Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones offer users a wide range of personalization options, allowing them to turn the desktop into an informative control panel. One of the most popular features is displaying the current weather directly on the home screen, which eliminates the need to open a browser or a separate application every time. However, despite the apparent simplicity, device owners often face difficulties when adding widgets, especially given the differences in the versions of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can bring weather to the Xiomy Android screen using both standard system tools and third-party solutions. You will learn how to properly set up geolocation for data accuracy, change the appearance of the widget and, importantly, how to get rid of the intrusive advertising that sometimes occurs in standard applications. A deep understanding of the interface settings will allow you to create a truly convenient and aesthetic desktop.
It’s worth noting that the widget algorithms in recent Android updates have undergone changes to require certain permissions for background work. If the widget stopped updating or shows incorrect data, this is often due to the aggressive battery savings typical of Xiaomi devices.
Use of the standard weather widget in MIUI and HyperOS
The easiest and most reliable way to access weather data is to activate the built-in widget, which is pre-installed in the default system. MIUI and HyperOS shells offer several options, from minimalistic digital indicators to large blocks with a forecast for the week. To add an item, you need to pinch the empty area on the desktop with your finger until the screen goes into editing mode, and select the "Widgets" item in the bottom menu.
In the list you will find the category "Weather" or "Weather", the system will offer you to choose the size and style of the display: a compact square, a wide stripe or a large rectangle with detailed information. Once you choose the style, the widget will automatically fix on the screen, but for its proper operation will require an initial geolocation setting.
⚠️ Note: When you first run a standard weather widget, Xiaomi may request permission to access the location. For data accuracy, select the option “Allow always” or “Allow only when used”, otherwise the widget may show the weather for a random city.
It is important to consider that the standard widget is closely integrated with the system application “Security” and “Weather”, which provides minimal energy consumption. However, if you plan to use custom themes from the store GetThemes, the appearance of the widget can change according to the style of the theme, this is worth bearing in mind if you like to change the visual environment of the smartphone often.
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If the standard weather widget has stopped updating, try clearing the Weather app cache through the app settings without deleting the data itself.
Instructions for adding Google Weather widget
Many users prefer the Google ecosystem for its brevity and lack of advertising. The Google Weather widget looks stylish and provides comprehensive information, including humidity, rainfall and sunset times. To bring this element to the screen, the procedure is similar to the previous one, but search in the category of widgets of the Google app itself.
Press your finger on the free desktop space and go to the widget menu. Find the Google or Weather app (depending on the Android version, the name may vary). Choose the Weather option with the desired design — usually a square with a gradient background that varies depending on the time of day and weather conditions.
Once you have your widget on your desktop, it will automatically determine your location through Google Play services. If that doesn't happen, click on the widget to open the app and manually type in the city name, and the advantage of this method is synchronization with the voice assistant and Google calendar.
☑️ Checking the work of the Google widget
It’s worth noting that Google’s widget requires a stable internet connection to update background and data. Unlike the system solution, it can consume a little more traffic due to the loading of high-resolution graphics. However, the visual component and accuracy of predictions often outweigh this minor disadvantage for demanding users.
Set up third-party applications to display the weather
If standard solutions don’t meet your design or functionality requirements, third-party apps from the Google Play Store come to the rescue, with programs like Today Weather, Weather & Widget, or Overdrop offering hundreds of design options, animated backgrounds, and more detailed graphics, and installing an app is the first step toward unifying the interface.
After installing and initially configuring the selected application (entering the city, selecting units of measurement), you need to add its widget to the desktop. The mechanism is the same: long-press on the screen → Widgets → search for the name of the installed application. Often such widgets require additional permissions, such as accessing storage to load their backgrounds or precise geolocation.
- 🌤 Today Weather features a clean design and data usage from a variety of sources, including Dark Sky and AccuWeather.
- 🌡 Weather & Widget – offers a huge library of widgets that can be fine-tuned by changing fonts, colors and transparency.
- 🌪 Overdrop – known for its beautiful animated backgrounds and minimalist approach to the interface.
Using third-party widgets gives you more flexibility, but requires careful attention to battery settings. Xiaomi’s aggressive power saving mode can “kill” the widget process, which will stop updating the data. To avoid this, you need to go to the battery settings and select “No Limits” mode for a specific weather application.
Why can't the widget work?
Solving Update and Geolocation Problems
One of the most common issues that Redmi and Poco owners face is when the widget shows the weather for another city or stops updating altogether. 90% of the time it is due to privacy settings and permissions. Android 12, 13 and 14 have strict geo-location access rules that must be followed.
To diagnose the problem, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the weather app you are using (system or third party), and select “Allows.” Make sure that access to the location is set to “Allow Always” or at least “Allow Only When Used.” Also check if the GPS module itself is on in the notification curtain.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| City is not defined | GPS or access disabled | Enable geolocation in the curtain, give permission to the application |
| Data not updated | Energy saving regime | Put “No Limits” in the Battery Settings |
| The Wrong City | Definition error IP | Manually select the city in the widget settings |
| The widget disappeared from the screen. | Change of theme or launcher | Add the widget again through the editing menu |
If the widget shows the wrong city, try rebooting your smartphone after you turn on the geolocation. Sometimes the GPS module sticks to the old coordinates, and the reboot helps the system re-triangulate your location on cell towers and satellites.
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The main reason Xiaomi’s weather widgets fail is aggressive battery optimization. Be sure to turn off power saving for apps that need to be updated in real time.
How to remove ads in the weather widget Xiaomi
Users of Xiaomi devices often complain about banner ads that can appear at the bottom of the weather widget or when it is opened.This is part of the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system, which is active by default in global firmware. Fortunately, this feature can be turned off to make the interface cleaner.
To remove ads, open the Weather app, click three dots in the corner of the screen (menu) and select Settings. Find the Advanced Settings or Get Recommendations section and turn off all the switches related to ads and personalized recommendations. This action will not disrupt the widget, but remove unnecessary banners.
⚠️ Note: In some regions and firmware versions, the path to disabling ads may be different. If the app settings don’t have the right items, try disabling the msa service in the phone’s general settings by searching for “advertising».
Also, check your general system settings. Go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Access to Personal Data (or “Advertising Services”) and turn off personalized recommendations, which will reduce the amount of targeted advertising throughout the system, including widgets.
Fine look and widgets Always on Display
For those who want to bring the weather not only to the desktop, but also to the locked screen, there is a feature Always On Display (AOD). On supported models with AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12 and later) can be configured to display time and weather conditions even when the phone is asleep.
Customization is done through the Settings menu → Wallpaper and personalization → Always On Display and the lock screen. Here you can choose a style that includes a weather icon and the current temperature. This allows you to view the situation with a glance method without unlocking your smartphone.
- 🎨 Style – Choose minimalist fonts to save charge.
- 🕒 Schedule - set up the inclusion AOD only at certain times of the day.
- 🔋 Savings – Enable the mode where AOD It turns off if the phone is in your pocket.
In addition, users can install live weather wallpapers that change the picture depending on the conditions outside the window, such wallpapers can be found in the official theme store or downloaded from third-party sources, although this can increase battery consumption.