How to Set a Watch on Xiaomi Redmi Home Screen: 5 Ways + Problem Solving

Have you just purchased a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone and want to personalize the main screen by adding a handy watch? Or have you been using the device for a long time, but the standard time widget disappeared after the MIUI update? In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to install a watch on the desktop — from basic settings to hidden shell features. We will analyze not only classic widgets, but also alternative solutions for models Redmi Note 12, Redmi 10, POCO X5 and others.

Xiaomi’s smartphone features a flexible widget system that allows you to display not only the time, but also the date, weather, steps and even data from wearable devices. However, after resetting or upgrading to MIUI 14/15, users often find that the watch is missing or displayed incorrectly. In this article, you will learn how to return it to its place, change the size and style, and what to do if the widget is not added.

Why doesn’t Redmi have a default clock on the home screen?

Unlike the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, where the watch is fixed in the top notification bar, the MIUI shell offers a more flexible approach. By default, the home screen may not have time widgets for three reasons:

• 📱 Design theme: Some themes (such as Minimalist or Dark Mode) hide the watch for a minimalist look.
• 🔄 System Update: After Upgrade to MIUI 14+ reset widget settings.
• 🧩 Disabled System Applications: If you have deleted or disabled the Clock App through Settings → Applications, widget will stop working.

In addition, on some models (such as the Redmi 9A or POCO M3), the clock widget is replaced by an integrated time weather widget by default.

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

This is the simplest and most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12-15.

1. Touch the empty space on the home screen and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds until the menu appears.
2. At the bottom of the screen, select “Widgets” (the icon with squares).
3. Scroll down to System widgets and find the “Clock” (the dial icon).
4. Press the widget and drag it to a free space on the main screen.
5. Let go of your finger, the watch will appear on the screen, and if necessary, resize it by pulling corners.

If the Watch widget is not listed, check:

• ⚙️ Theme settings: Go to Settings → Theme → My themes and choose a standard theme MIUI Default.
• 🔍 Search by widgets: at the top of the widget menu there is a search bar - enter "clock" in Russian or English (clock).

Make sure there is free space on the screen.|

Check if the Watch app is disabled in the settings |

Update MIUI to the latest version (if available) |

Restart your smartphone if the widget doesn’t show up-->

Method 2: Use the Weather and Clock widget (for MIUI 14+)

In newer versions of MIUI, the standard watch widget is often replaced by a combined weather unit, displaying the time, date, temperature and even the forecast for the week, to add it:

1. Click the empty space on the main screen → “Widgets”.
2. Find the Weather widget (the sun and cloud icon).
3. Choose a size: 4×1 (time and weather only) or 4×2 (extended view with forecast).
4. Drag the widget onto the screen and place it in a convenient location.

If the weather widget does not update the time or shows incorrect data:

• 🌍 Check the location settings: Settings → Confidentiality → Permits → Location. → Turn on the "Weather" appendix».
• ⏱️ Synchronize time: Settings → Additionally. → Date and time → activate Autodetermination.

Method 3: Set the clock through lock screen settings

On Redmi models with MIUI 13+, the watch widget on the home screen is synchronized with the lock screen. If you change the style of the watch there, it can automatically add it to the desktop. Here's how to do it:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select "Clock Style."
3. Scroll through the options and choose your favorite (e.g. Digital, Analog, or Minimalist).
4. Return to the home screen – in some themes, the clock will appear automatically.

If this method does not work, try the combination:

1. Set the style of the watch on the lock screen.
2. Add the Watch widget through the widget menu (Method 1).
3. Restart your smartphone – after the reboot, the clock can sync.

💡

On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and other flagships, you can find the hidden Watch with Stopwatch widget, and to find it, scroll to the end of the list and click Show All.

Method 4: Alternative widgets from Google Play

If you don’t like the standard MIUI watch (for example, there is no animation or style), you can install third-party widgets.

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 widget of the installed application (for example, Chronus 4×2).
4. Drag it to the screen and adjust the look through the app menu.

⚠️ Note: Some Google Play widgets may conflict with the shell MIUI, Before installing, check the reviews of Xiaomi users.

Method 5: Manually create a shortcut to the Watch app

If the widget refuses to be added, you can go a detour by creating a shortcut to the Watch app that will open it with a single tap, which won't replace the widget, but will give you quick access to the time:

1. Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
2. Find the Clock app (icon with dial).
3. Click on his icon and drag it to the main screen.
4. Let your finger go, a label will appear.

To make this method more convenient:

• 📌 Secure the shortcut in the dock panel (bottom of the screen).
• 🎨 Change the icon through the launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher).

💡

If the watch widget disappeared after the MIUI update, try resetting the launcher settings: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Storage → Clear data. This will return standard widgets without losing personal data.

Problem Solving: The clock is not added or not working

If none of these methods worked, check out these points:

Redmi models with custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) may require:

• 🔧 Install GApps (Google Apps) if there are no widgets.
• 📥 Manual download. APK clockwidget MIUI (For example, from APKMirror).

⚠️ Note: On Redmi with Bootloader Unlocked, some system widgets may not work. Before installing custom firmware, save a backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the watch on Xiaomi Redmi