Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV, Redmi TV, Mi TV A, and others) don’t always display the current time on the home screen — this feature is hidden in settings or requires additional manipulation. Users often face the problem: the watch disappears after updating the firmware, resetting settings, or simply inactive by default. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to display time on the screen, including official methods and workarounds for different versions of PatchWall and Google TV.
It’s important to understand that time display depends on the TV model, firmware version and even regional settings. For example, on Mi TV 4A with MIUI TV 3.0 firmware, the watch is set differently than on Xiaomi TV Q2 with Android TV 11. We’ll look at universal solutions, and also point out nuances for specific lines. If your TV does not support built-in time display, don’t worry: at the end of the article there is a section on third-party widgets and apps.
1. Standard method: customization via PatchWall menu
Most Xiaomi TVs run on the PatchWall shell, where time can be turned on through system settings. This method is suitable for models of Mi TV 4/4S/4A/4C, Redmi TV 70" and others with firmware up to MIUI TV 4.0.
Instructions:
- 📺 Press the Home button on the remote to open the main menu.
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Personal settings → Date and time.
- 🕒 Enable the option to “Show the Watch on the Screen” (or Display Clock in English version).
- 🔄 If the option is inactive, activate Auto Time Update first and select your time zone.
After settings, the watch will appear in the upper right corner of the screen, and if there is no option, your model does not support this function through the menu (see the following sections).
⚠️ Attention: On TVs with Google TV (for example, Xiaomi TV A2 43) the standard method does not work - use the methods in section 3 or 4.
2. Alternative method: through Android TV settings
Xiaomi Android TVs (Mi TV A series, Xiaomi TV P1 and new models) require a different approach, where the watch can be output through the operating system settings, but the interface is different from PatchWall.
Step-by-step:
- Open the settings (cog in the upper right corner).
- Go to Device and Preferences → Date and Time.
- Activate Automatic Date and Time and select a time zone.
- Return to the main menu and hold the Home button for 3 seconds, and a quick access panel will appear where the watch can be displayed.
If the watch doesn’t show up, try restarting the TV (Settings → Device & Preferences → Reboot).Some models require additional activation via ADB (see Section 5).
☑️ Preparation for time setting
3.The Clock widget on the home screen
On PatchWall TVs (before version 4.0), you can add a watch widget to the home screen, which works even if the settings don’t have a time display option.
How to add a widget:
- 🖥️ On the main screen, scroll down to the "Widgets" section».
- 🔍 Find the Watch (or Clock) widget and click Add.
- 📍 Drag the widget to a convenient location (for example, in the top row).
- ⚙️ Click on the widget and select “Settings” to change the format (12/24 o'clock) and display style.
If the widget is not listed, upgrade your TV firmware or use third-party apps (Section 6). On Google TV, this method doesn't work - use Google Assistant instead.
| Model TV set | Does it support the watch widget? | Need an update? |
|---|---|---|
| Mi TV 4A/4C (2018–2020) | Yes. | No (if firmware ≥ 2.0) |
| Mi TV 4S (2021) | Yes. | Yes (up to MIUI TV 3.5+) |
| Redmi TV 70" (2022) | Partially (in some regions only) | Yes (update to PatchWall 4.0) |
| Xiaomi TV A2 (Google TV) | No. | — |
4.Voice assistant and fast commands
If your TV supports Google Assistant or XiaoAI (Chinese firmware), you can call time with a voice command, which is temporary – the clock will disappear in 5-10 seconds, but is suitable for quick check.
Instructions:
- 🎤 Press the microphone button on the remote or say, OK, Google».
- 🗣️ Say one of the commands: "What time is it?" "Show the clock on the screen" (in English firmware)
- 🕐 The watch will appear as a pop-up window in the center of the screen.
This method is not suitable for permanent display, but it is useful if you need to quickly know the time without looking for a remote. On TVs with XiaoAI (Chinese version), the command sounds like ".
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If the voice assistant doesn’t respond, check the microphone settings in Settings → Voice Search → Microphone Sensitivity.
5. Hidden settings via ADB (for advanced users)
On some models (e.g. Mi TV Q1 or Xiaomi TV P1), the display of the watch is blocked at the firmware level, in which case you can activate the function via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer and basic command line knowledge.
Step-by-step:
- Turn on USB debugging on your TV: Settings → About TV → Assembly number (click 7 times) Settings → Developers → USB debugging (enable)
- Connect the TV to your computer via USB (or Wi-Fi if supported).
- Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) Enter: adb shell settings put global status_bar_clock 1 adb shell settings put global status_bar_clock_seconds 1
- Reboot the TV (adb reboot)
On TVs with MIUI TV 4.0+ firmware, this command may not work – instead, use:
adb shell am start -n com.mitv.tvhome/.MainActivity
adb shell settings put secure show_clock 1⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Before experimenting, back up your settings through Settings. → System system → Backup.
What to do if ADB is not connected?
6. Third-party applications for displaying time
If the built-in methods don't work, install a third-party app from Google Play (available on Android TVs).
- ⏰ Clock for Android TV — A simple widget with a customizable time format, supports 24/12-hour-time.
- 🌍 World Clock & Weather – Shows time, date and weather in one widget (requires location access).
- 📱 Floating Clock – Floating Clock – a floating clock that can be moved around the screen (useful for games or movies).
How to determine:
- Open Google Play on your TV (the icon in the app menu).
- Enter the name of the application in the search and install it.
- Launch the app and follow the instructions for setting up the widget.
For TVs without Google Play (such as Chinese versions), apps can be installed manually via Google Play. APK-Download the file. APK on USB-drive, connect it to the TV and open through the File Manager.
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Apps from Google Play are safer than APKs from unknown sources – after installation, check the permissions in Settings → Apps → [App Name] → Permissions.
7. Problem Solving: The clock doesn't display or gets knocked off
If the screen time disappears or shows incorrect data, check the following points:
- 🌐 Internet connection: without the network, automatic time synchronization is not possible. Check your Wi-Fi or Ethernet settings.
- ⏳ Time zone: if the wrong region is selected, time will be lost. → Date and time → Time zone.
- 🔄 Firmware update: outdated software can block the display of the watch. Check the updates in Settings → On TV. → Updating the system.
- 🧹 Resetting: If nothing helps, reset to factory settings (Settings) → System system → Resetting), but note that it will delete all data.
On Chinese firmware (without localization), the clock may not work due to regional restrictions, which can be done by flashing to the global version or using a VPN to synchronize time.
⚠️ Warning: If the watch is still not displayed after resetting, check if System Watch is disabled in the hidden menu of engineering settings. To access it, dial the code 981125# on the remote control (does not work on all models).