How to put a watch on the home screen Xiaomi Redmi 9A: 3 working methods + error solving

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9A smartphones often face the question of how to return a familiar watch to the home screen if they have disappeared after updating or resetting settings. Unlike the iPhone or “pure” Android, the MIUI shell has its own nuances in widget management – especially on budget models like the Redmi 9A, where functionality is sometimes cut down for performance.

This article will not only show you how to add a watch widget, but also explain why standard methods may not work on your device.We will examine 3 methods (including hidden developer mode), look at the differences between versions of MIUI 12/13/14, and give a checklist to fix common errors — from the gray icon of the watch to the problem with updating time. If you tried to do this before and received the message “Vidget is not available”, here you will find a solution.

The Redmi 9A (M2006C3LG/M2006C3MII) features a simplified firmware with a limited set of widgets, such as the one with a separate weather widget like Xiaomi’s flagships, but even in such conditions, you can display time on the screen — the key is to know where to look for hidden settings.

1. Standard method: Add widgets through the menu

The most obvious method is to use the built-in widget menu.It works on most Xiaomi devices, but on Redmi 9A it may require pre-setting.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock your phone and go to the main screen.
2. Make a long press on any free screen spot (not on the icon!).
3. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a tabbed panel. Select "Widgets" (the icon with squares).
4. Scroll down to the "Clock" section. 2-3 variant: 🕒 Analog clock (round with hands) 🕐 Digital watches (in format) 12/24 hour) 🌤️ Weather watches (if available in your firmware)

Click on your favorite widget and, without letting go, drag it to the main screen.

Let go of your finger, the watch will appear on the screen, and if necessary, resize it by pulling corners.

⚠️ Note: If the list of widgets does not include the "Clock" section, this means that the system application com.android.deskclock is disabled or removed.

2. Alternative method: Incorporation through system settings

On some Redmi 9A firmware (especially after manual updates), the watch widget is hidden in the settings to activate it:

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the "Applications" section → "Applications Management".
3. In the search box, enter a clock or clock.
4. Find the system application "Clock" (English DeskClock) and open its settings.
5. Make sure the app isn't disabled. If there's an "Enable" button next to the name, press it.
6. Go back to the widget menu (see the first method) and check if the watch section has appeared.

If DeskClock is not listed, it could mean it was removed when custom firmware was installed, in which case only flashing the device or installing a third-party widget from Google Play will help.

3. Hidden method: activation through developer mode

This method is suitable for advanced users if the first two methods do not work, and it forces the system to forcibly display all available widgets, including hidden ones.

How to turn on the developer mode on Redmi 9A:

1. Find the line "Version" MIUI" And you click on it 7 times in a row, and you'll get a notification saying, "You've become a developer!".

After that, additional watches, including those that were previously hidden, should appear in the widget menu, which works even on custom firmware, where standard MIUI widgets are removed.

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If the watch widget doesn't appear after activating the developer mode, try resetting the launcher settings. Press three dots on the widget menu (⋮) → "Reset the settings".

Table: Comparison of watch widgets on different versions of MIUI

The functionality of the watch widgets depends on the firmware version. Below is a comparison of the features for the Redmi 9A:

If your firmware version doesn’t support the widget you want, consider upgrading to Settings → System Update. But remember: on Redmi 9A with 2GB of RAM, newer versions of MIUI may run slower.

5. Problem Solving: The watch doesn't update or disappear

Even after successful addition of the watch widget can behave incorrectly. Consider typical errors and their solutions:

Problem 1: The clock shows the wrong time

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 9A time lost when the Internet is disconnected due to the lack of a module GPS for automatic synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Date and time.
2. Activate options: 🔄 "Autodetermining date and time" 🌐 "Time zone autodetermination"

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Problem 2: The widget disappeared after the reboot

This is due to the optimization of memory in MIUI, to fix the widget:

1. Open "Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autorun".
2. Find the Clock app and allow auto-start.
3. In the same menu, go to “Battery and Performance → Battery Management” and turn off optimization for the Watch app.

Problem 3: The grey icon of the clock in the widget menu

The reason is a malfunction of the launcher com.miui.home.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find "Luncher" (or com.miui.home).
3. Click "Clear Cache" and "Clear Data" (⚠️ After that, the wallpaper and the location of the icons will be dropped!).
4. Reboot the phone.

How to install a third-party widget:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Add the widget to the main screen in the same way as the system (long press → “Widgets”).
3. A new section will appear in the list with the name of the installed application.
4. Choose your favorite style and customize it through the gear icon on the widget.

⚠️ Note: Some widgets (e.g. Chronus) require additional permissions to display weather. Allow location access in the app settings.

Video instructions and supplementary materials

If the text instructions seem complicated, watch the video with a step-by-step demonstration:

🎥 Video: How to Put a Watch on a Redmi Screen 9A 1 minute"

Description: All three methods (standard, through settings and developer mode) are clearly shown with an explanation of the nuances for MIUI 13.

📌 Useful references:

• 🔗 Official theme of the forum MIUI (Discussion of bugs with widgets on Redmi 9A)
• 🔗 Digital Clock Widget in Google Play
• 🔗 Firmware archive for Redmi 9A (if reflashing is required)

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Before installing third-party widgets, check reviews - some apps can show ads over the clock. Better choose widgets with a rating above 4.5 and downloads from 1 million.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi clock 9A