How to put your watch on the Xiaomi desktop: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI shell or the new HyperOS offer a wide range of customization options, allowing you to turn the lock screen and desktop into a personal information center. One of the most popular design elements remains widgets, in particular digital and analog watches, which allow you to look at the time without unlocking the device. Users often look for ways not only to deduce time, but also to change its style, font size or even add a second hand for greater functionality.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods for installing watch widgets, from standard system tools to advanced tools from third-party developers. You will learn how to configure the display of double time for different time zones, change the color of the dial to the theme of design and solve typical problems when widgets stop displaying or updating.

MIUI has a unique workspace structure that is different from pure Android. Here, widgets can be embedded directly into app icons or arranged in separate blocks on the screen. Understanding these differences is critical to properly customizing the look and feel of your Redmi or Poco smartphone. We'll look at the nuances of working with smart widgets that load weather and date data automatically.

Standard watch widgets in MIUI and HyperOS

Starting with the basic functionality that is available out of the box on any Xiaomi device, the manufacturer has significantly redesigned the widget menu in recent firmware versions to make it more convenient and visually appealing. The standard set includes both classic digital watches and stylized analog variants that fit harmoniously into the interface design.

To access the widget menu, you need to swipe the desktop to the right or pinch the two fingers to go into edit mode. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a control panel where you want to select the Widgets section. This is where the main toolkit for decorating the screen is hidden. The system offers several options for displaying time: minimalist numbers, large watches with date and weather, and decorative elements in the style of Always On Display.

⚠️ Attention: When installing a large number of heavy widgets with live animation on the desktop, there may be an increased battery consumption and a decrease in interface performance when scrolling through.

If you choose a widget you like, you can drag it to any free space on your desktop. However, standard watches often have a fixed design that can't be changed without using third-party themes. If you just want a feature element for a quick look at time, built-in MIUI tools are usually enough. They automatically synchronize with system time and don't require additional permissions.

Using the “Themes” application for customization

The most powerful tool for changing the look of the watch is the official Themes app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and allows you to replace the system widgets entirely. Unlike the standard set, the themes offer hundreds of design options, from neon digits to realistic mechanical movements.

To find unique watches, open the Themes app and search for “Clock” or “Clock.” The search filter can be configured by selecting the Widget category so as not to display full themes of the system design. Here you will find both free and paid sets. Once the widget is loaded, it automatically integrates into the system and becomes available through the desktop editing menu.

It is important to note that some widgets from the theme store may only work in certain regions or require the inclusion of advanced mode. If you downloaded a theme but the widget did not appear, try applying the theme in its entirety or checking the region settings in your Mi Account. Often developers hide content for users from certain countries due to licensing restrictions.

Third-party widget applications

If standard features and theme store didn’t meet your needs, Google Play apps come to the rescue. Third-party developers offer functionality that far outperforms Xiaomi’s standard tools. The leaders in this niche are HD Widgets, Overdrop and Kustom Widget (KWGT).

KWGT is a real widget harvester, and it allows you to not just choose a template, but create a watch from scratch: customize each pixel, add complex formulas, react to weather, moon phases, and even system events (for example, battery power). For beginners, the process can seem complicated, but the presence of ready-made presets (packs) solves this problem. Just install the KWGT itself and separately download the widget pack you like.

• 🕒 HD Widgets is a classic of the genre, offers a huge library of weather and time widgets that are easily customized through a simple interface.
• 🎨 Overdrop – an application with a focus on minimalism and beautiful design, perfect for fans of clean style and Material Design.
• ⚙️ KWGT Kustom Widget Maker is a professional tool for those who want complete control over the appearance and functionality of the widget.

When installing third-party widgets on MIUI, there is often a problem with autostarting. The system aggressively manages memory and can kill the widget process, which stops updating or displaying current time. To avoid this, you need to go to the battery settings, find the installed widget application and allow it to autostart and work in the background.

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For KWGT widgets, be sure to enable the “Master on top of other applications” resolution, otherwise the widget may be transparent or not display interactive elements.

Configure the time and double time format

Often users need to display time in 24-hour format or, conversely, in 12-hour format with AM/PM indicator. Also relevant is the function of double time for those who often contact relatives or partners from other time zones.

The basic format setting is in Settings → Additional settings → Date and time. You can switch the format to 24-hour. However, for widgets, this rule does not always work: some widgets take the format from their internal settings. So if you change the system time, and on the widget it remains the same, press the widget with your finger and press the Settings button (cog) if it is available.

Double time is especially useful in travel. In standard Xiaomi watches, you can add a second time zone, but there are not widgets for this in all themes. In applications like HD Widgets, you can create a composite widget where the time of your city is on the left and the time of another city is on the right (for example, London or New York).

Problems with updating watch widgets

One of the most common problems of Xiaomi users is that the watch widget “stops” and shows yesterday’s time or stops showing the weather. MIUI. The system considers the widget a background process and limits its activity to save charge.

To fix this, you need to manually configure permissions. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the app responsible for the widget (for example, “Hours”, “Weather” or the name of a third-party application) Go to the Battery section and select “No Limits” option, which will prevent the system from “sleeping” the widget.

⚠️ Warning: Setting “No Limits” mode for a large number of applications can lead to accelerated battery discharge during the day, as processes will be running constantly.

It is also worth checking the permission to access the geoposition if the widget displays weather. Without the exact location, the widget will not be able to update temperature and atmospheric pressure data. In the permission settings, select Location → Allow always or only when in use, although the former works best for desktop widgets.

Creating a unique design through KWGT

For those who want to make their Xiaomi truly unique, KWGT (Kustom Widget Maker) is the best choice. It's not just a set of widgets, but a full-fledged editor. You can draw your watch using geometric shapes, text and images. Moreover, KWGT widgets can respond to user actions: change color when battery power is low or display a notification if a message arrives.

The process of creating starts with choosing a blank canvas, you add a Clock layer, you choose a format (digital or analog), and you customize the fonts. You can upload your fonts to.ttf or.otf. For advanced users, a formula entry is available: for example, you can make the color of the numbers change depending on the time of day (white during the day, red at night).

KWGT’s main advantage over standard tools is its independence from the theme of the system. Even if you change the wallpaper or theme of the design, your custom widget will remain the same. In addition, KWGT supports preset import. You can find thousands of free profiles (.kwgt) on the network that you can import into the application to get a ready-made design widget.

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KWGT allows you to create widgets that are impossible to implement with standard Android tools, including interactive elements and dynamic graphics changes.

In conclusion, setting up a Xiaomi desktop clock is a process that can take anywhere from one minute to several hours of creative search, depending on your requirements. Start with standard tools, but don't be afraid to experiment with KWGT or HD Widgets to get exactly the interface that will please the eye every day. A properly configured widget is not only beautiful, but also functional, saving time to constantly unlock the phone.