Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have become the main information centers for their owners. One of the most popular interface elements remains the weather widget, which allows you to instantly assess the situation outside the window without opening unnecessary applications. However, after updating the MIUI shell or when switching from other brands, users often face difficulties: the standard widget disappears, ceases to update or looks unaesthetic.
There are several methods of displaying weather data, from using built-in system solutions to installing third-party widgets from GetApps or Google Play. The key is to correctly allow access to geolocation and background processes. If you want information to be updated in real time, you need to perform a number of power settings, which we will talk about below. Ignoring these steps can lead to the widget showing yesterday's weather.
Many users don’t know that the standard Xiaomi widget has hidden functionality and customization. We will describe in detail the process of adding a widget to the desktop, its settings and binding to a specific city. Also touch on the topic of widgets on the lock screen, as this often raises additional questions. The right setting will help you to always be aware of climate change, without unlocking the phone completely.
Standard weather widget in MIUI: installation and configuration
The first and most obvious way is to use a regular widget that's pre-installed in the shell, and it's minimalist in design and deep integration with the system, so to bring it to the screen, you have to tap the empty area of the desktop and hold the press until the edit menu appears. At the bottom of the screen, select Widgets. In the list that opens, find the "Weather" or "Weather" section.
Inside the section, you'll see a few design options: a classic rectangular widget, a square and vertical block with a weekly forecast. Drag your favorite option to the desktop. Once placed, the widget will automatically request access to the geo-position. Access permission is a prerequisite for correct operation. If you refuse access, the widget will remain empty or show the default data.
To fine-tune the widget, you can tap it with your finger, and you can open a menu where you can change the city, the units of measurement (Celsius or Fahrenheit) and the format of the time. It's important to note that the standard widget is closely related to the Weather system application, and if you delete this app through ADB or third-party tools, it will disappear from the desktop, and you can only restore it by resetting or flashing it.
If the standard design doesn't suit you, MIUI allows you to change fonts and themes through the Themes app. Once you download a new theme, you can change the look of the widget without affecting its functionality. However, some themes may not support all widget sizes, which leads to distortion, in which case it is better to go back to standard design.
Set up the widget on the lock screen Xiaomi
Displaying weather on a locked screen is a feature useful for a quick look at the forecast. In recent versions of MIUI, this element is often integrated into the Wallpaper Journal or standard lock screen. To activate it, go to Settings → Lock screen. Here you will find the option to "Display the weather" or "Show widgets".
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the weather on the lock screen is not updated, this is due to aggressive energy savings that limit the background operation of the weather application. You need to go to the settings of the Weather application, select Battery → No restrictions. This will allow the system to update data even when the screen is locked.
It is important to note that in some models AMOLED-The weather widget may not be visible on Always On Display (AOD), If you have a specific design theme chosen. AOD Depends on the specific device model and shell version. - Owners of Xiaomi's flagship series 13/14 Redmi Note of the latest generations have more customization options AOD shop-in.
⚠️ Warning: Activating a large number of widgets on the lock screen can lead to increased battery consumption, especially if you use the Always On Display feature.
For those who want maximum control, there are third-party screen locking apps that completely replace the standard interface, which allow you to display any information, including detailed meteorological reports, but require permanent permissions to work in the background.
Third-party applications for weather display
If Xiaomi’s standard tools don’t seem informative enough, Google Play apps will come to your rescue, with Google Weather, Yandex Weather, and Weather & Radar providing widgets of different sizes and styles that can be displayed on the desktop in a similar way to the system.
To install the widget of a third-party application, perform the following actions:
- 📱 Click the empty space on the desktop and select “Widgets».
- 🔍 In the list, find the name of the installed application (for example, "Yandex»).
- 🖱️ Select the desired size of the widget and drag it to the screen.
- ⚙️ Configure the displayed parameters through the menu of the widget itself.
Google widgets are laconic and unadvertised, but they require an active Google Play Services service to work properly. This works out of the box on global firmware versions, but the Chinese versions (China ROM) may require additional customization of Google frameworks.
Third-party widgets often require more resources than system widgets. GPS-navigation to accurately locate even when the application is closed, which can affect the autonomy of the device, it is recommended to check the access settings to the geolocation and choose the option "Only when used" or "Always" if the widget should update automatically.
Fixing problems with updating the widget
A common problem with Xiaomi users is that the weather widget freezes and stops showing relevant information. This is because the system kills the upgrade process to save energy. To fix this, you need to prevent the system from restricting the application. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Weather.
In the app menu, find the AutoRun and turn it on. Then go to Battery Savings (or Battery Consumption) and select No Limits. This is a critical step for the widget's tab. Without this permission, MIUI can stop background data synchronization 15-30 minutes after the screen is turned off.
Also check the date and time settings. If the phone time is knocked down or manually set, the weather server can reject update requests. Make sure the Date and Time settings activate the "Use Network Time" option. Time synchronization is a basic requirement for any network service to work.
☑️ Diagnostics of the weather widget
If the widget shows the wrong city, try clearing the Weather app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → Weather → Memory → Clear the cache. Don't confuse it with cleaning the data, as this will reset all your widget settings. After cleaning the cache, restart the device.
Comparison of data sources for widgets
Different widgets use different weather services, which can lead to different forecasts. Understanding the source of the data will help you choose the most accurate widget for your region.
| Appendix/Widget | Source of data | Precision (LPG) | Battery consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi (System) | The Weather Channel / AccuWeather | Medium | Low. |
| Yandex Weather | Own sensor network | Tall. | Medium. |
| Google Weather | The Weather Channel | Medium | Low. |
| Weather & Radar | National services | Tall. | High-pitched |
For residents of Russia and CIS countries, Yandex widgets are often more accurate thanks to a dense network of weather stations and user reports. Xiaomi's system widget is good for integration, but can be late with rainfall forecasts. Weather & Radar provides the most detailed map, but requires more resources.
The choice of data source also affects the detailing, with some services showing only temperature, others humidity, pressure, wind speed and UV index. For full control of the microclimate, it is recommended to use widgets with advanced information, if the screen size allows.
Additional features and widgets of the “smart home”
Xiaomi's ecosystem allows you to display not only the general weather, but also data from home weather stations. If you have Mijia series smart devices or Aqara sensors, you can display the temperature and humidity indoors directly on your desktop.
The smart home widget is set up via the main widget menu. Select Mi Home and add a sensor-specific widget. This is useful for monitoring the microclimate in the apartment, especially during the heating season or summer. Data is updated in real time via Wi-Fi or Zigbee protocols.
Also worth mentioning are the "Always On Display"-style widgets for desktops. Some of the themes in the Xiaomi theme store mimic a screen that's off with the weather widgets constantly burning. This creates an interesting visual effect, but just like the real one. AOD, demand OLED-screen and increase energy consumption.
⚠️ Note: When installing themes from third-party sources (not from the official Theme Store), make sure they are safe. Modified widgets may contain malicious code or advertising modules.
Using weather widgets is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to improve smartphone productivity. A properly configured interface eliminates the need to constantly open your browser or apps. Experiment with combinations of system and third-party solutions to find the perfect balance between functionality and autonomy of your device.