Showing the current weather on the home screen Xiaomi Redmi is one of the most popular features among smartphone users on MIUI. Despite the apparent simplicity, the installation process of the widget can vary depending on the version of the shell, regional settings and even the model of the device. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to add weather – from standard solutions to alternative applications, and also tell you how to customize accurate data for your city.
The peculiarity of Redmi smartphones is that the manufacturer often changes the logic of widgets in new versions of MIUI. For example, in MIUI 14 the algorithm for adding weather to the screen is different from MIUI 12, and in some regions (for example, in Russia), the standard widget may not be at all. We took into account all these nuances and prepared a universal instruction that will suit most models - from Redmi Note 10 to Redmi 12.
1. Standard weather widget in MIUI: where to look and how to add
Most Xiaomi Redmi smartphones have a built-in weather widget that is integrated into the Mi Weather system app by default, but adding it to the home screen isn't always intuitive.
- 📱 With a long press on the free place of the main screen, call the Widgets menu.
- 🔍 In the list, find the Tools or Systems section – there should be a Weather widget (sometimes called Mi Weather).
- 🖱️ Drag the widget onto the screen by selecting the appropriate size (options are usually available). 2×1, 4×1 or 4×2).
- 🌍 After adding, click on the widget to open the Weather app and adjust the location.
If there is no Weather item in the widget list, this could mean:
- ⚠️ Weather app disabled in settings (check in Settings) → Annexes → Application management).
- ⚠️ You have custom firmware installed (e.g. Pixel Experience) where Xiaomi system widgets are removed.
- ⚠️ Regional restrictions (in some countries Mi Weather is replaced by Google Weather).
Make sure the Weather app is not disabled in the settings
Check your internet connection (widget requires location data)
Update MIUI to the latest version (older versions may have display bugs)
Reset the Weather app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Weather. → Warehouse → Clear the cache)-->
Important: In MIUI 14, the weather widget can be hidden under Other widgets — scroll through the list to the end. Also note that some models (e.g., Redmi 9A) have a simplified version of the shell, where the functionality of the widgets is limited.
2. Alternative ways: widgets from Google and third-party apps
If you don't like the standard Mi Weather widget (for example, due to inaccurate data or lack of data in your area), you can use alternative solutions.
- 🌤️ Google Weather is a built-in widget from Google that automatically installs on many Redmi smartphones.To add: Long tap on the screen → Widgets → Google. Select the Weather widget (sizes available) 1×1, 2×1, 4×2). Set up a location in the Google app (you may need to log in to your account).
AccuWeather
Google Play
Yahoo Weather
Advantages of third-party widgets:
| Annex | Accuracy of data | Widget design | Additional functions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Weather | Medium (depending on region) | Minimalist, no animations. | Integration with MIUI, low power consumption |
| Google Weather | Tall. | Simple, with Material You icons | Automatic location determination |
| AccuWeather | Very high. | Many options (including rainfall radar) | Notifications of weather events |
| Yahoo Weather | Tall. | Animated background, photos of the area | Forecast for 10 days, precipitation maps |
Critical nuance: Some third-party widgets (such as AccuWeather) can significantly reduce the battery life of Redmi smartphones due to frequent updates in the background. If you notice a fast battery drain, check the sync settings in the application.
Standard Mi Weather|Google Weather |AccuWeather |Yahoo Weather |Other option |Not using widgets-->
3. Adjust the accuracy and update of data
Even after installing the widget, many users are faced with the problem of inaccurate data — for example, the temperature differs from the real one by 3-5 degrees, or the forecast is updated every few hours.
- 📍 Location: Open the Weather app, click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Location: Make sure you select your current location (not your city by hand).
- 🔄 Update frequency: In the same settings, find Update. Select Every Hour for maximum accuracy (but this will increase battery consumption).
- 🌐 Data source: Alternative weather services can be selected from AccuWeather or Yahoo Weather (e.g. Foreca or MeteoGroup).
What if the widget shows the weather for another city? Sometimes Mi Weather gets lost and starts displaying data for a random city (most often Beijing or Shenzhen), this is due to an IP location bug.
Another common mistake is that the widget appears as an empty rectangle with no data, which is usually related to:
- 📵 No internet (check mobile data or Wi-Fi).
- 🔋 Battery Limitations (Add Weather app to list No Restrictions in Power Settings).
- 🛠️ Failure of system services (helps resetting Google Play Services settings to Settings) → Annexes).
Advantages of these methods:
- ✅ They don’t take up space on the main screen.
- ✅ Data is always visible when unlocking the phone.
- ✅ Less battery consumption (updated less often than widgets).