How to change or remove the watch from the lock screen Xiaomi Redmi 9

Xiaomi smartphone users often face the desire to personalize their device’s interface to make it unique and convenient. However, the standard MIUI shell installed on the Redmi 9 model has its limitations, especially when it comes to the home screen and lock screen. Many owners wonder whether it is possible to completely remove the dial or change its location to make room for widgets or just for the sake of minimalism aesthetics.

Unfortunately, with the Android shell system in MIUI 12, which is the default on Redmi 9, it is not possible to completely remove the clock from the lock screen without using third-party launchers or deep modifications to the system. The system interface is rigidly tied to certain patterns that dictate the presence of time and date in the upper or central part of the display when the screen is activated. This is done to provide basic functionality so that the user can always quickly know the time without unlocking the phone.

However, there are effective ways to visually hide a standard watch, replace it with a more stylish counterpart or move it to a less noticeable area. In this article, we will detail all available customization methods, from simple customization of theme to installing specialized applications.

Using built-in themes to change the style of the watch

The safest and easiest way to change the look of time on a locked screen is to use the built-in Themes store. MIUI shell allows developers to create unique designs that completely replace the standard lock interface. Redmi 9 has thousands of free and paid options where the watch can be presented in the form of minimalist digits, analog mechanism or even animation.

To use this method, you need to open the Themes app on your device. Type in queries like "No Clock," "Minimal Clock" or "Hide Clock" in the search box. Although you can't find a completely empty screen, you can find a theme where the watch is located at the bottom of the screen or has a color that merges with the wallpaper, which creates the illusion of their absence. Visual perception plays a key role: dark numbers on a dark background are perceived by the eye as a whole.

⚠️ Note: When installing themes from third-party sources or even from an official store, carefully check the permissions of the application. Some themes may contain advertising modules or require access to personal data.

The process of applying the theme takes only a few seconds. Once you download the selected design, the system will suggest applying it. If you do not like the style you choose, you can always return to the standard design through the profile menu in the Themes app, which allows you to experiment with the appearance of Redmi 9 without risking damage to the software.

Always on Display and its impact on the clock

The feature is Always on Display (AOD) Xiaomi Redmi 9 is designed to display time and notifications on a switched-off screen without fully activating it. However, having this feature can conflict with the desire to remove the watch, as it is a basic element of the watch. AOD. The management of this parameter is in the Settings section. → Lock screen.

If your goal is to make the black screen as clean as possible, it is recommended to turn off the permanent display mode, in which case the screen will completely go out, and no elements, including time, will sneeze your eyes in the dark. MIUI is characterized by several AOD modes: "On 10 seconds after touch", "on schedule" or "Always on".

• 🕒 10 Seconds saves battery power and hides time most of the time.
• 📅 Schedule allows you to include display only during the day, cleaning the clock at night.
• 🚫 Total shutdown AOD Ensures that no elements are on the black screen.

It is worth noting that the Redmi 9 model is used in the IPS-display, not AMOLED. This means that the "always on" display technology is software-based and consumes more power than flagships, so turning off this feature will not only take away the clock, but also have a positive impact on the autonomy of the device.

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Nana IPS-Redmi 9 Always On Display is a big battery drain. If you don't feel like seeing time without unlocking, you'd better turn it off in the screen settings.

Use of third-party applications to block

If the built-in MIUI isn’t your thing, Google Play Store apps come to the rescue, replacing the standard lock screen entirely, and programs like Hi Locker, CM Locker, or AcDisplay allow you to flexibly customize the interface, including the ability to hide the watch or move it to any corner.

Installing a third-party locker requires special permissions, the app must have device administrator rights and permission to display on top of other windows. Once set up, you can choose a theme where time is not displayed at all, or adjust its transparency to 0%, which gives you full control over what you see when you turn on the Redmi 9 screen.

However, this method has its drawbacks: Third-party applications can conflict with system security features such as a fingerprint scanner or facial recognition, and they can consume additional RAM resources, which on a budget Helio G80 processor can lead to micro-delays when unlocked.

Customization through widgets and launchers

A more advanced way to change the interface is to install an alternative launcher, like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher. Although they primarily change the desktop, they allow you to create a unique environment when combined with widgets. However, it is worth remembering that the standard Xiaomi lock screen remains unchanged, and the launcher affects only the unlocked one.

To influence the lock screen, you can use widgets-switches or complex configurations, but this requires root access rights, obtaining which on modern Xiaomi devices involves unlocking the bootloader and losing warranty. Without root rights, launchers cannot completely replace the system lockscreen.

However, there are widgets that overlap standard elements, and by installing a translucent widget or widget with a black background over the watch area, you can visually hide them, and this requires fine-tuning the size of the desktop grid and the position of the elements.

Fine tuning of fonts and element sizes

In the system settings MIUI There's a section dedicated to fonts. → Screen. → Text size and font, you can change not only the size of the letters on the menu, but also the style of the type. MIUI Themes, have a unique display of numbers.

And if you change the font of the system, you change the look of the watch on the lock screen, and there are fonts where the numbers look very thin or decorative, which changes the way you see time, and it doesn't take away the physical, but it does make the watch less intrusive or more stylish.

Also on the menu, additionally inside the font settings, there are sometimes options to resize interface elements. Scaling down can move the clock higher or lower, freeing up the center of the screen for wallpaper. This is especially true for the Redmi 9 with its 6.53-inch diagonal, where each pixel counts.

• 🎨 Download the font with minimalistic numbers from the theme store.
• 📉 Reduce text size slider to a minimum for compactness.
• 👁️ Use wallpaper that visually breaks the area of the clock.

⚠️ Note: Using fonts from unverified sources can lead to incorrect display of characters in the phone menu or even to a cyclical reboot of the device.

Use of Kustom widgets (KLCK) for advanced users

For those who want to achieve absolute uniqueness, there is the KLCK Kustom Lock Screen Maker app, which is a powerful tool that allows you to create your own lock screen from scratch. You can draw a watch anywhere, change its color, add weather, calendar or not add time at all.

The setup process in KLCK takes time and understanding the logic of widgets. You will need to create a new project, add a layer with the clock (or not add it), adjust the activation conditions and tie the application as the main lock screen. On Redmi 9, this application works quite stable, but requires constant work in the background.

Main advantage KLCK — You can make the watch transparent or hide it under certain conditions, like at night, and you can set the logic: "If it's 23:00 to 07:00, then it's opacity." = This provides a functional solution to the problem that is not available in standard firmware.

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KLCK is the only legal means to fully control every pixel of the lock screen without obtaining root rights, but it takes time to set up.

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