How to display the watch on the main screen of the Xiaomi phone: all ways + expert advice

You want to always see time on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO screen, but the standard watch widget disappeared after the update or simply doesn't show up? This problem is familiar to many smartphone owners on MIUI - Xiaomi's branded shell. Depending on the firmware version and phone model, the ways to add the watch to the home screen can vary, and sometimes require non-obvious actions.

In this article, we’ll break down 5 proven methods to return a clock to your desktop, including hidden settings. MIUI, You can use third-party widgets and even manually edit system settings for advanced users, and you can learn why clocks can go missing after a reboot and how to fix them once and for all. MIUI 12, 13 and 14 (including global and Chinese versions).

Why does Xiaomi not have a default home screen clock?

Unlike many other Android smartphones, Xiaomi does not place the watch widget on the desktop by default, which is due to the MIUI philosophy, which prioritizes minimalism and the ability of the user to customize the interface themselves.

• 🔄 Firmware update: After major updates (for example, with MIUI 12 on MIUI (13) system widgets may be discarded.
• 📱 Phone model: On budget devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) The functionality of widgets is limited.
• 🔧 System cache errors: Damaged Lawnchair application data (standard launcher) MIUI) They can block the display of widgets.
• 🛠️ Manual settings: The user could accidentally delete the widget or disable it in the screen settings.

Interestingly, on some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5), the watch appears automatically when first turned on, but disappears after resetting, which is due to the operation of MIUI Optimization algorithms that optimize the interface for user behavior.

Method 1: Adding a standard watch widget through the widget menu

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI Watch widget, which is available on all devices, but its location may vary depending on the version of the shell.

1. Press and hold the empty space on the home screen (not the icon!).
2. In the menu that appears, select Widgets (or Widgets in English).
3. Scroll down to the Tools section and find the Clock widget.
4. Hold the widget and drag it to a free space on the screen. Release your finger to lock.

If the Watch widget is not on the list, try:

• 🔍 Check for updates for the system app Watches in Google Play.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes widgets don’t show up due to a temporary crash.
• 📌 Make sure there is a free space on the screen (the widget won’t fit if all the cells are occupied).

There's a free space on the screen.|

MIUI shell updated to the latest version|

The Clock app is not disabled in the settings |

The phone is rebooted after the latest changes-->

Method 2: Use of alternative launchers (Nova, Lawnchair, Hyperion)

If you don’t like the standard MIUI widget (for example, due to limited design settings), you can install a launcher side, which will not only return the watch to the screen, but also customize it to your preferences.

The best launchers for Xiaomi with support for watch widgets:

Instructions for installation and configuration (for example, Nova Launcher):

1. Download and install the launcher from Google Play.
2. Click the Home button and select Nova Launcher as the default launcher.
3. Press your finger in the free space of the screen → Widgets → find the Watch widget (you can use both system and widgets from third-party applications, for example, Clock Widget).
4. Drag the widget onto the screen and adjust its size/style.

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If after installing the launcher, the clock disappears after restarting, fix the widget in the Nova Launcher settings: Settings → Desktop → Secure widgets.

Method 3: Watch widget via Google app (for MIUI with Google services)

Xiaomi smartphones with Google pre-installed services (global versions) can use the Google Discover widget, which includes a watch, which is suitable if you need not only a watch, but also quick access to the weather, news and calendar.

How do I add:

1. Hold your finger on the main screen. → Widgets.
2. Find the Google widget (or At a Glance in the new versions).
3. Select the size of the widget (recommended 4×2 or 5×2 for better time display).
4. Drag the widget onto the screen. The watch will be displayed along with the weather and brief information.

Advantages of this method:

• ⏱️ Automatic update of time and weather.
• 📅 Integration with Google Calendar (shows upcoming events).
• 🌍 Support for multiple languages and regional time formats.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models for China (without Google services), this widget is not available.

Method 4: Creating a watch label through "Tags and widgets" (for MIUI 13/14)

The latest versions of MIUI 13 and MIUI 14 have introduced the shortcuts and widgets feature, which allows you to create customized interface elements, and you can add a watch with a unique design.

Step-by-step:

1. Press your finger on the home screen → Shortcuts & Widgets
2. Select Clock from the list of available widgets.
3. Customize the appearance: 🎨 Color of the dial (you can choose a gradient or solid color). 🕒 Time format (12/24 hour). 📏 Size (from) 2×1 before 4×2).

Ready.

MIUI 14 now allows you to add animations for watch widgets (e.g., smooth color change depending on the time of day). To turn it on, after adding the widget, press it → Edit the widget → Animation.

Method 5: Manually add watches via ADB (for advanced users)

If none of the above methods worked, you can try to force the watch widget to activate via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for advanced users and requires connecting the phone to a computer.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included Developer Mode and Debugging by USB phone-on.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (CMD) and type in: adb shell pm enable com.android.deskclock/.DeskClockWidgetProvider
3. Reboot the phone. The watch widget should appear in the widget menu.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB-commands can cause system failures. Before executing commands, back up your data through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Solving problems: the clock disappears after a restart or update

Many Xiaomi users are faced with the fact that the watch widget disappears after a device reboot or MIUI update.This is due to the operation of the system process com.miui.home, which resets the desktop settings.

If the problem persists, try:

• 🔄 Install an alternative launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher).
• 📥 Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Lawnchair → Warehouse → Reset the settings.
• 🛠️ Disable optimization for the app Watch in battery settings.

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If the watch is lost only when using the theme of design, try to change the theme to the standard: Settings → Design Theme → My themes → Standard.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the watch on the screen Xiaomi