How to set the clock on the main screen Xiaomi Redmi 8: a step-by-step guide with photos

The Xiaomi Redmi 8 home screen watch widget is not just a design element, but a useful tool for quickly controlling time without unlocking your phone. Many users have difficulty adding this widget: it takes a long time to press, the widget disappears after rebooting, the size does not fit the wallpaper. In this article, we will examine all possible installation methods, from the standard method to the workarounds for custom firmware.

The peculiarity of Redmi 8 (codenamed olive) is that it runs on MIUI with the POCO Launcher shell in some regional versions, which affects the layout of options on the menu and the available widget styles, and we took all the nuances into account and prepared instructions that work on any version of MIUI, from global MIUI 11 to the latest MIUI 14.

If you tried to add a watch through a long tap on the screen, but it didn't work out, don't be quick to blame the phone. You may have missed a hidden setting in the Themes menu that blocks the addition of widgets. Or your launcher was modified by a third-party app. There are solutions in the article for all of these cases.

1. Standard method: Add widgets through the menu

This is the most obvious method, which works on 90% of Xiaomi devices, but even here there are pitfalls — for example, on some firmware, the option is hidden behind an additional swipe.

1. Unlock your phone and go to the main screen (not in the app menu!).
2. Make a long tap on any free screen spot (not on the icon!). Hold your finger until the menu appears.
3. At the bottom of the screen, select Widgets (some versions of MIUI call it Widgets).
4. Scroll down to the Watch (or Clock) section, and there are options: Analog, Digital, Minimalist.
5. Click on your favorite style and, without letting go, drag it to a free space on the screen.

If you don't have a watch on your widget list, it's not a phone bug. You probably have com.android.deskclock disabled. You can read the problem-solving section on how to return it.

Make sure there is free space on the screen (the widget will not stand over the icons)

Check if the "Light Mode" mode is enabled in the special features settings

Update MIUI to the latest version (in older versions of bugs with disappearing widgets)

Restart your phone if the widgets don’t appear in the list-->

Design tip: Redmi 8 looks better analog watches with transparent backgrounds — they don't conflict with wallpaper. Digital widgets are good read only on dark topics.

2. Alternative method: through the settings of topics

If the standard method didn’t work, try adding a watch through the Topics menu, which is especially relevant for users who have custom theme installed:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the My (or Profile) section.
3. Slap the icon. ⚙️ Settings in upper right corner.
4. Select the lock screen and desktop settings.
5. Scroll down to the Desktop Widgets section and turn on the switch opposite the Watch.

After that, the watch widget should appear in the general list of widgets. If it is not there, try changing the theme to the standard one (Default) and try again.

3.Using third-party widgets from Google Play

If the system clock doesn't suit you (few styles, uncomfortable size), you can install an alternative widget from the app store.

• 🔹 Chronus is a customizable watch with weather and notifications. There's a free version.
• 🔹 Digital Clock Widget – Minimalist digital watch with font setting.
• 🔹 Transparent Clock & Weather – Analog watch with transparent background, ideal for wallpaper.
• 🔹 KWGT Kustom Widget Maker – for advanced users, allows you to create unique designs.

How to install a third-party widget:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. After installation, make a long press on the main screen → Widgets.
3. Find the name of the installed application (for example, Chronus Widget).
4. Drag the widget onto the screen and adjust its size (stretch the corners if needed).

Analog (with arrows)

Digital (electronic)

Minimalist (only time without frame)

With the weather and the date.

Another option-->

Important: Some widgets require additional permissions (such as access to a location to display the weather) Do not refuse permission, otherwise the widget will not work correctly.

4. Customization of appearance and location

Once you add a widget, you can customize it, and the options depend on the type of watch.

To resize the widget:

1. Press and hold the watch widget.
2. Release your finger when a frame with dots on the corners appears.
3. Drag corners to enlarge or shrink the widget.
4. Click Ready (or Outside the Widget) to save the changes.

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If the widget doesn't stretch, try moving it to another location on the screen first, and sometimes MIUI blocks the resizing due to the icons being placed close.

5. Solving problems with widget display

If the watch doesn’t appear on the screen or disappears after a reboot, use these tips:

• ⚠️ No widget added: check if the system app Watch (com.android.deskclock) is disabled in the application settings. If so, turn it back on.
• ⚠️ Watch disappears after reboot: clear launcher cache (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• ⚠️ Widget does not update time: check if time synchronization is enabled in Settings → System system → Date and time → Autodetermination.
• ⚠️ There is no option for "Widgets" with a long press: you probably have a third-party launcher installed (for example, Nova Launcher). MIUI.

If the problem persists, try resetting the launcher settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the launcher (or MIUI Launcher).
3. Select Warehouse. → Reset the settings.
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

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Before resetting the launcher, take a screenshot of the location of the icons - after resetting, they will return to the standard position.

6. Additional chips: clock on the lock screen

In addition to the home screen, Redmi 8 can also set the time display on the lock screen, which is convenient if you check the time often without unlocking your phone:

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Choose the watch style.
3. Scroll through the list and select your favorite design (there are 5-7 options available depending on the version of MIUI).
4. Turn on the option to show seconds if necessary.

You can also add a weather widget or a music player to the lock screen.

1. Swipe your finger to the right on the lock screen.
2. Press + Add a widget.
3. Choose the Hours or the Weather.

Note: on some firmware, widgets on the lock screen are only displayed after installation PIN-code-key.

7. Special cases: custom firmware and root access

If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS, Pixel Experience), the process of adding widgets may be different.

• 🔧 Nana AOSP-firmware (no firmware) MIUI) The watch widget is added after a long press. → Widgets → Clock.
• 🔧 If the widget is missing, install Google Clock from the Play Market – it contains a built-in widget.
• 🔧 On root access firmware, you can change the system clock via Substratum or LSPosed.

For users with root rights, there is an advanced way of customization:

1. Install the "MiuiClock" module for Magisk


2.Reboot the phone




3.In the settings of the watch, the "Themes" section with additional styles will appear

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Before installing Magisk modules, backup the system via TWRP to help restore the phone in case of an error.

Frequent questions