How to increase the size of the widget on Xiaomi: from standard settings to system modification

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the desire to personalize their desktop, making it more informative or, conversely, minimalist. Standard widgets weather, watches or news in the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS have fixed dimensions that do not always suit the user. Sometimes you want the calendar to occupy half a screen, and sometimes it is barely noticeable in the corner. Unfortunately, with regular means, you can not change the scale of the already added widget in one click, but there are proven methods to circumvent this restriction.

There are several ways to solve this problem: from the banal change in the density of pixels in the engineering menu to the installation of specialized launchers that completely replace the standard interface. DPI through ADB-commands are the most efficient way for advanced users to scale any interface elements, but for the average user, there are safer methods that do not require a connection to a computer. In this article, we will analyze all available methods, assess their risks and help you choose the best option for your device model.

Before we start taking any radical steps, it's worth understanding exactly how the desktop grid works in a MIUI-based Android system. The system binds widgets to a virtual grid that has a fixed size. By increasing the number of cells, we reduce the size of each element, and vice versa. So "magnifying the widget" often boils down to reducing the number of cells in a row or column, which automatically stretches all the objects on the screen.

Standard settings of the desktop grid

The easiest and safest way to change the size of widgets is to change the configuration of the desktop grid. The standard System Launcher provides the ability to select the number of rows and columns. If you set a minimum number of cells, such as 4x5 or 5x6, each widget occupying one cell in the widget grid will physically become larger on the screen.

To change the settings, go to the launcher settings. Find an empty space on your desktop and pinch your two fingers, or hold your finger for a long time in the free area until the edit menu appears. In the upper right corner, click on the gear icon. Here you are interested in the option or Grid. By choosing a configuration with fewer lines, you visually enlarge all the interface elements.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the desktop grid can cause application icons to shift. Once you change configuration, you'll have to re-assign the shortcuts to the screens because they'll be in a different position.

It's worth noting that this method affects the entire interface globally, because you can't just zoom in on the weather widget by keeping the app icons small, all the elements follow a single zoom logic, and for some users, this is a crucial factor, because large icons can look unaesthetic or take up too much space, interfering with navigation.

Use of third-party launchers

If you don't like the standard Xiaomi shell features, the best solution is to install a third-party launcher. Apps like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher give you full control of the widget grid. Unlike a stock launcher, here you can set an arbitrary number of rows and columns in increments of 1, and also manually stretch widgets, capturing their boundaries.

Once you have an alternative launcher from Google Play, you need to assign it to the primary one. Android will request confirmation when you first start. In the new launcher settings, find the Desktop Grid section. Here you can set values like 4x4 or even 3x5, which will make widgets huge. Moreover, many advanced launchers allow you to change the size of the widget on the fly by simply pulling a frame angle when editing.

• 📱 Nova Launcher: Allows you to configure the grid to sub-pixel accuracy and has a “Heritage” mode that copies icons from the MIUI.
• 🌿 Lawnchair: Lightweight launcher that mimics the Pixel interface, but with flexible widget size settings.
• 💼 Microsoft Launcher: Works great with Microsoft widgets and allows you to flexibly configure the grid, although it can be a bit heavy for budget devices.

It's important to understand that switching to a third-party launcher changes not only the size of the widgets, but the whole logic of interacting with the smartphone. Animations, gestures and menus may work differently, but for those who want to get a unique look and complete control over the dimensions of the widgets, this is the only truly flexible option without deep interference.

Set up fonts and element sizes

Another built-in tool that indirectly affects the perception of widget size is the setting of fonts and the size of interface elements. MIUI and HyperOS have a function called Text Size, which scales not only letters, but also some graphical elements of widgets, such as clock numbers or dates in a calendar.

To access these settings, go to Settings → Screen → Text and Element Size. Moving the slider to the right will zoom in. This is especially effective for widgets that rely on textual information. However, be careful: over-magnifying can cause the text in the widget to not fit in the designated area and be cropped or overlapped.

Also worth paying attention to is the design theme: Some of the themes in the MIUI Themes store include widgets with modified graphics that by default look larger or have bolder fonts. Changing the theme is a quick way to visually transform the desktop without complex settings.

⚠️ Note: With maximum font size, the interface of some third-party applications can “go” because they are not optimized for large system scaling values.

Change the DPI density through the engineering menu

For users who don't want to install third-party launchers but need to adjust their dimensions accurately, there's a method for changing the density of DPI (Dots Per Inch) that tells the system how many pixels should be per inch of the screen. Decreasing the DPI makes the system think the screen is higher resolution, and it starts drawing all the elements, including widgets, larger.

To access these settings, you need to activate the developer menu. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Once you have the message "You became a developer", go back to the main settings menu, go to Additional → For Developers. Find the Minimum Width (or Smallest Width).

The default value is usually 360-400 dpi.


Reducing the value to 320-340 dpi will increase the size of the widgets.




Increasing the value to 450+ dpi will reduce the size of the widgets.

Change the value gradually, in 10-20 increments, and reboot the device to check the result, which allows you to achieve a perfect balance when the widgets get larger, but the interface remains convenient, but this method requires accuracy, because the wrong values can make the text unreadable.

Using ADB for accurate calibration

The most professional method that allows you to change the size of widgets and interface elements without installing unnecessary applications on the phone itself is the use of a debugging bridge. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux) and USB-It allows you to make changes to system settings that are not available through the regular menu.

First, you need to enable USB debugging in the developer menu (see the previous section). Then download the Platform Tools package from the official Android site to your computer. Connect your smartphone to your PC, allow debugging on your phone screen. Open the command line or terminal in the ADB folder and enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

If the device is displayed in the list, you can change the DPI density more flexibly than through the phone menu.

adb shell wm density 320

Here, 320 is the desired density value. A smaller number will increase the size of the widgets. To get it back to normal, use the adb shell wm density reset command. This is a good technique because it allows you to quickly experiment with different values and see the result instantly, just by rebooting the interface or screen.

• 🔌 Drivers: Make sure that drivers are installed on your computer ADB for your device.
• 🛡️ Do not use commands from unverified sources, as ADB has access to deep system settings.
• 🔄 Reset: Always remember the reset command to return factory settings in case of error.

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Before changing system settings through ADB, take a screenshot of the current settings or write down the original DPI value to ensure that everything is returned back if necessary.

Comparison of sizing modification methods

The choice of method depends on your technical skills and goals. If you just need to make widgets a little bigger, just set the grid. If you want complete control, put a launcher. To fine-tune without changing the interface, the ADB or the engineering menu will do. The table below compares the main characteristics of each method.

Each method has its pros. Standard settings are safe but limited. Launchers give freedom but consume resources. ADB gives accuracy but requires knowledge. Xiaomi users often combine these methods: use a standard launcher, but adjust the DPI through ADB to achieve the perfect balance.

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The optimal solution for most users is a combination of a grid setup in the launcher and a slight decrease in DPI, which gives a visual increase in widgets without losing functionality.

Possible problems and solutions

When you adjust the size of the widgets, you may encounter artifacts or incorrect text display. For example, when the DPI is greatly reduced, the numbers in the watch widget can go beyond the boundaries of the designated area, in which case changing the theme or the widget itself to an alternative one that is better scalable helps.

Sometimes, after installing a third-party launcher, MIUI system gestures stop working, this is solved by installing additional plugins or switching to navigation with buttons. It is also worth remembering that some widgets from Google can ignore the settings of the third-party launcher grid, maintaining their original size.

⚠️ Note: If after the change DPI the interface has become unstable or black bands have appeared, immediately reset the density parameters to factory values.

Keep in mind that widgets are not just decor, but also battery life. Increasing the size of the widget, especially if it's dynamic (weather, news), can increase the frequency of updating data, which will affect autonomy.