How to add widgets to the main screen Xiaomi: all ways and life hacks

Widgets on Xiaomi smartphones are not just a home screen decoration, but a powerful tool for quick access to important information, which can track the weather, manage a smart home, control battery power, or even run your favorite tracks without opening an app. However, many users face difficulties when adding widgets: they disappear after the update. MIUI, They are not properly displayed, they are not in the list of available.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to install widgets on Xiaomi (including models on the Internet). MIUI 14/15 And HyperOS, we'll look at the different launchers, and we'll give you some solutions, and we'll also share some of the secrets to how to return widgets if they suddenly disappear after resetting or updating the firmware.

What are widgets and why do they need on Xiaomi

A widget is a mini-program that runs on top of the main interface of a smartphone. Unlike conventional app icons, widgets can:

• 📊 Display dynamic information such as weather forecast, currency rate, or step statistics.
• ⚡ Manage device features – turn on/off Wi-Fi, adjust screen brightness, or run quick commands for Google Assistant.
• 🎵 Interact with content – scroll through tracks in the player, flip through photos in the gallery or read the latest news.
• 🏠 Integrate with a smart home – control Yeelight light bulbs, Mi Robot robot vacuum cleaner or Xiaomi cameras directly from the home screen.

On Xiaomi smartphones, widgets are implemented through a standard launcher MIUI Launcher (or HyperOS Launcher in new models), however, their functionality depends on the firmware version and the software installed. MIUI 12 widgets were severely cut, and in MIUI 15 of them were expanded again – added support for third-party solutions and animations.

It's important to understand that not all apps support widgets, like Telegram or other apps. VK They don't provide them, but Google Calendar, Spotify or Yandex.Pogoda -- yes. They can also be different in size, from smaller widgets to smaller ones (1×1) full-screen (4×4).

Method 1: Adding standard widgets through MIUI Launcher

This is the easiest method that works on most Xiaomi smartphones (from Redmi Note). 10 Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Instructions are relevant to MIUI 14/15 hyperos:

1. Unlock your smartphone and go to the main screen.
2. Make a long tap on any free screen spot (not on the icon!).
3. Select Widgets (or Widgets in English).
4. Scroll through the list of available widgets. Here you will see both system (e.g. Weather, Calendar, Notes) and widgets from installed applications (e.g. Google or Yandex).
5. Click on the desired widget and hold it to drag it to the main screen or to an additional desktop.
6. Release your finger to hold the widget, and if necessary, resize it by pulling corners.

Make sure there is free space on the main screen.

Update MIUI to the latest version

Reboot your smartphone if the widgets don’t show up

Check if the app supports widgets-->

If the widget doesn’t add or disappears after the reboot, try the following:

• 🔄 Update the firmware - in older versions MIUI There were bugs with widgets.
• 🧹 Clear the launcher cache: go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher and click Clear Cache.
• 📱 Reset the launcher settings: in the same menu, select Warehouse → Reset the settings.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi K60) The widgets can be hidden in the menu Additional or in the list of widgets. scroll through the list to the end!

Method 2: Install widgets through third-party launchers

If the standard launcher MIUI You are not satisfied (for example, due to the limited choice of widgets), you can use alternative shells:

• 🌈 Nova Launcher – supports customization of widgets, gestures and backup settings.
• 🔧 Action Launcher – allows you to change the size of widgets to pixel accuracy.
• ⚡ Lawnchair – lightweight launcher with support for adaptive widgets.
• 📱 Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration and widgets for office applications.

To install the widget through a third-party launcher:

1. Download and install the selected launcher from Google Play.
2. Start the launcher and select it as the main one (when a request appears).
3. With a long tap on the home screen, call the menu and select Widgets.
4. The list will include both system widgets and those that support the launcher itself (for example, Nova Launcher has a widget for quick search).

Important: When using third-party launchers, Xiaomi system widgets (such as for Mi Home or Mi Fit) may not work correctly or not display at all. In this case, try returning the standard launcher or using alternative widgets (such as Widgetsmith for iOS-like solutions).

Method 3: Widgets via Widgetsmith (for advanced users)

Widgetsmith is an app that allows you to create customized widgets for Android, which is especially useful if you don't have the standard solutions from Xiaomi.

• 🎨 Customize the design (colors, fonts, background).
• 📅 Add calendars, weather, time in a non-standard form.
• 📊 Create widgets for stocks, cryptocurrencies or sports.
• 🔄 Automatically update schedule data.

Instructions for setting:

1. Install Widgetsmith from Google Play.
2. Open the app and click Add widget.
3. Select the type of widget (such as Weather or Calendar).
4. Customize the appearance: change the font, color, add a background image.
5. Save the widget and return to the main screen.
6. Add the Widgetsmith widget through the standard widget menu (as in Method 1).
7. When you first add, select the template you created.

💡

If the Widgetsmith widget doesn’t update data (like weather), check the sync settings in the app itself. Sometimes it helps to manually run the update through the Update Now button.

Example of setting up the weather widget:

1. In Widgetsmith, select "Weather."


2.Put the location (you can manually or via GPS).




3. Select the display style (minimalistic, detailed, with icons).




4. Set the refresh rate (recommended 1 hour).




5. Save as "My Weather Widget."




6. Add it to the main screen via the widget menu.

Problem Solving: Widgets Are Not Added or Disappeared

Xiaomi users often find that the Suddenly widgets are missing or do not want to be added.

If the widgets are missing after the update MIUI, Try the following steps:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Launcher.
2. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data (this will reset the settings of the main screen!).
3. Reboot your smartphone.
4. Try adding the widget again.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+) After the launcher data is reset, the icon folders may disappear. Take pre-screenshots of the app layout to quickly restore order.

How to create your own widget for Xiaomi (without programming)

If you want something unique, like a widget to display data from the Mi Band or battery usage statistics, you can use widget designers.

1.Annex. KWGT Kustom Widget Maker

It's an advanced tool for creating widgets from scratch, and it takes a little bit of time to learn, but it allows you to make really unique solutions.

• 🎨 Design – complete freedom in the choice of fonts, colors, animations.
• 📊 Data – You can pull up information from other apps (like the weather from AccuWeather or steps from Google Fit).
• 🔄 Interactivity – setting up actions when you click (for example, opening an application).

Example of creating a widget to display battery power:

1. Install KWGT and open it.


2. Press "+" → "Create a new widget".




3. Select a size (e.g. 2x1).




4. Add the text element and enter the formula:




$bf(if(battery_level < 20,"🔋 Low charge!", if(battery_level < 50,"🔋 Medium,"🔋 Full")))$




5 Add the Progress Bar element and tie it to the battery level.




6. Save the widget and add it to the main screen.

Annex 2. UCCW (Ultimate Custom Clock Widget)

A simpler option for creating widgets with clocks, weather and basic information. KWGT seems too complicated.

Ready-made templates for both applications can be downloaded from sites like DeviantArt or Kustom Live Wallpapers.

Widgets for smart home Xiaomi: control from the home screen

If you have Xiaomi Smart Home devices (Yeelight lamps, Mi Robot robot vacuum cleaner, Mi Home Security cameras), you can control them directly from the home screen through widgets.

1. Make sure all devices are connected to the Mi Home app.
2. Update Mi Home to the latest version on Google Play.
3. Add the Mi Home widget through the standard menu (see Method 1).
4. Select the device you want to operate (such as a lamp or vacuum cleaner).
5. Configure the widget: you can add on/off buttons, a brightness regulator or light temperature.

Examples of smart home widgets:

• 💡 Yeelight – control of the brightness and color of lamps.
• 🤖 Mi Robot Vacuum – Quick cleaning start or return to base.
• 📹 Mi Home Security Camera - Viewing the latest camera shot.
• 🌡️ Mi Temperature and Humidity Sensor – Display of current performance.

⚠️ Note: Mi Home widgets only work when you are actively connected to the Internet. If your smartphone is not online, you will not be able to control the devices (even if they are connected to the local network via the Mi Home Gateway).

💡

For stable operation of smart home widgets, disable battery optimization for the Mi Home app. This will prevent connection breaks with devices.

FAQ: Frequent questions about widgets on Xiaomi