Xiaomi's lock screen is not just a barrier to your smartphone, it's the business card of your device. This is where the watch becomes a key design element that you see dozens of times a day. But how do you choose a style that is not only beautiful, but also as informative as possible? In this article, we'll take a look at all the options available for designing a MIUI watch, from standard solutions to hidden features that only experienced users know about.
Many Redmi owners, POCO Or Mi doesn't even know that their device is more accessible. 10 different styles of display of time – from minimalistic digital to animation 3D-In fact, in the latest versions. MIUI 14/15 There are dynamic themes that automatically adjust the design to the wallpaper or the time of day, but how do we not get lost in this diversity and choose the best option.
Why the style of the watch is important: the psychology of perception
At first glance, the choice of watch style may seem like a trifle, but psychological research shows that lock screen design affects the subconscious perception of time. For example, the classic analog clock with the second hand creates the illusion of “fluidity” of time, while digital displays are perceived as more static, this is especially important for those who monitor productivity.
In addition, the style of the watch can:
- 🔹 Improve readability – contrasting numbers on a dark background reduce eye strain at night
- 🔹 Save battery power — AMOLED-Screens consume less energy when displaying dark themes
- 🔹 Emphasize individuality – unique animations or fonts make the device recognizable
- 🔹 Improve functionality – some styles display not only the time, but also the date, weather or notifications
Fun fact: MIUI 14 has a "Super Wallpapers" mode, where the watch is integrated into animated wallpapers, for example, when choosing a theme "Mars", the dial can mimic the surface of a planet with dynamically changing lighting, which is not only beautiful, but also helps you "wake up" faster in the morning with visual accents.
Where to look for settings: step-by-step instructions for all versions of MIUI
Depending on the Xiaomi model and firmware version, the path to watch settings may vary, and here is a universal guide that will work for most devices (from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra):
- Open the settings (cog icon)
- Go to Lock Screen (or Lock and Protect in older versions)
- Select the option Clock Style or Clock Setting
- Scroll down to see all the options available.
On some devices (e.g., POCO F5), you may need to activate the option of Additional Settings in the lock menu first. If you have MIUI 12 or older, the path will be: Settings → Always on screen → Watch style.
Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone
Take a screenshot of the current style (in case of rollbacks)
Make sure the battery is more than 20% charged.
Turn off the power saving mode (may block animations)-->
Important! On MIUI devices for POCO (like the POCO X6 Pro), some watch styles can be locked before the bootloader is unlocked. If you see a gray field instead of a preview, that's a sign of limitation.
Comparison of all watch styles: table with pros and cons
To make it easier to choose, we have compiled a comparative table of all available watch styles in MIUI 13-15.Please note that on budget models (for example, Redmi A2) some animation styles may be missing.
| Clock style | Features | Pluses | Cons | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | Analog dial with clock and minute hands | The usual appearance, low energy consumption | It takes up a lot of space, it is difficult to read the exact time. | Retro design lovers, older users |
| Digital | Clear numbers (for example, 14:30) with the option of choosing font | Maximum readability, compactness | It might seem too boring. | Business users, minimalists |
| 3D-animation | Volume Clock with Paralax Effects (available on AMOLED) | Impressive visual effect, dynamism | Increased battery consumption can be a distraction | Youth, gadget lovers |
| Dynamic | Changes color/style depending on the time of day or wallpaper | Adaptability, fresh look every day | Not always predictable results | Creative people who love change |
| Minimalist | Only time in small print in the corner of the screen | Maximum free space for weather widget | It's hard to see at first sight. | Clean screen fans, owners of small displays |
Important detail: On Always-On Display devices (such as the Xiaomi 13T Pro), the style of the watch on the off screen may differ from the main one. To sync them, go to Settings → Always on screen → Sync Styles.
Hidden functions and life hacks for watches on lock
Many Xiaomi users are unaware of the hidden features of the watch setup, and here are some professional tricks:
- 🔧 Change the color of the numbers: in some styles, you can choose the color from the palette. To do this, hold your finger for a style preview for 2 seconds
- 🔧 Adding seconds: Digital styles often have hidden second display options. Activated via Additional settings → Showing seconds
- 🔧 Animation when unlocking: on MIUI 14+ The clock can be transformed smoothly when swiped up. → Animation of the system
- 🔧 Own fonts: through themes MIUI You can download custom fonts for the clock (for example, Digital-7 retro-electronic)
For advanced users, there is a way to activate the hidden Neon Clock style, which is officially only available on Chinese firmware.
1. Install the application "MIUI Hidden Settings" from the Play Market
2. Go to the "Lockscreen" section.
3. Activate the "Enable Neon Clock Style" option
4.Reset the deviceHow to return the standard watch after experiments?
Caution! On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+), changing system fonts through ADB can cause Always-On Display to fail. Before experimenting, back up through Settings → Additional → Backup.
How the style of the watch affects the autonomy of the device
Few people think about it, but the style of the watch directly affects battery consumption, especially on devices with Always-On Display (AOD). According to tests of the Xiaomi lab, the difference in power consumption between the most economical and the most “voracious” style can reach 15% in 8 hours in standby mode.
Here’s how consumption is distributed (tested on Xiaomi 13 Pro with a new model) AMOLED-screen):
- 🔋 Minimalist black text on a black background: 0.3%/hour
- 🔋 Digital watches with standard font: 0.5%/hour
- 🔋 Analog clock with second hand: 0.8% / hour
- 🔋 3D-Animated hours with effects: 1.2%/hour
- 🔋 Dynamic clock with changing animations: up to 1.5% / hour
Advice for owners of devices with a small battery (for example, POCO X5): If you want autonomy, choose styles with minimal animation and maximum use of black (for the first time). AMOLED-Black pixels are actually turned off, which saves charge).
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On devices with Always-On Display, you can set your watch schedule, for example, turn it on only on weekdays from 7:00 to 23:00. This will save up to 20% charge per night. → Always on screen. → Schedule.
An interesting nuance: MIUI 15 has introduced the Adaptive Energy Saving feature, which automatically simplifies the style of the watch at a low charge level. To activate it, go to Settings → Battery → Adaptive Lockscreen.
Top.-5 Watch styles for different use cases
The choice of watch style should depend on your lifestyle and smartphone usage habits, and we have prepared recommendations for scenarios:
- For business people and business people, the style: Digital Bold is large numbers with the ability to display the date and day of the week. It is best combined with dark wallpaper and the theme "Dark Mode." The advantage is that information is read in a split second, there are no distractions.
- For creatives, 3D Morph is an animated watch that changes shape smoothly throughout the day, perfect for those who like custom solutions. Advice: combine with Super Wallpapers for maximum effect.
- For athletes and active users, the style: "Sport Digital" is a minimalist digital style with large numbers and the ability to display pulse (if you have a Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch connected).
- For older people or users with visual problems Style: "Big Analog" - enlarged analog dial with high contrast arrows, it is recommended to use with wallpaper light colors for better visibility.
- For fans of retro and cyberpunk Style: "Neon Grid" (available via MIUI themes) - numbers in the style of electronic scoreboards of the 80s, perfectly combined with a dark theme and wallpaper in the style of "syntwave".
Professional Lifehack: If you need to check time in different time zones often, activate the World Clock widget on the lock screen. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Widgets → Add World Clock.
Frequent problems and their solutions
When changing the style of the watch, Xiaomi users sometimes face unexpected problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:
⚠️ Attention, if after the update MIUI The lock screen clock is gone, a sign of a failure in the com.android.systemui service. Don't try to reset to factory settings:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management
- Find the System Interface (com.android.systemui)
- Click "Storage" → "Clear the cache"
- Reset the device
Another common problem is that the watch doesn't display correctly after changing the theme, because of a font conflict.
1. Delete the current theme (Settings → Theme → My themes → Delete)
2. Set a standard MIUI theme
3. Go back to the clock settings and choose the style againOn some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro) after activation of the power saving mode, the clock on the lock can “twitch” or display with a delay. FPS. To correct:
- Go to Settings → Battery → Energy Saving Mode
- Select “Balanced” instead of “Super Energy Saving”
- Add "System Interface" to the exceptions
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If the clock still doesn’t work properly after all the manipulations, check if you have customization apps (e.g., “Hex Installer” or “Substratum”) installed.