How to turn on and configure widgets on Xiaomi: instructions for all models

Widgets on Xiaomi smartphones are mini-apps that display useful information right on the home screen: weather forecast, calendar, quick notes, smart home management or even health data. Despite the obvious benefits, many users have difficulty configuring them — especially after the update. MIUI Or resetting your phone to factory settings, and in this article, we'll look at all the ways that widgets can be enabled, from standard to hidden, and how to solve typical problems.

It is important to understand that the interface of adding widgets may differ depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14/15) and smartphone models (Redmi series, POCO, But the general logic is the same: if you can't find the widget you want in the list, maybe it's hidden in the system settings or requires you to install an additional app.

1. Standard way to add widgets to the main screen

The easiest method is to use the built-in functionality MIUI. It works on most modern devices, including Xiaomi. 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13 and POCO F5/X5. Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Unlock the phone and go to the main screen.

2. Press and hold any free space on the screen (not on the app icon!).

3. At the bottom of the screen will appear menu - select Widgets (or Widgets in the English version of firmware).

4. Scroll the list of available widgets left/right and select the one you want (e.g. Weather, Calendar, Notes).

5. Press the widget and drag it to a free space on the screen. Some widgets (such as the Watch) allow you to resize - to do this, pull around the corners after placing.

Make sure there is free space on the screen (remove unnecessary icons)

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Update apps through Google Play or App Store

Restart your phone if the widgets don't show-->

If the widget you want isn’t listed, it may be from a third-party app (like Google Weather or Yandex.Weather).In this case, install the app first and then repeat the steps above. Some widgets (like Samsung Health) may not work on Xiaomi due to manufacturer restrictions.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12 and below, the interface for adding widgets may look different. If after a long press on the screen, the menu does not appear, try clicking on the icon. ⚙️ (gear) in the upper right corner, then select Add widget.

2. Where to find the system's hidden widgets?

Not all Xiaomi widgets are displayed in the main list, some of them are hidden in the application settings or require activation through the lab. MIUI. That's where to find them:

• 🔍 The Smart Home widget only appears when you have at least one Mi Home device (lamps, sockets, sensors) on it. To activate it, open the Mi Home app, add the device, then go back to the widget list.
• 📊 Widget "Use of data" - hidden in the settings SIM-Go to the settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Use traffic and enable the option to Show widget.
• 🎵 Music widget — only works with the standard Mi Music app. If you use Spotify or YouTube Music, the widget may not be displayed.
• 📱 Quick Settings Widget – Available only on MIUI 14+. To add it, hold your finger on the notification bar and select the panel settings. → Quick settings widgets.

Another way to find hidden widgets is to search the system, swipe down the home screen to open the search bar, and type in the widget request, and the system will show all available items, including those that are not displayed in the main menu.

Weather.

Calendar and reminders

Smart home management

Music or podcasts

Notes and to-do lists

Others-->

3.Why widgets aren't added: typical errors and solutions

If the widgets don’t appear in the list or are not added to the screen, the problem may be one of the following:

On shell devices POCO Launcher (e.g, POCO F4/F5) widgets can be disabled by default. To enable them, go to Launcher Settings. → Widgets and activate the option to Show widgets on the home screen. If this option is missing, update the launcher via Google Play.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (especially custom ones like Pixel Experience or LineageOS), Xiaomi widgets may not work due to the lack of branded services. In this case, use alternative launchers, such as Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher, which support third-party widgets.

4.How to add Google widgets to Xiaomi

Many users prefer Google widgets (weather, search, calendar) over Xiaomi's standard ones.

1. Install the Google app from the Play Market (unless preinstalled).

2. Open the list of widgets (long tap on the home screen) → Widgets).

3. Scroll through the list to the Google section, where you will find:

Google Search (Fast Access to Search and Voice Assistant)

At a Glance (weather, calendar, reminders)

Google Fit (health data).

If Google widgets don’t show up, check:

• 📱 Have all updates been installed for the Google app.
• 🔄 Is Google Play Services enabled in the application settings (Settings) → Annexes → Google Play Services → Permits).
• 🌍 Region of the phone – some widgets are not available in Russia due to sanctions (solution: change region to Turkey or Kazakhstan in Google Account settings).

💡

If the At a Glance widget doesn’t show the weather, open the Google app, go to Settings. → General. → Weather and turn on the option to Show on the main screen.

5. Smart Home Widgets: Mi Home and Alice Customization

If you use Xiaomi Smart Home devices (Yeelight bulbs, Aqara outlets, robot vacuum cleaners), they can be controlled directly from the home screen through the widget.

1. Install the Mi Home app and add all your devices.

2. Open the list of widgets and find the Mi Home section.

3. Select the Smart Home widget (options available: Control Panel, Favorite Devices, Scenarios).

4. Place the widget on the screen and adjust the display devices by holding your finger on it and selecting Edit.

For users of Yandex Alice also available widget management smart home:

1. Install the Yandex app with Alice.

2. Connect Xiaomi devices through the Mi Home skill in Alice's settings.

3. Add the Alice Smart Home widget to the home screen.

6. widgets for notes, calendar and tasks

Xiaomi’s standard notebook and calendar widgets are often inferior to third-party widgets (like Google Keep or Microsoft To Do).

Standard widgets MIUI:

Notes: allows you to quickly create text notes directly from the home screen, supports synchronization with Mi Cloud.

Calendar - shows upcoming events from the standard Calendar app.

Tasks – a widget for the to-do list (requires installation of the Tasks app from Xiaomi).

Third-party widgets:

Google Keep: a widget for quick note creation with support for color tags.

Microsoft To Do: A widget with a list of tasks and reminders.

TickTick: advanced widget for managing tasks with a Pomodoro timer.

To add a widget from a third-party application:

1. Install an app (e.g. Google Keep) from the Play Market.

2. Open the list of widgets and find the section with the name of the application.

3. Choose the appropriate size of the widget (for example, 4×2 note-taking).

💡

To sync notes between devices, use one account (Google or Mi). If notes are not displayed in the widget, check the sync settings in the app itself.

7.Widgets for games and performance

For gamers and users who are watching the performance of the smartphone, Xiaomi offers several useful widgets:

• 🎮 Game Turbo is a widget for quick access to game mode, which allows you to turn off notifications, block touch buttons and optimize performance during the game. To add it, first turn Game Turbo on Settings. → Special facilities → Game Turbo.
• 📈 System Monitor - Shows the loading CPU, RAM And the processor temperature. MIUI 13+ for flagship models (Xiaomi) 12/13/14, Black Shark).
• 🔋 Battery: This shows the charge level and the approximate operating time, and some models show the battery temperature.

If you can't see these widgets, they may be disabled in the developer settings.

1. Activate Developer Mode (go to Settings) → About the phone and 7 times click on the version MIUI).

2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers.

3. Find the option to Show monitoring widgets and turn it on.

8 How to remove or change widgets

If the widget is no longer needed or takes up too much space, it can be easily removed or reconfigured:

Removal of the widget:

1. Press and hold the widget on the home screen.

2.At the top of the screen will appear basket (Delete) - drag widget there.

3. Alternative way: Hold the widget, then select Remove in the context menu.

Change of size or settings:

To resize: Hold the widget, then pull around the corners (not working for all widgets).

To customize the content: click on the widget – a linked application (such as Weather or Calendar) will open where you can change the displayed data.

Reset widgets to standard settings:

If widgets start to glitches (not updated, displayed incorrectly), try resetting their settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.

2.Look for the app associated with the widget (e.g. Weather).

3.Push Warehouse. → Clear the data (this will reset all application settings, including the widget).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9/10, POCO M3/M4) After cleaning the application data, the widgets may disappear from the list. In this case, reboot the phone and they will come back.

FAQ: Frequent questions about widgets on Xiaomi