How to set and configure time on the desktop screen of Xiaomi phone: all ways

Why Xiaomi doesn’t display time on screen and how to fix it

You just bought a new Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 smartphone or upgraded your firmware to the POCO X5 Pro, but the watch suddenly disappeared on the home screen? Or maybe you want to move the time widget to another place, change its style or size? This problem is familiar to many users of devices based on MIUI - the Xiaomi brand shell. Unlike "pure" Android, here the time display setting has its nuances, especially after major system updates.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can get your watch back on your desktop, customize it, and solve typical problems. You’ll learn how to work with the time widget in MIUI 12/13/14, what settings are responsible for the display format (12/24 hours), and what to do if time is lost after a reboot. And secret chips for owners of Xiaomi 13 Ultra and other flagships with Always-On Display.

Before you go to the instructions, make sure that on your phone:

• 🔄 Network time synchronization enabled (Settings) → Additionally. → Date and time → Autodetermination)
• 📱 Standard launcher is used MIUI Launcher (non-third-party shells like Nova or Apex)
• 🔄 System Updated to the latest version (check Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system)

Method 1: Adding a standard time widget to the desktop

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI Watch widget, which automatically syncs with system time and supports multiple display styles. Here's how to add it:

1. Touch any free space on your desktop and hold for 1-2 seconds until the settings menu appears.
2. At the bottom of the screen, select the Widgets (the icon with squares).
3. Scroll down to the Tools section and find the Watch widget (usually the first on the list).
4. Hold the widget and drag it to the desktop. Release your finger when the placement frame appears.
5. Choose the appropriate size (e.g. 4×2 for large watches or 2×1 for compact display).

If the widget does not appear in the list, check:

• 🔍 Are the widgets disabled in the launcher settings (Settings) → Desktop → Desktop settings → Widgets)
• 📥 Is the standard Watch app removed (check Settings) → Annexes → Application management)
• 🔄 Is not the Easy Mode used (it hides many widgets)

Make sure there is a free space on the desktop |

Check if the widgets are disabled in the launcher settings |

Update MIUI to the latest version|

Restart your phone if the widget doesn’t appear-->

Important! On some models (e.g. Redmi 10C), the time widget may conflict with the theme of the design. If the watch is not displayed correctly after adding it (font or color is lost), try changing the theme to Settings → Decoration → My themes.

Method 2: Configure the time display in the status bar

If you don’t need a separate window with your watch, but a time display in the top panel (next to the battery and network indicators), check the following settings:

1. Open the Settings → Screen → Status Line.
2. Make sure the slider Show the clock is on (should be blue).
3. Click on the Time Format item and select:

Showing seconds

On Always-On Display devices (such as the Xiaomi 12T Pro or Redmi K50 Ultra), the time is displayed even on the screen that is turned off.

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Always-On Display.
2. Choose a time display style (digital, analog, or minimalist).
3. Activate Show at Notifications if you want the screen to light up when new messages are posted.

To install a third-party widget:

1. Download the app from Google Play (like Chronus).
2. Return to the desktop, press your finger in a free place and select Widgets.
3. Find the widget of the installed application (usually in the Other widgets section) in the list.
4. Drag it on the screen and adjust the size/style.

⚠️ Note: Some third-party widgets may consume extra battery due to background synchronization. To avoid this, limit their activity in battery settings (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → Select an application → Limit background activity).

On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14 and later, third-party widgets can be blocked by security. To unlock them, go to Settings → Privacy → Special Permissions → Show on top of other applications and enable access for the widget.

Method 4: Solving Time-Time-Distributed Problems

If time on your Xiaomi is straying after a reboot or spontaneously lags behind, the problem may be related to:

If the problem persists, try resetting your network settings:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
2. Confirm the reset (this won’t delete your data, but will reset your mobile internet and Wi-Fi settings).
3. After the reboot, turn on autosynchronization of time again.

💡

If the time is only lost in roaming, turn off the "Time Zone Auto-Detection" option and set it manually, this will help avoid conflicts with the carrier.

Method 5: Set the time on a locked screen

On most Xiaomi devices, the time is displayed on the default lock screen. If it is not, check:

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Make sure the option to show the clock is enabled.
3. Click on the Watch Style and select the appropriate option (digital, analog or minimalist).
4. If you use Always-On Display, set it up in the same menu.

On some models (e.g. POCO F4 GT) you can configure additional information on the lock screen:

• 📅 Date.
• 🔋 Battery level of charge
• 📶 State of the network
• 📬 Number of unread notifications

⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party screen blocker (such as AcDisplay or Always On) AMOLED), It can conflict with the system clock. Turn it off or set it up manually.

Method 6: Recovering hours after resetting settings

If you reset to factory settings or upgraded your firmware through MIUI Recovery, the time widget may disappear.

1. After resetting, wait until the initial phone setup is completed.
2. Connect to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network) – this is necessary for time synchronization.
3. Go to the desktop and add the Watch widget (as described in Method 1).
4. If the widget doesn’t appear, update your system apps via Google Play:

If the time is not displayed correctly after reset (for example, it is lost by 3-4 hours), this may be due to the wrong time zone.

1. Open Settings → Additional → Date and time.
2. Turn off time zone autodetermination.
3. Select your time zone manually (e.g. Moscow, GMT+3).
4. Turn on autodetermination back.

For models with AMOLED-screen (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi) K60) You can also play Always-On Display with animation:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Always-On Display.
2. Choose a style with animation (e.g., a rain-effect digital watch).
3. Set up a display schedule (for example, only at night or always).

Prof tip: If you travel frequently, add the World Time widget (available in standard MIUI widgets) to your desktop. It shows time in multiple time zones at the same time.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up time on Xiaomi