How to set a date on the screen of the phone Xiaomi: all ways to MIUI

Displaying the current date on Xiaomi’s home screen is a useful feature that helps you keep not only the time, but also the number, day of the week or even the lunar calendar under control. However, in standard MIUI settings, this option is often hidden or requires additional manipulation. Many users find that after updating the firmware, the date suddenly disappears from the lock screen or desktop, and it is not as easy as it seems to return it back.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to display the date on the screen of Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO — From standard widgets to hidden settings and third-party applications, we will pay special attention to the differences between shell versions. MIUI 12, 13, 14 and 15, as well as nuances for models with AMOLED-So if you want to have a date that's not just on the lock screen, but also on the home screen next to the clock, you'll find a workable solution here.

Why does Xiaomi not have a default date on the home screen?

Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi, in the standard MIUI configuration, displays the date only on the lock screen. The default home screen (desktop) shows only the clock, and the date is hidden.

• 📱 Minimalist design – fewer elements on the screen reduces visual load.
• 🔋 Battery savings – especially important for AMOLED-A display where each pixel consumes energy.
• 🔄 Setting flexibility – the user chooses which widgets to display.
• 📊 Usage statistics – Xiaomi analyzes which interface elements are in demand and optimizes their location.

However, this does not mean that the date can not be displayed on the home screen, just use one of the alternative methods, which we will discuss later. It is important to consider that on some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5) available options may differ due to different versions of firmware or hardware limitations.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO X5 Pro) the path to date settings may be different. If you don't find the menu items specified, check the shell version in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Method 1: Adding a Clock widget with a date on the main screen

The easiest and most versatile way is to use the standard Watch widget, which supports date display, which works on all versions of MIUI (12 to 15) and does not require additional applications to be installed.

Step instructions:

1. Press and hold your finger in any free spot on the main screen until the edit menu appears.
2. Select "Widgets" (or Widgets in English firmware).
3. Scroll down to the Clock block and select any of the styles available (e.g., 4×2 Analog Watch or 4×1 Digital Watch).
4. Drag the widget to the main screen and place it in a convenient place.
5. Tap the widget – you will open the settings where you can turn on the display of the date, day of the week or even the weather.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 Global), the default watch widget does not show a date.

1.Tap the clock widget on the home screen

2. Select a style with the caption "Date" or "Date"

3. Enable the option "Show date" or "Show date"

4. Save the changes (button "Done" or "Done")

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If there is no suitable option in the list of widgets, try updating the Watch app via Google Play or clearing its cache in the settings (Settings → Apps → Watch → Clear cache).

Only time.|Time and date|Date, day of the week and weather|Minimalist screen without unnecessary elements|Another option-->

Method 2: Set the date on the lock screen

If you only need to display the date on the lock screen, this method is best suited. MIUI has several options for adjusting the appearance of the date and time on the locked screen.

How to change the format of the date:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen (or Lock screen).
2. Select the "Lock screen style" option.
3. Scroll down to the Date and Time section and tap it.
4. You can choose the format of the display here: 📅 Full date (e.g., “15 August 2026.») 🗓️ Day of the week + date (e.g. "Pt, 15 Aug.») 🌙 Lunar calendar (for some regions)

Also available here are font, color and date settings on the screen.

On Always-On Display (AOD) devices, the date is automatically displayed in minimalist mode, but the format can only be changed through the theme settings.

⚠️ Note: If after updating the firmware date on the lock screen disappeared, try resetting the theme settings: → Theme → My subjects. → Reset to standard. This often solves the problem without losing data.

Method 3: Using third-party widgets (Google, Microsoft)

If you don't like standard Xiaomi widgets, you can install alternative solutions from other developers.

• 🕒 Google Clock widget with flexible date and time settings, synced with Google account.
• 📅 Microsoft Start – a widget with weather, date and news feed.
• ⏰ Chronus is an advanced widget with support for themes, dates of different calendars and weather.
• 🌍 Another Widget is a minimalist widget with date, time and weather (supports) MIUI lagless).

How to install and configure a third-party widget:

1. Download the app from Google Play (like Chronus).
2. Press and hold your finger on the home screen, select “Widgets”.
3. Find the widget of the installed application (for example, Chronus 4×2) in the list.
4. Drag it to the screen and set up the date display in the widget settings.

Advantages of third-party widgets:

• More styles of design (including transparent background).
• Support for additional information (weather, exchange rates).
• More flexible date format settings (e.g., “15.08.2026” instead of “15 Aug”)

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If it doesn’t update the date after installing the third-party widget, check the app’s permissions in Settings → Apps → [Title] → Permissions and enable calendar access.

Method 4: Configure through MIUI themes (hidden function)

Few people know, but MIUI has a hidden option to change the date display through theme settings.This method doesn’t work on all devices, but it can be useful for Xiaomi owners with custom firmware or global versions of MIUI.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the “Themes” app.
2. Go to the section “My themes”.
3. Choose an active theme and click “Set up” (or Customize).
4. Scroll down to the Lock Screen or Home Screen section.
5. Find the option “Date Format” or “Date Display” and turn it on.

If your MIUI version doesn’t have this item, try:

• Install an alternative theme from the store (e.g. Minimal UI or Dark Mode Pro).
• Use the MIUI Lab (Experimental Features) if it is available in your area.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI EU), these options can be blocked, in which case only manual editing of system files will help, which requires root rights and is not recommended for inexperienced users.

Method 5: Always-On Display (AOD) with a Date

If your Xiaomi smartphone supports Always-On Display (AOD), you can set up a permanent date display even when the screen is off.This is handy, but it's worth remembering that AOD slightly increases battery consumption (1-3% per hour).

How to turn on and configure AOD:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Always-On Display.
2. Turn on the slider "Always-On Display".
3. Select the display style. In most themes, the date is automatically displayed.
4. Click “Set up” and select what information to display (time, date, notifications, battery charge).
5. Set an AOD work schedule (for example, only at night or always).

Tips for optimizing AOD:

• 🔋 Use dark themes – they consume less charge on the AMOLED-screen.
• ⏱️ Set a timer to turn off (for example, turn off) AOD 30 minutes without activity).
• 📱 Check compatibility: AOD available 11/12/13 series, Redmi K40/K50 and POCO F4/F5.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with LCD-displays (e.g. Redmi Note 10) function AOD It may be absent or not working properly due to hardware limitations.

Method 6: Manual editing of system files (for advanced)

If none of the above methods worked, and the date on the screen is critical, you can try changing system files manually, which requires root rights and is only suitable for advanced users.

Instructions (for MIUI 13/14):

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer).
2. Go to /system/media/theme/default.
3. Find the file. lockscreen_clock.overlay or systemui.overlay.
4. Open the file in the text editor and find the row with the parameter show_date.
5. Change the value from false to true.
6. Save the file, restart the device.

The risks of this method:

• 🚨 Possible soft-brick (the device will not boot).
• 🔄 After the firmware update, the changes will reset.
• 🛡️ Violation of warranty (if the device is under warranty).

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Editing system files without a backup can cause the device to fail, and we recommend backing up your system through TWRP or MIUI Backup first.

If you are not sure about your skills, it is better to use third-party widgets or contact the Xiaomi service center.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)