Redmi 9 series smartphones offer users a lot of options for personalization of the interface, and one of the most popular elements is the weather widget. Weather widget allows you to instantly assess current meteorological conditions without running a separate application, which saves time and battery power. However, the MIUI shell has its own features of these elements that can cause questions for beginners.
Users often find themselves in a situation where, after resetting or first turning on the device, the standard widget disappears or stops updating. This is due to Xiaomi’s aggressive energy saving system, which limits the background activity of applications. In this article, we will discuss not only the installation process, but also the finer points of settings that will ensure the correct display of data in real time.
There are several ways to get weather information on your desktop: through the standard Weather app, Google services or third-party widgets from the Play Market. Each method has its own advantages, and the choice depends on your personal preferences and design requirements. We will look at all the options available so you can choose the most suitable for your Redmi 9.
Standard weather widget in MIUI
The main tool for displaying weather conditions is a pre-installed application that is already integrated into the Android system based on MIUI. To activate it, you need to perform a simple sequence of actions that is available even to inexperienced users. The standard widget features a minimalist design and deep interaction with the system, allowing you to see not only temperature, but also air pollution levels.
To add an item to your desktop, swipe to the right of the left edge of the screen, or simply press the empty area on the home screen. In the menu that appears, select Widgets. In the list that opens, find the Weather icon (usually blue with the sun or cloud). Click on it and a gallery of available sizes and styles will open in front of you.
⚠️ Note: Some global versions of the firmware MIUI The widget may be called “Google Weather” or have a search engine logo, but functionally it is the same system tool.
After selecting the desired size, drag it to the free area of the screen. If the widget does not display data immediately, check the Internet connection. Data synchronization occurs only when you are actively connecting to the network. Also make sure that the location is allowed in the Weather app settings, otherwise the smartphone will not be able to show relevant information for your city.
Setting up the Google Weather widget
An alternative to the standard solution is Google’s widget, which is often pre-installed on certified devices, with a more rigorous design and the ability to display additional information, such as rainfall forecasts by hours. For users who value the purity of the Android interface, this option may become more attractive.
Installation is done in a similar way: through the widget menu. Look for an item called Weather or the G logo. It is important to note that the Google Weather widget requires the installation of the corresponding app on the device if it has been removed by the user before, in which case it can be downloaded for free from the Play Market store.
Once placed on the screen, the widget will suggest setting the city by default, you can add several locations that are swiped left or right directly through the widget area, which is convenient for those who are watching the weather in their hometown and vacation spot at the same time.
One of the key features of Google's widget is its integration with voice assistant and smart home, which lets you quickly know if you need an umbrella today or if you should plan a walk. It's more interactive than the standard one, as it often offers more detailed temperature graphs.
☑️ Checking the widget settings
Third-party applications and widgets
If standard solutions don’t meet your aesthetic or functional requirements, Play Market offers hundreds of alternatives. Popular apps include Weather & Widget, AccuWeather, and YoWindow. They provide unique designs, animated backgrounds, and advanced statistics that are not found in basic settings.
When installing third-party software, pay attention to the permissions you request. To work properly, the application needs access to geolocation and the Internet. Without this, the widget will show error or static data. Some applications may require constant operation in the background, which increases battery consumption.
Below is a comparison table of popular weather display apps:
| Annex | Widget size | Battery consumption | Design |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI Weather | Medium. | Low. | Standard. |
| Google Weather | Small/medium | Medium. | Minimalism |
| Weather & Widget | Anybody. | High-pitched | Castomy |
| YoWindow | Anybody. | Medium. | Animation. |
Using third-party solutions gives you the ability to create a unique desktop look. You can choose a widget in the form of a watch, calendar or even a live scene with changing times of day. However, remember that installing a large number of heavy widgets can reduce the overall performance of the Redmi 9.
Solving problems with updating data
A common problem for Xiaomi owners is to stop updating the weather widget, with the screen showing yesterday’s temperature, even though the outside has changed a long time ago, because MIUI kills background processes to save battery life.
To remedy this, you need to configure autostart and permissions for the Weather app. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the Weather list (or the name of the third-party app). Click Autostart and activate it, which will allow the system to start the process of updating data immediately after the phone is turned on.
⚠️ Warning: Without setting up auto-start, the widget may stop working after restarting the device or cleaning the memory.
Next, you need to prevent the system from limiting background activity. In the same app settings menu, find Battery Savings and select No Limits mode. This is a critical step that users often miss. Also check if the "Map on top of other apps" option is enabled if the widget has interactive elements.
If the problem persists, try clearing the app's cache. Go to Settings → Apps → Weather → Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with the "Clear All" button, as this will remove saved cities and settings. After cleaning the cache, restart your smartphone and check the widget.
Why does the widget show the wrong city?
Setting up the exact location
Weather services require precise geolocation to work properly. Redmi 9 is equipped with GPS, GLONASS and Galileo modules, which allows you to determine coordinates with high accuracy. However, less accurate, but more energy-efficient methods are often enough to operate the widget in the background.
In privacy settings, you can choose location mode. For weather widgets, network coordinates are the best option. It uses cell towers and Wi-Fi hotspots to determine your approximate location. This consumes less power than constantly polling GPS satellites.
If the widget shows the weather of a neighbouring area, check the permissions settings. Make sure the app is allowed to use geolocation at all times, not just when you use. Path to setup: Settings → Privacy → Access Management → Location. Find the weather app and check the "Always" box.
Sometimes compass calibration and GPS help. To do this, open the maps, click on the blue dot of your location and select "Calibrate." Follow the instructions on the screen until the accuracy is high. After that, the weather widget should update with the correct data for your street.
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For maximum accuracy, enable Wi-Fi scanning even when Wi-Fi is off, allowing the phone to find nearby networks faster and more accurately determine location in urban environments.
Personalization and Desktop Design
The widget's appearance is not just information, it's part of the style of your smartphone. MIUI allows you to change the themes, which automatically changes the style of the widgets, including the weather. You can download the theme from Themes store, which completely transforms the interface.
When choosing a theme, look for widget screenshots. Some themes only change icons, others completely redraw system elements. If you have a theme installed but the widget remains standard, try reusing the theme or rebooting the device. Styling helps make the interface more pleasing to the eye.
For advanced users, third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher are available. They provide even more options for customizing widgets: changing transparency, fonts, sizes and indentations. However, using third-party launchers can affect the smoothness of Redmi 9 animations.
Keep in mind the balance between beauty and functionality. A widget that is too large or complex can overlap important app icons, and the best option is to place a weather widget at the top of the screen or in a special widget block to the left of the first desktop.
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Properly configuring permissions and autoruns is key to the stable operation of the Xiaomi weather widget, without which the system will block the update of data.