Xiaomi’s current Redmi and Poco smartphones offer users a wide range of personalization options, and one of the most popular tools is a widget, a mini-app that displays important information directly to the desktop, allowing users to instantly see the weather, currency rates, steps or news without going to the main apps.
However, switching to newer versions of the MIUI or HyperOS shell often changes the way people use it, and users may find that the usual way to add items stops working or the menu is hidden in an unobvious place. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of adding a widget to the Xiaomi Redmi screen using standard system tools.
We will look not only at the basic steps, but also at the nuances of working with memory that can block the installation of new items, and we will also focus on the specific settings that affect the display of graphics and interactivity of elements on the home screen of your device.
The basic way to add widgets through the main menu
The most common and versatile method, which works on most current Xiaomi and Redmi models, involves using a contextual desktop menu, which is native to the MIUI shell and does not require installing third-party software.
Make a long tap and hold on an empty area of the screen where there are no app icons. The system will react with vibration, and the interface will go into editing mode. At the bottom of the display, a toolbar will appear. You need to find a button that says Widgets or the corresponding icon, usually located on the left or center.
☑️ Pre-installing check
You click on it, and you open a library of available items, and you sort them by category or application, and you find the object you want, like Weather or Clock, and you click on it, and you automatically transfer it to your desktop, or you tell them to choose the exact location if there are more than one available cell.
It is important to note that some widgets require permission to access geolocation or contacts to display data correctly. If you see a stub or error after installation, check your privacy settings in Settings → Applications → All Apps.
Use of the application menu and widget folder
In newer versions of HyperOS firmware and some MIUI 14 builds, Xiaomi has implemented a separate widget organization system, which can now be put into a standalone menu that resembles an add-on store, to ease desktop loads and make navigation more intuitive.
To get into this menu, swipe from right to left on the first screen (clock screen) if you have Unlimited or Classic app menus on, or find a separate folder called Widgets in the general list of all installed programs, and inside you will see a directory with beautiful previews.
- 🌤️ Weather widgets with animation and detailed forecast
- 📊 Informers of exchanges, exchange rates and cryptocurrencies
- 🎵 Control panels for music and podcasts
- 📅 Calendars with weekly events
The choice of an item here is often accompanied by a real-time preview, and if you click on the plus or the Add button, you get an instant result, and the peculiarity of this method is that it often offers more aesthetic design options adapted to the current theme of the system design.
Why do widgets disappear after a reboot?
It is worth noting that this menu often features exclusive partner widgets or system innovations that cannot be found through a standard long press. Check this section regularly after major software updates, as the toolkit there is constantly replenished.
Size and appearance of elements
Once an item is on the screen, it often needs to be adapted to its style. Standard widgets on Xiaomi have the flexibility to adjust the dimensions. To change the dimensions, again press your finger on the already added object before the vibration appears.
You'll see markers or dotted grids around the frame of the object, and if you drag corners or edges, you can stretch the widget vertically or horizontally, but remember that the resolution and number of cells is limited to the desktop grid, and the minimum step of change is usually one grid cell.
| Type of widget | Min. size (cells) | Max. size (cells) | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clock (digital) | 2 x 1 | 4 x 2 | Low. |
| Weather (animation) | 2 x 2 | 4 x 4 | Average. |
| Calendar | 2 x 2 | 4 x 3 | Low. |
| News/Tape | 2 x 3 | 4 x 6 | High. |
For deeper customization, you often need to go to the settings of the app itself that owns the widget. For example, the Notes widget can only change the color of the background or font through the Notes app menu. Look for the gear button or the Style option in the editing interface.
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Use the system’s dark theme to make widgets with a translucent background look stylish and consume less power on the system. AMOLED-Redmi Note screens and flagships.
Problems with accommodation: grid and free space
A common problem for users is that they can't install a widget because of space constraints. MIUI-based Android requires a solid rectangle of free cells. If there's even one cell in the right place with an app icon, installation will be impossible, even if there's a lot of void around.
To solve this problem, you can change the size of the desktop grid. Go to Settings → Desktop → Grid. Reducing the number of rows and columns (for example, from 5x6 to 4x5) will make the cells larger, but they will become smaller, which can make room for large widgets. Conversely, increasing the density of the grid will allow more small elements to fit.
It's also worth checking if Pocket Mode or Desktop Change Lock is enabled. Some launchers have a "Setting Up" feature that prevents any movement or addition, which can be removed from the theme or launcher settings.
- 📱 Remove unnecessary app shortcuts from the home screen
- 📁 Move rarely used programs to folders
- 🗑️ Clean up unused desktop pages with a swipe
- ⚙️ Check the grid settings in the system parameters
If the widget is not fitting in height, try moving it to the next page, where the bottom of the dock panel is less occupied. Often it is the bottom row of applications that prevents the information block from being correctly placed.
Third-party widgets from Google Play Market
The standard feature set sometimes seems limited, and in this case, the Google Play store comes to the rescue, thousands of developers create widgets for everything from monitoring the system to managing a smart home, installing third-party widgets on Xiaomi is the same as native ones.
Once you download and install an app from the Play Market, it automatically logs its components into the system. You don't have to search for them in the app menu, just use the standard widget menu call (long tap on the screen) and they will be signed in the list by the name of the developer app.
⚠️ Attention: Third-party widgets can consume significantly more battery power than system widgets. They often update data in the background. → Battery after installing heavy widgets from unknown developers.
Popular categories of third-party widgets are Google widgets (Search, Photos, Fit), social media widgets and launcher widgets that completely change the appearance of the system. Before installing, be sure to read reviews to make sure that it is compatible with your version of Android.
Removing and managing widgets on Redmi
Sooner or later, you have to remove the extra from the screen. Removing the widget on Xiaomi is as easy as installing it. Hold your finger on the unwanted object before the action menu or drag and drop mode appears.
Upper or lower part of the screen (depending on version) MIUI) A zone will appear with the inscription Delete or basket icon 🗑️. Drag the widget to this area.The system may request confirmation of action to avoid accidentally removing important items.
If the widget has stopped responding to clicks or displays old data, it does not always need to be deleted. Often a simple update helps. Press the widget and select Update (if available) or simply restart the smartphone. In extreme cases, cleaning the source app cache through the settings will help restore functionality.
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Removing the widget from the desktop does not remove the app itself; the program stays in the phone’s memory and continues to run in the background unless it is disabled separately.