How to install the widget of the watch on the screen of the smartphone Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

Why is the Xiaomi watch widget convenient?

The Xiaomi home screen watch widget is not just a design element, but a useful tool for quick access to time, date and additional features. Unlike standard watches in the status bar, the widget allows you to choose a display style (analog, digital, minimalistic), add a weather or calendar widget, and adjust the size to your preferences. For example, on Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 models, the widget can show not only time, but also battery charge, steps or even currency rates - depending on the type you choose.

In addition, the MIUI watch widgets are integrated with system themes, which means that when you change the wallpaper or color scheme (for example, through the Theme app), the widget design will automatically adjust to the new style, and if you use Always-On Display (AOD), the widget on the home screen will become a logical addition to the information on the disabled display.

But how do you add this widget if it's not on the default screen? And why are some models (like the Xiaomi 13T) available with additional options and others not?

Preparation: Check the MIUI version and compatibility

Before installing the watch widget, make sure your smartphone supports this feature.Widgets are available on all Xiaomi devices with a MIUI 12 shell and newer, but their appearance and settings may differ.

• 📱 MIUI 12–13: Basic limited customization widgets (3–4 styles).
• 📱 MIUI 14+: Extended options including dynamic animation widgets (available on Xiaomi) 13/14, Redmi Note 12 Pro+).
• 📱 POCO Launcher: a separate set of widgets that differ from the standard MIUI.

To check out the MIUI version:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version line (e.g. MIUI 14.0.5 Global).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO M5 or Redmi A2) Watch widgets may not be available due to performance limitations, in which case try installing a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) or updating the firmware.

Method 1: Adding a widget through the widget menu

This is the simplest and most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI.

1. Press and hold the empty space on the home screen (not the icon!).
2. At the bottom of the screen will appear menu – select Widgets (icon with squares).
3. Scroll down to the Watch section (or Clock on English firmware).
4. Choose your favorite widget style (e.g. Analog watches or Date Digital watches).
5. Press the widget and drag it to a free space on the main screen.

If no widget is added:

• 🔄 Check if there is free space on the screen (widgets occupy cells as icons).
• 🔄 Make sure that the Easy Mode is not enabled (Settings) → Special opportunities → Easy regime).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone (sometimes helps with launcher glitches).

On models with MIUI 14+, you can add up to 3 watch widgets at a time, but they will be synchronized one time (changing the time zone will affect all widgets).

Method 2: Using the Clock App for Customization

If you don't like standard widgets, you can configure them through the Watch app itself, and this method allows you to choose:

• 🕒 Time format (12/24 hour).
• 🌍 Time zone (useful for travel).
• 🎨 Colour and style (in MIUI 14+).

Instructions:

1. Open the Clock app (icon with dial).
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) top-right → Settings.
3. Choose the Widget (or Widget style)
4. Customize the appearance and save the changes.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) may not have a watch widget option, in which case use third-party widgets from Google Play (e.g. Clock Widget or Digital Clock Widget).

Method 3: Third-party widgets from Google Play

If Xiaomi's standard widgets don't suit you, there are hundreds of alternatives to Google Play.

How to install a third-party widget:

1. Download your favorite widget from Google Play.
2. After installation, press your finger on the main screen → Widgets.
3. Find the widget in the list (usually at the end under the app name).
4. Drag it to the screen and set it up according to the instructions.

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If after installing a third-party widget it does not appear in the menu, try restarting your smartphone or clearing the launcher cache (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear cache).

Setting the size and location of the widget

The watch widget on Xiaomi can be scaled and moved, but there are nuances:

• 📏 Size: Hold the widget with two fingers and spread/swipe them to zoom in. Not all widgets support resizing (e.g., analog clocks are often fixed).
• 📍 Location: The widget can only be dragged over the free screen cells. If the space is occupied by icons, first release it.
• 🔒 Fixing: To avoid accidentally moving the widget, turn on Screen Fixing (Settings) → Main screen screen → Fixing the layout).

On models with Always-On Display (AOD) (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi K60), the widget on the home screen can be synchronized with the clock on the display turned off:

1. Open Settings → Always-on display and lock.
2. Select the AOD style that matches your widget.
3. Activate the option Sync with the widget (if available).

⚠️ Attention: On smartphones with screen resolution FHD+ (for example, POCO F5) widgets can be displayed blurry when you resize. To fix this, return the standard scale or select a widget that supports high resolution.

Problem Solving: The widget doesn’t work or disappears

If the watch widget has stopped updating, disappeared, or shows the wrong time, try the following steps:

If nothing helps:

1. Clear the cache of the Watch and Launcher app.
2. Check if the widget is blocking the battery optimizer (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → Watch → No Limits).
3. Install the MIUI update via Settings → About Phone → System Update.

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If the watch widget disappears after the reboot, it is likely a problem in the launcher. Try changing it to a standard (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Reset settings) or install an alternative (for example, Nova Launcher).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions