Personalizing a smartphone interface is not just a way to stand out, but also an opportunity to make it more convenient and informative. One of the most sought-after items that users are looking to put on the home screen is a digital or analog watch that allows you to instantly assess the current time without unlocking the device completely, saving time and battery life.
Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices running on MIUI shells or the new HyperOS often face the question of where to find a standard time widget or how to add more advanced versions with weather and calendar. The standard Android interface offers basic solutions, but the Xiaomi ecosystem provides advanced customization opportunities.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can install your clock on your desktop, from standard methods to third-party apps, and learn how to change the styles, sizes and transparency of widgets, turning your lock screen and homepage into a personalized information hub.
Standard time widgets in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi shells initially contain a rich set of widgets that do not require additional software installation. To access them, you need to perform a simple sequence of actions in the desktop management menu, which is the most reliable way to ensure stable operation and minimal energy consumption.
Press the empty desktop area and hold the touch for 1-2 seconds until the bottom menu appears. Select Widgets (or Add Widgets). In the list that opens, find the time section. There are a variety of options available, from simple digital indicators to complex compositions with date and weather.
⚠️ Warning: Some time widgets require an active internet connection to correctly display the weather and automatically sync the time zone. Make sure the Weather or Security app has the necessary permissions.
Pick your style and drag it to the free space of the screen. If the widget is variable in size, you can change its dimensions by pulling special markers along the edges of the frame. MIUI allows you to place widgets on top of the grid of icons, creating unique compositions.
Step-by-step instruction for adding a widget
The installation process may vary slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the firmware version, and the following is a general-purpose instruction that is relevant to most modern Xiaomi smartphones.
First, unlock the device and go to the main screen. Swipe right to the end to open the screen "-1" (Google Discover or Yandex), or just press the empty space on any desktop.
☑️ Pre-installing check
In the category list, find "Clock" or "Time." Click on the category to reveal the options available. Choose a design that suits your style, and click Add a widget or just drag the item to the screen. Once placed, the widget will automatically adjust to the current system time.
If you find the standard set of widgets too scarce, you can use the theme. Themes often contain their own sets of widgets that replace the standard ones. To do this, go to the Themes app, find the design you like and apply it by selecting the component customization option.
⚠️ Warning: When you change the theme, old widgets may disappear or change their appearance. Save screenshots of important settings before a global change in style.
Use of the “Clock” application for widgets
Xiaomi smartphones pre-installed the system app Watch, which manages alarm clocks, timers and stopwatches, but many users are unaware that this app allows you to access additional widgets specific to the functions of time.
Open the Watch app from all programs menus. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen to open the settings menu. In the drop-down list, select Settings widgets (if available in your version) or go to the theme store through the Online section.
World time widgets that show time in different cities at the same time are often available here, and this is useful for those who work with foreign partners or have relatives in other time zones, and these widgets allow you to add several cities and display them on a single screen.
Why does the widget show the wrong time?
For advanced users, a world time feature is available that integrates into the desktop. You can configure the display to 5-10 cities, especially on Xiaomi Pad tablets or large-screen smartphones, where the widget occupies a significant area.
Third-party customization applications
If standard MIUI tools aren’t enough, Google Play offers thousands of apps to create unique widgets, with KWGT Kustom Widget, Overdrop, and Transparent Clock & Weather leading the way.
KWGT allows you to create widgets from scratch or use presets. You can customize fonts, colors, background transparency and even add animations. It is a powerful tool for those who want to completely change the visual style of their Android smartphone.
| Annex | Type of widget | Difficulty setting up | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| KWGT Kustom | Anybody (theirs) | Tall. | Average. |
| Overdrop | Weather and time | Low. | Low. |
| Digital Clock Widget | Digital | Medium | Low. |
| HD Widgets | Combined | Medium | Average. |
When installing third-party widgets, it is important to consider optimizing them. Some heavy-duty widgets with live animations can cause increased battery consumption. Use widgets with a static background if maximum autonomy is a priority.
Setting up the time and date format
Once the widget is installed, users often want to change the time format (12 or 24 hours) or the language of the days of the week, which are not adjusted in the widget itself, but in the general settings of the system.
Go to Settings → Additional Settings → Date and Time. You can switch the time format to 24-hour, which is often necessary for correct display in widgets. Also, here you select the first day of the week, which affects the display of the calendar in composite widgets.
To change the language of the widget, you need to change the language of the system or a particular application. If you have Russian localization installed, but the widget shows English shortened days, try clearing the cache of the "Hours" or "Weather" application through the application management menu.
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To keep the time widget in sight, use the Immortal Widgets feature (if available in your version of MIUI) in your desktop settings so that the system doesn’t delete it when you optimize your memory.
Solution: Widget is gone or not updated
One of the common problems in the MIUI shell is an aggressive energy saving system that can kill widget processes, causing them to stop updating or disappear from the screen. If the watch is up or gone, check the autonomy settings.
Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. Find the app responsible for the widget (such as “Hours”, “Weather” or a third-party app). Go to Autorun and allow it, and in the Energy Saving section, select “No Limits” mode.
The problem may also be a crowded launcher cache. Try clearing the System Launcher cache. To do this, press the app icon (if visible) or find it in the application list, click About App and select Clear Cache.
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse "Clear Cache" with "Clean Everything" (Data Reset) Launcher data reset will return the icons and widgets to factory status, and you will have to reconfigure the desktop.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the clock widget show the time late?
Can the widget background be made transparent?
The time widget covers the application icons, what to do?
How do I add seconds to the watch widget?
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Properly configuring permissions and autoruns is the key to stable operation of time widgets on Xiaomi smartphones.