How to set a clock on the Xiaomi Redmi desktop 7A: 3 working methods

Xiaomi Redmi 7A It is still a popular budget smartphone due to its reliability and simple shell. MIUI. However, many users have difficulty adding a watch widget to the home screen โ€” standard methods donโ€™t always work because of the firmware. In this article, weโ€™ll discuss all the current methods of installing the watch, including hidden settings and bypassing system constraints.

It is important to understand that Redmi 7A There's no classic widget menu with factory firmware like the new Xiaomi models. MIUI 10/11 (Depending on the region, where widget functionality is severely curtailed, but that doesn't mean it's impossible: we'll show you how to get around the limitations with built-in tools and third-party apps.

Why on Redmi? 7A There are no default clock widgets?

Xiaomi Redmi Smartphone 7A It's a lightweight version of the Android Go Edition, a low-power operating system that often removes "extra" features to save resources:

  • โŒ There is no standard menu of widgets with a long press on the screen
  • โŒ There is no built-in picker widget in theme settings
  • โŒ Limited choice of animations and watch styles in system applications

Besides, on Redmi. 7A run-off MIUI (maximum โ€” MIUI 12.5 manually updated, where widgets are implemented through a separate MiuiHome app.If your firmware hasn't been updated since you bought it, you probably have a new one. MIUI 10 with even more curtailed capabilities.

โš ๏ธ Note: Some of the firmware for Redmi 7A (Especially custom widgets may not work properly after resetting. MIUI In Settings โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Version. MIUI.

Despite the limitations, there are three reliable ways to add a watch to the home screen:

๐Ÿ“Š What type of clock you prefer?
Standard MIUI widgets
Party of annex
Labels with time
I don't know, I'll pick it after reading it.

Method 1: Standard widget MIUI (if available)

On some versions of the firmware for Redmi 7A The watch widget is still present, but it's hidden in a non-obvious place to find it:

  1. Click on the empty space on the home screen (not in the app menu!).
  2. At the bottom of the screen, a panel with options will appear. Select Widgets (if there is no such item, go to method 2).
  3. Scroll down to the Watch or Tools section.
  4. Drag your favorite widget on the screen.

If the watch widget is not listed, try updating the Themes app:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Open Play Market โ†’ My apps. โ†’ Update everything.
  • ๐ŸŽจ Get into Themes. โ†’ Profile โ†’ Settings โ†’ Update.
  • ๐Ÿ” After the update, restart the phone and re-search the widget.
MIUI versionIs the watch widget available?Is an update required?
MIUI 10 (factory)โŒ No.Yeah, before. MIUI 11+
MIUI 11โš ๏ธ Partially (depending on the region)Preferably until MIUI 12
MIUI 12/12.5โœ… Yes.No.
Castom firmware (LineageOS, etc.)โœ… Yes (via Nova Launcher)No.

โš ๏ธ Attention: On firmware MIUI 10 for Redmi 7A Trying to install the widget through a standard menu can cause the launcher to freeze. If the screen stops responding to touch, restart the phone with the power button.

Check the MIUI version in the settings

Update the Themes app through Play Market

Clear the launcher cache in Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ MiuiHome โ†’ Warehouse

Restart your phone before installing it.-->

Method 2: Installation via the "Clock" application (hidden function)

Few people know, but in the standard app Watch on Redmi 7A There's a hidden option to add a shortcut to the home screen, and this method works even on the home screen. MIUI 10:

  1. Open the Clock app (icon with dial).
  2. Go to the Alarm or World Time tab.
  3. Press on. โ‹ฎ (three points) in upper right corner.
  4. Select Add to the main screen (if no item, see Method 3).
  5. Confirm the label's creation.

This shortcut will show the current time and provide quick access to alarms, and the downside is that you can't change the size or style of the display, but it doesn't require root rights and it works on any firmware.

If there is no Add to the main screen, try an alternative path:

Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management โ†’ Watches โ†’ Additional โ†’ Create a shortcut

On some firmware, this shortcut will look like a standard app icon, but when clicked, the watchโ€™s interface with the current time will open.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the watch shortcut does not automatically update the time, check the sync settings in Settings. โ†’ Additionally. โ†’ Date and time โ†’ Autodetermining. Turn off and turn on the option again.

Method 3: Third-party widgets (most universal method)

If the standard solutions don't work, you have to use third-party widgets. 7A fit:

  • โฐ Digital Clock Widget โ€“ Minimalistic digital watch with color and size settings.
  • ๐ŸŒ“ Chronus โ€“ weather, calendar and time widget (requires) MIUI 11+).
  • โš™๏ธ UCCW โ€” widget builder for advanced users.
  • ๐ŸŽจ KWGT Kustom Widget Maker โ€“ Full customization, but difficult to set up.

Installation instructions:

  1. Download the selected application from the Play Market.
  2. Long press on the main screen โ†’ Widgets.
  3. Find the widget of the installed application (for example, Digital Clock) 4x2).
  4. Drag it on the screen and adjust the look.

For Redmi. 7A on MIUI 10 may require additional steps:

Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management โ†’ [Widget Name] โ†’ Allow display over other windows

โš ๏ธ Attention: When in use KWGT or UCCW on a weak Redmi processor 7A (Qualcomm Snapdragon 439) may slow down when updating the widget. Turn off animations in the widget maker settings.

AnnexSize (MB)Support for MIUI 10Energy consumption
Digital Clock Widget3.2โœ… Yes.Low.
Chronus12.5โš ๏ธ Partially.Average.
UCCW8.1โœ… Yes.High.
KWGT15.3โœ… Yes.Very high.
How to speed up the work of widgets on Redmi 7A?
1. Disable background sync for unnecessary applications in Settings โ†’ Battery โ†’ Power management. 2. Set the widget refresh interval no more than 1 time every 30 minutes. 3. Use "Light Mode" in the developer settings (Settings) โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Version. MIUI โ†’ 7 times press โ†’ Developer mode โ†’ Light animations). 4. Clear the launcher cache once a week through Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ MiuiHome โ†’ Warehouse.

Problem Solving: The watch is not displayed or updated

If the watch widget doesnโ€™t show the time after installation or disappears after a reboot, check the following points:

1.The widget disappears after the reboot

It's a typical problem. MIUI 10/11 on the Redmi 7A. Decision:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Reinstall the widget after restarting.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Install an alternative launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Disable Battery Optimization for the Widget App in Settings โ†’ Battery. โ†’ Optimization.

2.The clock shows the wrong time

Time synchronization error is often associated with:

  • โฑ๏ธ Incorrect time zone (check in Settings) โ†’ Additionally. โ†’ Date and time).
  • ๐ŸŒ Disabled Autodetermination option (turn it on and restart the phone).
  • ๐Ÿ“ก Internet problems (widgets often take time from Google servers).

3.The widget does not respond to pressing

If the watch on the screen does not open the app when taping:

  • ๐Ÿ”ง Recreate the widget (remove and add again).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฒ Check the permissions for the widget app in Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Permits.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Update the launcher through Play Market.

To diagnose the problem, run the developer mode and check the logs:

Settings โ†’ About Phone โ†’ MIUI Version (click 7 times) โ†’ For developers โ†’ Error Log

Additional chips: animation and style of the watch

Even the Redmi. 7A Time display can be customized using hidden functions and third-party tools.

1. Change in the style of the standard watch

If you managed to add a widget through the app "Clock", its appearance can be slightly changed:

  • ๐ŸŽจ Open Topics โ†’ Mine. โ†’ Local and choose a theme with an alternative watch.
  • ๐Ÿ”ง In some firmware options available for setting hours โ†’ Display style.
  • ๐Ÿ–Œ๏ธ Use icon packs (like Pixel Icon Pack) that change the design of system widgets.

2 Animated watches (only for the purpose of MIUI 12+)

On the firmware MIUI 12 and later you can install dynamic widgets:

  1. Upgrade your phone to the latest version of MIUI.
  2. Download the theme with animation from the theme โ†’ Online (see the tag "live hours").
  3. Apply the theme and add a widget to the screen.

For Redmi. 7A s MIUI 10/11 Animation can only be added through KWGT, But it's a lot of CPU workload:

$#SC#=1000?uc(anim,alpha,0,1,500):0$

3.The clock on the lock screen

If you donโ€™t need a widget on the home screen, but you want to see the time on the lock screen:

  • ๐Ÿ”’ Go to Settings. โ†’ Lock screen โ†’ Clock style.
  • ๐ŸŽจ Choose one of the 5 preset styles.
  • โš™๏ธ Enable the option to Show seconds (if you need high accuracy).

On the Redmi. 7A Also available is Always-on Display (AOD), But only after installing a custom core (e.g., FrancoKernel), without root rights, this feature is not available.

๐Ÿ’ก

To the clock on the lock screen does not eat the charge, reduce the backlight time: โ†’ Lock screen โ†’ Illumination on notification โ†’ 5 seconds.

Alternative solutions: If nothing works

If all of the above methods fail, radical measures remain:

1. Installation of a custom launcher

Launchers like Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher supports widgets even on MIUI 10:

  1. Download the launcher from Play Market.
  2. Set it as the default launcher (a suggestion will appear at the first start).
  3. Long press on the screen. โ†’ Widgets โ†’ Choose any watch widget.

Cons: Some Xiaomi system widgets may not work in third-party launchers.

2. Use of clock wallpaper

If the widget is not installed in principle, you can use dynamic wallpaper:

  • ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Download Wallpaper Clock or Live Wallpaper: Clock.
  • ๐ŸŽจ Set the wallpaper with a time display.
  • โš™๏ธ Set the position and style of the watch in the wallpaper parameters.

This method does not require widgets, but the time will only be updated when the screen is unlocked.

3.Time command shortcut

For tech-savvy users, thereโ€™s a way to create a shortcut that shows the time through Google Assistant:

  1. Long press on the screen. โ†’ Labels โ†’ Google.
  2. Select Team Assistant.
  3. Enter the text: What time is it?
  4. Save the label on the main screen.

When you click on the label, the Assistant will give you the current time, minus the time you need to connect to the Internet.

๐Ÿ’ก

On the Redmi. 7A s MIUI 10 The most stable way to display time is a shortcut from the Watch app. Third-party widgets can brake due to weak iron, and custom launchers eat the extra battery.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install a clock on my desktop without the internet?
Yes, but with limitations: Standard widget MIUI (If available, it works without the Internet. The shortcut from the Watch app doesn't require connection either. Third-party widgets (e.g. Digital Clock Widget) only need the Internet for the first installation. To synchronize time without the Internet, turn on Settings โ†’ Additionally. โ†’ Date and time โ†’ Use network time and manually select time zone.
Why does the watch widget eat up the battery?
Widgets update data in the background, which consumes energy. To reduce consumption: Open Settings โ†’ Battery โ†’ Power management. Find an app with widgets and select Limit background activity. Set the widget refresh interval no more often. 1 once an hour (in widget settings). 7A battery-powered 4000 The watch widget consumes the watch ~1-2% day-time.
How to return a standard watch after installing a custom launcher?
If you have installed Nova Launcher or another launcher but want to return to the standard interface: Go to Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Default. Press Launcher by default. Select MiuiHome. Reboot your phone. If the widgets are gone after that, clear the launcher's cache: Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ MiuiHome โ†’ Warehouse โ†’ Clear the cache.
Can the clock be made transparent?
Yes, but only through third-party apps: KWGT โ€” allows you to adjust the transparency of the background and text. UCCW โ€” It supports translucent elements. MIUI โ€” Some topics from the Topics section โ†’ Online has a transparent watch. For a standard widget. MIUI Transparency cannot be changed.
Does this work for Redmi? 8A or other models?
Partially, on the Redmi. 8A/9A and newer watch widgets are available by default in MIUI 12+. However, on Redmi 8A (MIUI 11) You may need to update before MIUI 12. On the Redmi. 9A/10A The widgets are out of the box. POCO M2 and other models with POCO Launcher widgets are added through long-pressed screen.Such as third-party widgets (KWGT, Digital Clock works on all Xiaomi models.