How to set a watch on the main screen of Android Xiaomi: all ways to MIUI

Why you need a watch on the home screen and what widgets are available in Xiaomi

The Xiaomi desktop clock widget is not just a design element, but a useful tool for quickly controlling time without unlocking the screen, especially for users who often check schedules or monitor task timelines. The MIUI shell (versions 14 and 15) has several types of watch widgets available, from classic analog to digital with weather, calendar and even pedometer.

It is important to understand that the functionality of widgets depends on the firmware version and smartphone model. 13/14 Redmi Note 12 Support dynamic widgets with animation, while budget models like POCO M5 They can only offer basic options, and it is also worth considering that after the update, MIUI The location of the widget settings sometimes changes - we will talk about this in more detail below.

If you've never used an Android widget, don't worry: the process of adding them is intuitive, but it's nuanced. For example, on some firmware, the watch widget may conflict with wallpaper or theme. In this article, we'll look at all the current installation methods, including hidden features and solving typical problems.

Preparation: Verification of MIUI version and compatibility

Before adding a watch widget, make sure your MIUI version supports this feature. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Current versions (14.0.+ and 15.0.+) are guaranteed to support widgets, but even older ones (such as MIUI 12.5) can be set to watches via workarounds.

Also check if the widgets are disabled in the system settings.

1. Click the empty space on the main screen.
2. Select Screen Settings (or Desktop Settings).
3. Make sure that the widget slider is active.

Attention to detail: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Pad 6), the watch widgets can be locked in the horizontal orientation of the screen. If you don't see the add option, try rotating the device or changing the theme to the standard one.

Method 1: Adding a watch widget through the desktop menu

This is the simplest and most versatile method that works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 12.5+.

1. Step 1: Clutch the empty space on the home screen (not the icon!) in 1-2 seconds, the desktop settings menu will appear.
2. Step 2. At the bottom of the screen, select the Widget tab (the icon with three squares).
3. Step 3. Scroll down to the Watch section (or Clock in English firmware: 🕒 Analog clocks (different styles of dial) 🕐 Digital watches (with or without a date) 🌤️ Weather watches (requires geolocation permission) 📅 Calendar clock (shows the current date and day of the week)

Step 4.

On models with MIUI 15, the watch widget can be scaled: after adding, pinch its edges and pull to resize (not available for all styles).

If the widget doesn’t appear after dragging, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone (sometimes helps with interface glitches).
• 📱 Change the theme to standard (Settings) → Topics).
• 🔧 Clear the launcher cache (Settings) → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

Method 2: Installation via the Clock app (hidden function)

Few people know, but the standard Xiaomi Watch app has a built-in option to add a widget to the desktop, which is useful if the widget does not appear in the desktop menu (for example, after resetting settings).

Instructions:

1. Open the Clock app (icon with dial).
2. Slip on the three-point menu in the upper right corner.
3. Select the Widget (or Add to the Desktop).
4. The system will automatically redirect you to the main screen with a suggestion to place a widget.

This method is guaranteed to work on MIUI 14 and later, but may not be available on custom firmware or modified versions of MIUI (e.g. Xiaomi.EU).

💡

If the watch widget disappeared after the MIUI update, try removing it and adding it again through the Watch app, which often solves the problem of the lost settings.

Method 3: Use of third-party widgets (for advanced features)

Standard widgets MIUI You're limited in design and functionality. If you want a watch with a stopwatch, a timer, a minimalist style or Always On Display support (AOD), You should look at third-party apps.-3 tested:

To install a third-party widget:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Click the empty space on the main screen → Widgets.
3. Find the name of the installed application (for example, Chronus).
4. Select a style and drag it to the screen.

⚠️ Note: Some third-party widgets require additional permissions (e.g., calendar or geolocation access). Check reviews in the Play Market before installing them - there is a risk of running into advertising software.

Problem Solving: The widget is not added or disappears

Even when installed correctly, the watch widget can be unstable. Consider typical problems and solutions:

Problem 1: The widget is not displayed in the menu

Possible causes and solutions:

• 🔍 Launcher replaced by third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion) Return the standard launcher MIUI Or set up widgets in an alternative launcher.
• 📵 System widgets disabled. Check Settings. → Annexes → Application management → The clock → Permits.
• 🔄 Failure after upgrade: Clear the launcher cache (instruction above) or restart the phone.

Problem 2: The widget disappears after the reboot

This is a common complaint of MIUI 14 users, which is due to memory optimization, which removes "extra" widgets.

• 🛡️ Add the Watch app to the list of Secured Apps (Settings) → Battery → Application protection).
• 🔧 Turn off Adaptive Optimization in Battery Settings.
• 📱 Try to fix the widget on the screen through a long press. → Fixed (not available on all models).

Problem 3: The Widget does not update the time

If the clock is “frozen” on one value:

• ⏱️ Check the time settings in Settings → Additionally. → Date and time: Date and time Autodetermination and time zone Autodetermination must be enabled.
• 🔄 Remove the widget and add it again.
• 📡 Reconnect to the network (sometimes time synchronization failure is due to lack of internet).

Additional settings: customization of the widget

Standard MIUI widgets allow you to change the display style, but the functionality is limited.

For analog watches:

• 🎨 Color of the dial: usually tied to the theme of the design (changes in Settings) → Topics).
• ⚙️ Time format: 12- or 24-hour (configured in Settings) → Additionally. → Date and time).
• 🌙 Night mode: on some models, the clock automatically dims in the dark.

For digital watches:

• 📏 Font size: Changes by stretching the widget (clip the edges and pull).
• 🌡️ Weather Display: Requires the inclusion of geolocation for the Watch app.
• 📅 Date and day of the week: displayed automatically, but you can hide in the settings of the widget (stick on it) → Settings).

MIUI 15 has a dynamic widget feature that changes style depending on the time of day or user activity, to activate it:

1. Add the widget to the screen.
2. Put it on him. → Choose a dynamic style.
3. Set up triggers (such as a dark theme after 20:00).

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On models with Always On Display (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), the watch widget on the home screen can be synchronized with the lock screen. To do this, turn on the option in Settings → Lock screen → AOD.

Features on different models Xiaomi

The functionality of the watch widgets may vary depending on the series of devices.

On devices with MIUI for tablets (for example, Xiaomi Pad 6), watch widgets can be placed on the sidebar for quick access.

1. Turn the sidebar swipe from the edge of the screen.
2. Select the + → button and select the watch.
3. Set up the information displayed (time, date, weather).

⚠️ Attention: POCO-firmware POCO Launcher standard widgets MIUI In this case, use third-party applications (for example, Chronus) or switch to a standard launcher.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions