How to make a watch on the lock screen Xiaomi black: 4 working ways

Xiaomi’s lock screen is the first thing you see when you unlock a smartphone, and its design can significantly affect the perception of the device. Black watches on the wallpaper look stylish and minimalist, but not all users know how to set them up. Depending on the version of MIUI and the phone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13, etc.), the methods are different — somewhere there are enough standard settings, and somewhere you will need a workaround.

Many people mistakenly believe that changing the color of a watch requires root access or complex manipulation of ADB. In fact, in most cases, there are enough built-in MIUI tools. In this article, we will analyze 4 proven methods, including hidden firmware chips that work even on budget models. And if your smartphone does not support native color change, we will tell you how to circumvent the restrictions without risk to the system.

Before you start, make sure your Xiaomi has an up-to-date version of MIUI 12 or later. On older firmware (MIUI 11 and below), some methods may not work. Also check if third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher or HyperOS Launcher) are installed - they sometimes block changes to system elements.

1. Standard settings through Themes (works on 80% of devices)

The easiest way to change the color of a watch is to use the built-in Themes menu, which works on most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with MIUI 12-14, but there are nuances: some wallpapers block color change.

To check if your device supports this feature:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the Lock Screen section.
3. Select any topic and click Apply.
4. After application, tap on the icon ⚙️ (Settings) near the clock.

If you have a Color of Watch in the menu that opens, you're in luck! Choose black (#000000) or any other shade from the palette. If you don't have one, move on to the next one.

MIUI Update (updated) |No third-party launchers |Sufficient battery charge (minimum 30%) |Switched off power-saving modes-->

Important: On some devices (such as the Redmi 10A or POCO M4 Pro), the option is hidden behind an extra tap by the clock on the theme preview screen. Try touching the area twice over time - sometimes this opens up advanced settings.

2. Use of custom wallpaper with black watches

If the standard method didn't work, you can go around the clock and set up wallpapers where the watch is originally black, and this is universal and works even on older versions of MIUI. Here's how to do this:

Step 1. Download the black watch wallpaper from the official theme store:

1. Open Topics → Wallpaper.
2. In the search bar, type in the following queries: black clock lockscreen, minimalist watch or AMOLED black.
3. Choose your favorite topic and apply it.

Step 2. If the store does not have suitable options, use third-party resources:

• 🌐 WallpapersCraft – filter on dark wallpaper with clocks.
• 🎨 Zedge – there is a “Lockscreen” section with custom watches.
• 📱 Google Photos – upload an image with a black watch and install it manually through Settings → Wallpaper.

Critical nuance: wallpaper must be adapted to the lock screen Xiaomi (resolution at least 1080×2340 for most models), otherwise the clock can be cut or shifted.

3. Configure via ADB (for advanced users)

If the first two methods didn’t work, you can change the color of the watch through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a computer connection but doesn’t need root rights, and is suitable for MIUI 13/14 devices where standard settings are limited.

Step 1: Preparation

• 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC.
• 📱 On your smartphone, activate Developer Mode: go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times tap on the version MIUI.
• 🔗 Turn on Debugging. USB In Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

Step 2. Follow the commands:

adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_clock_color 0xff000000


adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_clock_style 1

The first command sets the black color (0xff000000), the second - the display style (number 1 means the classic look).

⚠️ Note: On some devices (POCO F4, Xiaomi 12T) After the reboot, the color may reset. To record the changes, add a command to the autoboot via the Tasker or MacroDroid app.

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If ADB Does not recognize the device, try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers USB Drivers or using other drivers USB-cable (preferably original).

4. The hidden function "Color palette" (MIUI 14+)

The latest versions of MIUI 14 (and partly MIUI 13) have a hidden option that allows you to synchronize the color of the watch with the wallpaper. If your wallpaper is dark, the system can automatically turn the watch black or gray.

How to activate:

1. Install dark wallpaper (for example, a pure black image).
2. Go to Settings → Screen → Color palette.
3. Enable the option Adaptive Colors.
4. Return to the lock screen and check for the change.

This method doesn’t work on all devices, but it’s been tested on the Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 Pro+, and POCO F5. If you don’t have an option, upgrade to the latest version.

Standard settings in “Temes"|Castom wallpaper|ADB-team|Color palette in MIUI 14|Nothing worked.-->

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have collected the key pros and cons of each method in the table:

For most users, the best solution is a combination of custom wallpaper and standard settings, but if you're willing to spend 10 minutes setting up the ADB, it's the most reliable method.

Frequent problems and solutions

Even after a successful black watch setup, users are confronted with bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

Problem 1: The clock is white after the use of the themes.

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🎨 Try to apply another topic and then go back to the right one.
• 📱 Check if Dark Theme mode is on – sometimes it conflicts with the color of the watch.

Problem 2: ADB doesn't change color.

• 🔧 Make sure the debugging is on USB included.
• 📋 Check the correctness of the commands (registration is important!).
• 🔄 Try the alternative command: adb shell settings put global lock_screen_clock_color 0xff000000

⚠️ Note: On some devices (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) The system clock on the lock screen is rigidly tied to the color of the status bar, in which case only replacing the wallpaper or firmware of a custom Recovery (for example, the change in the wallpaper) will help, TWRP) modified-theme.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

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If none of the methods worked, check if your Xiaomi has custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS) installed, in which case the clock settings depend on the shell, not MIUI.