How to return the watch to the home screen of Redmi 8 Pro: all ways + FAQ

Did you accidentally remove the watch widget from the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro home screen and not know how to restore it? Or did the MIUI update disappear without the ability to return through the standard menu? This problem is familiar to many Xiaomi smartphone owners — especially on models with custom firmware or after resetting. Unlike other Android devices, where widgets are added after a long press, the MIUI algorithm can differ depending on the version of the shell and the launcher installed.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to return a watch to your desktop, from basic (via widget menus) to advanced (resetting a launcher setting or installing alternative software). You’ll also learn why a watch can disappear after updates, how to prevent its accidental removal, and what to do if the standard MIUI Clock widget refuses to display. All instructions are tested on the Redmi 8 Pro with MIUI 12-14, but will also work for other Redmi/POCO models on similar firmware versions.

1. Standard method: Add widgets through the menu

So let's start with the most obvious method, which works 80 percent of the time, and in MIUI, widgets are added not through the Play Market, but through the built-in menu. Here's how to do this:

  1. Click and hold the empty space on the home screen (not the icon!).
  2. At the bottom of the screen, select Widgets (or Widgets in English firmware).
  3. Scroll through the list to the Clock section. There are several options that can be displayed here: 🕒 Analog clock (classical dial) 🕐 Digital clock (time in format) HH:MM) 🌤️ Weather Watch (Integration with Widget) MIUI Weather)

Press the desired widget and drag it to the free space of the main screen. If the widget does not stick, try to restart the smartphone.

⚠️ Note: If the list of widgets does not include the Watch section, this means that the com.android.deskclock system application is disabled or removed. №3.

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If the watch widget is displayed gray and doesn't drag and drop, try temporarily turning off the power saving mode in Settings → Battery. MIUI sometimes blocks the widgets' background processes to save charge.

2. Reinstallation of the system application "Clock"

If the watch widget is missing after the update MIUI or resetting settings, the cause may be damage to the system APK-com.android.deskclock, and in this case, reinstallation will help:

First, check if the app is disabled:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Slip on the three points in the upper right corner and select Show System.
  3. Find the Clock in the list.
  4. If the Enable button is active, press it. If the app is already on, click Remove Updates (if the button is available).

If this does not help, reset the app settings:

Settings → Applications → Watch → Storage → Clear data + Clear cache

⚠️ Warning: Data cleanup will reset all alarm clocks and reminders in the Watch app.Export them in advance through Settings → System system → Backup if it is critical.

Turn off the developer mode (if enabled)

Make a backup copy of alarm clocks

Check the space in memory (minimum 500 MB)

Connect to Wi-Fi (for downloading updates)

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3.Resetting the MIUI launcher settings

The launcher (the program responsible for displaying the main screen) in MIUI often resets the widget settings after updates. If the clock disappears after the firmware update, reset the launcher:

  1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Find the Launcher app (or MIUI Launcher).
  3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
  4. Confirm the action. After that, the main screen will reset to the factory settings, but all applications and files will remain in place.
What if after the launcher drops all the icons disappeared?
This is normal behavior - MIUI restores the standard home screen layout. Your apps are not removed! To return the icons: 1. Click on the blank screen space → Screen settings → Restore the layout. 2. If the option is not available, manually add shortcuts from the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).

4. Installation of an alternative watch widget

If the MIUI Clock system widget stubbornly doesn't want to be displayed, consider third-party counterparts. They often offer more customization options:

AnnexFeaturesDownload linkCons
Digital Clock WidgetMinimalistic digital watch with font and color settingPlay MarketNo analog dial
ChronusWeather, calendar, tasks in one widgetPlay MarketPaid themes
Transparent Clock & WeatherTransparent design, support for dark themePlay MarketAdvertising in the free version
UCCWComplete customization (creating your own widgets)Play MarketA complex interface for beginners

To install a third-party widget:

  1. Download the application from the table above.
  2. Click and hold the empty space on the home screen → Widgets.
  3. Find the widget of the installed application (for example, Chronus 4x2).
  4. Drag it on the screen and adjust the look.

Analog (dials)|Digital (HH:MM)|With the weather.|Custom design|I don't care.-->

5. Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)

If none of these methods worked, the cause could be damage to system files, in which case ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for debugging Android devices, will help, which requires a connection to the PC and the developer mode is turned on.

Instructions:

  1. Turn on Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (shap 7 times)
  2. Activate USB Debugging: Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB
  3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux).
  4. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must display the serial number of your Redmi 8 Pro.
  5. Run the command to reset the launcher settings: adb shell pm clear com.miui.home
  6. Reboot your smartphone: adb reboot

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB This can cause you to reset all your home screen settings. ADB-Unverified commands from unverified sources – this can disrupt the system.

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Resetting through ADB is an extreme method, and before using it, try all other methods and back up the data.

Why is the clock disappearing from the main screen?

The disappearance of the watch widget on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro is usually due to one of the following reasons:

  • 🔄 Update MIUI: New firmware versions can reset launcher settings or disable system widgets.
  • 🧹 Cache Clearing: When manually clearing launcher or app data, the Widget may disappear.
  • 🔋 Energy saving regime: MIUI aggressively optimizes background processes, which sometimes leads to the disabling of widgets.
  • 🛠️ Conflict with other launchers: If you installed third-party launchers (like Nova or Apex), they could block system widgets.
  • 📦 Removal of systemic APK: When you neatly remove "junk" applications through ADB Root could have been removed by com.android.deskclock.

To prevent the clock from disappearing again:

  • 📌 Secure the widget on the main screen (long press). → Set up if the option is available).
  • ⚙️ Turn off optimization for the app Watch in battery settings.
  • 🔒 Do not use the "Memory Clearup" or "Accelerate" features in Security - they can reset widgets.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the watch widget on the Redmi 8 Pro

Can I return the watch without resetting the settings?
Yes, in 90% of cases, standard addition through the widget menu helps (see method). №1) or reinstallation of the Watch application (see method №Discharge of the launcher or ADB Use only if simple methods do not work.
Why did the MIUI update change the clock?
Xiaomi sometimes changes the design of system widgets in new versions of firmware. If you don't like the new look, install a third-party widget (see method). №4) or revert to the previous version MIUI through settings → Updating the system → Three points. → Select a Service Package.
The clock is displayed, but it doesn't show the time. What do we do?
This indicates a time sync failure. Corrected: Go to Settings. → System system → Date and time. Turn off and reset Date and Time Autoset. Select another time server (e.g. time.google.com). Reboot your smartphone. If the problem persists, reset your network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
Can I transfer the watch widget to the lock screen?
No, you can't add widgets to the lock screen in MIUI, which is a security limitation, but you can: Use Always-on Display (if supported): Settings → Lock screen → Always-on Display. Install a third-party app like Lock Screen Widgets (requires root rights).
After the factory reset, the clock doesn't come back.
When fully reset (Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset), some system applications may not recover correctly. Solutions: Update MIUI to the latest version via Settings → System Update. Install manual firmware through Fastboot (instructions on Xiaomi's official website).