Widgets on Xiaomi: where to look, how to add and customize MIUI 14/15

Widgets on Xiaomi smartphones are mini-programs that display useful information directly on the home screen: weather, calendar, quick settings or data from applications. However, many users can not find them in the system, especially after upgrading to the main screen. MIUI 14/15. The fact that the location and logic of widgets in the shell Xiaomi is different from the “pure” Android, and the interface is regularly changing.

In this article, we will analyze all ways to access widgets on any smartphone brand – from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi 14 and the other two. POCO F6. You’ll learn where to look for system and third-party widgets, how to add them to the screen, adjust the size and appearance, and solve problems (for example, when widgets disappear after an update). MIUI Instructions are valid for all firmware versions, including global ones (MIUI Global) and Chinese (MIUI China).

Where widgets are stored in MIUI: basic access

Unlike Google Pixel or Samsung, where widgets open with a long tap on the free space of the screen, the MIUI They're less obvious. There are three main ways to get to them:

• 📱 Through the widget menu: pinch the empty space on the home screen → Select “Widgets” from the bottom menu.
• ⚙️ Through the theme settings: go to Settings → Registration → Widgets (not available on all models).
• 🔍 Through Search: Swipe down the home screen to open the search and type the name of the widget you want (e.g., Weather»).

On certain devices (e.g, POCO X6 Pro or Redmi Note 13 Pro+) Widgets can be hidden due to active "Lite" mode or custom theme. If you can't see "Widgets" with a long tapa, try it:

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO F5) The path to the widgets may be different. Instead of the standard menu, use a swipe gesture from right to left on the home screen, which will open the bar with mini-programs.

How to add a widget to the main screen: step-by-step instructions

Once you find the widget you want, you just have to put it on the screen. It's simple, but there's a nuance for different versions. MIUI:

1. Open the widget menu (see section above).
2. Scroll through the list and select the widget you want (like “Weather” or “Google Search”).
3. Press its icon and drag it to a free space on the home screen or in the dock panel.
4. If the widget supports resizing, a frame will appear – stretch it to adjust the display.

Nana MIUI 15 adds Smart Widgets, which automatically adapt to your habits, for example, the Music widget will show the last track you listened to, and the Calendar widget will show the nearest events:

Settings → Design → Smart widgets → Enable

Make sure there is a free space on the screen

Update the app you want to add

Disable Power Saving Mode (may block widget updates)

Check permissions for the application (if the widget does not display data)-->

Why widgets don’t appear or disappear: Problem Solutions

Xiaomi users often experience widgets disappearing after an update, not showing up-to-date data or not being added at all, and here are the main reasons and ways to eliminate them:

• 🔄 Update MIUI: After major updates (for example, with the MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) widgets can be reset. Solution: remove the widget and add it again.
• 🔋 Power Saving Mode: If Ultra Power Saving Mode is enabled, the widgets stop updating. Turn it off in Settings → Battery.
• 📵 Application Restrictions: For third-party widgets (like Spotify or Yandex Weather) check permissions in Settings → Annexes → Permit management.
• 🎨 Custom themes: Some themes from the Mi Theme Store can block widgets.Bring back the standard theme.

If the widget is added but does not show data (for example, the weather is not updated), follow the following steps:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → [App name] → Clear cache


Settings → Applications → Permissions → [Application name] → Enable “Display on top of other windows”

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI China (e.g. imported Xiaomi) 13T Pro) some Google widgets may not work due to lack of Google services, the solution is to install Google Installer or reflash the device to the global version.

System vs. Third-party widgets: What to add to Xiaomi

V MIUI Widgets fall into two categories: system (built-in firmware) and third-party (from apps from the Play Market or Mi App Store), which mini-programs are available out of the box and how to add additional ones.

System widgets (by default)

• 🌤️ Weather: current temperature, 5-day forecast, UV index.
• 📅 Calendar: Day/week events, reminders.
• ⏰ Clocks: analog/digital, alarm clocks, world time.
• 📊 Steps/Health: Data from Mi Fitness or Google Fit.
• 🔋 Battery: charge level, operating time.
• 🎵 Music: Playback control (works with Mi Music and third-party players).

Third-party widgets (requires application installation)

To add widgets from Spotify, Telegram, Yandex Maps or other services:

1. Install an app from the Play Market (like Spotify).
2. Open the widget menu (see section 1) and find the section with the app name.
3. Add a widget to the screen and customize it (for example, select a playlist for Spotify).

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If the widget isn’t on the list, try restarting your smartphone — sometimes. MIUI Not immediately recognizes new mini-programs after installing the application.

How to change the size and appearance of the widget

V MIUI Most widgets support dynamic resizing and style. Here's how to do it:

1. Add the widget to the screen (see section 2).
2. Hold it and let it go – a frame with markers on the corners will appear.
3. Drag markers to change width and height. Some widgets (like "Weather") offer multiple fixed sizes (small, medium, large).
4. To change style, click on the widget → «Settings" (if optional) For example, the Watch widget allows you to select a dial (analog/digital) and color.

Nana MIUI 15 has Adaptive Widgets, which automatically adjust the size to the screen grid, to enable it:

Settings → Design → Additional → Adaptive widgets → Include

For Google widgets (like Search or Calendar), the look and feel settings may vary to change them:

• Press the widget and hold it.
• In the menu that appears, select “Edit Widget”.
• Customize the information displayed (for example, the number of events in a calendar or the unit of temperature measurement).

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Not all widgets support resizing, for example, the Quick Settings widget (switch panel) is fixed width, but it can be stretched vertically to display more buttons.

Widgets on a locked screen: how to add and configure

V MIUI There's a unique feature called widgets on the lock screen that allow you to quickly access information without unlocking your phone, like you can output the weather, pedometer or control buttons for music.

To add a widget to the locked screen:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select Lock Screen Widgets (Lock Screen Widgets).
3. Click Add widget and select the one you want from the list (system widgets and some third-party widgets are available, such as Mi Fit).
4. Configure the display: you can select the position (left/right) and transparency.

Please note the limitations:

• 🔒 Only 1 widget can be added on the lock screen (in some versions). MIUI — 2).
• 📱 Third-party app widgets (such as Spotify) may not support display on a locked screen.
• 🔐 For security, some widgets (such as Notes) require unlocking your phone to view full information.

⚠️ Note: If you use a Smart Lock (unlock by Bluetooth device or location), widgets on the lock screen can display sensitive data (such as messages) even when the phone is unlocked via Smart Lock. → Security → Smart Lock, if it is critical to privacy.

Hidden possibilities of widgets in MIUI: lifehacks

Widgets in MIUI They have a few hidden features that not all users know about:

• 🔄 Quick Update: To manually update the widget data (like the weather), tap it and pull it down – this will work like a swipe to update.
• 📂 Widget folders: B MIUI 15 you can create a folder with widgets. To do this, drag and drop one widget onto another (like with app icons).
• 🎨 Transparency: For some widgets (like "Weather"), you can adjust the transparency of the background. → «Style» → «Transparency».
• 🔗 Action links: The Quick Settings Widget can be configured to open the corresponding menu in the settings when you click on a button (such as Wi-Fi). To do this, hold the widget button for 2 seconds.

Another little-known trick is to create custom widgets using the Miui Home app, for example, you can make a widget with quick access to frequently used contacts:

Long tap on the screen → Widgets → Miui Home → Contacts → Select contacts

For advanced users, there is an opportunity to install widgets from APK (For example, custom watches or weather:

1. Download. APK widget (for example, with APKMirror).
2. Install the file by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Security → Unknown sources).
3. Restart the phone and the widget will appear on the menu.

FAQ: Frequent questions about widgets on Xiaomi