You turned on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 and the usual watch from the home screen disappeared somewhere? This problem is familiar to many MIUI users - the time widget can disappear after updating the system, changing the launcher or accidentally changing the settings. Fortunately, you can return the watch to the screen in 2-3 minutes, and it does not need root rights or complex manipulations.
In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to return a watch to the Redmi 8 home screen, from standard MIUI settings to alternative solutions for cases when the system widget fails, and you will learn why the watch may disappear and how to prevent this problem in the future. All instructions are relevant for the latest versions of MIUI 12/13/14 and work on any firmware (including global and Chinese).
If you've tried to restore your watch through the theme settings, but it didn't work, don't rush your phone to factory settings. 90 percent of the time, simple actions that many people don't know help, and let's start with the obvious and gradually move on to more advanced methods.
1. Check the theme settings and time widget
The first thing to do is make sure the watch is not hidden due to a theme change or accidental clicking.In MIUI, the time widget is tied to the system theme, and sometimes its display is lost after updates.
Open Settings β Theme and follow the following steps:
- π¨ Go to the My Topics tab and make sure the standard theme is active (usually called Default or Default). MIUI). If you use a custom theme, try returning the standard one β this often solves the problem.
- βοΈ Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Theme Settings." Check if the "Show Clock on the Home Screen" switch is on (in some versions). MIUI This item may be called "Time Widget").
- π If the watch never came out, try applying any other theme from the official store, and then return the standard one.
If the clock doesn't come back after this manipulation, the problem may lie in the launcher settings.
2.Reset launcher settings (without data loss)
The MIUI launcher (the program responsible for displaying the main screen) sometimes forgets the settings of the time widget, you can reset it without deleting applications or personal data:
- Click the empty seat on the home screen and select Screen Settings (or Launcher Settings depending on the MIUI version).
- Scroll down and find "Reset" or "Reset by default." Click on it.
- Confirm action. Once the launcher is restarted, the watch should appear at the top of the screen.
Important: This method doesnβt remove apps or wallpaper, but it can reset the location of icons on the desktop. If the watch hasnβt returned, try manually adding a time widget with a long press on the screen β βWidgetsβ β find βClockβ and drag it to the main screen.
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If after the launcher reset, the watch appeared but disappeared again after a few hours - the problem may be in the background process of com.miui.home.
3. Manual addition of the watch widget
In some cases, the time widget doesn't automatically show up, but you can add it manually. Here's how to do it:
- Touch and hold your finger on the empty seat of the main screen.
- In the menu that appears, select "Widgets" (or "Widgets" in English firmware).
- Scroll down the list and find the Watch widget (may be called a Clock or Analog Watch).
- Press the widget and drag it to the main screen. If the widget doesn't stick, try placing it at the top of the screen.
If there is no clock in the widget list, it means that the com.android.deskclock system application is disabled or corrupted, in which case the following method will help.
What to do if the watch widget is not dragging?
4. Restoration of the system application "Clock"
Sometimes the time widget disappears due to a malfunction of the system application Watch (com.android.deskclock) to return it to work:
- π§ Go to Settings. β Annexes β Application management.
- π In the search bar, type in βHoursβ and select the system application (not to be confused with third-party programs like Google Clock).
- π₯ Press "Storage" β "Clear cache" and "Clear data" (this won't remove your alarm clocks!).
- π If the application is disabled, click "Enable".
After this, restart your phone. If the widget never came, try updating the Watch app through the Google Play Store (if you have global firmware).
The app cache cleared|Cleared data (without removing alarm clocks)|Application included in settings|Update checked in Google Play|Rebooted phone-->
5. Installation of a third-party watch widget
If the system widget stubbornly doesn't want to appear, the best way to do this is to install an alternative. There are dozens of free widgets with advanced features on Google Play.-3 tested solutions:
| Annex | Features | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Clock Widget | Minimalistic digital widget with font, color and size settings, supports date and weather display. | Download |
| Chronus | Universal widget with clock, weather, calendar and notifications, dark theme and customization. | Download |
| Transparent clock & weather | Transparent widget with animation, support for themes and widgets of different sizes (4x1, 4x2). | Download |
To install a third-party widget:
- Download and install the application from the table.
- Hold your finger on the main screen. β "Widgets".
- Find the widget of the installed app (usually at the end of the list) and drag it to the screen.
- Customize the look through the widget menu (click on it after placing).
Third-party widgets often run more stable than system widgets and offer more customization options (such as changing font or adding a stopwatch).However, note that some applications may consume an extra battery due to background weather synchronization.
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If the system widget is not restored, third-party solutions (such as Chronus or Digital Clock Widget) are a better alternative β they are more reliable and functional.
6. Reset system settings (extreme case)
If none of these methods worked, the problem may lie in deep MIUI settings, in which case a soft reset (without deleting data) will help:
- Go to Settings β About the phone β Reset settings.
- Select "Reset all settings" (not to be confused with "Reset to factory"!).
- Confirm action. The phone will restart, but the apps and files will stay in place.
After discharge:
- π The clock should appear automatically.
- π§ If necessary, re-configure wallpaper, sounds and other parameters.
- π± If the problem recurs, it may indicate damage to system files β in this case, only a complete reset or flashing will help.
β οΈ Warning: Before resetting your settings, make sure you have a backup of important data (contacts, SMS, Although this method does not delete files, in rare cases errors may occur.
Why is the Redmi 8 screen missing?
The disappearance of the Xiaomi Redmi 8 watch is a common problem, and there are several reasons for it:
- π Update MIUI: after installing a new version of the firmware, the launcher or theme settings are lost.
- π¨ Change of theme: some custom themes from the store MIUI Do not support the display of the system time widget.
- π οΈ Launcher failure: com.miui.home app can crash, especially if memory optimizers are running in the background.
- π± Conflict with other widgets: If there are too many elements on the screen, the system clock can automatically hide.
- π§ Manual removal: sometimes users accidentally remove the watch by dragging it into the basket (in the case of a mobile phone). MIUI It's possible with a long push).
To minimize the risk of the clock disappearing again:
- π« Avoid using unofficial topics from third-party sources.
- π Clean the launcher cache regularly (Settings) β Annexes β com.miui.home β Clear the cache).
- π₯ Install updates MIUI Only through official channels (Settings) β The phone. β Updating the system).
β οΈ Note: if the clock is lost after each update MIUI, This can be a bug in a particular firmware version, and only a rollback to a previous version or custom firmware installation (e.g., Pixel Experience) can help, but this requires unlocking the bootloader and can be insecure.