How to install the player on the lock screen Xiaomi: 3 proven ways

Why do you need a player on the lock screen and what it gives

Xiaomi's lock screen is not just a random tap protection, it's a full-fledged information hub. One of the most popular elements here is a music player widget that allows you to control playback without unlocking your phone. Imagine you're listening to a playlist with your headphones on, your phone is in your pocket, and you need to immediately pause the track or rewind it. Without a widget on a locked screen, you have to unlock your smartphone, spend time searching for an application and then perform the action. With a player, everything is solved with a single swip and tap.

But it's not that simple. Depending on the version of MIUI (the shell of Xiaomi) and the phone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.), the ways of adding a player may differ. For example, in MIUI 14 the algorithm has changed compared to MIUI 12, and on some budget models the functionality is completely reduced. In this article, we will discuss all current methods, including workarounds for devices where the option is hidden or disabled by default.

It’s important to understand that the player widget on the lock screen only works with system music apps (like Mi Music or Google Play Music) and some third-party players (like Spotify or VLC). If you’re using a niche audio app, you may have to first configure it as the default application to play.

Method 1: Standard settings via Lock Screen (MIUI 12–14)

This is the simplest and most versatile method that works on most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with a MIUI 12-14 shell.Instructions are suitable for models Released after 2020, including the Xiaomi 12/13 series, Redmi Note 11/12 and POCO F4/X5.

To add a player, follow the following steps:

  1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
  2. Scroll down to the lock screen widgets section and tap it.
  3. In the list of available widgets, find Music (or Player) and activate the switch next to it.
  4. Return to the home screen, lock the phone (press the power button) and check for the player. It should appear at the bottom of the screen when playing audio.

If the widget does not appear, make sure that:

  • 🎵 Music is played - the player is displayed only during the playback of the track.
  • 🔊 Volume is not at zero – sometimes the system hides the widget if the sound is turned off.
  • 📱 Supported app – check that the music is running through Mi Music, Spotify or other compatible software.

Audio player launched|Volume on.|Phone unlocked to access settings|Verified version. MIUI (12 and above)-->

On some devices (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO M3), the option may be hidden, in which case try the alternative methods described below.

Method 2: Configure via Quick Settings (for MIUI 13–14)

The latest versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 13) have the ability to control player display through the Quick Settings Panel, a technique that is especially useful if the standard path has failed or the widget has disappeared after the system update.

Instructions:

  1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar, then swipe again to deploy Quick Settings.
  2. Find an icon of Music (or Media) that looks like a musical notation or a speaker. If it's not there, tap the icon. ⚙️ Edit and add the widget to active elements.
  3. You tap the player icon in quick settings, you'll see a mini player, and you can control playback, but you'll need to display it on the lock screen.
  4. Return to Settings → Lock screen → Widgets and make sure the Music option is enabled.

If the player doesn't show up anyway, try:

  • 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes helps reset the system cache.
  • 📲 Update MIUI — In older versions, there may have been bugs with widgets.
  • 🎧 Connect headphones - on some models, the player is shown only when the audio device is active.

Mi Music|Spotify|VLC|Google Play Music|Other-->

Method 3: Use third-party applications (if standard methods don't work)

If your Xiaomi doesn’t support the built-in player widget (like older models like the Redmi 5 or the Mi A2 with pure Android), you can use third-party solutions, and one of the most reliable is the Musicolet or Poweramp app, which offer their own widgets for the lock screen.

Instructions for Musicolet:

  1. Install Musicolet from Google Play and open it.
  2. Go to Settings → Lock screen inside the application.
  3. Activate the option to Show the widget on the lock screen.
  4. Run playback of any track - the widget should appear.

For Poweramp:

  1. Open Poweramp, go to Settings → Appearance → Lock screen.
  2. Enable the Allow the lock screen widget.
  3. In system settings (Settings → Applications → Poweramp → Permissions), give all necessary rights, including Display over other windows.
Why can’t the player be displayed in third-party apps?
A common reason is that you don’t have permissions to display over other windows or you’re blocked by MIUI optimization backgrounds. To fix this, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Player Name] → Battery and select Without Restrictions. Also check if the widget is disabled in the security settings (Settings → Privacy → Special Permissions → Display over other windows).

Advantages of third-party players:

  • 🎛️ Flexible setting – you can change the size, transparency and location of the widget.
  • 🎧 Support for formats – many third-party players work with FLAC, APE and other high-quality audio formats.
  • 🔒 Work without unlocking – some applications allow you to control the player even without entering a password.

💡

If the player widget disappears after the reboot, add the application to the AutoStart list in the MIUI settings (Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Player name] → AutoStart).

Compatibility table: which Xiaomi models support the player on the lock screen

Not all Xiaomi smartphones work equally well with the player widget. Below is a compatibility table for popular models. Note that functionality may depend on the MIUI version and regional firmware.

ModelSupport for built-in playerRequired version of MIUINotes
Xiaomi 13/13 Pro✅ Yes.MIUI 14+The player is displayed automatically when playing.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+✅ Yes.MIUI 13/14You may need to manually enable in the settings.
POCO X5 Pro✅ Yes.MIUI 14 (Global)In Chinese firmware, the option may not be available.
Redmi 10/10A⚠️ Partially.MIUI 12.5+The player only comes with Mi Music or Spotify.
Xiaomi Mi A3❌ No.Android OneA third-party player (such as Poweramp) is required.

If your model is not in the table, try updating your firmware to the latest version of MIUI or using alternative methods (see Method 3).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you set up the player on the lock screen correctly, let's look at the typical errors and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Player appears but does not respond to presses

This is a frequent complaint by MIUI 14 users, and it's a conflict with Privacy Protection.

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Special permissions → Display on top of other windows.
  2. Find your player in the list and allow it to display.
  3. Reboot the phone.

Problem 2: Player disappears after screen lock

The battery optimization mode is to blame.

  1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → [Your player] → Battery.
  2. Choose No Limits.
  3. Enable AutoRun for this application.

Problem 3: Player appears, but without album cover

This is a limitation of some versions of MIUI. Try:

  • 🖼️ Set the album cover manually in player settings.
  • 🔄 Switch to another audio app (e.g., from Mi Music to Spotify).
  • 📲 Update the firmware - in new versions the bug has been fixed.

💡

If the player stopped working after the MIUI update, try resetting the lock screen settings (Settings → Lock screen → Reset to factory) this will return all widgets to their original state.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI For example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G) The player may not be displayed due to local firmware limitations, in which case flashing to a global or European version will help. MIUI.

Additional chips: how to customize the player on the lock screen

The built-in MIUI player offers minimal customization capabilities, but with the help of third-party tools, you can expand its functionality.

1. Changes in the size and transparency of the widget

If you are using Poweramp or Musicolet, you can:

  • 🎨 Set up background transparency (0% to 100%).
  • 📏 Change the size of the buttons (slider "Scale").
  • 🎵 Add audio visualization (in Poweramp this is a Visualizer option).

2.Gestural control

MIUI 14 has received support for gestures for the player on the locked screen:

  • 👆 Swipe up the player - the next track.
  • 👇 Swipe down - previous track.
  • 👉 Double tap - pause/replay.

To activate gestures, go to Settings → Lock screen → Additional → Player control.

3. Hiding the player if necessary

If the widget interferes, it can be temporarily removed:

  • 🔕 V MIUI 14: swipe the player to the left - it will fold into a small icon.
  • 🚫 In Musicolet: disable the option Show on the screen locks in the settings.

💡

If you don’t like the standard player design, try MIUI themes. Some themes (like “Dark Nebula” or “Minimalism”) offer alternative styles for the widget.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I add a player to the lock screen if I have a Xiaomi with a pure Android (like the Mi A3)?
On Android One devices (e.g. Mi A3, Mi A2), there is no built-in player on the lock screen. However, you can use third-party apps like Poweramp or Musicolet that support lock-screen widgets. To do this: Install a player from Google Play. In the app settings, enable the display option on the lock screen. Give all the necessary permissions in the system settings (Settings → Apps → [player name] → Permissions).
Why does the player on the lock screen only work with headphones?
This is a power saving restriction in MIUI. The system believes that if the headphones are not connected, then playback through the speaker does not require urgent management. To ensure that the player is always displayed: Connect and turn off the headphones once - sometimes this will "wake up" the widget. Check the battery settings for the player (should be No restrictions). Update the MIUI to the latest version - in the new firmware this bug is fixed.
How to return the player after resetting the settings?
After the phone is reset to factory settings, all lock screen widgets are reset. To return the player: Open Settings → Lock screen → Widgets. Activate Music option. Start playing the track - the player should appear. If the player does not appear, try reinstalling the music application or using a third-party player (see Method 3).
Can I change the location of the player on the lock screen?
In standard MIUI firmware, the player is positioned (usually at the bottom of the screen). However, in some custom themes or using the Xposed Framework (for advanced users), you can change its position. Alternatively, use third-party players with a custom widget (for example, Poweramp), where you can choose the location of the elements.
The player on the lock screen doesn't show the album covers. How do you fix it?
The problem with covers is most often associated with: 🖼️ Lack of built-in covers – check if there are pictures in the track metadata (can be added via MP3Tag PC-only). 📱 Restrictions MIUI — Some shell versions do not support the display of covers on the lock screen. 🔄 App cache - clear the player's cache in Settings → Annexes → [Player name] → Memory. → If the problem persists, try another player (e.g., clear the cache, VLC JetAudio).