How to put your watch on the screen of the phone Xiaomi: the full guide

Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their flexible customization, allowing you to turn a standard locked panel into a personalized information hub. For many users, it is critical to see the current time without unlocking the device, especially in situations where the phone is lying on the table or in your pocket. The standard shell MIUI and its successor HyperOS provide powerful tools for managing time display, going far beyond basic Android settings.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available methods to bring your watch to the screen of your device. We will look at both classic home screen widgets and advanced Always On Display features that not all brands support. Understanding these settings will help you optimize your interaction with your smartphone and make your use of the gadget more comfortable.

Often users are faced with a situation where after updating the system, the usual settings are lost, or time ceases to be displayed in large print. It is important to know that in new versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS, energy saving algorithms can automatically turn off the constant display of widgets on a locked screen to save battery power.

Use of watch widgets on a locked screen

The most common way to see time is to activate the widget on the lock screen. Unlike the main desktop, where widgets serve decorative and informational purposes, here they play a functional role. The MIUI shell allows you to choose from a variety of styles of design, including analog and digital formats.

You have to go to the settings menu and select the look section, but depending on the firmware version, the path may be different. Sometimes the option you want is hidden deep within the system settings, which is difficult for inexperienced users. If the standard path doesn't work, you should search by settings.

Note that some of the themes downloaded from Themes store may completely overlap the system widget of the watch, in which case changing the system settings will not have a visible effect until you return a standard theme or theme that supports time customization.

• ⏰ Open Settings and go to the Lock Screen section.
• 🎨 Select the watch format to change the display style.
• 🖊️ Use the editor to customize the color and font size to your preferences.
• 📱 Make sure the clock widget switch is activated.

⚠️ Note: If you have set a third-party theme, the system settings for the format of the watch may not apply, in which case you either need to change the theme to the standard one, or look for the settings within the theme itself in the Themes app".

Once the settings are changed, the system may require a reboot of the interface, which is normal behavior, correct application of new styles, and if the changes don't happen right away, try unlocking and locking the screen again.

The Always On Display (AOD) function

Always On Display (or Always-on) allows you to display time and notifications on the off. AMOLED-It's not just a picture, it's a dynamic element that can respond to a hand approach or touch. This feature is available on most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and other models. POCO s OLED-matrix.

Activating AOD requires careful time settings, and even a few pixels can significantly affect the device’s day-to-day autonomy, so it’s wiser to set up time displays only at certain hours or when notifications are received.

Newer versions of the shell offer the ability to upload your own images or use video wallpaper for AOD, where time is part of the composition, which creates a unique visual effect, but requires more processor resources to render.

Access to advanced AOD settings may require you to log in to your Mi Account, a restriction that the manufacturer has introduced to synchronize user profiles and cloud styles, and without authorization, the set of available dials may be limited to a basic set.

• 🔋 Go to Settings. → Always on screen and lock.
• 🕒 Activate the switch Always on the screen.
• 🗓️ Select the operating mode: "Always", "At a predetermined time" or "10 seconds after touching".
• 🎭 Click on the style preview to select the dial design.

⚠️ Note: Always On Display is only available on devices with AMOLED-If you have a model with a screen. IPS-In the matrix (for example, many budget Redmi), this item in the settings will be absent or inactive.

It’s worth noting that when the battery is low (usually below 15%), the system can force the AOD to shut down even when a schedule is set, a protective mechanism that prevents the battery from running out at a critical moment.

Changes in font size and system clock

If you don't have a standard time size, you can increase it through system accessibility settings, which is especially true for people with low vision or those who prefer the largest typography possible, and changing this setting will affect not only the clock, but the entire interface of the system.

There is also the option of changing font sizes exclusively for locking elements without affecting the application menu, achieved through a combination of theme settings and system settings, but excessive font enlargement can cause time to stop fitting into the designated area of the screen.

In some cases, users want to return the classic look of the watch that was in older versions of Android, there are special modules or themes for this, but they require deeper intervention in the system, standard means can only be selected from the manufacturer's proposed.

When you change the system font, pay attention to the readability of other elements. Too large values can "break" the layout in some applications, making the text cropped or unreadable.

Remember that after applying the font settings, you may need to completely reboot the device to correctly display all elements in third-party applications.