Xiaomi widgets: a complete guide to setup and optimization

The widget tape on Xiaomi smartphones is a powerful tool for quick access to information and device management, but many users do not use it 100%, limited to standard settings, while the correct customization of the tape allows you to significantly improve productivity, from displaying the weather and calendar to managing a smart home and quickly launch applications.

In this article, we will discuss all ways to configure the widget tape on MIUI 14/15, Including hidden features that aren’t obvious at first glance, you’ll learn how to add, remove and move widgets, adjust their sizes, and solve typical problems (for example, when widgets don’t update or disappear after a reboot). Special attention will be paid to the unique widget Xiaomi, which is not on other Android devices such as “Smart Assistant” or “Fast Teams".

What is a widget tape and why you need it

The widget tape (or widget panel) is a special screen on the MIUI, This is a swipe to the right of the home screen, and it's designed to display dynamic information and quickly access functions without having to open apps.

For example, you can place here:

• 🌤️ Weather widget with weekly forecast
• 📅 Calendar with upcoming events
• 🎵 Player for music management
• 🏠 Smart Home Control Panel (Mi Home)
• 📊 Battery or data usage statistics

Xiaomi’s widget feed has the advantage of being deeply integrated with its own services, such as the Quick Teams widget, which allows you to create chains of action (e.g., turn on Bluetooth, launch Google Maps, and send a message of arrival – all with a single button).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 Or Redmi Note 12, the widget tape can be disabled by default. To activate it, hold your finger on the home screen. → Screen settings → Widget panel.

How to open and activate the widget tape

If you don't see the widget tape on your Xiaomi, it's probably hidden. Here's how to turn it on:

1. Long press on the free place of the main screen.
2. Select the screen settings (or screen settings on some firmware).
3. Activation of the switch Widget Panel (or Widget Tape).
4. Swipe to the right of the main screen - tape should appear.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or POCO X5 Pro) the path may be different:

Settings → Main screen → Widget panel → Enable

If the tape never appeared, check:

• 📱 Is the firmware updated to the latest version (MIUI 14/15).
• 🔄 Is a third-party launcher used (e.g., Nova Launcher or Hyperion).
• 🛠️ Are system applications disabled through Settings? → Annexes → Application management.

Adding and removing widgets: step-by-step instructions

To add a widget to the tape, follow the following steps:

1. Open the widget tape (swipe to the right of the main screen).
2. Scroll down to the end and click the Edit button (or Add a widget).
3. Select the widget you want from the list (such as Weather, Calendar, or Smart Home).
4. Hold the widget and drag it to the right place on the tape.

To remove the widgets:

1. Open the tape and hold your finger on the unnecessary widget.
2. A basket will appear at the top of the screen - drag the widget there.
3. Confirm the removal (if required).

Some widgets (e.g., "Fast Commands" or "Mi Fit") may require additional permissions. If the widget is not added, check:

Settings → Applications → Permissions → [Application name]

Update MIUI to the latest version

Check the permissions for system applications

Free up space on the tape (remove unnecessary widgets)

Reboot your smartphone (if the widgets don’t show up)-->

Setting the size and appearance of widgets

Nana MIUI You can resize widgets, but not all of them support this feature:

1. Keep your finger on the widget you want to change.
2. Blue markers will appear at the corners - pull on them to resize.
3. Some widgets (e.g. Weather) are fixed sized but support style choices (compact/extended).

For widgets with multiple styles (such as Calendar or Watch):

1. Press the widget and hold it.
2. Choose Change Style (if the option is available).
3. Scroll through the options and choose the right one.

Xiaomi. 13/14 and POCO F5 Additional themes for widgets are available through Mi Themes:

Topics → My themes → Widgets → Choose a style

⚠️ Note: If the widget has stopped updating after the size change (for example, the weather does not show current data), try to delete it and add it again. MIUI 14.0.4-14.0.6.

Xiaomi’s unique widgets: what they can do

Xiaomi adds to the MIUI exclusive widgets that are not available on other Android devices:

1.Fast teams

It allows you to create chains of actions that are performed on one tap, for example:

• 🔊 Turn on Bluetooth + launch Spotify + turn up the volume to 70%.
• 🌙 Activate the "Do Not Disturb" mode" + dim% + darken.
• 🏠 Send a message to Telegram "I'm home" + wifi.

To build a team:

Settings → Special Opportunities → Quick Teams → Create

2.A smart assistant

Widget for managing IoT devices through Mi Home.

• 💡 State of the lamps (Yeelight, Philips Hue).
• 🌡️ Temperature and humidity from Aqara sensors.
• 🔒 The status of door locks (Xiaomi Door Lock).

System statistics

It displays:

• 📊 Use of RAM and processor.
• 🔋 Battery status (temperature, charging cycles).
• 📶 Internet speed in real time.

Solving Widget Ribbon Problems

Sometimes widgets don't work properly, they don't update, they disappear, they don't add, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

1. Widgets are not updated

If, for example, the weather widget shows outdated data:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 📶 Check your internet connection (widgets only update when you are actively connected).
• ⚙️ Clear the weather app's cache: Settings → Annexes → Weather. → Clear the cache.
• 📥 Update the app via Google Play or App Store.

2.The widget tape disappeared after the update

This is a common problem after an update. MIUI. Decisions:

• 🔧 Turn the tape back on through Settings → Main screen screen → Widget panel.
• 🛠️ Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.
• 📲 Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) if the problem is not resolved.

3. widgets do not move or change in size

Possible causes:

• 🔒 Widget is blocked (hold it) → uncheck the tick).
• 📏 The widget does not support resizing (see table above).
• 🐞 Firmware bug (try to roll back to the previous version) MIUI).

💡

If the Weather widget shows the wrong city, open the Weather app, update your location manually, and restart your smartphone.

Hidden functions of widget tape

Many users are unaware of the hidden features of Xiaomi’s widget tape. Here are a few life hacks:

1. Quick access to settings

Hold your finger in the free place of the tape → There will be a menu with options:

• 🔄 Update all widgets (forced data synchronization).
• 🗑️ Clean the tape (removes all widgets at once).
• 🔒 Fix the layout (prohibits accidental changes).

Developer widgets

If you turn on the developer mode, additional widgets will appear:

• 📡 Network Monitor (indicates ping and real-time speed).
• 🔋 Battery (extended) (detailed discharge statistics).
• 🤖 System Logs (Last Errors and Events).

To enable the Developer Mode:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → Press 7 times

3. Personalization through ADB

For advanced users: with the help of ADB possible:

• 📛 Change the number of columns on the tape.
• 🎨 Apply informal themes for widgets.
• 🔄 Turn off animations when scrolling.

Example of a command to change the number of columns:

adb shell settings put secure miui_widget_columns 4

💡

System Statistics and Network Monitor widgets are available only in developer mode, and their data is updated in real time, but can increase battery consumption.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the widget tape on Xiaomi