How to put a clock on the desktop of the phone Xiaomi: all ways with pictures

Why do you need a clock on your desktop and what are widgets

Displaying time on Xiaomi’s home screen isn’t just a matter of convenience, it’s a way to optimize the interaction with the device. Many users are used to gaze at the screen to see the current time without unlocking the phone, especially for those who use a smartphone in Always On Display (AOD) mode or prefer minimalist wallpaper without distractions.

MIUI firmware (12 to current 14) has several types of watch widgets, from classic analog and digital to dynamic with weather or calendar. However, not everyone knows that in addition to standard solutions, there are third-party applications with advanced customization, such as KWGT or UCCW, which allow you to create a unique design for any style. It is important to understand that the choice of method depends on the version of the MIUI, the phone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Pro, Xiaomi 13T, etc.) and even the current design theme.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from basic settings to advanced tricks for power users.

🔹 Add a standard watch widget through the menu MIUI
🔹 Set up the time display in mode AOD (including POCO Redmi without AMOLED-screen)
🔹 Use third-party launchers for flexible customization
🔹 Create an animated watch with the help of KWGT or Zooper Widget
🔹 Solve typical problems (widget not displayed, reset settings, etc.)

📊 Which watch widget do you prefer?

Standard digital

Analog clock

Weather watch

Castomic design (KWGT, etc.)

I don't need a watch on the screen.

The easiest and most versatile method is to use a built-in widget. MIUI. It works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO (Except for devices with heavily stripped firmware, for example, for some regional versions. MIUI 12/13/14 Android 10-14.

To add a widget:

Press and hold the empty space on your desktop (not on the icon!).
In the menu that appears, select Widgets (or Widgets in English firmware).
Scroll through the list to the Clock section. There may be options here: 🕒 Digital watches (different sizes: 2×1, 4×1, 4×2) 🕘 Analog clocks (round, square, square) 🌤️ Weather watches (combined widget)

Choose your favorite option and drag it to the free screen space.

If the widget doesn’t appear in the list, check:

🔄 Update the firmware to the latest version (in Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
📱 Make sure there is free space on the screen (widgets need a fixed area).
🔧 Reboot your phone – sometimes it solves the widget loading problem.

☑️ Preparation before adding a widget

Check out the MIUI version (Settings → About the phone)Make room on the desktopRestart the device (if the widget does not appear)Make sure the developer mode is on (not necessarily, but helps with bugs)

Done: 0 / 4

Important! On some models (e.g. POCO M4 Pro or Redmi 10C), built-in watch widgets may not be available due to optimization of firmware for budget devices, in which case move to method 3 or 4.

Method 2: Always On Display (AOD) – a watch on a screen that is turned off

The feature is Always on Display (AOD) It allows you to see the time, date and notifications even when the screen is locked, and it's available on most Xiaomi devices. AMOLED-displays (e.g., Xiaomi) 13/12/11 series, Redmi K50/K60, POCO F4/F5). On the phones with IPS-screens (e.g. Redmi Note) 11 or POCO M5) AOD It works differently – through periodic lighting.

To set up the AOD:

Go to Settings → Screen → Always On Display
Turn on the slider Always on Display.
Choose the display style: 🕝 Digital watches (minimalistic appearance) 🎨 Thematic style (changes depending on the wallpaper) 📅 The clock + date/weather (extended information)

AOD schedule

On IPS-screen devices (such as the Redmi 9/10 series), the AOD function is simulated by briefly turning on the display when you double tap or lift the phone, which saves charge, but does not show time constantly.

How to check the screen type of your Xiaomi?

Open Settings → About Phone → All specs. Find the Display Type bar. If AMOLED or Super AMOLED is specified, your phone supports full AOD. If IPS LCD, only imitation will work.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g. global version for the POCO X3 Pro) option AOD It could be hidden, so it could be turned on:

Install the Activity Launcher app from Google Play.
Open it and find the activity of com.android.settings/.display.AodSettings.
Open it and open the hidden AOD menu.

Method 3: Castom widgets via KWGT or Zooper

If you don't like built-in widgets, you can create unique watches with customization apps.

🎨 KWGT Kustom Widget Maker – flexible constructor with support for animations and scripts.

Let’s look at the KWGT example:

Download KWGT from Google Play (there is a free version with restrictions).
Open the app and select Add a widget to the main screen.
In the list of templates, find the Clocks section.
Choose your favorite design and click Save.
Return to desktop, press and hold the empty space → Widgets → find KWGT and add it.

For advanced users, KWGT can edit every widget element, add animations as time changes, or even integrate weather data, for example, making the clock background vary with the temperature on the street.

💡

If you add a KWGT widget, you can check the screen zoom settings in Settings → Screen → Text and Display Size. Set a standard scale (100%).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro with firmware for India) have widgets KWGT They may not be updated in the background to fix it:

Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → KWGT.
Enable Auto Start and Work in the background.
Add the app to the list with no battery restrictions.

Method 4: Use of third-party launchers (Nova, Apex, Hyperion)

If you don’t like the standard MIUI launcher, you can install an alternative one — like Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Hyperion Launcher — which offers more options for desktop customization, including widget integration.

Instructions for Nova Launcher:

Download and install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
Assign it to the default launcher (at the first start, an offer will appear).
Press and hold the empty space on the screen → Widgets.
In the list, look for watch widgets (like Nova or Chronus Watches).
Add the selected widget to the screen and adjust its size/position.

Advantages of third-party launchers:

🔧 Flexible setting of the desktop grid (you can make a watch of any size).
🎨 Support for icon packs and themes.
🔄 Ability to back up settings.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi devices with highly optimized firmware (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C31) Third-party launchers may be unstable, with lags or spontaneous returns to a standard launcher:

Disable MIUI Optimization via ADB (requires an unlocked bootloader).
Or use the launcher in the “light theme” mode (Light Theme in the Nova settings).

Comparison of methods: what way to choose

To help determine, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each option:

Method	Pluses	Cons	Suitable for
Standard MIUI widget	✅ You're setting up fast.✅ Does not require third-party applications✅ Saves battery life	❌ Limited choice of designs❌ Some models are not available	All Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO devices with MIUI
Always On Display (AOD)	✅ You can see it without unlocking.✅ Energy efficient on AMOLED✅ Animation support	❌ It doesn't work on all models.❌ Could drain the battery on IPS-screen	Xiaomi 11/12/13, Redmi K50/K60, POCO F4/F5
KWGT/Zooper Widget	✅ Full customization✅ Animations and scripts✅ Integration with other data	❌ It's hard to set up a beginner.❌ Can brake on weak devices	Advanced users, lovers of customization
Third-party launchers	✅ Flexibility of settings✅ Support for themes and icon packs✅ Backup	❌ Could be in conflict with MIUI❌ Requires additional permits	Those who want to completely change the interface

If you want simplicity and speed, choose a standard widget or AOD. If you want a unique design, try KWGT or third-party launchers. For IPS-screen devices, the best balance between functionality and battery savings will come from a combination of a standard widget + Nova Launcher.

💡

On devices with MIUI 14 and later, standard watch widgets support dynamic wallpaper – the watch can automatically adjust to the colors of your theme.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even after you set up the watch widget correctly, we can look at the most common problems and ways to fix them:

1.The widget does not update the time

If the clock is “frozen” on one value:

🔄 Reboot the phone.
📱 Check the battery settings for the watch (or KWGT, if you use a custom widget: Work in the background should be allowed.
⚙️ Update the Clock app via Google Play.

2.The widget disappears after the reboot

This is a typical problem for POCO and Redmi with optimized firmware.

🔧 Enable Application Protection for Launcher or KWGT In Settings → Annexes → Application management.
📱 Install an alternative launcher (like Nova) and add a widget through it.

3. AOD not working AMOLED-screen

If the function is on but the clock is not shown:

🔄 Check if it's off. AOD In Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime.
📱 Update the firmware - in older versions MIUI were bugs with AOD On some models (for example, Xiaomi 11 Lite) NE).
⚙️ Reset the screen settings: Settings → Screen. → Resetting screen settings.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) post-update MIUI 14 may throw off style AOD. To avoid this, make a backup of settings through Settings before updating. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I display seconds on the watch widget in MIUI?

Standard MIUI widgets don't provide second displays, but you can: Use KWGT or Zooper Widget -- they have second-hand templates. Set a third-party watch, like Clock Widget or Digital Clock Widget from Google Play. Some firmware (like MIUI EU) have a stopwatch in the status bar, but it doesn't replace the widget.

Why does the watch widget eat the battery?

If you notice increased battery consumption after adding a widget, the reasons may be as follows: AOD on IPS-screen: on such displays (e.g., Redmi 9 or POCO M3) It's simulated by the lights being turned on frequently, which consumes a charge. KWGT Check the widget update settings (optimally, once per minute). Background processes: some widgets (especially weather) are constantly synchronizing data. Solution: disable AOD Or use a standard widget without animations.

How to make a transparent watch widget?

Standard MIUI widgets don't support transparency, but you can: Use KWGT: Choose a pattern with a transparent background. In the editor, remove the background layer. Install UCCW and create a widget with transparency manually. Use Nova launcher with customization of transparency of icons and widgets. For better effect, choose wallpaper with a homogeneous background (for example, a gradient or abstraction).

Does AOD work on the POCO X3 Pro?

POCO X3 Pro is equipped IPS LCD-It's not supported on the screen, so it doesn't support a full Always On Display, but instead it uses Lift to wake, or double tap on the screen, which briefly turns on the clock display. → Screen. → Lift to wake up. Turn on the option to Show the clock when locked.

Can I put my watch on the lock screen without AOD?

Yes, even without AOD, the lock screen displays a watch. To set it up: Go to Settings → Lock screen. Select Watch Style and customize the look. Turn on Date and other elements if necessary. Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10) can also enable weather or notifications on the lock screen.