The appearance of a second dial on the lock screen or in the status bar of a Xiaomi smartphone is often an unpleasant surprise for users accustomed to the minimalism of the interface. This usually occurs after an automatic firmware update, installing a new theme or accidentally turning on the function "Double Clock" in the lock screen settings. Duplicating time not only visually clutters the space, but can also distract from viewing notifications.
With the current MIUI 14 shells and the new HyperOS, the logic of system widgets has changed, so standard disabling methods may vary depending on the Android version and regional build. It is important to understand that the second dial can be part of a system style, a third-party theme or the result of the Second Space function. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible causes of the duplicate and provide step-by-step instructions for its elimination.
Before we go deep into the system, we need to check the most obvious places where these parameters are hidden. Often, it takes less than a minute to solve a problem if we know which menu to look at. Below we will look at the algorithm of actions from simple switches to more complex manipulations with thematics.
Disabling the double clock function in system settings
The most common scenario is to activate the built-in time-display function for the second time zone. This is convenient for travelers, but unnecessary for those who are constantly in the same region. To remove the extra numbers, you need to go to the lock screen settings. Open Settings, then find the Lock Screen section (in some versions it may be called Wallpaper and personalization → Lock screen).
Inside the menu, find Double Clock or Double Time Zone. If the switch is active, the system compulsorily displays the time of two cities. Disabling this option will return the standard view. Note that in HyperOS, this item can be hidden inside the watch style settings, rather than being displayed separately.
⚠️ Note: After disabling the dual clock function, the time display style may change to standard. If you used custom font, you will have to select it again from the design menu.
Sometimes the change in settings does not take effect immediately, in which case it is recommended to completely turn off the screen of the smartphone and unlock it again, if the second dial is left, it may be fixed with the theme of the design, which we will talk about in the next section.
☑️ Checking system settings
The influence of design themes and styles of the blocker
Often users are unaware that the second dial is an integral part of the installed theme. MIUI and HyperOS shells allow themes to completely replace the lock screen, in which cases system settings may not take precedence over the theme design.
To test this, switch to a standard Classic or Default theme temporarily. Go to the Themes app, click on the profile icon and select My Themes. Apply the standard option and look at the lock screen. If the extra hours are missing, then the problem lies in the design of the previously installed theme.
- 🎨 Some themes have their own widget settings that open when you press the lock screen for a long time.
- 🔄 Updating theme through the Mi Themes store can fix bugs with displaying interface elements.
- 📱 On Redmi smartphones and POCO Theme interface may be slightly different from Xiaomi’s flagship models.
If you don’t want to give up your favorite theme, try looking for a secondary time hiding option in its description or settings (if available), otherwise the only solution is to find an alternative theme with the desired design.
Customize widgets on the desktop and Always on Display
Sometimes users confuse double clocks on the lock screen with desktop widgets or Always On Display (AOD). In newer versions of firmware, widgets can overlap or duplicate information under certain use cases, such as when using Pocket mode or advanced AOD.
Check the settings for Always On Display. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display. Make sure you don’t choose a style that displays time in two formats (e.g. digital and analog simultaneously). It’s also worth checking the widgets on the home screen: sometimes the randomly added Watch widget is superimposed on system time.
To remove the extra widget:
- Press and hold your finger on the watch widget.
- In the menu that appears, select Remove or drag the widget to the cart.
- If the widget is system and doesn’t get deleted, try changing its size or style through the editing menu.
⚠️ Attention: AMOLED-Static display of bright elements (like a clock) over time can cause pixels to burn out. AOD.
Why can a clock widget glitches?
The problem of the Second Space and modes of work
MIUI’s unique feature, Second Space, creates an isolated environment inside your smartphone, much like a second phone, and if you have a second space activated, the main profile lock screen can display time or notifications from the second account, creating a double-hour effect.
To rule out this, check for a space switch. It's usually in the notification curtain or in the settings Additional → Second Space. If you don't need the feature, you'd better turn it off completely. If you do, make sure that the second space settings don't allow notifications to be displayed on the locked screen of the first profile.
Also worth mentioning is Game Turbo mode or special game modes that can display their own timers or clocks over the interface, overlaid on the system. Check the settings of the game accelerator and turn off time overlays if they are active.
Comparison of methods for eliminating duplication of time
Different methods of solving the problem have their effectiveness depending on the cause of the glitch. Below is a table that will help you choose the right solution based on the symptoms.
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | Method of decision | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time is displayed for two cities | Double watch function enabled | Lock screen settings | Low. |
| Strange font and location of numbers | Third-party theme of design | Replacement of the topic with standard | Low. |
| The watch is visible even on the black screen. | Always On Display | AOD settings | Medium |
| Numbers are “floating” or duplicated chaotically | Failure of the system or widget | Cache cleanup or reset | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, in most cases, the problem is solved software through settings. However, if you see artifacts of the image (digits are smeared, flashing), this can indicate a malfunction of the display matrix, which requires contacting the service.
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In 90% of cases, the duplication of clocks is caused by a conflict of theme settings and system interface, not a hardware breakdown.
Resetting and radical measures
If none of the above methods worked, there may have been some critical configuration errors in the system, in which case you may need to reset your lock screen settings or completely reset your device. A full Hard Reset will delete all data from your phone, so be sure to back up your contacts and photos before starting the procedure.
A softer option is to reset your design settings. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the MIUI/HyperOS version several times to open the developer menu (if available), or simply try to clear the Systems Interface application data through the application menu. This will return the visual settings to the factory settings without losing personal files.
As a last resort, if the problem has appeared after the update, you should consider rolling back on the previous version of the firmware or waiting for a patch from the manufacturer.Technicians often recommend not installing a beta version of the OS if you care about the stability of the basic functions.
- 🛠 Use the Mi Credit app or official diagnostic service centers.
- 💾 Save important data to the Xiaomi Cloud or Google Drive regularly.
- 📲 Follow the official Mi Community forum for known bugs in your version of the software.
⚠️ Note: Downgrade is only possible when the bootloader is unlocked and may result in a loss of warranty.
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Before you do a full reset, just try to restart your phone to Safe Mode, press the off button, and when the off icon appears on the screen, press and hold it. If the double clock is missing in Safe Mode, the third-party app is to blame.