desktop (Home Screen) have different configuration algorithms that require separate attention. It is important to understand that the choice of method depends on the specific model of your smartphone and the version of the operating system.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the options available, including hidden settings and professional customization tools, learn how to activate Always On Display if it’s not enabled by default, and how to avoid common bugs when installing heavy widgets that can affect device autonomy.

Configure widgets on the desktop MIUI and HyperOS

The easiest and most common way to add a watch is to use the system’s built-in widgets. Xiaomi’s shells offer a rich library of widgets that are updated in real time and consume minimal energy. To get started, you need to switch to desktop editing mode with your finger on the empty area.

The bottom menu will have a Widgets button, and you'll click on it and you'll be in the catalog of available items, and you'll find both classic digital watches and sophisticated analog second-hand movements, and you can resize the widget by stretching the boundaries of the widget to take up one, two or four grid cells.

• 🕒 Classic watches: simple digital or handheld format without unnecessary details.
• 🌤 Weather Watch: Combines time and current temperature outside the window.
• 🎨 Thematic widgets: stylized for specific wallpaper or brand collections.
• 📅 Combine: widgets that combine clocks, calendars and notes in one block.

⚠️ Warning: Installing too many active widgets on the home screen can lead to accelerated battery discharge and slowing the interface when scrolling through pages.

Once you select a design, the widget will automatically fit into the selected location. If the standard set doesn't suit you, there's often a "Download More" or "Online Widgets" button at the top of the widget menu that will open up access to Xiaomi's cloud storage, and you can find thousands of custom designs created by the community.

Using the theme of design to change the style of time

You can globally change the look of the watch on the lock screen by installing a new theme. Unlike widgets that are added on top of the interface, the theme replaces the system fonts, icons and lock screensaver, which is the deepest level of customization available without superuser rights.

To do this, open the Themes app built into the system, and search for keywords like “Digital Clock,” “Neon,” and “Minimal” to find the right options. When you look at the topic, look at the lock screen preview, which is where the watch’s main style is displayed.

Some themes may not overlap the system clock completely, but only change the font or color; others offer completely unique animations and arrangement of elements. Once the theme is installed and applied to the lock screen, the standard watch will disappear, giving way to a new design.

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Before installing a paid theme, check its preview in free mode (usually available for 5 minutes) to make sure the watch style really suits you.

It is worth noting that third-party themes sometimes conflict with the latest HyperOS updates. If the watch is missing or is not displayed correctly after installing the theme, try resetting the theme to standard ("My Page" → "Themes" → "Default") and reinstall the one you want.

Always on Display: Configuration and Limitations

The feature is Always on Display (AOD) Allows you to display hours and notifications on a screen that is off, taking advantage of the benefits OLED-These screens only burn individual pixels, which saves charge. AMOLED-This feature is built into the system, but may require activation.

To set up AOD, go to Settings → Wallpaper and Personalization → Always On Display and Lock screen. Here you can choose a static watch image, animated drawing, or even create your own style with your finger. The system offers flexible schedule settings.

It is important to understand that on devices with IPS-Always On Display is technically impossible because the backlight of the matrix must be completely lit. For such models, the system can offer a simplified version or even hide this option.

Installation of third-party application widgets

If built-in capabilities aren't enough, apps from Google Play come to the rescue. Stores are crowded with watch widgets that offer unique fonts, colors and features not available in stock firmware. Popular solutions are HD Widgets, Overdrop or Chronus.

The process of installing a third-party widget is similar to the standard one: you download an application, then find a new element through the desktop widget menu and add it to the screen. However, such widgets often require additional permissions and may not be optimized for MIUI energy saving.

• ⚙️ Deep Customization: the ability to change every digit and background element.
• 🌐 Integration: Connecting with Google Calendar, Tasks, and Weather Services.
• 📉 Resource capacity: Complex widgets can wake up the processor more often to update data.

When using third-party widgets on Xiaomi, there is often a problem when the widget stops updating or disappears after a while.This aggressive battery optimization system kills the background process of the widget. To avoid this, you need to go to the widget application settings and select the option “No restrictions” in the energy saving section.

Pocket mode and watch in your pocket

Special attention should be paid to the feature that allows you to see the watch without taking the phone out of your pocket or bag. On Xiaomi devices, this feature is often called “Pocket Mode” or activated through the Always On Display settings. It uses a proximity sensor to determine the location of the device in a confined space.

When the phone is in the dark (in your pocket) and you pick it up or receive a notification, a large, contrasting clock lights up against a black background. This is convenient for a quick look at the time without the need for a bright glow of the entire screen. You can adjust the sensitivity in Settings → Lock screen.

⚠️ Attention: The proximity sensor may become contaminated or sealed with a protective glass. If the "pocket mode" function is not working correctly (the screen is burning in your pocket or does not light up in your hand), wipe the top of the screen and check for a protective film on the sensor.

Some users confuse this mode with a normal lock, which consumes a minimal amount of power, since only a few dozen pixels are used.

Solving problems with watch widgets

Often, users are faced with a situation where the clock on the screen is missing, the wrong time is shown or the color stops changing. 90% of the time synchronization settings or aggressive energy saving are the problem.

To do this, go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time. Make sure the Use Network Time switch is active. If time is down, widgets can behave unpredictablely, as they work on the device's system time.

If the time is right, but the widget is black or not loading, try clearing the cache of the Security app or the widget app itself. In rare cases, resetting the lock screen settings to factory values through the theme menu helps.

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Most widget problems on Xiaomi are solved by removing background activity restrictions in the Battery and Application menus.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)