Personalizing the Android interface is the first thing most new smartphone owners start with after unpacking. In Xiaomi and Redmi and Poco, the brand’s MIUI shell or its new HyperOS counterpart is responsible for this. Installing widgets, including dials, is a basic skill to make the lock screen and desktop more informative and aesthetic.
Unlike pure Android, where widgets are often hidden in a separate menu, Xiaomi offers several ways to add information to the screen. The user can choose a standard analog or digital watch, as well as download specialized themes with a unique design. It is important to understand that the correct configuration of this element affects not only the appearance, but also the usability of the gadget in everyday life.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods of installing watches, consider the hidden features of the system and answer frequent questions that arise from smartphone owners of different generations. You will learn not only to drag and drop icons, but also to fully manage the space of your desktop.
Basic method of installation through the widget menu
The easiest and most common way to add a dial to the home screen is to not install third-party software, but it's built into the operating system itself and is available immediately after the device is turned on, so you first need to unlock your smartphone and go to any free desktop page where there's room to host the new item.
Next, you should make a long finger tap anywhere on the screen, or use a special gesture with two fingers, bringing them together. This action activates the editing mode of the interface. At the bottom of the display, a toolbar will appear where you want to select the Widgets (or Widgets) item. The system will offer a catalog of available items, sorted by category or alphabetically.
Find the Watch category in the list, or simply scroll through the general list to the appropriate icons. The standard MIUI set usually has about 10-15 design options, from minimalistic digital to complex analog mechanisms. Choose the option you like and click on it, after which the widget will automatically take up free space on the screen or require a confirmation of position.
☑️ Pre-installing check
It is worth noting that some watch widgets are live and require a network connection to display accurate time or weather data. If you see dashboards instead of time after installation, check the date and time settings in Settings → Additional settings → Date and time. Make sure that sync is activated over the Internet.
Using the “Themes” application for customization
If the standard set of widgets seems boring to you, the Xiaomi shell provides access to a huge library of designs through the Themes system application. These are not just wallpaper, but complex packages that change icons, sounds and, importantly for us, the design of the clock on the desktop and lock screen.
Open the Themes app on your device. At the top of the screen, you'll see the search bar. Type in "Clock widgets" or "Clock widgets." The system will produce thousands of results created by both designers and independent community authors, many of which are free, but there are premium options for a small fee.
Once you've selected a theme or a set of widgets, click Download and then Apply. Unlike manual installation, you often get not just one widget, but a whole ecosystem of design. However, applying a theme can change other interface elements, which is not always desirable.
How to use only widgets from the theme?
It is important to remember compatibility. Widgets created for newer versions of HyperOS may not show correctly on older versions of MIUI 12 or MIUI 13. Always pay attention to the requirements specified in the description before downloading.
Setting up Google widgets and third-party apps
Google’s ecosystem offers its own, often more functional widgets that integrate perfectly into the work of the search giant’s services. To access them, you need to scroll through the list to the bottom or find the Google logo in the widget menu (called by a long tap on the screen).
Google Watch Widget features a concise design and the ability to display time in different time zones, which is critical for those who often communicate with foreign partners or have relatives in other countries.
In addition, there are specialized widget apps in the Google Play store, such as Overdrop, HD Widgets or Chronus, which provide a level of detail that is not available with standard tools, and once installed, its widgets will appear in the general list of widgets of the system.
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Use Google widgets to display appointment schedules from the calendar right under the clock, which greatly improves productivity by allowing you to see time and things in one place.
When using third-party widgets, you should pay attention to permissions, some of which require access to geolocation for weather data or contacts to display upcoming events, and always check what rights you give the app, especially if it is free and contains advertising.
Fine tuning and sizing editing
Once the widget is installed, it often needs to be adjusted to the desktop grid. In MIUI and HyperOS, this is done in an intuitive way. Hold your finger on the already installed widget of the watch before the vibration and action menu appear, then select Change the size (if available for the selected widget).
You'll have a frame with markers around the edges. You can drag and drop them, you can increase or decrease the area that the widget occupies. Some digital clocks, when stretched, add seconds, date or day of the week. Analog options can change the number of dials displayed.
If the widget doesn't move or change size, maybe the desktop grid is too small. Try resizing the grid in the screen settings. To do this, press the empty space on the desktop, click Settings, and select a larger grid size, such as 4x5 instead of 5x6. This will give you more room to maneuver.
Remember that widgets that are too small can become unreadable: The optimal size for a watch that you plan to use constantly is a 2x2 or 4x2 block. This provides a balance between informativeness and saving space for application shortcuts.
Solving problems with display and work
Often, users are faced with a situation when the watch widget stops updating, shows the wrong time or simply disappears from the screen. Most often the reason lies in the aggressive power saving system Xiaomi, which “kills” background processes to save battery power.
To fix this, add the app responsible for the widget (usually the Watch or Security system app) to the exception list. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or simply Battery), find the appropriate app, and set Unlimited mode.
Another common problem is to desynchronize the time after traveling to another region. If the widget shows the time of the location, but does not translate the arrows, check the time zone settings. In some cases, resetting the widget helps: remove it from the screen and install it again.
| Problem. | Probable cause | Decision-making |
|---|---|---|
| The widget is not updated | Energy conservation | Remove the restriction of background activity |
| Wrong time. | Time zone down | Enable autodetermination in settings |
| Widget transparent/black | Theme error | Change the subject to standard MIUI |
| You can't change the size. | Fixed size | Use another widget or grid |
Also worth mentioning is version conflicts: If you upgrade to HyperOS, older MIUI 14 widgets may not work smoothly, so it’s recommended that you delete the Themes app cache through the application management menu and restart the device.
Features of the HyperOS interface
With the release of the HyperOS operating system, the approach to widgets in Xiaomi smartphones has undergone significant changes, the interface has become smoother, and the widgets themselves have received support for more complex animation and interactivity. Now some watch widgets can be “revived” by simply touching without opening the application.
The new system has changed the logic of calling the widget menu, so that if you press a long time on an empty space, the menu can appear not from the bottom, but as a floating window or sidebar, depending on the control mode you choose, which requires some addiction, but makes navigation more convenient on large screens.
HyperOS focuses on lock screen, allowing you to set different watch styles regardless of desktop, creating a depth effect where time is partially overlapped by the object on the wallpaper (Depth Effect function). To access these settings, you need to pinch the lock screen and select Set up.
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HyperOS allows you to create “smart” desktops, where the widgets of the watch change style depending on the time of day or running mode (sleep, work, sports).
Users who have moved from older versions are encouraged to re-check the compatibility of their favorite widgets, and some of them may have received updated versions in the theme store, specifically optimized for the new system architecture.