Personalizing the interface is the first thing that makes smartphone ownership truly comfortable. For many Xiaomi and Redmi users, having accurate desktop time is not just an aesthetic requirement, but a vital necessity. The watch widget allows you to instantly assess the current time without unlocking the device or opening unnecessary applications.
The MIUI shell and its successor HyperOS provide a wide range of tools for customizing your workspace. You can choose between classic dials, large digital indicators or minimalist strings with a date. In this article, we will explore in detail all ways to add watches, from standard methods to advanced settings through the widget menu.
Sometimes standard solutions may not meet the design requirements, and then third-party applications or hidden system settings come to the rescue. Understanding how your phone launcher works will allow you to create a unique interface that will please the eye every time you pick up the device.
It is important to consider that the location of the elements on the screen directly affects the usability of the gadget. The right size widget will not overlap important icons of the application, but will remain noticeable. Let's look at the basic methods that will help you quickly set the desired format of time.
Use of the standard MIUI widget menu
The easiest and most reliable way to install a watch is to use the built-in functionality of the system. The MIUI shell has a pre-installed set of widgets that are optimized to work without unnecessary battery load, and to access it, you just need to pinch two fingers on your desktop or swipe your finger to the right to the end to open the widget tape.
In the menu that opens, you need to find Widgets, which is a complete list of available items, sorted by category or alphabetically, and find the Watch and click on it to see all the options available, from large analog to compact digital.
Choose your favorite design and drag it to the free desktop space. If you want to resize an already installed widget, press it with your finger and pull at a special marker (usually a round dot in the corner) to stretch or compress the display area.
⚠️ Note: On some firmware versions, when dragging the widget into a occupied place, the system may suggest moving existing icons. 2x2 or 4x2 clock-box.
Once installed, you can further customize the external element. Often double-clicking the widget opens the widget's configuration menu, where you can choose a time zone, 12/24 hour format, or digit color, and this allows you to tailor the watch to your chosen theme.
Adding widgets through editing mode
An alternative method of adding a watch is useful if you don't want to flip through long lists in the sidebar, which allows you to edit the desktop in more detail, press the blank area on the screen, or use the "Edit" function in the screen settings menu to go into layout mode.
At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a toolbar. Press the Widgets button (an icon that might look like a square with a clock or a plus) The system will suggest a list of all the apps that can host information on the home screen. Find the Watch or Clock app in the list.
And you'll see all the variations that are available inside this section, and the thing about this method is that it often shows a preview of what the widget will look like on your wallpaper, and it helps you avoid situations where black text merges with dark background.
After choosing a style, click Add or just drag the item to the desired area. The system will automatically adjust the desktop grid. If the widget doesn't fit, you will have to delete or move some application shortcuts.
- 📱 Click the empty space on the desktop to enter the editing menu.
- 🔍 Select the bottom tab Widgets in the panel that appears.
- ⏰ Find the Watch category and choose the desired style.
- ✅ Confirm the placement by pressing the Ready button or tap outside the widget zone.
This method is particularly useful when you need to add several different clocks for different cities, so you can create a widget with time in London, another in New York, and a third with your local time, just by repeating the addition procedure.
☑️ Checking before installing the widget
Setting up the style and format of displaying time
It's not enough to just put a widget in, it's important that it reads at a glance. Depending on the Redmi Note or Xiaomi model, the settings may vary. Standard widgets often have a built-in setting menu called by a long tap, and you can switch the time format to a 12-hour or 24-hour one.
If you find standard watches boring, look for Themes. Themes app allows you to download design packages that completely change the way you see your system widgets. Some themes add animation, change the font of numbers, or add background images directly to the watch area.
You can use third-party apps from Google Play, such as HD Widgets or Overdrop, to make widgets from scratch, choosing the color of each minute, the font of seconds, and even adding weather conditions. However, remember that heavy widgets can increase battery consumption.
| Parameter | Standard widget | Third-party annex | Theme of the design |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery consumption | Minimum | Medium/High | Depends on the topic. |
| Variability | Limited MIUI. | Very high. | Fixed |
| Difficulty setting up | Low. | Tall. | Low. |
| Stability | Tall. | Medium | Tall. |
When choosing a style, consider the resolution of your screen. On models with AMOLED matrices, the black background of the widget will be really black, which saves energy. On IPS screens, the difference is less noticeable, so you can choose any color scheme without fear.
How to turn on the second on the main screen?
Solving the Widget Disappearance Problems
Xiaomi users often face a situation where after rebooting or cleaning the memory, the watch widget disappears or stops updating, which is due to the aggressive optimization of the MIUI system, which unloads background processes to save resources.
To secure the widget in place, you need to change the power management settings for the Watch application. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the Watch (or Clock) list, and select Activity Control. Set No Limits.
It’s also worth checking if Remove widgets is enabled when cleaning memory. In some builds, there’s a setting that automatically removes widgets from the desktop when cleaning RAM, although this is rare in modern versions of HyperOS.
⚠️ Note: If the widget disappears after changing the theme, it's okay. Themes often replace the system widgets with their own.
Another reason could be a lack of space: If you’re trying to install a widget and the system says “Not enough space,” try temporarily removing the extra apps or moving them to other desktop pages.
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If the clock widget shows the wrong time, check the "Autodate and time" setting in the "Additional" → "Date and time" section. Sometimes a time zone failure is solved only by manual selection of the city.
Use the "Always on the Screen" widget
For owners of devices with AMOLED displays (Redmi Note Pro series, Xiaomi Mi, flagships), the AOD (Always On Display) function is relevant. It allows you to display your watch on a locked screen without fully activating the backlight. It is not quite the "main screen", but functionally solves the same problem.
You can set up AOD through Settings → Lock screen → Always on screen and lock. Here you can choose the style of the watch, add a caption or even use your images. In new versions of HyperOS, AOD styles have become interactive and responsive to touch.
This feature consumes more power than a regular lock, but significantly less than a constantly on screen.The system cleverly turns off AOD when the phone is in your pocket or lying down with the screen, thanks to the proximity sensor.
Some users prefer to put the watch widget on the home screen as a “stub” to avoid turning on AOD constantly, in which case you can set a static watch or watch with an update once per minute, which has little effect on autonomy.
- 🔋 AOD optimized AMOLED screens where only the pixels are burning.
- 🎨 In the settings AOD More than 20 different time display styles are available.
- ⏱️ You can set up a work schedule. AOD (for example, only from 8:00 to 23:00).
If your budget Redmi doesn’t support native AOD, there are emulator apps from the Play Market that mimic this effect, but using them can cause accelerated wear on the IPS screen matrix.
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Aggressive energy savings in MIUI are the main reason widgets are gone. Setting the "No Limits" mode for the Watch app solves 90 percent of the problems.
Additional Opportunities and Customization
For advanced users who don’t have a lot of standard solutions, there are third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher that allow you to place watch widgets anywhere, even overlapping icons, and customize their behavior to pixel accuracy.
Also worth mentioning are Google widgets, which, if you use Google services, can sync the Google Watch widget with the calendar and display reminders right under time, making a simple dial a powerful scheduling tool.
Don’t forget the weather widgets, which are often in conjunction with time. The combined Time + Weather widget is the most popular choice for the home screen, as it gives maximum information with minimal space.
⚠️ Note: When installing a large number of widgets (more) 5-7 on one screen) there may be a decrease in FPS When you scroll through the desktop, try not to overload the interface.
Experiment with transparency. Some themes allow you to make the background of the widget completely transparent, leaving only numbers and arrows, and this creates a soaring time effect that looks very stylish on bright wallpaper.