Users often find themselves buying a modern Smart TV from Xiaomi and finding that there is no traditional wall clock on the screen, especially for those who use the TV not only for watching movies but also as an interior element. The lack of a standby dial can be confusing, because we are used to seeing time on microwave displays or old CRT monitors.
In fact, the Android TV operating system or the proprietary MIUI for TV have built-in mechanisms for displaying time, but they are often hidden in power saving or personalization settings. Unlike smartphones, where the watch is always visible, TVs by default tend to maximize energy savings, so the screen goes out completely. However, there are several ways to get around this limitation and turn the black screen into an informative scoreboard.
In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from standard system settings to installing specialized applications. You will learn how to set up automatic turn on the watch when it is down and what nuances there are in different models, whether it is an embedded Android TV or an external console Mi Box. The information will be useful for both beginners and advanced users who want to customize their experience using a multimedia center.
Standard settings of the screensaver and clock in the system
The first thing to do is check the basic operating system settings. Most Xiaomi TVs that run on Android TVs have Screensaver for displaying standby time. If this option is turned off, the screen will simply turn black after a given period of time. To activate the clock, you need to go to the settings menu, usually this is the Settings path → Device → Screensaver.
Inside the screensaver menu, you'll see a number of different design options, and the system offers a choice between color panels, Google's photo stream, and most importantly, a classic watch, and choose the "Clock" or "Digital Clock" style, and you can also set the time to go to this mode, for example, after 5 or 10 minutes of downtime, which allows you to watch content without interference, and when you pause, you automatically see the current time.
- ⏰ Choose the display style: analog or digital watch.
- 🖼️ Set up the background source for the screensaver (photo or color).
- ⏱️ Set a timer for the transition to standby mode.
- 🌙 Adjust the brightness of the clock for night time.
⚠️ Note: On some models of Xiaomi TVs with PatchWall shell, the standard Android screensaver can be replaced by a proprietary screensaver that does not show the time.
It is important to understand that the settings may vary depending on the firmware version. In new MIUI TV updates, the interface may be slightly changed. If you do not find the "Savenger" item in the main menu, try searching for it in the "System" or "Screen" section. Also make sure that the TV has the current date and time, as when the clock settings are down, the screensaver may not activate correctly or show incorrect data.
Use of the Fliqlo application and other widgets
If the built-in features seem too boring or functionally limited, installing third-party apps is a great solution. One of the most popular Android TV solutions in the world is the Fliqlo app. It emulates the famous rolling clock, which looks very stylish on large diagonals of Xiaomi screens, and it turns the TV into an expensive interior design item.
To install, you'll need access to the Google Play Store on your TV. Find the app on "Fliqlo" or "Flip Clock." Once installed, launch it and follow the instructions on the screen. The app can request permission to work in the background and access the system settings of the screen to prevent the display from turning off, which is necessary to ensure that the watch burns constantly, rather than going out after a minute.
In addition to Fliqlo, there are many other widgets available in the app store: there are watches with weather, news feed or even displaying the status of a smart home. When choosing an app, pay attention to ratings and the date of the last update. Old widgets can not work correctly on new versions of Android TV 10 or 11, causing the interface to slow down or incorrectly zoom the image.
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To install applications that are not available in the official store TV, You can use the Cast function from your phone or install it APK-file through a file manager downloaded from verified resources.
Setting up standby mode (Ambient Mode) for the Mi Box
Owners of Mi Box S or Mi Stick have access to an advanced feature called Ambient Mode, which allows you to stream useful information to the screen when you are not watching TV. Time, date, calendar events and even photos from your gallery can be displayed in high resolution while the device is in standby mode.
To activate this mode, make sure your Google account is synced to the console. Go to Settings → Accounts and Login → Ambient Mode. Here you can turn on the display of the watch in large print. The feature of this mode is that it intelligently determines whether you are in the room. If the light sensor or camera (if connected) detects the absence of people, the screen can go out to save the matrix life.
| Function | Description | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Google Clock | Classic clock with alarm clock | Google account |
| Art Gallery | Showing pictures and time | Google One subscription (optional) |
| Photo Frame | Slideshow from Google Photos | Google account Photo |
| Weather & Time | Full screen weather and time | Access to geolocation |
Ambient Mode also allows you to set your schedule, so you can set the time when it should turn on automatically, like in the evening after work, and turn off at night, which makes using your TV more convenient, because you don't have to pick up the remote control every time you just watch what time it is, and the system will take care of the mode switching.
The Problem of Screen Burnout and Time Out
With a constant display of static images, such as clock numbers, there is a risk of burn-in effects, especially on OLED-type matrices used in top Xiaomi models. Although modern panels have protection against this phenomenon, the display of still elements can leave a barely noticeable mark on the screen, which is why manufacturers implement hard timeouts.
The system can force the screen to go out or turn on a screensaver if the static image hangs too long. It's not a bug, it's a feature designed to extend the life of the matrix. If you want time to burn constantly, you'll either have to put up with periodic screensaver switching or use apps that shift the image slightly every few minutes.
⚠️ Note: It is not recommended to set the maximum brightness of the screen when using the TV in wall clock mode. 24/7. This significantly accelerates the degradation of LEDs backlight and increases the risk of pixel burnout.
How to check the screen burnout?
In addition, the constant operation of the screen in standby mode increases the power consumption. LED-The backlight consumes less energy than the old plasma panels, and a month of continuous operation is a significant amount. 15-30 Minutes of downtime unless you plan to use the TV as a full-fledged wall clock in the absence of people.
Third-party installation APK-clockwork
In some regions or on specific firmware versions (especially Chinese versions of Xiaomi TVs without Google global certification), the app store may be unavailable or limited. APK-This method takes a little more effort, but gives you complete control over the software you install.
You'll need to download. APK-file of the desired application (for example,"TV Clock or Screensaver on a computer or smartphone