How to Set a Watch on Xiaomi Phone Screen: The Complete Guide

The modern smartphone is not just a communication tool, but a personal information center that we see dozens of times a day. For owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices, personalizing the home screen and lock screen is one of the most popular tasks. Many users are looking for a way to set a watch on the phone screen to always be aware of the time without unlocking the gadget completely. It is convenient, practical and allows you to stand out among the owners of standard interfaces.

Android operating system in the shell MIUI or HyperOS provides a wide range of customization. You can choose from a classic digital format, analog hands or even live wallpaper with a clock. In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from built-in features to the use of third-party software. You will learn to customize widgets, activate the Always On Display function and set complex dials.

Before you start installing, it’s important to understand the differences between a desktop widget and a lock screen clock. These two elements are set up differently and have different functionality. The desktop widget is available immediately after you unlock it, whereas the clock on the lock screen (or AOD) is visible while the device is in sleep mode. The choice of the right method depends on your personal preferences and smartphone model.

Use of built-in MIUI shell widgets

The easiest and most reliable way to set a watch on a Xiaomi phone screen is to use standard widgets. The MIUI shell is famous for its rich personalization capabilities, and widgets take center stage here. First, you need to go into desktop editing mode. To do this, just press the empty area on the home screen or pinch it with two fingers to zoom in.

In the menu below, you'll see the "Widgets" button. You click on it and you'll be taken to the gallery of available items. The system offers a variety of watch options, from minimalistic digital to complex analog with date and weather. Some widgets may require an Internet connection to display current weather, so make sure the network is active. Choose your favorite design and drag it to the free space of the screen.

⚠️ Warning: Some heavy live-animated widgets may slightly increase battery consumption.If you save charge, opt for static dials.

Once you have placed the widget, you can often customize it further. Press and hold your finger on the clock you already have, then select Settings or the gear icon. You can change the time format (12 or 24 hours), color scheme and font. Recent versions of HyperOS have introduced support for transparent background widgets that fit seamlessly into any wallpaper.

• 🕰️ Classic watches: simple digital or analog format without unnecessary details.
• 🌤️ Weather Watch: Shows the temperature and atmosphere in your area.
• 📅 Combined: Include date, day of the week and sometimes step counter.

If you have a lot of apps, you may have to create a separate page for a large watch, and it's also worth noting that when you change the theme in the Themes app, the set of available widgets can change, and some theme writers create unique widgets that only work in conjunction with their design.

Always On Display for Lock screens

The feature is Always on Display (AOD) allows you to display hours, dates and notifications on the screen turned off if it is made using technology AMOLED. This is one of the most spectacular ways to set a clock on a phone screen, because the information is visible even when the device is lying on the table with the screen up, AOD It consumes minimal energy due to the pixels. OLED-matrix.

To activate this feature, go to the Settings menu, then select the Lock Screen or Always On screen. In some models, the path may be different: Settings → Wallpaper and Personalization → Always On screen. Here you can choose the display style. The system offers several built-in options: vertical, horizontal, with or without an image.

Path to Settings → Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display

You can set a schedule in AOD settings, for example, the clock can only be displayed from 8:00 to 23:00, or only for 10 seconds after touching the screen, which helps to save battery power at night, and there is also a Smart Mode feature that uses an accelerometer: the screen only lights up when you pick up the phone or look at it.

⚠️ Note: Always On Display is only available on smartphones AMOLED-On devices with screens. IPS-In the matrix (usually budget models Redmi) this item in the menu may be missing or inactive.

For owners of the new flagships Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 14 and Redmi Note series with AMOLED, the function “AOD Watch Style” is available. It allows you to download special dials from the store to those that look like full-fledged works of art.

Installation of the clock through the application "Themes"

Themes is a gold mine for those who want to unify their smartphone, and you can find thousands of designs that completely change the way you look at your system, including the lock screen. To find specific watches, search for a store and type in a "Clock," "Time," or "Clock," and the results filter will find the items you want.

The process of installing the theme is simple: select the one you like, click the Download button and then Apply. Once you apply the theme, the lock screen will change to match the design you choose. Often users use the theme just for the sake of the lock screen, and then return the standard wallpaper and icons, leaving only the new watch, this is achieved through the Profile menu in the app to those where you can select Apply → Lock screen.

The theme store offers both free and paid options. Third-party paid themes are often more detailed and complex animations. When downloading, pay attention to the author's rating and downloads. A low rating may indicate bugs or incompatibility with your version of Android.

• 🎨 Unique designs by independent artists from around the world.
• 🔄 Dynamic elements: watches that change color depending on the time of day or battery charge.
• 🎞️ Video wallpaper: Some themes include a video background where the clock is part of the animation.

Keep in mind that installing a third-party theme can temporarily affect device performance, especially on older models. If you notice interface brakes, try removing the theme or finding an optimized version of it. Some themes may overlap system notifications, so check the notification curtain after installation.

Third-party applications for advanced customization

If built-in tools are not enough, third-party apps from Google Play come to the rescue, allowing you to install a watch on a phone screen with functionality that is not available in standard firmware. Leaders in this niche are the applications Widgetsmith, HD Widgets and Overdrop. They give you complete control over the color, font, transparency and size of each element.

For the lock screen, the de facto standard is Lock Screen & Notifications or developers like NI Launcher. However, on newer versions of Android (12, 13, 14), third-party apps for the lock screen are limited by Google's security policy.

There's a lot more to the desktop, and you can create a widget that shows time in different time zones, which is useful for those who work with foreign partners. Some applications allow you to display a quote of the day, currency rate or Internet speed on the widget, and you can combine all this data with the clock into a single information block.

⚠️ Warning: Third-party screen locking apps often require extensive permissions and access to contacts.Be careful when granting rights to unknown developers to avoid compromising your privacy.

Google widgets are particularly noteworthy. Google or Google Watch has widgets that sync with your account. They look stylish in a tangible design and go well with pure Android. To install them, you need to add a Watch widget from the standard Android widget menu, not MIUI.

Comparison of time display methods

The choice of how to install the watch depends on what is more important to you: aesthetics, functionality or battery economy. To help you determine, we have prepared a comparative table of basic methods, which will show the pros and cons of each approach in the context of use on Xiaomi smartphones.

* Battery consumption for AOD depends on the type of matrix and schedule settings. On AMOLED, it is minimal, on IPS (if available through bone cells) it is significant.

For everyday use, most users will need a bundle of Standard Widgets + AOD on a schedule, which gives a balance between beauty and autonomy. Gamers or enthusiasts who charge the phone several times a day will suit heavy themes with video backgrounds and complex animations.

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Use dark wallpaper and dark watch widgets on AMOLED-The black pixels on these screens are off, which actually saves battery life and extends the life of a single charge.

Solutions and optimization of work

Users may experience a number of common problems during the setup process, such as the watch widget disappearing after the phone is restarted or not showing the correct time, most often due to the aggressive MIUI energy saving system, which kills the widget background processes, so to fix this, you need to go to the battery settings, find the Watch or Themes app, and set the background activity limit in No Limits mode.

Another common problem is time desynchronization. Make sure that the settings Additional → Date and Time activate the option "Use Network Time." If time is jumping, try turning off and enable autosynchronization. For weather widgets, it is important to check the permission to access geolocation. Without the exact location, the widget will not be able to show the correct temperature.

If the clock on the lock screen has stopped responding to touch (does not unlock the phone), the set theme may conflict. Try resetting the theme to a standard one. Also check if the Pocket or Pocket mode is on, which locks the sensor to avoid accidental taps.

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The stability of widgets and AOD depends on the right power saving settings. Don't let the system unload the system's time and themes services.

Regular updates to the theme store’s system and apps help avoid errors. Xiaomi developers are constantly improving their algorithms for working with widgets. If you use custom firmware (such as Xiaomi.eu), make sure it is fully compatible with your model, as errors in ports can cause failures in the lock screen.

In conclusion, setting a watch on a Xiaomi phone screen is a simple but effective way to make smartphone use more comfortable: Experiment with widgets, try different themes and adjust AOD to your rhythm of life. A properly configured interface saves time and lifts your mood every time you look at the screen.