Poco and Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their functionality, but the standard MIUI shell sometimes hides obvious interface elements. Users often look for a way to quickly see the time without unlocking the device completely or flipping through the screens. The solution is to install a watch widget that can be customized to suit any style of use of the gadget.
In this article, we will look at all the available methods for placing dials on the desktop of your Poco X3. We will look not only at the standard system tools, but also at the possibility of customization through third-party launchers.
Standard time widgets in MIUI
Start with the basics of the operating system. The MIUI shell that runs the Poco X3 offers a wide range of pre-installed widgets that are optimized to work and do not consume excess battery power, which is an important factor for the autonomy of the device.
To access them, you need to do a few simple things: first unlock your phone and go to the home screen. Then swipe to the right or pinch the screen with two fingers to get into editing mode. At the bottom of the display, you'll see the Widget button, clicking on which will open a library of available items.
In the menu that opens, you'll find a few options for displaying time, and there's a minimalist digital watch, and there's a classic analog dial with arrows, and you can pick your favorite one, you can pin it with your finger, you can drag it to a free desktop space, and then you can stretch it or compress it to make it more comfortable.
⚠️ Warning: When dragging and drop the widget, make sure there is enough free space on the desktop. If the cells are occupied with application icons, the system will automatically move them or prompt them to create a new page.
Standard widgets are good because they are deeply integrated into the system, they support Always On Display if it is activated on your device, and they automatically adapt to your chosen dark or light theme.
Size and display style setting
Once the widget is placed on the screen, the user may be faced with the need to change its appearance. Xiaomi standard settings allow you to modify some parameters without installing additional software, this is especially true for those who prefer clean interface.
To resize, just tap the widget and hold your finger until the context menu appears. Some firmware versions will have a Size Up button or special markers around the edges of the widget, and by pulling it, you can turn a small watch into a huge element that occupies half the screen, or vice versa, make it compact.
As for style, depending on the version of MIUI, clicking on the widget can open the time format setting menu, you can choose a 12- or 24-hour format, and also turn on or off the second hand display. Some widgets allow you to change the color of the numbers, choosing from the palette or using a pipette.
☑️ Checking the widget settings
If standard options aren't enough, you should pay attention to the system theme, changing the theme in the Themes app often changes the design of widgets, and this is the easiest way to radically change the appearance of the desktop without unnecessary manipulation.
Use of the “Clock” application for widgets
Poco X3 smartphones pre-installed the system app Watch, which serves not only as an alarm clock and timer, but also contains additional functionality for widget management that not all users know about.
Open the Watch app from all programs' menus. In the upper right corner, click on a three-dot menu or a gear settings. Here you can find an item related to widgets or display style. Often this is where the settings for large digital watches that are not available through the desktop menu are hidden.
The app also allows you to synchronize time with the Internet and adjust world time, and the widget associated with the app can show time in different cities at the same time, which is useful for those who often communicate with relatives or partners from other time zones.
The Secret Synchronization Function
Importantly, the widgets from the Watch app can take precedence over the system widgets. If you install both, they can conflict or overlap, and it is recommended that you choose one primary time source for the home screen.
Third-party customization applications
When the standard MIUI shell is scarce, third-party developers come to the rescue. Google Play offers thousands of apps that allow you to create a watch widget of any complexity, which can be neon numerals, animated movements or even a retro calculator-style watch.
One of the most popular solutions is HD Widgets or Overclock Widget, and once you install it, you'll see a new tab on your Poco X3 widget menu with the logo of the downloaded app, and you'll find tenfold designs.
The process of installing a third-party widget is similar to the system:
- 📲 Download the widget app from Google Play.
- 🔍 Open the widget menu on the desktop.
- 📥 Find a new app in the list and select a design.
- 🖱️ Drag the selected item to the screen and configure it through the menu that appears.
Third-party widgets often require additional permissions. When you first run, Android can request location access (to automatically change time zone) or permission to draw over other windows. This is normal behavior for functional widgets.
⚠️ Warning: Installing too many heavy widgets from third-party developers can lead to increased battery consumption and reduced interface performance.
Many widget apps support user skin downloads, and you can find archives of designs created by enthusiasts online and import them into the app, which gives you almost limitless possibilities for personalizing your Poco X3.
Comparison of widget formats
When choosing between different types of watches, it is important to understand their features. Not every format will work for any place on the desktop. Below is a table that helps you decide on the choice of your needs.
| Type of widget | Resource consumption | Informativeness | Recommended seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital minimalism | Low. | Only time. | Top of the screen |
| Analog (arrows) | Average. | Visual style | Center of the screen |
| Combined (date, weather) | High. | Maximum | Separate page |
| A second timer | Very high. | Right time. | Not recommended |
As you can see from the table, complex weather and date widgets require more CPU resources to keep the data up to date. If you want to maximize the autonomy of the Poco X3, you’d better choose a simple digital format.
Analog watches are often chosen by those who value aesthetics, and can be a central element of desktop design, especially if they are toned with wallpaper, but they are sometimes harder to read than digital.
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Tip: Use widgets with a transparent background so that they harmoniously fit into your wallpaper, without overlapping them completely.
Solving Widget Problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the widget disappears, does not update or is displayed incorrectly. Android and the MIUI shell have energy saving mechanisms that can aggressively "kill" widget processes to save power.
If the watch stops showing the current time, check the battery settings. Go to Settings → Battery → Energy Saving of Applications. Find the Watch or Widget app in the list and set the No Limits mode, which will prevent the system from stopping the time update process.
Another common problem is a failure after updating the firmware, in which case it helps to remove the problem widget and install it again, sometimes you need to clear the cache of the application responsible for displaying time.
To clean the cache, do the following:
- Press the icon of the Watch or Security app.
- Click About the appendix (I icon).
- Choose Memory or Warehouse.
- Click the Clear Cache button (not confuse it with “Clear Everything” so as not to reset alarm clocks).
⚠️ Note: When cleaning the data (not the cache) of the Clock application, all alarm clocks and timers you set may be deleted.
If the widget “flys” off the screen or gets distorted, try changing the screen resolution or font in the display settings. Some non-standard fonts can conflict with the widget code, causing graphic artifacts.
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The widgets are stable depending on the right energy-saving settings. Don't let the system put the watch app to sleep.