How to Install and Configure Widgets in HyperOS on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s updated HyperOS shell brings not only visual changes, but also new features for desktop personalization. Widgets are one of the key elements that allow you to quickly access important information from weather and calendar to smart home management and health statistics. However, their installation and configuration in HyperOS is different from previous versions of MIUI, which raises questions among users.

In this article, we will discuss how to add widgets to the home screen, what types are supported in HyperOS, and how to avoid common bugs. We will focus on the nuances for different Xiaomi models (for example, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or Xiaomi 14 Ultra), where the interface may differ slightly, and you will learn how to optimize widgets to save battery power and why some of them may not display correctly.

If you’re just switching from MIUI to HyperOS or are first time users of Android widgets, this guide will help you get to the bottom of the story. We’re not going to just focus on the basics: we’re going to look at hidden features, third-party solutions, and even creating your own widgets through KWGT or UCCW.

What are widgets in HyperOS and why do they need them?

Widgets in HyperOS are mini-programs that display dynamic information directly on the desktop or in the notification panel. Unlike regular app shortcuts, they update data in real time. For example, the Weather widget will show the current temperature without having to open the application, and the Google Keep widget will display the latest notes.

HyperOS has more integrated widgets than standard Android, and supports:

• 🔄 Automatic update (for example, currency rates or event schedule)
• 🎨 Adaptive design (size change and transparency)
• 🔗 Interaction with system functions (fast access to smart home settings or energy saving modes)
• 📱 Multi-screen support (you can place widgets on additional desktops)

It's important to understand that not all widgets are equally useful. Some (like the Watch or Calendar) use little or no resources, while others (like Social Media or News Feeds) can significantly reduce battery life. We'll talk about how to control this later.

Types of widgets in HyperOS: what are and where to find them

In HyperOS, widgets fall into three main categories:

1. System widgets are pre-installed solutions from Xiaomi (e.g. Weather, Steps, Smart Home) that are optimized for the shell and typically consume less power.
2. Third-party app widgets are added after installing programs from Google Play (for example, Spotify, Google Fit, Yandex.Weather).
3. Custom widgets are created by the user using specialized applications like KWGT or UCCW. Allow you to fully control the design and functionality.

To see the available widgets:

1. Touch the empty space on your desktop and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds.
2. In the menu that appears, select Widgets (icon with squares).
3. Scroll down the list – all installed widgets grouped by application will be displayed here.

Note that some widgets may be hidden, for example, if you haven't used the Mi Fit app in a long time, its widgets won't appear in the main list, and to return them, you just need to open the app at least once.

Step-by-step: how to add a widget to the desktop

The process of adding widgets to HyperOS is intuitive, but has a few nuances. Follow this guide to avoid errors:

1. Make sure there is free space on the screen. If all the cells are occupied, create a new desktop: swipe left on the home screen and press +.
2. Select a widget Press and hold your finger in the free space of the screen → select Widgets → find the desired widget in the list. For example, for a Weather widget, scroll to the Weather section.
3. Size setting After selecting the widget, its preview will appear: 🔍 Change the size - pull the corners of the frame. 📍 Move – Drag the widget to the right place.

Conservation

Click Ready or just tap the free space on the screen. The widget will be added.

If no widget is added:

• ❌ Check if the Light Desktop mode is enabled (in Settings) → Desktop. widgets are disabled in this mode.
• ❌ Make sure that the application to which the widget belongs is not removed or disabled.

Customization and customization of widgets

Adding a widget is only half the battle, and in order for it to work effectively, it needs to be customized, and the customization options depend on the type of widget:

To set up:

1. Touch the widget and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds.
2. In the menu that appears, select Change or Settings (name depends on the widget).
3. Adjust the settings. For example, for a calendar widget, you can choose which events to display (personal, work, birthdays).

In HyperOS, widgets can only update data in the background if the application is not optimized by the system. To make the widget work correctly, add it to exceptions: Settings → Applications → Special Rights → Battery Optimization → All applications → Find the right one and turn off optimization.

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If the widget has stopped updating, try removing it and adding it again, sometimes it resets the cache and restores the work.

Widget problems in HyperOS and how to solve them

Despite the optimization of HyperOS, users often face problems with widgets, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

⚠️ Note: If after upgrading to HyperOS widgets disappeared or stopped updating, this may be due to data migration. → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data. All widgets and shortcuts will be deleted!

• ❌ No added widget Reason: insufficient memory or conflict with another widget Solution: free up space on the desktop or restart the device.
• ❌ The widget is not updated Reason: battery optimization or no internet. Solution: disable optimization for the widget app and check network connection.
• ❌ The widget is not displayed correctly Reason: incompatible with the screen resolution. Solution: change the size of the widget or update the application.
• ❌ The widget disappears after the reboot Reason: launcher failure Solution: Update HyperOS to the latest version or reset the launcher settings (see above).

To diagnose problems with widgets, you can use ADB. Connect your smartphone to your PC and follow the command:

adb shell dumpsys activity services PackageName WidgetProvider

(replace PackageName with the name of the application package, such as com.miui.weather2 for the weather widget) This will show the logs of the widget.

Optimizing widgets to save battery power

Widgets are one of the hidden "eaters" of the battery, especially those that frequently update data (e.g., social media or stock quotes), here's how to minimize their impact:

• ⚡ Limit the refresh rate In the widget settings (if any) set the update interval no more than 1 time per hour.
• ⚡ Use "light" widgets for example, instead of a Facebook widget with a news feed, use the Messenger widget for notifications only.
• ⚡ Turn off unnecessary widgets Remove widgets you don't use. Even in the background, they can use up energy.
• ⚡ Set up battery optimization in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization Add widget apps to exceptions, but limit background activity for others.

To analyze the battery consumption of the widget:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Use.
2. Click on More Details (three dots in the upper right corner).
3. Choose to Show Full Use.
4. Find the app that the widget belongs to and check the percentage of consumption.

Animated widgets (such as live wallpaper or dynamic weather) can consume up to 15% of the charge per day. If autonomy is critical, replace them with static counterparts.

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The most voracious widgets are social media, newsfeeds and stock tickers, replaced with notifications or used less frequently.

Creating custom widgets in HyperOS with KWGT

If you don't like standard widgets, you can create your own widgets using the KWGT Kustom Widget Maker app, a powerful customization tool that is supported by HyperOS. Here's how to use it:

1. Download KWGT from Google Play and open it. When you first start, the app will ask for permissions to access the storage and notifications — provide them.
2. There are hundreds of pre-made templates in KWGT. Choose your favorite in the Explore section or create yours from scratch by clicking +.
3. In the editor you can add data settings: 📊 Data from sensors (weather, steps, battery charge) 📅 Information from calendar or tasks 🎵 Managing music (play/pause, tracks) 🏠 Smart home elements (if there are compatible devices)

Exports to the desktop

After setting up, save the widget and add it to your desktop as a regular widget (see section above). KWGT.

Example of a command to add dynamic weather to KWGT:

$wi(condition) = "Sunny"? "☀️": wi(condition) = "Rain"? "🌧️": "🌥️" $

This code will replace the weather text with an emoji.

⚠️ Attention: Castom widgets from KWGT They may conflict with system data if they use the same data (such as weather), in which case disable the standard Weather widget in HyperOS to avoid duplicate requests to servers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about widgets in HyperOS