How to set a watch on the main screen of the phone Xiaomi Redmi: all working methods

Have you just purchased a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone and want to personalize the main screen by adding a convenient watch widget to it? Did you switch from iOS to Android and can’t find the usual functionality? In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to install a watch on the Redmi desktop – from standard MIUI widgets to third-party applications with advanced settings.

The procedure may vary depending on the shell version (MIUI 12/13/14) and the phone model (for example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has different options than the Redmi A2). We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will suit even budget devices of the Redmi series.

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

Unlike iPhones or Samsung smartphones, where the watch is often displayed at the top of the lock screen or on the desktop, Xiaomi's MIUI shell initially hides this element.

• 📱 Minimalist design: MIUI strives for a “clean” desktop, offering the user to customize widgets independently.
• 🔄 Setting flexibility: Instead of fixed hours, you can choose from 10+ standard widgets (weather, calendar, pedometer).
• ⚡ Resource savings: disabling unnecessary widgets reduces processor load and prolongs battery life.
• 🎨 Personalization: Xiaomi bets on themes and design styles where watches can be part of the overall design.

It is interesting that on some models (for example, Redmi). K50) The default watch is only displayed on the lock screen, not on the desktop. MIUI, Where priority is given to Always-on Display (AOD) for devices AMOLED-screen.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Redmi with the version MIUI below 12.5, some widgets may not be available. Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

Method 1: Adding a standard MIUI watch widget

The easiest method is to use a built-in widget from Xiaomi, which supports multiple styles (analog, digital, date) and automatically syncs with system time.

1. Click and hold the empty space on the home screen (not on the icon!).
2. At the bottom of the screen will appear a panel – select Widgets.
3. Scroll through the list to the Watch section (or Clock in English firmware).
4. Select your favorite style (like a 4×2) Analog watch and drag it to the screen.

If the Clock section is not available:

• 🔍 Check if the widget is hidden in the settings: Settings → Main screen screen → Widgets → Show it all.
• 📥 Install an update for the Watch app via Google Play.
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes widgets don’t show up because of a crash MIUI Launcher.

Make sure there is free space on the screen (the widget takes up 2×2 or 4×2 cells)

Check out the MIUI version (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version)

Turn off the power saving mode (can block widgets)

Update the Watch app on Google Play-->

The standard widget supports:

⚠️ Attention: Redmi with MIUI Watch widgets 14 and above may conflict with Google Assistant widget. If the watch disappears after a reboot, turn off auto-update widgets in Google settings.

Method 2: Use Always-on Display (AOD) to display time permanently

If your Redmi is equipped AMOLED-screen (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+, Redmi K60), You can activate Always-on Display, which will show the time even on a locked screen, and it won't replace the desktop widget, but it will eliminate the need to unlock the phone.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Always-on Display.
2. Select the display style (e.g. Digital Watch or Analog + Date).
3. Set up a schedule (constantly or at certain times).
4. Activate the option to Show at notifications, if necessary.

Advantages of AOD:

• ⚡ Minimum battery consumption (about) 1-2% hourly AMOLED).
• 🔒 It works on a locked screen.
• 🎨 Support for animated themes (e.g. Starry Sky or Gradient).

Limitations:

• 🚫 Doesn't work with Redmi. IPS-screens (e.g. Redmi) 10A, Redmi 9C).
• 🔋 It can reduce the time of autonomous operation on 5-10% continuous.
• 📱 Does not support third-party styles (only embedded themes) MIUI).

AMOLED (Always-on Display supported)

IPS (AOD not available)

I don't know how to check.

Another type-->

Method 3: Installation of watches through Google Widgets

If standard MIUI widgets don’t suit you, you can use Google Widgets (formerly called At a Glance) that offer a more modern design and integration with Google services (weather, calendar, reminders).

Instructions:

1. Hold your finger in the free place of the main screen → Widgets.
2. Find the Google (or Google App) section.
3. Select the At a Glance widget (usually 2×2 or 4×1).
4. Drag it to the screen and confirm the addition.

Features of Google Widgets:

• 🌤️ Shows the weather (data from Google Weather).
• 📅 Displays upcoming events from the calendar.
• 🔍 Integrated with Google Assistant (voice commands).
• 🎨 Automatically adjusts to a dark/light theme.

If the widget is not displayed:

• 📥 Update Google App to Play Market.
• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Google and clear the cache.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (Google widgets can conflict with system services. If the widget starts to overheat or discharge quickly after adding it, remove it and use alternative methods.

Method 4: Third-party applications for customizing watches

If embedded solutions don’t suit you, consider third-party apps that offer hundreds of styles, animations, Always-on Display support, and even interactive elements (like AccuWeather weather forecasts).

Top.-5 supplant:

How to install a third-party widget:

1. Download and install the app from the Play Market.
2. Open it and choose your favorite watch style.
3. Return to the main screen, hold your finger in a free place → Widgets.
4. Find the widget of the installed application (e.g., Chronus 4×2) and add it to the screen.

💡

Before installing third-party widgets, check the reviews in the Play Market - some applications may contain aggressive advertising or collect location data.

Important: On Redmi with MIUI 14 and above, some third-party widgets require additional permissions to display the weather. To provide them, go to Settings → Apps → Permissions Management → [App Name] and activate access to Location and Calendar.

Method 5: Watch on the lock screen (without unlocking)

If you need to see time without unlocking your phone, but Always-on Display is not available (e.g. on Redmi). 9T s IPS-screen), you can configure the display of the clock on the lock screen.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select the Lock screen style.
3. Scroll through the options and choose one where the watch is displayed large (like Digital Watch or Analog + Weather).
4. Activate the option to Show at notifications, if necessary.

Additional settings:

• 🔍 Enable the Waking Up (Settings) → Lock screen → Rise to wake up, so that the clock appears when the phone is raised.
• 📱 Set up a double touch to wake up (Settings) → Screen. → Double touch).
• 🎨 Change the font and color of the watch through Settings → Topics → Fonts.

Limitations:

• 🚫 The clock on the lock screen is not updated in real time (updated when the screen wakes up).
• 🔋 Can slightly increase battery consumption 1-3% nightly).

Problem Solving: The clock is gone or not updated

Sometimes the added clock disappears after the reboot or does not show the actual time. Let's consider the typical causes and ways to eliminate them.

Problem 1: The Widget of the Watch Disappeared After the MIUI Update

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📥 Update the Watch app in Play Market.
• 🔧 Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.

Problem 2: The clock is not updated (frozen)

• 🕒 Check the time settings: Settings → Additionally. → Date and time → Autodetermining date and time.
• 📡 Enable autosynchronization in Google account settings.
• 🔋 Turn off the power saving mode for the Watch app.

Problem 3: No widget added (gray)

• 📱 Check if the child mode or Focus Mode is on.
• 🔒 Make sure there is free space on the screen (the widget does not fit over the icons).
• 🛠️ Reset the launcher settings (see above).

💡

If none of these methods worked, try installing an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher) that supports more widgets and conflicts with MIUI less often.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions