Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphones often face a situation where, after updating the system or accidentally changing the settings, the clock on the locked screen disappears. This may seem like a trifle, but for many users, the lack of time on the lock display creates serious discomfort when using the device.
The interface of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS is constantly changing, and developers periodically move widget control points. If you have lost your watch, most likely, the lock style setting or the power saving mode was activated, which hides unnecessary elements. Below we will discuss in detail all possible ways to restore the display of time.
Always on Display and Lock Style
The first place to check is the lock screen settings section, which is where you can configure what you see when you're in sleep mode. In modern versions of Xiaomi firmware, this feature is often combined with the theme of the design. You need to go to Settings → Lock screen and carefully study the available options.
Often users randomly choose a theme where the watch is displayed only when you touch the screen or even hidden. To return the watch to the screen, choose a standard style or one where the dial is visible constantly. OLED-Make sure the Always On Display function is active, as some Redmi Note models display time via this mechanism.
- 🕒 Go to the settings and select the section "Block screen».
- 🎨 Click on the current theme and choose a standard style with a large watch.
- ⚙️ Check the Always On Screen Switch and activate it.
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If the watch does not appear after changing the theme, try to reset the theme to the standard “Classic” in the “Themes” app.
It's important to understand that some third-party themes may conflict with system time widgets. If you've recently installed new wallpapers or themes from GetThemes, that's where the problem may lie.
Adding the clock widget to the desktop
If the clock is missing from the desktop (home screen) rather than the lock screen, the algorithm will be different. On the Redmi Note desktop, time is displayed through widgets that the user can add and remove at will. Accidental removal of the widget is the most common reason for its disappearance.
To restore the time control, you need to go to the desktop editing mode. To do this, make a long press (pick) on the free area of the screen or use the corresponding button in the menu. In the menu that opens, select “Widgets” and find the “Clock” category in the list.
⚠️ Note: Not all watch widgets support second or date display. Choose a widget labeled Digital or Analog based on your preferences.
Once you've chosen the right design, drag it to the free desktop space, and you can resize the widget by pulling it over the edge to take up one or two grid cells, allowing you to flexibly customize the interface to your needs.
☑️ Checking widgets
Solving the problems with the energy saving regime
Aggressive energy optimization is another reason watches can disappear or go out too quickly. MIUI aims to save every percentage of battery power by turning off background processes and bright interface elements. In Ultra or Energy Saving mode, the lock screen can be simplified to a minimum.
To rule out this factor, go to Settings → Battery, check what mode you are currently using, and if you are in a power saving mode, switch to Balanced or Performance mode, which will allow the system to display all graphic elements without restrictions.
| Mode of work | Screen impact | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Balanced | Normal display | Recommended for daily use |
| Saving energy | Reduced brightness, AOD shutdown | Only at low charge. |
| Ultra | Minimum interface, black and white mode | For emergencies |
It’s also worth checking the settings of a particular Security application or system optimizer, and sometimes there are clauses that prohibit displaying information on a screen that’s off to save the matrix life.
Resetting theme settings
If standard methods didn't help, there may have been a software glitch built up in the system, which is associated with the theme cache: HyperOS shell and MIUI heavily rely on theme engine for UI elements. Damage to theme files can cause the watch to simply stop rendering, leaving a black background.
Try resetting the theme to the factory. Go to the Themes app, go to the profile (human icon) and select My Themes. Find the Classic or Default theme and apply it. After applying, be sure to restart the device so that the changes take effect at the system level.
Why do the settings fly off after the update?
In some cases, cleaning the Topic app data helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Themes → Memory → Clean. This action will not remove your downloaded themes, but reset your application settings.
Using third-party applications to block
When the system fails to return to the usual look, Google Play apps come to the rescue. There are many quality substitutes for the standard lock screen, which offer more flexible settings for displaying time, date and notifications.
Popular apps like Hi Locker or Lock Screen & Notifications completely replace the standard lock interface, allowing you to customize fonts, colors, clock layouts, and even add weather or pedometer widgets directly to the lock screen.
- ⬇️ Download the application to customize the lock screen.
- 🔐 Provide the necessary permissions to display over other windows.
- 🎨 Set the dial according to your tastes.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party lockscreen apps can consume more battery power than Xiaomi's standard lock screen.watch for autonomy after installation.
Specificity of Redmi Note and HyperOS models
Owners of new models, such as the Redmi Note 13 or Redmi Note 12, are already running on the new HyperOS operating system. In this shell, the logic of widgets has changed. Now widgets on the desktop and lock screen can be interconnected, but are configured through a single widget center.
To add a watch to HyperOS, swipe to the right to open the widget center, scroll down to the Edit button and add the desired element. If you upgraded from the old version of MIUI, the old widgets might not have migrated correctly, and you will have to add them again manually.
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In HyperOS, widgets have become more interactive and require separate additions even for basic features like clocks and calendars.
It is also worth noting that on some global versions of firmware for Redmi Note, the functionality of Always On Display can be limited software even if the AMOLED screen is used. In such cases, the clock will go out after a few seconds after blocking, and this is a feature of the regional version of the software, not a malfunction.