How to set the watch on the main screen Xiaomi Mi 9: all ways + hidden settings MIUI

The Xiaomi Mi 9 desktop is not just a place for app shortcuts, but a full-fledged personalization tool. One of the most popular elements here is the watch: it not only shows the time, but also serves as a stylish accent of the interface. However, many users face the problem: the standard watch widget is either missing after the MIUI update or does not display correctly. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to install the watch on the main screen, including hidden shell settings and avoiding typical errors.

The Mi 9 is different because, depending on the MIUI version (12, 13 or 14) and regional firmware (Global, China, EEA), the options available may vary, for example, in European builds, 5 widget styles are available by default, while in Chinese builds - up to 12.

Preparation: Verification of MIUI version and available widgets

Before adding a watch, make sure your system supports this feature. On the Xiaomi Mi 9, the watch widgets are available starting with MIUI 10, but their appearance and settings have changed dramatically in MIUI 12 and later.

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Scroll down to the MIUI version.
3. Remember the build number (e.g., V14.0.5.0.TFAMIXM).

If you have a version older than MIUI 11 but the watch widget is not listed, the problem may be:

• 🔄 Regional restrictions (e.g. in firmware for India, widgets are disabled by default).
• 🛠️ Rooting or modifying the system (systems removed) APK widget).
• 📱 Use of alternative launcher (Nova Launcher, Apex, etc.).

For Mi 9 owners with custom firmware (such as Pixel Experience or LineageOS), standard MIUI widgets are not available, and in this case you will have to use third-party solutions, which we will discuss in a separate section.

Method 1: Adding a standard watch widget through the widget menu

This is the simplest and most versatile method, working on most versions of MIUI.

1. Click and hold the empty space on the home screen (not on the icon!).
2. In the menu that appears, select Widgets (or Widgets in English firmware).
3. Scroll down to the Clock section, and there are several options that can be displayed here:

Choose your favorite style and drag it to the home screen. If the widget is not added:

• 🔍 Check if all screen space is occupied by other elements.
• 📏 Try changing the screen size in the launcher settings (Settings) → Main screen screen → Grid size).
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes widgets don’t show up due to a temporary crash.

Important: On the Xiaomi Mi 9 with MIUI 14, the Weather + Watch widget may not update the data automatically. To fix this, open the Weather app, enable Auto Update, and set the interval at least 1 hour.

Method 2: Using MIUI themes to change the style of the watch

If you don't like standard widgets, you can change the look of them dramatically with MIUI themes. It's an official feature that doesn't require root rights. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Settings → Themes.
2. Select the section My topics → Online topics.
3. In the search bar, enter a clock or clock.
4. Download your favorite topic (pay attention to the rating and number of downloads!).
5. Apply it – it will automatically update the style of widgets on the home screen.

The most popular watches on the Mi 9 are:

• 🌌 Dark Clock – Minimalist watch with dark background, perfect for the AMOLED-screen.
• ✨ Neon Digital – digital watch with neon backlight, support animation.
• 🏔️ Mountain Clock – analogue clock with mountain landscape on the dial.
• 🌡️ Weather Clock Pro – Combined weather and animation widget (requires) MIUI 13+).

💡

If the clock hasn't changed after you use the theme, remove the old widget from the screen and add it again. Sometimes you need to restart the phone.

Note that some themes can only replace the watch widget without affecting the system clock in the notification bar. If you need to change them, look for themes marked Full UI or System-wide.

Method 3: Third-party watch widgets (for advanced users)

If you don't like the standard solutions, you can install a widget from a third-party developer.

• 🎨 More styles (from retro to futuristic).
• ⚙️ Deep tuning (color, font, animation).
• 🌍 Support for multiple languages (including Cyrillic).

The best watch widgets on Xiaomi Mi 9:

To install a third-party widget:

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. Click and hold the empty space on the home screen → Widgets.
3. Find the widget of the installed application (for example, Chronus 4x2) in the list.
4. Drag it to the screen and set it up according to the instructions in the app.

⚠️ Note: Some widgets (like Beautiful Widgets) require additional permissions to display the weather.If the widget doesn't show the temperature after installation, check the Location and Auto Update settings in the app itself.

Method 4: Watches on the lock screen – how to sync with the main screen

Many users want the clock on the home screen and lock screen to look the same. Unfortunately, in MIUI, these elements are set up separately, but they can be synchronized:

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select the Watch Style and set the same format as the home screen widget.
3. For full synchronization, use MIUI themes (see Method 2).

If you want your lock clock to display seconds or a date, do the following:

Settings → Lock screen → Additional settings → Time format

Here you can choose:

• 🕒 24-hour-format AM/PM.
• 📅 Show date (includes day of week display).
• ⏱️ Stopwatch (not available on all firmware).

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi Mi 9S MIUI 12 and newer when you turn on Always-on Display (AOD) The clock on the lock screen may be different from the main clock. AOD Select the style of the watch in the Always-on Display settings.

Problem Solving: The clock is not displayed or is not working properly

If after all the manipulations, the watch did not appear on the home screen, check the following points:

If none of these methods helped, try resetting the launcher settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Storage → Clear data and cache

After that, the widgets will return to the standard look, and you can add them again.

Next Post:How to Make Your Watch More Functional

The standard MIUI watch supports a few hidden features that many people don't know about.

• 🌐 Second time zone display: Open the clock widget and click on it. Select Settings → Additional hours. Add city and turn on the display.
• 🎨 Transparency change: In widget settings (press and hold the widget) → Change) you can adjust the background transparency from 0% to 100%.
• 🔔 Alarm clock straight from the widget: Click on the clock widget → Alarm clock → Add a new one. It's faster than opening the Watch app.