Why Xiaomi TV doesn’t have a watch and how to fix it
Owners of Xiaomi TVs (series Mi) TV A Pro, Mi TV Q1/Q2, Redmi Smart TV X and others often face a lack of constant display of time on the screen. Unlike smartphones, where the clock is always visible, televisions by default hide this information - and not by accident. The manufacturer believes that the constant numbers on the screen distract from viewing and can lead to the burning of pixels on the screen. OLED-But if you want to see the current time without going to the home page, there are a few ways to get the clock back.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for displaying time on the screen, from standard settings to hidden functions of the engineering menu. All instructions are relevant for Xiaomi TVs based on Android TV and Google TV (including models from 2020-2026). If your TV is running on PatchWall (firmware for India), some menu items may differ - we will mention this too.
Before you start, check two things: 1 Make sure the TV has the current time set (settings → System → Date and Time). 2 If you use a set-top box (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Box), the watch is set up in its interface, not in the TV itself.
Method 1: Enable the clock through screen settings
The easiest method is to activate the time display in standard interface settings, which works on most Xiaomi Mi TV and Redmi Smart TV models with Android TV firmware 9-12.
Step instructions:
- Open Settings (cog in the upper right corner of the main screen).
- Go to the Screen and Sound section → Screen.
- Find the Clock on the screen (or Show the Time).
- Activate the switch and select the position of the clock: Upper right corner or Upper left corner.
- Click Apply and restart the TV (optional).
If the Watch is not on the menu, your model does not support this feature at the firmware level, in which case move on to the following methods.
☑️ Preparation for clock setting
Method 2: Watch widget on the main screen
If a permanent display of time on the screen is not available, you can add a watch widget to the Android TV home page.This method does not show the time on top of the video, but allows you to quickly see it by clicking the Home button on the remote.
How to add a widget:
- 📺 On the home screen, scroll down to the Widgets (or Recommendations) section).
- 🔍 Find the Watch widget (usually hidden – click Manage widgets).
- ➕ Add it to your favorites by dragging it to the top of the screen.
- ⚙️ Set up the format of time (12/24 hour) in the widget settings.
On some models (for example, Mi TV P1), the watch widget may not be available, in which case install a third-party app from Google Play (for example, Clock for Android TV).
Method 3: Engineering menu (for advanced users)
If standard settings don’t work, you can turn on the watch through an engineering menu, a method that works on most Xiaomi TVs, but you need to be careful – incorrect changes can disrupt the system.
Step-by-step:
- Open the Settings. → On TV.
- Find the line build number and quickly click on it 7 times (should appear notification You became a developer).
- Go back to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.
- Activate Debugging over USB and Allow location simulation.
- Return to Settings → Screen and Sound → Additional and find the Engineering Menu item (may be called the Service Menu).
- In the engineering menu, go to OSD Settings → Clock Display and turn on the Always Show option.
What to do if the engineering menu is blocked?
Warning: Once activated through the engineering menu, the watch can be displayed on top of all apps, including Netflix and YouTube. To remove them, go back to OSD Settings and turn off Always Show.
Method 4: Applications for displaying time
If the built-in features don't work, you can install a third-party app from Google Play.The best options for Android TV are:
| Annex | Features | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Clock for Android TV | Simple widget with customizable formatting, 24/12-hour support | Download |
| Floating Clock | Floating clock over any content, transparency, font size | Download |
| TV Clock Widget | Minimalist design, weather integration, dark theme support | Download |
How to install and configure:
- Open Google Play on your TV (or install it via Send Files to TV from your smartphone).
- Find one of the apps above and install it.
- Launch the app and follow the instructions on the screen (usually allow overlay over other windows).
- Customize the position, size and style of the watch in the app menu.
💡
If the app doesn’t install, check if Unknown Sources are enabled in your TV security settings. Go to Settings → Apps → Special Access → Install Unknown Apps and allow installation for your browser or file manager.
Method 5: Update firmware to appear function
On older versions of firmware (up to Android) TV 10) the option of displaying the watch may not be available, in which case manual software updates will help USB-accumulator.
Instructions:
- Download the latest firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi Support website (select the TV section → your model → Firmware).
- Unpack the archive and copy the update.zip file to the flash drive (FAT32 format).
- Connect the flash drive to the TV through USB-port.
- Go to Settings → About TV → System Update → Update via USB.
- Select the update.zip file and confirm the installation.
After updating, check for the Watch on the screen in the screen settings. If the feature never appeared, then your model does not support it at the software level - use the applications from Method 4.
💡
Updating your firmware via USB is the only way to get new features on older Xiaomi TV models. However, it can reset some settings (such as saved Wi-Fi networks).
Frequent problems and their solutions
When setting up a watch on Xiaomi TV, users encounter common errors. Here's how to fix them:
- ❌ The watch does not appear after activation Check if the Movie or Game mode is turned on - they can block the display OSD. Switch to Standard Mode in Settings → Screen and sound → Image mode.
- ❌ Time is lost after switching off Activate Autosynchronization of time in Settings → System system → Date and time: If the problem persists, replace the battery on the motherboard (relevant for models over 5 years old).
- ❌ Watches interfere with watching movies in the engineering menu (OSD Settings) Install Hide Delay for 5-10 seconds – the clock will disappear after a predetermined time of inactivity.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with OLED-screen (e.g., Mi) TV Q2 OLED) If you frequently watch black-barred content (movie at 21:9), we recommend turning off the watch or using automatic concealment mode.