Personalization is the first thing the owner of the new gadget wants to do. Xiaomi Redmi series offers a wide range of customization options, allowing you to turn a standard workhorse into a unique device. One of the most popular features is to display time in a prominent place so that you do not have to unlock the device every time or look for a widget in the menu.
The process of installing dials and time widgets in the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS is significantly different from the “pure” Android, offering more visual elements.
In this guide, we will take a detailed look at all the available ways to display time, from standard system tools to third-party applications.
You will learn to customize the size, style of the fonts and even add seconds for maximum accuracy.
Use of standard widgets of MIUI and HyperOS system
The easiest and most energy-efficient way to access time is to use built-in MIUI shell widgets. The system offers several design options that fit harmoniously into the interface design.
To add a widget, you need to pinch the empty area on the desktop before the editing menu appears.
At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a toolbar where you can select Widgets, and you'll see all the available system elements sorted by category.
Find the Watch or Time section, which usually features classic digital and analog display options.
⚠️ Warning: Some time widgets may require a constant internet connection to synchronize weather or precise time, which may slightly increase battery consumption.
After choosing the right style, drag it to the free space of the screen. Most standard widgets allow you to change their size by stretching around corner markers.
Double-clicking on the installed widget often opens up additional settings where you can choose the color of the numbers or the format of the display (12 or 24 hours).
System widgets are optimized for working with a dark theme, automatically changing the color of the text depending on the design settings you choose.
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Use large (2x2 or 4x2) widgets to make time visible from a longer distance, especially if you have a large smartphone screen.
Configuring digital and analog time widgets
Xiaomi shells are famous for their variety of styles, and users can choose between a rigorous digital watch that mimics retro alarm clocks or elegant hand-held mechanisms.
Digital widgets often support the display of the date and day of the week, making them the functional center of the home screen.
Analog variants, in turn, add an aesthetic component, imitating mechanics or minimalism.
For fine-tuning, press and hold your finger on the already installed widget, then select “Widget Settings”.
In the menu that opens, you can change the font style if the widget is digital, or the color of the arrows for analog models.
Some widgets allow you to turn on or off the display of seconds, which is a critical parameter for those who follow time with high accuracy.
It is important to note that changing the system font through the Themes app can affect the display of numbers in time widgets.
If the standard font seems too thin or, conversely, bulky, experiment with third-party themes of design.
Many themes change not only icons but also the design of system time widgets, providing unique styles that are not available in stock firmware.
Applying design themes to change the style of the watch
Themes is a powerful customization tool that is often underrated. Changing theme not only changes wallpaper and icons, but also changes the design of time widgets.
Thousands of designers create unique dials that replace the standard watch widget with something completely different: from cyberpunk stylistics to wildlife.
To find the right topic, go to the Themes app and type a query in the search bar, such as “Clock Widget” or “Time.”
When choosing a theme, pay attention to the screenshots in the description: there is always shown how the time widget will look like.
Installing the theme can take a few seconds, after which the system will suggest applying all the elements or selecting only widgets.
Choose the option of using only widgets if you want to save your icons, but change the look of the watch.
| Type of element | Where to find out. | Impact on the battery | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| System widget | Widget menu | Minimum | Low. |
| Theme of the design | Shop Topics | Average. | Medium |
| Third-party annex | Google Play | High. | Tall. |
| Always on screen | Screen settings | High. | Low. |
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Design themes are the fastest way to radically change the look of the watch without installing complex applications.
Third-party applications for time widgets
If the system is not enough, Google Play Market apps come to the rescue, providing functionality that is not available in standard firmware.
Popular applications such as HD Widgets, Overdrop or KWGT Kustom Widget Maker allow you to create widgets of any complexity.
These tools make it possible to add not only time, but also information about the weather, calendar, exchange rates and even news.
To install a third-party widget, download the app, launch it, and follow the instructions for creating a new widget.
After creating the item, return to the desktop, call the widget menu and find the name of the installed application in the list.
Select the widget you created and place it on the screen, stretching to the desired size.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party widgets often require permissions to access geolocation and background work, which can result in faster battery discharge compared to standard solutions.
A feature of advanced widgets is the ability to adjust the transparency of the background, which allows you to fit the clock into any wallpaper design.
Some applications allow you to associate actions to the widget: for example, when you press the clock, the alarm clock will start or the calendar will open.
Use KWGT if you want to create a widget from scratch using your own images and fonts – it’s a professional tool for enthusiasts.
☑️ Checking before installing the widget
Setting up Always On Display (Always on screen)
For users who want to see the time even when the screen is locked, Always On Display is designed to be a feature (AOD). This technology uses features AMOLED-The matrices installed in most Redmi models.
AOD displays the time, date and notifications on the screen off, consuming minimal power as only individual pixels burn.
To activate the function, go to Settings, then to Lock Screen and select Always On Display.
In the settings menu, you can choose one of the suggested styles or upload your own image for the background.
The system allows you to set up the AOD schedule, for example, only turn on from 8:00 to 23:00, so as not to disturb you at night.
Also available is the option to turn on the screen on schedule or when lifting the smartphone, which saves battery power.
Effect of AOD on the battery
If you didn’t find this option in the settings, your screen model probably doesn’t support the technology of the individual pixels’ constant glow.
In this case, an alternative is to install static dark wallpaper with a large image of a watch that simulates AOD.
Solving problems with displaying and updating widgets
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the time widget stops updating or displays incorrect data.
Most often this is due to the aggressive MIUI energy saving system, which “sleeps down” the background processes of widgets to save charge.
To fix this, you need to go to the battery settings and find the specific application responsible for the widget (such as the Watch or a third-party app).
In the application settings, find the item "Energy saving" and select the "No restrictions" mode.
This will prevent the system from forcibly closing the widget process, and the time will be updated correctly.
Also check if automatic time synchronization is enabled in the main system settings.
If the widget disappeared from the screen after the system update, try to remove it and add it again from the widget menu.
In rare cases, cleaning the cache of the Security or Themes app that governs the interface helps.
Make sure the screen settings do not include the Ultra-Energy Saving mode, which disables all visuals and widgets.
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Time update problems are solved 90% of the time by changing the energy saving settings for a specific widget application.