How to Open and Configure Xiaomi Widgets: A Complete Guide to All Versions MIUI hyperos

Widgets on Xiaomi devices are mini-programs that display useful information directly on the home screen: from weather and calendar to smart home management and quick access to smartphone features. However, many users have difficulty trying to add or customize them – especially after updating the firmware or changing the shell from the new one. MIUI In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to access widgets on different models Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, including hidden chips and solving typical problems.

It's important to understand that the widget management interface has changed with the release of new versions of the firmware. MIUI 12-14 Or have already switched to HyperOS, the algorithm of actions will be different, we will consider both options, and also give recommendations for older models (for example, Xiaomi Mi). A1 or Redmi Note 5), The logic of widgets is fundamentally different, and you'll also learn how to return remote widgets, why they might disappear after a reboot, and how to circumvent the shell limitations of third-party installations.

1. Where are widgets on Xiaomi: basic ways to access

On most modern Xiaomi devices (starting with the MIUI 12 and HyperOS) widgets are hidden in a special menu that opens with a long press on the free space on the home screen:

• 📱 Standard way (MIUI 12-14, HyperOS: a long tap on the empty space on the screen → The Widgets tab shows all available items grouped by category (weather, hours, media, etc.).
• 🔄 Alternative method (for older versions) MIUI): swipe to the right of the main screen → Edit button (Edit) → The widget section. This method worked on the MIUI 10-11, But now it's rare.
• 🖥️ On Xiaomi tablets (Pad) 5/6): The widgets are only available in the horizontal orientation of the screen. Turn the device over, then make a long tap on the desktop.
• ⚙️ Through System Settings: Settings → Desktop → Desktop setting → Widgets. This is a universal path, but it's less convenient for quick access.

If after a long press on the screen, the widget menu does not appear, check:

1. Is the Light Mode mode activated in the settings – it turns off widgets.
2. Whether a third-party launcher is installed (e.g., Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher) in which case the widgets are managed through the launcher settings.
3. Are widgets blocked by security policies (relevant for corporate devices)?

2. Step-by-step instruction: how to add a widget to the main screen

Consider the process on the example of Xiaomi 13 Pro with HyperOS (also relevant for the Redmi Note 12, POCO F5 For older devices, the logic is similar, but the menu may look different.

Step 1: Unlock the screen and go to the main desktop (not in the app menu!).

Step. 2. Press and hold your finger in the free screen space (not on the icon!) for a period of time. 1-2 It'll be a context menu.

Step 3. At the bottom of the screen, select the Widget tab (the icon with three squares). If it's not, swipe left through the panels at the bottom.

Step 4: Scroll through the list of available widgets. They are grouped by application (e.g. Weather, Calendar, Google) Click on the desired widget and hold it to drag it to the screen.

Step 5: Put your finger where you want to put your widget. Some elements (like the Watch or the Weather) allow you to resize -- pull around the corners after you place it.

Make sure there is free space on the screen (widgets are not placed over icons)

Check if the widget is supported by your version. MIUI/HyperOS

Close all background apps (they can block long clicks)

Update the app you want to add (e.g. Google or Yandex Weather)

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If the widget is not added or disappears after the reboot, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🚫 Power saving restrictions: some widgets (especially from third-party apps) are blocked by Battery mode.
• 🔒 Data protection: in Settings → Annexes → Permits → Autostart: Enable autorun for an application whose widget doesn’t work.
• 📥 System cache: Clear the launcher cache (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

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If the weather widget displays incorrect data, delete it, then reinstall the Mi Weather app (com.miui.weather2) It's going to be done through Google Play or the App Store, and it's going to work properly after you restart the device.

3. Hidden widgets and system features: what you didn't know

In addition to the standard widgets, the MIUI And HyperOS has hidden elements that don't appear in the main list, and you can activate them through specific commands or developer settings.

List of hidden widgets:

An important nuance: the Device Control widget only works when you are actively connected to Xiaomi servers. SIM-maps or with blocked access to Mi Cloud, the widget will display the error No network connection.

To activate some hidden widgets, you need to enable the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Press 7 times on the line Version MIUI (or the Assembly Number in HyperOS).
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate the Debugging option USB Allow modification of the widget size.

4. widgets on Xiaomi with HyperOS: what has changed

With the release of HyperOS (starting with Xiaomi 14, Redmi) K70 And the other models in 2026, the logic of widgets has changed a lot. MIUI:

• 🔄 Dynamic widgets: elements can now automatically change size and appearance depending on the content (e.g. Spotify widget shows the album cover in real time).
• 📊 Smart folder grouping: Widgets can be combined into folders on the desktop (for example, all the controls of the smart home in one group).
• 🔒 Improved security: Adding widgets from third-party apps now requires explicit permission in Settings → Confidentiality → Special access → Widgets.
• 🎨 Customization through themes: the appearance of system widgets (watches, weather) changes along with the established theme of design.

However, there are limitations to HyperOS:

⚠️ Note: Google widgets (such as Google Weather or Google Calendar) may not display correctly due to conflict with Xiaomi services. To fix this, disable battery optimization for Google apps in your settings.

If you're updated with MIUI HyperOS and widgets are missing, follow the following steps:

1. Reboot the device (this will reset the launcher cache).
2. Remove all widgets from the main screen, then add them again.
3. Check for updates for system applications in the App Store.
4. If the problem persists, reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Reset.

5. Problem Solving: Widgets don’t work, disappear or don’t update

Xiaomi users often face typical problems when working with widgets, let’s look at the most common cases and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: The widget does not update the data

• 🔄 For weather widgets or currency rates: check your internet connection and location permissions.
• ⚡ For social media widgets (VK, Telegram: Turn off battery optimization for the corresponding app.
• 📶 If the widget depends on Xiaomi servers (such as Mi Fit), make sure you have the current version of the app and Mi Cloud enabled.

Problem 2: The widget disappears after the reboot

This is a common error on devices with MIUI 13-14, work-related cleaning function RAM. To correct:

1. Open the Settings. → Battery and productivity → Cleanup RAM.
2. Turn off the Auto Clean option or add the app whose widget disappears to the exclusion list.
3. Restart the device and add the widget again.

Problem 3: You can't change the size of the widget

In HyperOS and New Versions MIUI Some widgets are fixed sizes, to get around this limitation:

⚠️ Note: Resize system widgets through ADB This may cause a launcher to crash. Before you execute the commands, back up your data!

adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1


adb shell am start -n com.miui.home/.settings.DevelopmentSettingsActivity

After that, in the launcher settings, the option to Allow the widget size change will appear.

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If the widget stopped working after the firmware update, first try to clear the launcher cache and the application to which the widget belongs. 80% of the time this solves the problem without resetting the settings.

6. Third-party launchers and widgets: how to get around Xiaomi restrictions

If you are not satisfied with standard opportunities MIUI or HyperOS, you can use third-party launchers (for example, Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher or Lawnchair) that offer advanced widget settings, including:

• 🎨 Customization of appearance: changing transparency, background color, fonts.
• 📏 Flexible size change: even for widgets that have fixed dimensions in a standard launcher.
• 🔄 Backup: Keeping the widgets in place when changing firmware.
• 🚀 iOS widget support: Some launchers allow you to install Apple-style widgets (for example, via the Widgetsmith app).

How to install a third-party launcher:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play (like Nova Launcher).
2. Open the app and follow the setup instructions.
3. To make it the default launcher, click Home and select a new launcher in the window that appears.
4. Add widgets via the launcher menu (usually a long tap on the screen) → Widgets).

Pay attention to possible problems:

• ⚠️ Some Xiaomi system widgets (like Quick Ball or Game Turbo) may not work in third-party launchers.
• ⚠️ Widgets that depend on Mi Cloud services (such as Mi Home) may require additional permissions.

For maximum compatibility, we recommend using launchers with support MIUI/HyperOS:

7. Smart Home Widgets: Managing Xiaomi Devices

If you use the Xiaomi Mi Home ecosystem (smart lamps, sockets, robot vacuum cleaners), widgets become an indispensable tool for quick management.

Step 1. Install the Mi Home app

Download it from Google Play or AppGallery (for devices without Google services). Sign in with your Xiaomi account.

Step 2. Add devices to the app

Press. + in the upper right corner, then follow the instructions for connecting each gadget (usually you need to press a button on the device and wait for synchronization).

Step 3: Set up the control widget

1. Open the widget menu (long tap on the screen) → Widgets).
2. Find the Mi Home or Device Control widget.
3. Drag it on the screen and select the devices you want to control.
4. Customize the look: HyperOS has display options (large buttons, compact view, status only).

Additional opportunities:

• 💡 Device Grouping: In the Mi Home app, create groups (such as Bedroom or Living Room) to control multiple gadgets simultaneously through a single widget.
• 🔄 Automation: Configure scenarios in Mi Home to allow the widget to trigger the action chain (e.g., “Evening Mode” – turns off the lights and turns on the robot vacuum cleaner).
• 📊 Statistics: Energy Monitoring widget shows electricity consumption by smart outlets per day / week.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Home widget doesn’t update device status, make sure your device and gadgets are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. In some cases, reconnecting devices to the Xiaomi cloud helps through Settings → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of data.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)