How to display a watch on the screen of the phone Xiaomi: all ways

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, which run on MIUI shells and the new HyperOS, provide users with ample opportunities to personalize the interface. One of the most popular requests is to adjust the display of time on the main or locked screen. This is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also a functional need to quickly check the current time with a glance method without unlocking the device or launching applications. Device owners often look for ways to make the dial more noticeable, change its style or turn on permanent display.

The setup procedure depends on the specific version of the Android operating system, your gadget model and regional firmware. Standard system tools allow you to change fonts, time formats (12 or 24 hours) and add seconds. However, to implement the Always On Display feature (always on screen) or install complex widgets, you may need additional actions. In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from basic settings to using third-party solutions.

Setting up the display of time on a locked screen

The basic level of personalization is the lock screen that the user sees immediately after pressing the power button. This is where most often you need to change the size, font or format of the display of the watch. In standard MIUI settings, this functionality is not hidden deep, but requires careful approach to the choice of the theme, since system fonts can limit the possibility of change.

You need to go to the settings menu first. Find Always on screen and lock or just Lock Screen depending on the firmware version. Here you can choose from the preset styles. If the standard options seem too boring, the system offers to download new themes through the built-in Themes Store. It is important to understand that changing the theme often changes the design of the clock on the locked screen and on the desktop.

To change the format of the time from 12-hour to 24-hour, you need to go to the system settings of the date. → Date and time. Here you can activate the display of seconds, if this option is supported by the chosen lock style. Some users prefer to see seconds to synchronize actions, but this can slightly increase the battery consumption. OLED-screen.

⚠️ Attention: When installing third-party themes from Themes store, carefully read the description. Some themes can only change icons, do not touch!, bend the lock screen, or, conversely, completely block the system time widgets with their counterparts.

• 🕒 Go to Settings. → Always on screen and lock for basic style choices.
• 🎨 Use the Themes app to search for designs with large or animated watches.
• ⚙️ Check the Date and Time section for 24-hour format switching and second inclusion.

Use of time widgets on the desktop

The desktop (Home Screen) is the space where the user spends the most time, so placing an informative watch here is a priority. Xiaomi shells offer several types of time widgets, from minimalistic digital to complex analog with date and weather. Adding a widget is the easiest way to bring the watch to the screen of the shaomi phone without deep immersion in the technical settings.

To install the widget, you need to pinch the empty area on the desktop with your finger before the edit menu appears. The Widget button will appear at the bottom of the screen. In the list that opens, find the Watch category. The system will offer several options: large digital clocks, handheld, second handed or combined with the weather. Drag the selected element to the free screen space.

If a standard set of widgets is not enough, you can use third-party applications from Google Play, such as HD Widgets or Overdrop. They allow you to create unique designs, synchronize time with atomic clock servers and change color depending on the time of day.

• 📱 Press your finger on the empty desktop space to enter edit mode.
• 📂 Select Widgets from the bottom menu and find the watch category.
• 🖌️ Use third-party apps to create a unique dial design.

Always On Display (AOD) on Xiaomi

Always On Display (AOD) technology allows time, date and notifications to be displayed on a smartphone screen that is off, taking advantage of OLED-matrixes where only individual pixels glow. This creates the effect of a getting stuck clock that is visible even when the phone is lying on the table with the screen up. On Xiaomi devices, this feature is often called the Event Indicator or the Always On Screen.

Activation of AOD is done via the Settings path → Always on screen and lock → Always on screen. Here you can choose to work: display constantly, on a schedule (for example, from 8:00 to 23:00) or 10 seconds after touching. The latter option is most energy efficient. In the same menu, you can choose a style: you can leave simple numbers, add animations or lunar phases.

It is worth noting that on some budget models Redmi or older versions MIUI This feature may not be available at the software level, even if the screen is OLED. In such cases, the system can only offer a simplified Event Indicator, which shows only notification icons, but not the time. AOD Sometimes you need to install themes that support this function.

⚠️ Always on Display increases battery consumption by 1-3% per hour depending on the brightness and complexity of the animation, it is recommended to use "Schedule mode" to save energy.

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For maximum energy saving when using AOD, set a dark theme and minimize the number of active elements on the lock screen.

• 🌙 Turn it on. AOD In the section Always on the screen and lock.
• ⏰ Set up a work schedule so that the screen does not burn at night.
• 🎨 Choose the display style: static or animated.

Change fonts and styles through the Topics app

Themes is a powerful customization tool that is often underrated, and it can change not only wallpaper but also the system font, which directly affects how the clock looks on the screen of the phone. Global themes change the entire interface at once, while using only font affects all text elements of the system, including the clock in the status bar and widgets.

To change the font, open the Topic app, go to profile (human icon) and select Fonts. There are thousands of free and paid options available in the directory. Once you download the font, click Apply. The system will ask you to restart the device or apply changes on the fly. Note that some handwritten fonts may not read well on the small size of the digits in the status bar.

The live wallpaper and dynamic themes deserve special attention. They may contain built-in time widgets that are different from the system. When installing such a theme, the system will suggest using all components or selecting individual ones. If you only need a watch, when using the theme, uncheck the wallpaper and icons, leaving only the lock screen.

Solving the Problems of Time Disappearance

Users sometimes experience a time when the clock is lost from the lock screen or desktop, which can be caused by a launcher failure, system update or a conflict of the installed theme. If time is lost after the MIUI update, the first thing to check is whether the widget settings have reset. Often after the update, the time widget simply shifts or hides behind other icons.

If time is not displayed on the locked screen, perhaps activated mode "Do not disturb" with special settings for hiding information, or turned on the power saving mode that turns off AOD. Check the battery settings and make sure that the system processes are not tight restrictions, and the problem may be hidden in the cache of the application "Security" or "Themes".

For diagnosis, try switching the theme to a standard one ("Classic" or "Default"). If the time comes, it means that the problem was in a third-party theme. If the time is lost with a standard theme, try clearing the System Launcher cache through the application menu.

• 🔄 Switch to a standard theme to eliminate design conflict.
• 🗑️ Clear the launcher cache and the "Themes" application in the application settings.
• 🔋 Check if the power saving mode blocks the screen.

Additional features of widgets and third-party applications

Xiaomi's standard functionality is flexible, but sometimes you want something unique. Google Play offers solutions that take time display to the next level. Apps like World Clock Widget allow you to display time in multiple time zones at once, which is useful for those who work with foreign partners. Other utilities like Flip Clock mimic mechanical displays with flip-flopping numbers.

When installing third-party widgets, it is important to consider the resolution of your smartphone screen. On devices with a droplet or hole in the screen (punch-hole), the widget can be blocked by the camera. In such cases, you need to manually adjust the size of the widget, stretching its grid when installing. Some launchers, such as Nova Launcher, give more freedom in positioning, allowing you to place the watch anywhere, even where the standard MIUI launcher does not allow it.

Another interesting possibility is synchronizing the exact time over the network, so that the date and time settings must be ticked to use network time, ensuring that your watch will show the exact time, taking into account the transition to winter/summer time (where it is relevant) and time zones when traveling. A mistake of a few minutes can lead to problems with logging into banking applications and instant messengers.

⚠️ Note: When installing widgets from unknown sources, check the permissions requested. The time widget should not require access to contacts, microphone or geolocation unless stated as its primary function (e.g. weather).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The right time display setting on Xiaomi is a balance between aesthetics, functionality and energy efficiency. Use AOD wisely and choose the typefaces you can read.