How to put a watch on the desktop of the smartphone Xiaomi: all the ways

You want to keep your time in sight, but don’t know how to add a watch to Xiaomi’s home screen?This guide will help you understand everything from the basic installation of a standard widget to fine-tuning the design and solving typical problems. We will look at current methods for MIUI 12, 13 and 14, as well as features for popular models like the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi 13.

Unlike many Android smartphones, where watch widgets are often hidden in the depths of the menu, the MIUI wrapper makes it as easy as possible — but only if you know where to look. You'll be surprised at how flexible the settings can be, from minimalistic digital watches to animated analogue weather dials. And if the standard options don't work, we'll show you how to install third-party widgets through Google Play or even create a unique design using apps like KWGT.

Important: the procedure may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and regional build of MIUI. If your smartphone is running on HyperOS (the new shell for flagships in 2026), some menu items will be called differently - we will note these points separately.

Method 1: Standard watch widget in MIUI

The easiest method is to use the built-in widget from Xiaomi, which is available on all devices with MIUI 12+ and does not require the installation of additional applications.

1. Touch any free space on your desktop and hold for 1-2 seconds until the settings menu appears.
2. At the bottom of the screen, select "Widgets"** (or Widgets in English).

Once added, the widget automatically syncs to system time. To change its size or location, hold your finger again on the widget and select Change Size (if the option is supported for this style).

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If the watch widget does not appear in the list, check if the Watch system application (com.android.deskclock) is disabled in the application settings.

Method 2: Google Widgets (for MIUI Global)

If your Xiaomi runs a global version of MIUI (not Chinese), you have access to Google widgets, which are more versatile and offer additional features, such as integration with Google Calendar:

1. Keep your finger on the desktop. → Widgets.
2. Scroll through the list to the Google section (usually at the bottom).
3. Select the At a Glance widget, which shows the time, date, weather and upcoming events from the calendar.

The advantage of this method is automatic synchronization with your Google account, for example, if you have a scheduled meeting on Google Calendar, the widget will show a reminder 10 minutes before the event, but note that this does not work on the Chinese versions of MIUI (without Google services).

Method 3: Third-Party Widgets from Google Play

If you don't like standard widgets, there are hundreds of alternatives to Google Play, and we recommend the following proven apps:

• 🌌 Transparent Clock & Weather – Transparent widgets, ideal for wallpaper with abstract design.

To install a third-party widget:

1. Download the app from Google Play (like KWGT).
2. Open it and select your favorite watch pattern.
3. Return to desktop, hold your finger → Widgets → find the widget of the installed application (for example, KWGT 4×2).
4. Drag it to the screen and set it up according to the application instructions.

Note that some widgets (like KWGT) require a premium version to unlock all features, and they can drain the battery faster if they use animations or update data frequently (like weather).

Customization of the appearance of the clock

Regardless of the widget you choose, you can change the widget's appearance. Here are the basic options that are usually available:

To change the time format (12- or 24-hour) for all widgets, go to: Settings → Additional → Date and time → Time format.

For fine-tuning third-party widgets (e.g. in KWGT):

1. Touch the widget on the desktop.
2. Select Edit (Edit)
3. In the designer, change the fonts, colors, add additional elements (battery, weather, etc.).
4. Save the changes.

Make sure there is enough free space on the phone.|Check out the Android version (some widgets require 10).+)|Turn off battery optimization for the widget app|Download the theme in advance (if you plan to use custom design)-->

Solving problems with displaying the clock

Sometimes the watch widget may disappear, not update, or show the wrong time, and here are the most common problems and solutions.

• ❌ The widget disappeared after the reboot: Reason: system failure or conflict with the battery optimizer. Solution: restart the phone, then add the widget again. If the problem recurs, disable optimization for the Watch app in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
• ⏰ Time on the widget is not updated: Check if automatic time synchronization is enabled in Settings → Additionally. → Date and time: If you use a third-party widget, update it manually (touch the widget). → Update).
• 🔄 The widget is frozen and does not respond to clicks: Remove the widget from the screen and add it again. If the problem persists, clear the cache of the Watch app in Settings → Annexes → Application management → The clock → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 📱 No option to resize the widget: Some widgets (especially system ones) are fixed size.Try a different style or third-party app.

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If the widgets stopped working after the MIUI update, reset your desktop settings: hold your finger on the screen → Desktop settings → Reset. This will return the standard configuration without losing data.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14), the path to widgets may be different.Look for them in the Additional section or Tools when adding to the desktop.

Additional chips: the clock on the lock screen

In addition to the desktop, you can add a clock to the lock screen. In MIUI, it's done like this:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select the Lock screen style.
3. Scroll through the options and select one where the watch is displayed large (e.g. Digital or Analog).
4. Press Apply.

Some models (such as the POCO F5) have dynamic wallpapers with clocks that change color depending on the time of day.

1. Hold your finger on the lock screen → Wallpaper.
2. Select Dynamic or Super Wallpapers.
3. Find a theme with a clock (like Earth or Mars).

If you don’t like the standard clock font on lock, you can change it with MIUI themes:

1. Open the Topic app.
2. Find a theme marked Font or Lockscreen.
3. Apply it, it will change the style of the watch and other elements.

Comparison of methods: which way to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have collected the key pros and cons of each method in one table:

If you’re not sure which method to choose, start with the standard MIUI widget. If it’s not enough, try the Google widget (if it’s available on your firmware). Third-party solutions like KWGT are perfect for maximum customization, but be prepared to take the time to set up.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the watch on Xiaomi