Xiaomi’s MIUI-enclosed smartphones offer a wide range of personalization options, allowing you to turn a standard desktop into an informative control panel. One of the most popular features is installing a watch widget that not only shows the current time, but can display the date, weather, phases of the moon or even serve as a stylish design element. Many users mistakenly believe that adding such elements requires third-party applications or complex manipulation of root rights, but the regular functionality of the system allows you to do this in a few touches.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to install a watch on the home screen, from basic widgets to advanced time format settings. You will learn how to change the look of the dial, why standard widgets can disappear after an update, and what alternative solutions exist for older device models. Proper desktop settings improve the usability of the gadget in everyday life.
Basic installation of the watch widget through the widget menu
The easiest and most obvious way to add a watch to the screen is to use the built-in menu of MIUI shell widgets. To do this, you need to unlock your smartphone and go to any icon-free section of the desktop. Perform a long press on the empty area until the additional actions bar appears at the bottom of the screen. In the menu that appears, you should select the Widgets (or Widgets), which is usually located in the lower left corner.
When you open the widget library, you'll see a list of all the system elements available. Scroll through the list to find the Watch category. Depending on the firmware version and the theme, you can see 5 to 15 different dials, from minimalist hand dials to large digital ones with a second hand. Choose your favorite design and drag it to the free desktop space.
☑️ Checking before installing the widget
It's worth noting that some widgets require mesh size confirmation. If the selected item doesn't fit into the current configuration, the system will prompt you to free up space or automatically shift adjacent icons. Once placed, the widget can be moved around the screen or resized if a particular watch model supports this feature, allowing you to flexibly customize the interface to your preferences.
Setting up the format of time and appearance
After installing the widget, users often face the need to change the format of the display of time, for example, switch from 12-hour to 24-hour format or change the font. To edit the parameters of the widget, you need to again use a long press on the already installed clock. In the context menu, select the option to Change or click on the gear icon if it is displayed directly on the widget.
In the settings menu that opens, you can activate or deactivate the display of seconds, change the color of the dial, or choose a different font style if the MIUI theme allows it. It is important to understand that the global time format (24h or 12h) often depends on the system settings of the region and language. To change this, go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time and select the desired format.
⚠️ Warning: Some third-party themes downloaded through the Themes app may force you to change the style of your system widgets, ignoring your settings. If the watch widget looks incorrect, try temporarily switching to the standard Classic theme.
For minimalist widgets, there are widgets that hide seconds or dates, leaving only the clock, and this is especially true for owners of devices with AMOLED screens, since the black elements on these widgets actually consume less power, albeit slightly. Experiment with different styles to find a balance between functionality and aesthetics.
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Use the watch widgets with a black background on AMOLED-Minimum but noticeable reduction in power consumption in Always On Display.
Use of the Security application and system services
In the Xiaomi ecosystem, many system functions are handled by the Security app, which also manages memory optimization and cache cleaning. Sometimes standard widgets may disappear or stop updating due to aggressive energy saving policies. To make sure that the watch widget is working correctly, you need to check its status in system services.
Go to the widget settings (long tap → Settings) and make sure it has permission to autorun or run in the background if this option is available in your Android version. Also, you can perform memory optimization in the Security app, which sometimes helps to “revive” the hanging widgets.
If the watch widget stops showing current time or stops syncing with the network, try removing it from the desktop and adding it again. Often this solves problems with desynchronization. Also check if automatic time synchronization over the network is enabled in the main settings of the system.
| Parameter | Standard widget | Third-party annex | Widget from Tham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stability of work | Tall. | Depends on the developer. | Medium |
| Battery consumption | Minimum | Often elevated | Medium. |
| Design variability | Limited to theme. | Very high. | Depends on the author. |
| Integration with the system | Complete. | Partial | Complete. |
Alternative widgets from the MIUI theme store
If the standard set of watches provided by the system seems boring or repetitive, the MIUI theme store offers thousands of widget options from independent designers. To access them, open the Themes app on your smartphone. In the search bar, type in the query "Hours" or "Clock Widgets".
Unlike standard widgets, theme watches often have complex animations, unique digit designs, and additional features such as displaying steps or battery power of Bluetooth headphones. Once the theme is loaded, you can only apply widgets without completely changing the system design. To do this, go to the user profile (human icon) → My themes → Select theme → Click Apply → Select Only widgets.
⚠️ Note: Third-party widgets may consume more CPU resources due to complex animations. If you notice accelerated battery drain after installing a new widget, go back to the standard version.
Some themes contain widget packs that don't show up in the general list until the theme itself is activated. So if you found a beautiful set of watches, be prepared that it can change icons and wallpaper. Always check screenshots and reviews from other users before downloading to make sure it's compatible with your version of Android.
Install widgets through Google Play and third-party apps
For those who don’t have MIUI capabilities, Google Play offers a variety of customized watch widget applications, popular solutions such as HD Widgets, Overdrop or Transparent Clock & Weather, which allow you to create widgets with a transparent background that fit perfectly into any wallpaper.
The process of installing a third-party widget is similar to the system: after installing the application from the store, go to the menu of desktop widgets (long press on the screen). In the list you will find widgets of the newly installed application. Drag them on the screen and follow the instructions for initial configuration inside the widget itself.
Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Widget Name] → Permissions → Geolocation (include)Without geolocation, they won’t be able to update climate data, and widgets like these can be excluded from manual battery optimization to prevent the system from killing their process in the background.