Xiaomi’s lock screen is not just a random-press protection, but a full-fledged information hub that can be adapted to your needs. Widgets here display weather, notifications, quick actions and even health data — but not all users know how to set them correctly. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to add widgets to the lock screen for Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones based on MIUI 12/13/14, including hidden functions and circumventing system restrictions.
The configuration of widgets depends on the firmware version and device model. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro, dynamic widgets with animation are available, and on the budget Redmi Note 12 – only basic ones. We will look at universal methods that work on 90% of devices, as well as unique tricks for advanced users, such as how to return widgets on older versions of MIUI, where they were removed by default.
What widgets can be added to the lock screen Xiaomi
The list of available widgets varies depending on the regional firmware and MIUI version. Global builds (MIUI Global) are usually less available than Chinese (MIUI China) and here is a full list of widgets that can be placed on the lock screen:
- 🌤️ Weather - current temperature, forecast for 5 days, index UV (requires geolocation authorization).
- 📅 Calendar – Events from Google Calendar or Mi Calendar with reminders.
- ⏰ Alarm clock – the nearest time of awakening and status (on/off).
- 📊 Stepmer – data from Mi Fitness or Google Fit (steps, calories, distance).
- 🔋 Battery charge - percentage of charge, time to complete discharge (on some models).
- 🎵 Music player – playback control (available only with active track).
- 📱 Quick Actions – Shortcuts for flashlight, camera, voice assistant.
- 📈 Stocks/currency rates – only in Chinese firmware (MIUI China).
On devices with MIUI 14 and later, dynamic widgets have appeared that change the appearance depending on the time of day or the theme of the design. For example, the weather widget can display rain animations during real rainfall. However, on budget models (Redmi 10A, POCO M4 Pro), these functions are often disabled by default.
Important: some widgets require additional permissions, such as allowing Mi Fitness to access physical activity to display steps, and geolocation to display the weather, without which the widget will show a stub.
Step-by-step: how to add a widget to the lock screen
The process of adding widgets is intuitive, but it has nuances depending on the version of MIUI. We will break down the universal method that works on most devices, including the Redmi Note 11, Xiaomi 12T and POCO F4.
- Unlock your phone and go to the main screen.
- Swipe to the left of the home screen to open the widget bar (on some models you need to press and hold the empty space on the screen).
- At the bottom of the screen, tap the Edit or Add widget button (+ icon).
- Scroll down to the Lock Screen section (or Lock Screen widgets in English).
- Select the desired widget and drag it to one of the available cells (usually 2-4).
- Press Ready or Save, then lock the screen to check the result.
If the Lock Screen partition is missing, your firmware does not support widgets on that screen, and a workaround to install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) that supports lock widgets will help, but this method requires unlocking the bootloader and can cancel the warranty.
Update MIUI to the latest version
Check for free cells on the lock screen
Enable permissions for applications (geolocation, calendar, etc.)
Reboot your phone after the changes-->
Why widgets don’t show up or work
A common problem is that widgets are added but show blank fields or errors, and here are the main reasons and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The widget is not updated | Background limitation for the application | Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → [Title of the annex] → Battery and select No Limitations. |
| Weather widget shows 'No data' | No access to geolocation | Enable geolocation in Settings → Privacy → Permissions → Geodata and allow access for the Weather app. |
| Calendar widget is empty | Not synchronized events | Open Mi Calendar or Google Calendar, update your data and check your account sync. |
| Widgets disappear after MIUI update | Resetting the lock screen settings | Add widgets again through Settings → Lock screen → Widgets. |
| There is no “Widgets” section in the settings | Regional firmware restrictions | Install MIUI China or use an alternative launcher with widget support. |
If the pedometer widget doesn’t work, make sure that:
- 📱 On the phone, motion sensors are included in Settings → Additionally. → Special facilities.
- 👟 The Mi Fitness or Google Fit app has access to physical activity.
- 🔄 Data is synchronized (sometimes restarting an application helps).
How to return widgets to MIUI 12.5 and later if they are missing
Hidden widget settings: how to customize the appearance
Few people know that widgets on the lock screen Xiaomi can be customized — change size, transparency, text color and even animation. ADB-team.
First, turn on the developer mode:
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
- Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
Now we can change it.
- 🎨 Transparency of widgets - in Settings → Lock screen → Additionally. → Transparency (not available on all models).
- 📏 Cell size - through ADB Adb shell settings put global lock_screen_widget_scale 1.2 (where 1.2 — default scale 1.0).
- 🌈 Text color – in some firmwares you can change through the Topics → My subjects. → Font and colour setting.
On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) widgets support a dark theme with true black, which saves battery power. To turn it on forcefully, use the command:
adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_dark_mode 1💡
If the widgets have disappeared after the ADB changes, follow the command adb shell pm clear com.miui.home to reset the launcher cache.
Widgets on the lock screen: security and privacy
Adding widgets to the lock screen is convenient but not secure. Some widgets can display sensitive information available to anyone who picks up your phone, such as:
- 📧 Gmail or Mi Mail widgets can show you email topics.
- 💬 The Message Widget displays the latest SMS (even without unlocking).
- 📅 The calendar widget shows the names of events (meetings, medical records, etc.).
To minimize the risks:
- Turn off the display of sensitive data in the widget settings (if available).
- Use hidden notifications: go to Settings → Notifications → On the lock screen and select Do not show content.
- Set up a dual lock for sensitive widgets (for example, an additional PIN is required for Mi Wallet).
💡
On devices with MIUI 14, "Private Lock Screen Mode" is introduced, which hides widgets when the front camera is activated (Face Recognition). → Lock screen → Confidentiality.
If you use a corporate phone or store important data on your device, we recommend you to completely abandon widgets on lock or limit yourself to harmless options such as weather and battery.
Alternative methods: third-party launchers and Magisk modules
If standard MIUI widgets don't suit you, you can use third-party solutions. Let's look at three proven methods:
- Widget-enabled launchers: 📱 Nova Launcher + Nova Lockscreen plugin (requires root). 📱 Action Launcher – supports lock widgets without root (but with limitations). 📱 KWGT Kustom Widget Maker allows you to create custom widgets from scratch. MIUI (For example, double touching to block).
- Magisk modules: 🔧 Lockscreen Widgets Enabler – Restores widgets to the MIUI 12.5+. 🔧 MIUI Lockscreen Customizer - Extended look setting. Requires unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk.
- Overlay annexes: 🖼️ Always On Edge – Adds widgets over the lock screen (works as an overlay). 🖼️ Lock Screen Widgets – Emulates widgets through notifications.
Disadvantage: high load on the battery due to constant operation in the background.
To install Magisk modules, do:
- Download the module file (.zip).
- Open Magisk Manager and go to the Modules section.
- Click Install from Storage and select the downloaded file.
- Reboot the phone.
How to check the compatibility of the Magisk module with your firmware
Widgets on the lock screen: comparison of Xiaomi models
The functionality of widgets depends heavily on the device model and the version of MIUI. In the table below, you can compare the capabilities on popular smartphones:
| Model | MIUI | Number of widget cells | Dynamic widgets | Support for third-party widgets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13 Pro | 14 | 4 | Yeah (weather, battery) | Partially (via ADB only) |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | 14 | 2 | No. | No. |
| POCO F5 | 14 (Global) | 3 | No. | Yes (via Nova Launcher) |
| Xiaomi 12T | 13 | 3 | Yeah (weather only) | No. |
| Redmi 10A | 12.5 | 1 | No. | No. |
The flagship models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3) have exclusive widgets, such as:
- 📸 Quick-start camera widget (holding the icon opens the app).
- 🎮 Game Turbo widget for quick access to game settings.
- 🔊 Widget of sound profiles with switching between modes.
On budget devices (Redmi 9A, POCO C50), functionality is limited – usually only a weather widget and batteries are available. To expand the capabilities, you will have to use third-party solutions (see the previous section).