Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the standard watch widget takes up too much space on the home screen. This is especially true for devices with not very large diagonals or for those who prefer a minimalist desktop. MIUI interfaces and the new HyperOS provide ample customization options, but not all the settings are obvious to the average user.
The problem of oversize is solved in several ways, from simply changing the style of the widget to deeply redesigning the screen grid. Flexibility allows you to adapt the interface to any needs, whether it is an elderly person who needs large numbers, or an advanced user who appreciates every pixel. In this article, we will discuss all available methods of optimizing space.
It's worth noting that shell algorithms can vary depending on the Android version and regional firmware, but the basics remain the same. Understanding the logic of the launcher will help you not only reduce the clock, but also organize the rest of the elements on the desktop.
Change the style of the widget through the standard menu
The easiest and safest way to change the size of a watch is to change the visual design. Built-in themes often offer dozens of variations on the same widget. Some are more compact by default than others. First, you need to pin your finger on the widget area on your desktop until the context menu appears.
In the action list that appears, select Change the widget or the widget settings. The system will offer you a gallery of available styles. It is important to pay attention to the preview: often, near analog dials, there are digital counterparts that take up much less space. Visual style directly affects the area occupied.
Some widgets have built-in display settings, such as disabling the date, day of the week or second time zone, removing unnecessary text blocks, you effectively reduce the height or width of the occupied area, which is especially useful if the widget has a fixed grid cell size.
MIUI 14 and newer versions allow you to stretch widgets, but the reverse action — compression — does not always work linearly. If you choose a large style, the system may not allow you to minimize it without changing the widget itself, so sorting through the options in the editing menu is a key step.
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Try to choose a widget with a transparent background – visually it will seem smaller and less bulky, even if its real dimensions remain the same.
Set up a desktop grid for precise fitting
The size of any element on a smartphone screen, including the watch widget, is tightly tied to the grid cells, and if the cells are large, the widget will be huge, taking up a quarter or a third of the screen, and to reduce the clock, you need to increase the number of cells, making them smaller, this is done through the system settings.
Go to Settings, then select Desktop, find Grid or Grid Size, and you'll be asked to choose a row-to-column ratio, like 4x6, 5x7, or 6x9, and the more digits, the smaller the cells will be, and therefore the more compact the widget will stand.
Once the grid settings are changed, the system automatically recalculates the position of all icons and widgets, and your watch is likely to go down or resize to take up fewer pixels, which is the most effective method if standard size settings don't work, and the pixel density of the interface will be higher.
However, it is worth considering that when the cells are reduced, the text on the application icons can become unreadable. So find a balance between the desire to reduce hours and the usability of the smartphone as a whole. For devices with FullHD+ screens, the optimal option is often 5x7 or 6x8.
Using third-party launchers for complete freedom
If Xiaomi and HyperOS don’t work perfectly, third-party launchers come to the rescue, and these are special applications that completely replace the desktop interface. The most popular solution is Nova Launcher, which gives you control over every pixel.
Once you have this launcher, you can manually size the widgets, you can literally pull the edge of the watch widget and compress it to the right proportions, and no other shell gives you that much freedom, and it's a solution for those who want to create a unique design.
In addition, third-party launchers allow you to create your own widgets or use powerful tools like KWGT Kustom Widget Maker. With their help you can draw a watch of any size, shape and color that will perfectly fit into the concept of your screen without taking up too much space.
However, for most users, this is not noticeable, and the gain in functionality and appearance is worth it.
Why can't the widget shrink?
Table of comparison of methods of size change
To make it easier for you to choose the right way, we have systematized the basic methods in a table that will help you quickly estimate the labor costs and expected outcome for each situation.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changing the style of the widget | Low. | Medium | Absent. |
| Screen grid setting | Low. | Tall. | Small text icons |
| Third-party launcher | Medium | Maximum | System conflicts |
| Engineering Menu (DPI) | Tall. | Tall. | Interface failure |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the best solution is a combination of changing style and setting up the grid. Third-party launchers are recommended for more experienced users who are ready for experiments. Data security is guaranteed when using proven launchers from Google Play.
Removing unnecessary widget elements
Often the problem is not the size of the dial itself, but the accompanying information. The MIUI clock widgets often show the weather, stepmer, date and phase of the moon by default, all of which require additional space to display.
Go to the settings of a particular widget (usually by long pressing or swiping inside the widget). Try turning off the display of unnecessary modules. For example, if you do not need the temperature outside the window on the home screen, remove this block. The vacated space system can redistribute or simply reduce the overall height of the widget.
Also, look at the font. Some themes have thinner or smaller fonts, and replacing bold with a regular visually unloads the widget, making it less massive, and it's a matter of perception, but it's important for the overall interface.
☑️ Checklist of widget optimization
⚠️ Note: When removing the widget system components, make sure you don’t turn off critical functions like alarms or reminders if they’re integrated into the watch interface.
Advanced settings via DPI (For experienced)
There's a more radical method that involves system display settings, and changing the density of the DPI (Dots Per Inch) allows you to scale the entire interface, including widgets, through a hidden developer menu or special applications.
To access the settings, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI Version (or OS Version) several times. Once you have the message “You are a developer”, go back to the main settings menu, select Additional → For Developers. Find the Minimum Width (or Smallest Width).
Increasing the DPI will cause all the elements on the screen, including the watch widget, to become smaller. The standard value is usually around 360-390 dp. If you increase it to 420-450, you will notice a significant decrease in all objects. However, this method affects the entire phone, not just the watch.
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DPI change is a global setup that reduces all interface elements at once, not just a specific widget.
Use this method with caution. Too high a DPI can make text unreadable, and some buttons too small to press. Always write down the original value before making changes so you can go back.
⚠️ Note: Do not set extremely high values DPI (For example, above 600), as this can cause the interface to become unusable and you will have to reset your phone settings.