Owners of modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco often face the need to personalize the interface. One of the most popular elements on the home screen is the watch widget, which allows you to instantly read the current time without unlocking the device or running individual applications. However, the standard shell MIUI or the new HyperOS have their own features with widgets that may not be obvious to beginners.
There are several ways to add this functionality, from using built-in system tools to installing third-party launchers. It is important to understand that the standard Xiaomi watch widget is often combined with a date and weather widget, and its content can only be changed through the editing menu. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods, including hidden settings and alternative solutions for those who want maximum uniqueness.
Before you start setting up, it is worth noting that the appearance of the elements depends on the firmware version and region. We will consider universal algorithms of actions that will suit most current models, whether it is a budget Redmi Note or the flagship Xiaomi 14.
Use the standard menu of MIUI and HyperOS widgets
The easiest and most reliable way to do this is to use the built-in shell functionality, which is to go to the home screen, where there are no open applications, swipe to the right or pinch the screen with two fingers to open the desktop editing menu, and at the bottom of the screen will appear a toolbar where you want to select the Widgets.
In the list that opens, scroll down to the Watch section, and here you'll see a few different design options: analog dials, digital scoreboards, and combination styles. Click on your favorite version to see the sizes and modifications available. The system will suggest you select the size of the widget (usually 2x2 or 4x2), after which it will appear on the desktop.
Once added, the widget can be moved around the screen with your finger in the back. If the standard set doesn't suit, there's often an Online tab at the top of the widget menu or a Download tab where additional themes are available. Please note that some styles may require an Internet connection to download resources first.
⚠️ Note: When you delete the standard "Security" or "Services" application MIUI" Some system widgets may stop displaying or updating weather data correctly.
Setting the format of time, date and appearance
Often users are interested not just in installing the widget, but in customizing it. Standard Xiaomi widgets have flexible settings. To change the format of the display, click and hold your finger on the already added widget until the context menu appears, and select Settings (the gear icon) or simply click on the widget itself if it is interactive.
The following options are available in the settings menu:
- 🕒 Time format: Select between 12-hour and 24-hour formats, and display seconds.
- 📅 Date: the ability to hide or show the day of the week and the number of the month.
- 🌡️ Weather: Turning on or off displaying temperature and conditions outside the window.
- 🎨 Style: changing the color of numbers or arrows depending on the theme of design.
If you want to change your time zone, it's not in the widget settings, but in the general settings of the system. Go to Settings → Additional → Date and Time. Here you can activate automatic synchronization over the network or manually select the desired region. The widget on the desktop will automatically update according to system changes.
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To save battery power on AMOLED-screens choose widgets with a black background - such pixels simply turn off, without consuming energy.
Alternative applications for watch widgets
If you don't have enough of the standard features, Google Play offers thousands of third-party solutions, popular apps like Widgetsmith, HD Widgets or Overdrop allow you to create widgets of any complexity, and once you install it, the algorithm of actions is similar to the standard one: go to the widget menu, find the name of the installed application and add it to the screen.
Third-party widgets often have deeper animation and font settings, such as downloading your own images as backgrounds or using special fonts, but it’s worth remembering that complex widgets consume more RAM and battery power.
To install a third-party widget, perform the following actions:
- 📥 Download the widget supplier application from the official store.
- 🔓 Allow the app to access geolocation (for weather) and auto-run.
- ➕ Add the widget through the desktop editing menu.
- ⚙️ Open the widget settings for detailed customization.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party widgets may disappear from the desktop after restarting the device if the system MIUI aggressively clears them from memory. To avoid this, lock the application in memory.
Solving Update and Synchronization Problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the widget shows the wrong time or stops updating. This is often associated with aggressive battery optimization in MIUI. The system can "sleep" the process responsible for updating the widget to save energy. To solve this problem, you need to change the energy saving settings for a particular widget or application supplier.
Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find the Watch app or the name of a third-party widget in the list. Click on Battery Savings and select No Limits mode. It is also recommended to allow auto-start for this component.
Why does the widget show time with a delay?
Another reason may be to desynchronize system time, make sure that the date and time settings include the option to Use Network Time. Manual timing often results in out-of-synchronization with weather servers, causing errors in the widget.
Table of comparison of popular time widgets
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparative table of the main types of widgets available for Xiaomi devices.
| Type of widget | Battery consumption | Customizability | Demands the Internet. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systemic digital | Low. | Medium | Only for the weather. |
| System analogue | Medium. | Low. | No. |
| Third-party (HD Widgets) | High-pitched | Maximum | Yes (for download) |
| "Always on the Screen" widget | Medium/High | Tall. | No. |
When choosing a widget, be mindful of your priorities: if autonomy is important, use a standard digital watch; if style and uniqueness are important, you should sacrifice a small percentage of your charge for a third-party solution.
Additional features: Always on Display and lock
Always On Display (AOD) allows you to display time and date on a screen that is off. It's not exactly a desktop widget, but it does a similar function. You can set up AOD through Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display. There are various styles available here, including captions and animations when you receive notifications.
To activate AOD, your smartphone must support this technology at the matrix level (usually AMOLED screens). On devices with IPS screens, this feature is usually not available or emulated software with high battery consumption.
☑️ Checking before installing the widget
Also worth mentioning are lock screen widgets, new versions of HyperOS have a lock screen designer where you can add large watches with any typeface, this is done through the theme settings or a special section in the lock menu.
⚠️ Note: Using complex animated widgets on Always On Display can cause uneven pixel wear (burnout) on older widgets AMOLED It is recommended to use static images.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why did the clock widget disappear from the desktop after the reboot?
Can I change the time font on a standard widget?
How do you make your clocks show the time of another city?
Why is the weather not updated on the widget?
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The optimal balance between functionality and battery consumption is provided by standard MIUI widgets in digital format with the second hand disabled.