Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO They often have to adapt the interface to their needs, and one of the most popular options is to resize the watch on the home screen, lock screen or Always On Display. This is especially true for people with impaired vision or those who prefer a minimalist design with large elements. MIUI HyperOS allows you to flexibly manage this parameter without installing third-party software.
The MIUI shell interface is designed with ergonomics in mind, but basic font sizes may not be obvious to beginners. Elements are scaled through a few hidden and explicit menus. It's important to understand that changing watch sizes often involves general text scaling or choosing a particular style. In this article, we'll look at all the methods available, from simple font settings to advanced customization through themes.
Modern high-pixel-density displays allow you to display clear numbers of any size. However, if you want to make time the dominant element on the screen, standard sliders may not be enough. Here come widgets and specialized themes. We'll look at how to use the built-in tools of the system to make time visible at first glance without straining your eyes.
Change the font size in system settings
The easiest and safest way to increase the size of numbers is to use the system font settings, which affect the display of time in the status bar, in the default widgets and in the settings menu. To begin, go to the Settings menu of your device. Next, select the Screen or Display section where the text size is located.
Here you'll see a slider that, if you move to the right, will increase all text elements, including the watch. But be careful: a global magnification can shift other interface elements, making some buttons inaccessible or cropped. HyperOS tries to adapt the layout, but on older models with low-resolution screens, display artifacts can appear.
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Use the "Big Text" feature in Advanced Settings → Special Opportunities if the standard slider isn't enough. This mode ignores some of the limitations of app design.
If you zoom in on the lock screen, you try changing the style. You can often find a font choice in the same settings menu. Some system fonts are naturally larger and bolder than others, which visually solves the problem without disrupting the layout. Experiment with preset options like Classic or Serif.
Setting up time widgets on the desktop
The main screen of a smartphone is where the user spends the most time. To keep the watch large and visible, it is best to use widgets. There are several ways to add them to the MIUI and HyperOS shell. Press and hold your finger on the empty area of the desktop, then select the Widgets item in the bottom menu.
In the gallery you open, find the Watch category, and you can find a wide range of options, from simple digital to complex analog mechanisms, the size of the widget depends on the type of widget, and you can usually find 2x2, 4x2, or even vertical 2x4 formats, and choose the one that takes up the most space and has the most readable font.
- 🕰️ Digital widgets: show the time in large numbers, often with seconds or a date.
- ⏱️ Analog widgets: simulate a hand clock, the size depends on the diameter of the dial.
- 🌡️ Combined widgets: contain watches and weather information, which can reduce the size of time digits.
After selecting the widget, drag it to the desktop. If the size doesn't suit you, click on the widget and hold it, then select the option to Change the size (if available for the widget). Stretching the widget to the maximum available area. This action will automatically increase the displayed elements inside the widget, making time more readable.
☑️ Optimizing the desktop
Customization of the lock screen
Lock screen is the second most important interface where watch size plays a key role. Newer versions of Xiaomi shell have the ability to deeply customize this screen. Go to Settings → Always on screen and lock screen → Lock screen.
You can choose the display style here. Some styles, like "Vertical" or "Digital," default to the maximum possible font size. Other styles can hide the clock behind the image or make it small. When you switch the styles, you immediately see the result in the preview.
⚠️ Note: When choosing a style with very large watches, make sure that the cutout for the front camera (bangs or a hole in the screen) does not cover important parts of the numbers.
Also available in this section is a time format setting. Switching between a 12-hour and 24-hour format can visually change the perception of size. For example, the format with seconds often makes the numbers smaller so they all fit into the designated area. Turn off seconds if the maximum size of the main digits is a priority.
The secret of double tap
Use Always On Display (AOD) for large watches
Technology Always On Display allows you to display time on the off screen without fully turning it on, which saves battery power on the screen. AMOLED-Adjustment. AOD is on the way of settings → Always on screen and lock screen → Always on screen.
From the AOD menu, choose Format or Style. There are specialized dials designed for permanent glow. Look for styles marked "Large" or just visually size the numbers. Some styles allow you to adjust the position of the watch on the screen, moving it to the center or top for better visibility.
| Type of AOD style | Size of numbers | Energy consumption | Informativeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical digital | Medium. | Low. | Time and date |
| Large print | Maximum | Medium. | Only time. |
| Analog | Depends on the dial. | Medium. | Visual style |
| Pixel art | Big one. | Low. | Time and status |
It is important to note that on some Redmi models and POCO s LCD-screen-work AOD It may be absent or operating in limited mode (only when connected to charging), in this case, it will not be possible to increase the size of the clock on the screen turned off, since the matrix does not support elemental glow.
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For maximum time size on the off screen, choose AOD styles with a minimum of extra elements (weather, steps) leaving only numbers.
Applying themes to radically change the interface
If standard tools are not enough, the Themes app comes to the rescue, a powerful tool in the Xiaomi ecosystem that allows you to completely replace the system clock. When searching for an app, type in "Big Clock", "Huge Time" or "Large Font".
Themes change not only wallpaper, but also system fonts, icons and, most importantly, widgets and lock screens. Third-party themes often offer unique watch designs that cannot be recreated by standard means. Before installing, be sure to review the screenshots in the theme description to estimate the size of the numbers.
- 🎨 Design themes: create a unique visual style, but can be paid.
- 🆓 Free analogues: often contain advertising, but functionally not inferior to paid ones.
- 🛠️ Technical topics: focus on readability and contrast, ideal for visually impaired.
After applying the theme, it is recommended to restart the device, so that all system processes correctly pick up new font and image resources. If the interface becomes unstable after applying the theme, return the standard theme "No restrictions" or "Classic" through the same application.
Compatibility problems and error solving
When trying to increase the size of the watch, users sometimes face technical problems, such as the numbers being cut off by the edges of the screen or overlaid on application icons, which often happens when using non-standard resolutions or when manually changing the DPI through an engineering menu.
If you notice that after increasing the font, some applications (for example, messengers) began to display incorrectly, try resetting the font settings to factory values. Also, cleaning the cache of the Topic and Wallpaper application through the Apps → All Apps can solve the problem.
⚠️ Warning: You should not change the Smallest Width option in the Developer Menu if you are not sure what you are doing, and this may cause the interface to become completely unreadable and you will have to reset the device completely to return.
If the watch is missing or is displayed in black, check to see if the power saving mode is activated. It can turn off some visuals and widgets. Also make sure the device has the latest version of MIUI or HyperOS installed, as updates often contain corrections for font rendering bugs.