Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their functionality, but the standard shell MIUI or the new HyperOS sometimes behave unpredictable in small things. One of these annoying features is the Weather widget, which tends to accumulate in the list of cities that you have not visited in a long time or even added accidentally.
This list can grow to dozens of locations, which not only visually clutters the widget on the desktop, but also causes the device to constantly request data for all these points, consuming traffic and CPU resources. Many users wonder why you can't just swipe an unnecessary city, as is done in other applications.
The fact is that the MIUI widget architecture is tied to the system application, and simple deletion requires understanding the logic of the module, and in this article we will discuss all the available ways to clean the list, from standard methods to hidden settings that will help you to clean up the order.
Why the list of cities is growing and how it works
The Weather app on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones has a feature: it automatically adds geolocation when you first start or reset your settings. In addition, many users, traveling or changing their residence, manually add new cities to monitor the climate, forgetting to delete the old records.
It's important to understand that the desktop widget is just a mirror of the application database. Deleting the widget from the screen does not clear the list of saved places. The data continues to be stored in the system cache even if you do not use the application directly.
There is also a sync mechanism with your Mi Account, where if you logged in to your profile on different devices, the list of cities could be copied from a tablet or an old phone, creating duplicates and confusion.
⚠️ Note: Some system widgets may not display the delete button if the Weather app has limited permissions to access the geoposition in the background.
The accumulation of large cities affects the response rate of the interface, so when you open the notification curtain or the main screen, the system has to poll the server for each item in the list, which can cause micro-latency.
Standard method of removal through the Weather app
The most obvious and safe method of cleaning the list is to use a regular application interface, which is suitable for most current versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS. You do not need root rights or a computer connection.
To start, look for the Weather app icon on your desktop (usually a blue sun and cloud icon) and if the icon isn’t there, search the system or find it in the Tools folder.
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If the app icon is hidden in the Tools folder, create a shortcut on your desktop for quick access to settings in the future.
Once you run the app, you'll see the current weather and a list of cities at the bottom or side (depending on the orientation of the screen), and in the upper right corner, you'll see the control menu, indicated by three dots or a gear.
Click on this icon to reveal additional options. Here you need the City Management (or Edit Cities) button, which is where you access a full list of saved locations.
In edit mode, a basket icon or cross appears next to each city, and by clicking on it, you confirm the deletion, and the system can request confirmation of action to avoid accidental data loss.
- 📍 Open the Weather app through the main screen.
- ⚙️ Click on three dots in the top right corner of the interface.
- 🏙️ Select “Cities Management” in the drop-down menu.
- 🗑️ Click on the basket icon near the unnecessary city.
Once you do this, the city will disappear from the list, and the desktop widget will update automatically, but sometimes you need to manually reload the widget (remove and add again) to take effect visually.
Managing widgets on the desktop
Users often confuse removing the city from the database and removing the widget from the screen. If your goal is simply to free up space on the desktop, then you do not need to climb into the application settings, although this is recommended for complete cleaning.
In the MIUI shell, widgets are controlled through the desktop editing mode, which requires clamping the empty area of the screen or pinching two fingers (closing your fingers together).
In the menu that opens, select the "Widgets" section. Search the "Weather" list. Here you can see different widget formats: large, small, transparent background. The widget is removed by a long tap on the desktop, then dragging it to the "Delete" zone (basket) or clicking on the cross that appears.
However, if you want to change the city you view without removing the widget, click on the widget itself. In some firmware versions, this immediately opens the widget settings, where you can choose which city to display from the list.
If the widget is “hanging” and shows the old city even after it’s removed from the app, try the following algorithm:
- Remove the widget from the desktop.
- Clear the list of cities in the app (as described above).
- Reboot your smartphone.
- Add the widget again.
This sequence of actions guarantees the reset of the display cache and pulling up current data from the system database.
Radical methods: data cleanup and reset
In cases where standard deletion does not work (button not pressed, list not updated, error parsing), you have to resort to more stringent measures, especially for older versions of MIUI, where there may be bugs.
The method is to force the data of the Weather app to be cleaned, which will return the app to a post-installation state, removing all saved cities, notification settings and selected locations.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find under the Weather (or Weather) list. Click on the name to enter the app menu.
At the bottom of the screen, you'll see two buttons: "Clean" and "Delete." You need a button to Clean. When you press it, you'll see a choice: "Clear cache" or "Clean everything." Select "Clean everything."
⚠️ Warning: After cleaning all the data, the Weather app will forget all the cities. You will have to re-add your current city and configure permissions for geolocation.
This method also helps if the widget has stopped responding to touches or displays an incorrect temperature.Data reset often solves problems with desynchronizing time and date in the widget.
Even if cleaning the data didn't help, you can try removing the app updates. Go to the same app menu (three dots in the corner) and select "Delete Updates." The system will roll the app back to the factory version.
Comparison of weather cleaning methods on Xiaomi
So to make it easier for you to choose the right way to solve a problem, we've created a table that shows the differences between the methods of impact on the system and the actions that you need.
| Method | Difficulty | Preserving history | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the app menu | Low. | The remaining cities remain | High (staff) |
| Re-creating the widget | Low. | It doesn't affect the database. | Medium (visual only) |
| Cleaning the application data | Medium | Complete removal of all cities | Maximum (cures bugs) |
| Removal of updates | Tall. | Reset to factory settings | High (for older versions) |
As you can see from the table, the first method is best for the usual removal of one extra city, and it's safe and doesn't require rebooting.
Data cleanup is a “heavy artillery” that should only be used if there are obvious errors in the widget or application, and you should not resort to this method to remove one city if the regular menu is working properly.
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Use data cleanup only in case of failures, as this requires re-configuring all weather parameters.
Problems with geolocation and permits
Often the inability to manage cities correctly or add left-wing cities is due to incorrect permission settings. Android system strictly controls the access of applications to the location.
If the Weather app doesn’t have the right to determine the location, it may either not show your city, or, conversely, cling to the last known location. IP-Address that may be related to another region.
Check permission settings: Settings → Apps → Weather → Permissions → Geoposition. It is recommended to select “Allow only during use” or “Always Allow” if you want the widget to be updated in the background.
Also worth paying attention to the location service, make sure that the notification curtain activates the GPS icon. Without this, the widget will only show the weather for the last manually saved city or for a location determined by Wi-Fi.
- 🛰️ Check if it's on. GPS fast-panel.
- 📡 Make sure the app has access to the geo-position.
- 🌐 Check if it's on. VPN, region-changing.
Use of the VPN-If you're connected through a server in another country, the widget can automatically suggest adding a city from that country to the list, assuming you've moved.
Alternative widgets and third-party solutions
If Xiaomi's standard Weather app seems overloaded or inconvenient to manage, there's no ban on using alternatives.The Google Play store offers hundreds of solutions that integrate into the system.
Widgets from Google, Weather Underground, AccuWeather or YoWindow are popular, and they have their own city databases and control mechanisms independent of the MIUI system application.
To install a third-party widget, remove the standard Weather widget from your desktop. Then press the empty space, select "Widgets" and find the installed app (e.g. Google) in the list.
Why is Google's widget better?
Using third-party solutions also helps avoid the intrusive advertising that is sometimes found in the standard weather app in some regions.However, it's worth remembering that third-party widgets can consume more battery power if not optimized for MIUI.
In battery settings, be sure to add the selected weather app to the “No Limits” or “Sunset” list so that the widget does not stop updating after locking the screen.