How to install a clock on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 desktop

Xiaomi Redmi 8 smartphones feature an Android operating system with a proprietary shell MIUI, which provides users with extensive customization of the interface. One of the most popular features is the placement of widgets on the home screen, allowing you to see the current time, date and other useful information without having to unlock the device, this is especially true for those who use the phone as a desktop clock in the office or bedroom.

The process of adding a time widget seems elementary, but there are nuances in the MIUI shell that can confuse the inexperienced user. For example, a standard widget may not display seconds or have too small a font that is not readable from a distance. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to install the watch, including hidden functions and third-party applications.

Standard time widgets in the shell of MIUI

The MIUI shell, which is installed on the Redmi 8 out of the box, offers several built-in time display options, optimized to work without unnecessary battery costs and ensure stable operation of the system.

To set a standard clock, you need to make a long tap (tap and hold) on the free desktop area. The system will go into editing mode, where a menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. You are interested in the Widget button, which will open the full list of available modules. In this list, you need to scroll down to the Watch section.

• ⏰ Digital watches: classic version with large digits, often combined with date.
• 🕰 Analog clock: Simulating a hand mechanism that can be useful for fast time reading by eye".
• 📅 Combined widget: displays time, date, day of the week and sometimes weather information in one block.

When you select the right option, click on it and hold your finger, then drag the widget to the desired location of the screen. Note that some widgets occupy a significant area, such as 4x2 or 4x1 cells. If the screen is occupied by application icons, the system will suggest moving them or will not allow the widget to be placed.

⚠️ Note: If the widget is not installed in the selected place, try to first free up space by moving the extra application icons to folders or other desktop pages.

You can resize the widget once you install it. You can tap the widget and hold your finger until the contextual action menu appears. You can select Change the size (if available for the widget you select). You can pull over the edges to zoom in or out of the display area. This allows you to tailor the watch to your home screen design.

Setting up the time and date format

Once the widget is installed, users often have to change the format of the time display. The default format in the CIS region is 24-hour, but it may get lost or require adjustments.

Open the Settings menu and find the Additional section or select Date and Time immediately. In some versions of MIUI, this item is in System and Device category. Here you can switch the 24-hour slider format. Here you can also set up automatic time synchronization over the network, which guarantees accuracy of the stroke.

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For maximum accuracy, always enable the “Use Network Time” option to keep the clock synchronized with the carrier.

It is important to note that changing the format in the system settings automatically updates the display on all widgets that support this feature. However, there are third-party widgets that have their own settings within the application. If the system change did not help, check the settings of the widget itself, if they are provided by the developer.

Remember, the region you see in your phone settings affects how the numbers are displayed in the date. For example, in the American format, the month is before the day, which can cause confusion. Make sure your country is selected in the Region.

Using the “Clock” application to create widgets

Xiaomi Redmi 8 preinstalled the system app Watch, which serves not only as an alarm clock and timer, but also as a source of widgets. This application is deeply integrated into the system and often offers more functional options for displaying time than standard system modules.

Run the Watch app from all programs menus. In the upper right corner or side menu (depending on the MIUI version), find the Settings button or the icon with four squares. This often hides additional options for widgets, including the choice of dial style.

• 🌍 World Time: allows you to add a time widget in another city, which is useful for communicating with relatives abroad.
• ⏱ On-screen stopwatch: a rare but useful feature for some users to output the time countdown to the desktop.
• 🔔 Alarm clock list: A widget showing the time of the next scheduled alarm clock.

Once you have set the right parameters inside the application, go back to the desktop and add the widget, as described in the first section. The Xiaomi Watch system application usually takes priority in the background processes, so such widgets are less likely to “fall asleep” and stop updating.

⚠️ Warning: If the widget has stopped showing the current time, check the energy saving settings for the Watch app and allow it to work in the background.

For advanced users, the Always On Display feature is available (if supported by the screen), but on the Redmi 8 model with the IPS-This feature is implemented software and can consume a lot of energy, so using a static widget on the desktop is a more rational solution.

Third-party applications for watch widgets

If standard MIUI features aren't enough, the Google Play store offers thousands of alternatives.Third-party developers create widgets with unique design, animation and additional features such as displaying moon phases, currency rates or day quotes.

Some of the most popular applications are HD Widgets, Overdrop and KWGT Kustom Widget Maker. Installing such widgets requires downloading the developer application itself. Once installed in the widget menu, a new category with the name of the application will appear.

When using third-party widgets, it is important to consider resource consumption. Complex graphics and constant animation can drain the Redmi 8 battery faster. It is recommended to choose widgets with a static image or a minimum refresh rate.

To install a widget from a third-party application, the procedure is similar to the standard: long-click on the desktop → Widgets → search for the application name → drag and drop on the screen. Once placed, the widget may require initial configuration through the running application.

Solving problems with widget display

Xiaomi users sometimes face a situation where the widget disappears, shows the wrong time or stops updating, often due to the aggressive energy saving policy of the MIUI system, which “kills” background processes to save charge.

To fix this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find an app that doesn’t work (like a Watch or a third-party widget). Go to Battery and select No Limits mode. This will prevent the system from stopping the widget update process.

• 🔄 Reboot: Often helps just to reboot your smartphone to reset interface cache errors.
• 🚫 Memory Cleanup: Do not use third-party “cleaners”; they can delete widget processes.
• 📱 Theme Update: If you’re using a third-party theme, try switching to standard, as the themes may conflict with widgets.

The problem can also be a problem in a device’s overflowing memory: If the internal memory is more than 90% occupied, the system may not work properly with the widgets, and make room by removing unnecessary files or applications.

In rare cases, resetting the widget helps. Remove the widget from the desktop, then click on the widget menu (if any) next to the widget name and select Reset. After that, add the widget again.

Optimizing the desktop for convenience

Installing a clock is just the first step, and for maximum convenience, it is recommended to organize the space around the widget correctly. The time widget often becomes the central element of the desktop design, so it is worth placing the most commonly used applications around it.

Use folders to group apps into categories (Social Networks, Tools, Games) to keep the screen from cluttering. This will make room for a larger watch widget that will be more informative. On Redmi 8, the screen resolution allows you to comfortably place the 4x2 widget at the top of the screen.