The modern rhythm of life dictates its rules, and users often have to track time in different parts of the world. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 offers flexible tools for personalizing the interface, allowing you to display two faces on the lock screen or desktop at once, this is especially true for those who work with foreign partners or have relatives in other time zones.
The built-in MIUI shell on which the smartphone's operaonic system is based has a wide range of functionality hidden deep in the menu. Many device owners do not even realize that the standard system tools allow you to accomplish a task without installing questionable software. We will analyze all available methods, from standard widgets to third-party solutions.
Before we make any changes, it’s worth noting that the visual design may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic of the system components in the Redmi Note line remains the same, and the right setup will eliminate confusion and allow you to instantly read the information you need.
Use of the Double Watch widget in MIUI
The easiest and most reliable way to display two time zones is to use a special widget that is already built into the system, which does not consume excess battery power or create conflicts with other applications, and to activate you need to go to the desktop and swipe to the right to open the widget screen, or pinch the empty area on the desktop.
In the menu that opens, select Add widgets. In the list of available items, look for the Watch category. Here you will see several design options, including one that is marked as Double Watch or has two faces in the preview.
⚠️ Note: If the widget displays the wrong time, check the date and time settings in the main menu of the system, as the widget takes data from there.
Once you have the widget on your desktop, you can set it up. Tap the widget or click on the edit button (usually a gear or pencil) to set a second time zone. The system will suggest you select a city from a list or enter its name manually. Once you save the changes, the double clock will start counting time synchronously with the network servers.
Configure the second time zone through the system menu
An alternative method is to directly activate the dual time function through system settings, which is useful if you want the second time to be displayed not only on the widget, but also taken into account by the system when scheduling events. Go to Settings and select the Additional or Advanced Settings section.
Inside the menu, find Date and Time, and there's the Double Clock option, which you need to activate with a slider, and when you turn on, you'll have a second city choice, and this action will duplicate the settings for system applications like alarm clocks or calendars if they support dual time zones.
- 🌍 Open the date and time settings in the phone menu.
- 🔘 Find the Double Watch Switch and activate it.
- 🏙️ Select the second city to be displayed on the screen.
It is important to understand that enabling this option in settings does not always automatically add a widget to the desktop. Often you need to manually add an interface element, as described in the previous section. However, synchronization between system settings and the widget ensures stable operation even when you switch flight modes or move between regions.
Installation of the double watch widget on the lock screen
The lock screen is the first thing that a user sees when they pick up the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9. Placed time information here makes it as accessible as possible. Unlike the desktop, the lock screen has its own limitations on the number and type of widgets that can be placed.
To set up, go to Settings → Lock screen. Some versions of MIUI have a separate "Time Format" or "Clock Style" section. If the standard styles don't work, you can use the theme. Go to the Themes app, find your favorite design that supports double time, and apply it. Make sure the the theme description indicates the presence of a watch widget.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party themes, some system icons may change their appearance or become less readable, so choose high-ranking themes.
If you’re using a standard theme, check to see if the watch widget is hidden by other elements. On the Redmi Note 9 with its large screen, there’s often a large widget that can be replaced by default. Press the lock screen (if the MIUI version allows editing), or use the editor to change the display style of the time to a dual format.
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Use analog and digital dial widgets at the same time for better visual perception of the time difference.
Third-party applications for displaying time
If MIUI is not available in the regular setting, Google Play offers many alternatives, with third-party widgets often offering more flexible design, skin support and time display capabilities in three or more cities, and popular solutions include World Clock Widget, DigiClock or HD Widgets.
Once the app is installed, you need to give it the necessary permissions, you usually need to access the location to automatically determine the belt and permission to display over other windows, and you can add the desired cities to the settings of the widget itself, change the font, color and size of the dial.
The advantage of third-party solutions is that you can create complex compositions, you can output the time, date, day of the week, and even the weather for each of the selected cities, but it's worth remembering that these widgets can consume more battery power, especially if they are updated every second.
| Annex | Battery consumption | Flexibility of setting | Advertising |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI Widgets | Low. | Medium | No. |
| World Clock Widget | Average. | Tall. | Got it (Free) |
| HD Widgets | Average. | Very high. | No (Pro) |
| DigiClock | Low. | Medium | There is. |
Time synchronization problems and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the double clock on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 shows the wrong time or stops updating, most often due to system time desynchronization or errors in the operation of network services. The first step should always be to check the main time zone.
Make sure that the Date and Time settings activate the "Use Network Time" option. If it's already on, try turning it off and turning it on again. Also, rebooting your smartphone helps, which resets the temporary caches of the system processes responsible for timing.
☑️ Diagnosing problems with time
If the problem is only for the widget, try removing it and adding it again. In rare cases, cleaning the data from the Watch or Security app helps, but you should do this carefully by remembering your alarm settings beforehand.
Hidden Time Settings in the Engineering Menu
Optimizing the battery when using widgets
Constantly updating the information on the screen, especially if complex third-party widgets are used, can increase power consumption. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is equipped with a capacious battery, but MIUI optimization can aggressively close the background processes of widgets, which leads to the fact that the watch “lags behind”.
To avoid this, look for the widget-providing app in the settings (like the Watch or a third-party widget) and select the No Limits mode in the Energy Saving section, which will allow the widget to run in the background and update data in a timely manner even if the system tries to “sleep”.
Also, consider that widgets with a second hand or animation consume more CPU and screen resources. If energy savings are the first thing, it is better to choose a static dial that updates once a minute.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t install too many active widgets on one screen, this can lead to slowing down the interface and a quick battery discharge.
Balancing functionality and energy efficiency will allow you to enjoy the convenience of double watches without compromising the autonomy of your smartphone. The properly configured Redmi Note 9 will be a reliable assistant in organizing your time.
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The optimal operation of widgets depends on the correct settings of energy saving and the absence of conflicts with the theme of design.