Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are all famous for their functionality, but sometimes the MIUI or HyperOS shell interface can be oversaturated with different indicators. One of the most annoying elements for many users is the constantly hanging alarm icon at the top of the screen. Not only does it take up useful space in the status bar, but it can also distract from the perception of more important notifications. You can remove this visual noise in several ways, but the standard system tools do this not always.
The problem is that the Watch app is deeply integrated into Android system processes. Even if you have turned off all the alarms, the icon itself can stay in place, signaling that the feature is active in the background. In some cases, it's just a display bug, in others, a feature of how the battery optimizes. Understanding how this mechanism works will help you choose the right method of solving the problem.
In this article, we’ll look at all the available methods, from simple interface settings to more complex manipulation of application permissions. You’ll learn why a standard alarm clock shutdown doesn’t always hide the icon, and what workarounds are available.
Why the alarm clock doesn’t disappear after shutdown
Many users are faced with a situation where they turn off all set alarms, but the icon in the status bar does not disappear.This is because the Watch app on Xiaomi devices often runs in constant monitoring mode. The system thinks that once the application is running, the indicator should be visible even if there are no active tasks at the moment. MIUI.
And you also need to consider the Do Not Disturb or Sleep Mode function, and if these modes are activated on a schedule, the phone can display the appropriate icons that look very much like an alarm clock, and users often confuse them to try to remove the alarm, while the problem lies in the silent settings, and check if you have a sleep mode activated in the sound settings.
Sometimes the cause is a failure in the system interface cache. After updating the firmware or installing a heavy application, the graphics shell can stick to display old notifications. In this case, simply turning off the alarm clock will not help, since the problem is technical in nature, you need to clean the cache or reboot the device to reset the graphical interface.
Technical reference
Basic methods of disconnection through clock settings
The most obvious and first step to take is to carefully check the Watch app itself. Often users delete the alarm clock but forget to turn off the switch, or vice versa. Go to the Watch app and go to the Alarm tab. Make sure the switch opposite each set time is put into an inactive state (gray).
If you have the icon left after you turn off all alarms, try to delete all your schedules completely. Click on each alarm and select the delete option, then create a new one, set it and turn it off immediately. Sometimes this action "updates" the status of the application in the system. Also pay attention to the Timer and Stopwatch tab - in rare cases, a running timer can block the update of the status bar.
☑️ Checking alarm clock settings
It's important to check if you have a repeating alarm clock for the weekend. Often users set their alarm clock for 7:00 with a repeat on weekdays, but forget that the settings can randomly select "Every day." Carefully study the repetition settings for each item on the list.
Hiding indicators in the status bar
If you don't want to give up the alarm function, but you're annoyed by visual noise, you can use the notification display settings. Modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS have the ability to hide certain types of icons. Go to Settings, then select Notifications and Status bar. Find the item responsible for displaying app icons.
Some firmware versions have a separate Status String menu where you can customize in detail which icons will be visible all the time and which will only be seen when new events arrive. Look for the icon display option or System UI Tuner. If this option is not explicitly available, try activating the hidden developer menu, although this rarely works for system icons.
It's worth noting that on different phone models, like the Redmi Note or Xiaomi Mi, the location of these settings may differ, and if you didn't find the right switch, your shell version may not support flexible status bar settings, so you'll have to resort to the more radical methods described below.
Permits and Auto-Run Management
One of the most effective ways to make an icon disappear is to limit the rights of the Watch app. If the app doesn't have the right to permanently display notifications or work in the background, it won't be able to "draw" an icon in the status bar. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps and find the Watch list.
Inside the app menu, find the Other Permits or Permissions section. Here you are interested in Displaying on top of other apps (or “Pop-ups”). Disabling this permission often causes the alarm to stop showing its icon, although it may stop working the lock screen with a beautiful interface when the alarm rings.
| Permit parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the badge |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-start | Off. | Reduces the likelihood of occurrence |
| Displaying on top of others | Forbidden. | Often removes the icon completely |
| Notifications | Off. | Remove the beep. |
| Background activity | Limited. | Could disrupt the timer's operation |
Be careful about limiting background activity. If you stop the app from working in the background, the alarm might just not go off at the designated time if the phone gets locked. It's critical to leave permission to work in the background if you rely on the alarm clock as your primary way of waking up. The best compromise is to turn off only the display on top of other windows.
Use of third-party alarm apps
If the Xiaomi Watch system app is causing too many problems or its icon cannot be removed by any means, the logical solution would be to install an alternative from Google Play. Third-party alarm clocks such as Alarmy, Sleep Cycle or a simple Google Watch often have more flexible notification settings and do not impose a permanent icon in the status bar.
When installing a third-party app, Xiaomi will ask for permission to work in the background and auto-start. Be sure to allow these actions, otherwise the new alarm may not work either. The advantage of third-party solutions is that they usually do not require constant visual confirmation of their work through the icon, unless it is configured by the user himself.
In addition, third-party apps often offer smarter features like shutdown tasks, sleep phase analysis, weather integration, and switching to them can not only solve the icon problem, but also improve the quality of your sleep. Just remember to uninstall or disable the system app to avoid conflicts.
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If you use a third-party alarm clock, set the volume separately from the system one so that the morning rise doesn’t come as a surprise.
Solving problems through the developer mode
For advanced users who are not afraid to experiment, there is access to hidden interface settings. To get into the developer menu, you need to 7 times click on the build number in the About Phone section. Once the corresponding notification appears, go to Advanced Settings → For developers.
In this menu, find a section related to drawing or display. We may be interested in Showing cosmetic effects or settings related to the System. UI. However, be very careful: changing system settings can lead to unstable operation of the entire phone. ADB-Teams can be forced to hide specific icons.
⚠️ Attention: Making changes to the developer settings can cause system failures, increased battery consumption, or even a cyclical reboot of the device. Use these methods only if you understand what you are doing and are ready to return the default settings.
There's a team out there ADB, It's a device that allows you to hide icons, but it requires you to connect to a computer. icon_blacklist system,ime,rotate,headset, alarm. Adding the word alarm to the icon blacklist may solve the problem, but after resetting or updating the firmware, the effect will disappear.