Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are no longer just a means of communication, becoming full-fledged information centers that the user keeps in his hands all the time. One of the most popular features that make interaction with the gadget more comfortable is the ability to see time without unlocking the device. This is not only convenient, but also aesthetically pleasing, because it allows you to personalize the appearance of the device.
However, not all users know where the desired switches are hidden in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS. the company’s interface often changes, and settings can be scattered across different menus, which causes difficulties for beginners. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to bring the watch to the Xiaomi screen, adjust its display and avoid excessive battery consumption.
Types of display of time on the locked screen
Before you start settings, it is important to understand what kind of screen modes the Android operating system offers in conjunction with Xiaomi’s proprietary shells. There are several ways to visualize time, each of which has its own power consumption and appearance. The choice of the specific method depends on your smartphone model and personal preferences.
The basic option is a classic lock screen that activates when you press the power button or when you receive a notification, and it only shows up when the screen is activated and disappears after a given timeout, which is a standard behavior of the system that requires no additional resources.
The most advanced solution is the technology Always on Display (AOD), It's a device that keeps some of the pixels of the matrix active all the time, and on these screens, the clock, the date, the notifications are visible even in sleep mode. AMOLED-screens, because LCD-Matrices cannot selectively highlight individual pixels without turning on all the backlights.
The third option is a widget on the desktop or lock screen, which can display time in different formats. They do not require constant glow of pixels, but take up useful interface space. For many users, it is the balance between information content and energy savings that is the decisive factor in choosing the type of display.
Activate Always On Display on AMOLED screens
If your device is equipped with a high-quality matrix, you probably want to use the feature of permanent display of information. To display the watch on the Xiaomi screen in AOD mode, you need to go to the system settings menu. Usually the path is as follows: Settings → Lock screen. In some versions of the firmware, this item may be called “lock screen and password”.
Inside this section, you should find the option “Always On Display” or “Lock screen and Always On.” Once you log in, you will be prompted to activate the “Lock” switch. The system may warn you that the feature will work for a limited time to save charge, but this limitation can be removed manually.
⚠️ Warning: Always On Display increases battery consumption by approximately 1-2% per hour depending on the brightness and complexity of the selected dial.
For more flexible management, you can also look at the schedule settings, and you can set up the automatic switching on and off of the function at certain times of the day, such as working hours or at night, to combine usability with reasonable energy consumption.
Also worth mentioning is the Smart Mode feature, which uses an accelerometer and a front camera, which only lights up when you pick up your phone or look at it, a great compromise that allows you to always see time, but not waste charge when the device is on the table.
Selection of style and personalization of dials
The standard watches the system offers may seem boring, but MIUI and HyperOS provide ample customization options. The Always On Display settings menu usually features a gallery of built-in styles that can be switched with a single touch, and analog and digital options are available, with or without a second hand.
For those who lack a standard set, there's a theme store, and to get there, you have to click on the style menu to click on the Online button or the store icon, and there are thousands of design choices that have been created by the company and independent designers, many of which are animated and touch-sensitive.
- 📊 Informative: Displays also date, battery level, steps and weather.
When choosing complex designs with bright colors and animations, it is worth remembering the resource intensity. The most energy-efficient are black and white dials with a minimum of active pixels. If you want a watch to be visible even in bright sunlight, choose high contrast styles.
Some themes allow you to change the color of the dial depending on the time of day or the wallpaper of the desktop, which creates a harmonious visual style of the entire interface. Experiment with different options to find the one that reads best in your lighting conditions.
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Use dark themes for Always On Display to minimize matrix burnout and save battery life.
Configuring lock screens for LCD displays
Owners of budget models Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco with LCD-The screens can also configure the display of time, although the technology is not available to them, such devices use the mechanism "Double touch to turn on" or "Raise to turn on", which activates the lock screen with the clock.
To activate these functions, go to Settings → Lock screen → Double tap to turn the screen on/off. Now, to see the time, just touch the screen turned off twice. This action wakes the display for a few seconds, showing the clock and notifications.
The alternative is to "Lift to Turn" -- a smartphone uses a gyroscope to detect motion, and when you pick up the device, the screen lights up automatically, and you can set it up in the same menu or in the "Additional Features" section.
| Parameter | LCD Screens | AMOLED Screens |
|---|---|---|
| Constant glow | Impossible. | Available (AOD) |
| Battery consumption | High on inclusion | Low/Mediocre |
| Clock style | Standard systems | Customizable/Shop |
| The risk of burnout | Absent. | Eats statically. |
It is important to understand that LCD-In the case of backlight screens, it works throughout the matrix area, even if only a small part of the image is on, so frequent use of the “constant screen” function on such devices is technically impossible without serious damage to autonomy.
☑️ Checking screen settings
Use of widgets and third-party applications
If standard features of the system are not enough, widgets and applications from Google Play come to the rescue. Widgets are a great way to bring the watch to the main screen or lock screen (if the launcher allows it) in any format. In MIUI, widgets are added with a long tap over the free space on the desktop and select the option “Widgets”.
Third-party applications such as Always On AMOLED WAlwaysOn, can emulate work AOD even some LCD-It's a screen, but it's not a battery-consumption issue, and it allows you to display complex graphs, GIF-Animation and even a video background with a clock.
When installing third-party software, you need to give it special permissions, often require access to "Above Other Applications" and disable battery optimization for a particular application, without which the system will force the process to close, and the clock will go out.
⚠️ Warning: Installing applications from unknown sources or questionable theme stores can lead to malware infection of the device.
Some launchers, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, have built-in lock screen customization and widgets that can be richer than standard ones, giving even more freedom in how to bring a watch to the Xiaomi screen, making the interface unique.
Using a live clock wallpaper is another option, and it can be static, but it can have a layer of time on top of it, but it's worth remembering that the active animation in the background puts a lot of stress on the processor and the battery.
Are the applications secure for AOD?
Solving problems and optimizing energy
Often, users are faced with a situation where the function is turned on, but the screen goes out prematurely or does not light up at all. The first reason is usually the aggressive MIUI energy saving system. You need to go to the battery settings, find the Themes application or the system service of lock screens and set the "No Limits" mode.
Another common problem is the proximity sensor: If there is a low-quality protective glass on the screen or there is contamination at the top of the display, the phone may "think" it's in your pocket and not turn on the screen.
If the clock is not displayed correctly (shifted, wrong font), try resetting the theme to standard. Sometimes custom themes conflict with system updates. Go to the Themes → Profile → Themes and select a standard theme.
- 🔋 Check the "Energy Saving" mode: it often turns off AOD.
- 🔄 Reboot the device: This solves temporary software failures.
- 📱 Update the firmware: in new versions of HyperOS fix screen bugs.
For maximum battery savings when using Always On Display, set your timer to 10 seconds after picking up your phone.This is usually enough time to look at the time, but the battery will be minimal.
In case the screen stopped responding to touch or the image “baked” (there is a trace of the clock), immediately turn off the AOD function and let the device rest. Prolonged static images at high brightnesses can lead to irreversible burnout of organic pixels.
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The optimal setting for the balance of convenience and battery is the Smart AOD mode with a 10 second timer and dark dial.