How to create a widget on Xiaomi: from simple icons to custom solutions

Xiaomi’s widgets aren’t just desktop decoration, they’re powerful tools for quick access to information, which can track the weather, manage a smart home, control battery power, or even run your favorite playlists — all without opening apps. But many users still don’t know how to create a widget on Xiaomi or are limited to standard MIUI solutions.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to add widgets, from basic (through the Long Click menu → Widgets) to advanced (using KWGT or UCCW for customization). Particular attention will be paid to the hidden features of MIUI 14/15, which allow you to place widgets even on the lock screen or in the notification bar. And for owners of devices with Always-On Display (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi K60 Pro), we will give instructions for setting dynamic widgets that are updated in real time.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned user, there’s something new here, from step-by-step screenshots to bug-debunking (like why the widget doesn’t update or disappears after a reboot) to starting with the simplest, standard MIUI widgets, and then moving on to creativity!

1. Standard MIUI widgets: how to add in 30 seconds

Basic widgets are already built into the MIUI shell and do not require additional applications to be installed, and can be placed on the home screen, in the notification bar (for quick access), or even on the lock screen (starting with MIUI 14).

Step 1: Unlock your smartphone and make a long tap from the empty seat of the home screen. At the bottom, you'll see a menu with three tabs: Wallpaper, Widgets and Settings. Select Widgets.

Step 2. Scroll through the list of available widgets. Here you will find:

• 📊 Weather - current temperature, forecast for 5 days (data from AccuWeather or Yandex.Pogoda, depending on the region).
• 📅 Calendar – events from Google Calendar or Mi Calendar with reminder support.
• 🔋 Battery: Charge flow schedule, time to full discharge, battery temperature.
• 🎵 Music - Playback control (works with Mi Music, Spotify, YouTube Music).
• 🏠 Smart home — Quick scenarios for Mi Home devices (e.g. turning on the lights or starting a robot vacuum cleaner).

Step 3. Click on your favorite widget and hold it to drag it to the home screen.Some widgets (like Weather) support sizing resizing - pull around corners to stretch or narrow the block.

⚠️ Warning: On devices with MIUI 15, the widgets in the notification panel may conflict with Super Wallpaper features. If after adding the widget, the wallpaper starts twitching, turn off animation in Settings → Wallpaper → Dynamic Wallpaper.

2. Widgets on the lock screen: hidden MIUI features

Few people know, but starting with MIUI 12, you can put widgets on the lock screen, but with limitations, and this feature is especially useful for quickly accessing information without unlocking your phone, such as displaying the weather, calendar or music control.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select the lock screen widgets (on some models it is hidden - first tap on Additional).
3. Activate the switch to show widgets.
4. Click Add widget and select from the list (no more than 2 available at the same time).

Limitations:

• 🔒 Widgets only work when unlocked by a fingerprint or PIN- code (no pattern lock or face unlock is supported).
• 📱 On budget models (Redmi 10A, Poco M4 Pro) the function may not be available.
• 🔄 Widgets are updated less frequently than on the home screen (e.g., weather every 30 minutes).

3.Castom widgets: KWGT and UCCW for advanced users

If standard MIUI widgets seem boring, it’s time to get acquainted with KWGT Kustom Widget Maker and UCCW (Ultimate Custom Widget), which allow you to create widgets from scratch: change fonts, colors, animations, and even add interactive elements (for example, buttons to launch applications or change the volume).

Let’s look at the KWGT example:

Step 1. Install KWGT from Google Play (there is a free version with restrictions) and KLWP (if you want animated wallpaper). Also download theme packages - for example, Minimal & Elegant KWGT or Flatwings.

Step 2. Add the KWGT widget to the home screen (as a standard widget, see Section 1). Select a size (from 1×1 to 4×4) when you first start.

Step 3. In the KWGT editor:

• 🎨 Click on any element (such as text) to change its color, font, or size.
• 🔗 Add dynamic data (e.g., time, battery charge, weather) through the Add → Data menu.
• 🖱️ Set up hot zones (tap actions) – for example, tap on the weather widget will open the AccuWeather application.

Example of code for displaying battery power (you can insert in a text block):

$bi(battlevel)% ($if(bi(charging)=1, ⚡, )$)$

Install KWGT or UCCW

Download your favorite theme package

Prepare images/icons (if necessary)

Check the screen resolution (for proper scaling)

Backup of current widgets (via Titanium Backup or manually)-->

⚠️ Warning: On some Xiaomi models (e.g., Redmi Note 11 with MIUI 13) KWGT may not display transparency correctly. To fix this, in the widget settings, disable Optimization MIUI and restart the launcher (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Clear cache).

4.Widgets for Always-On Display (AOD): How to set up on Xiaomi 13/14

Devices with Always-On Display (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Xiaomi 14 Pro, Redmi K60 Pro) support widgets even when the screen is off. It's not only beautiful, but also functional: you can see the time, notifications or battery status without touching the phone.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Always-On Display.
2. Turn on the AOD switch (if it is switched off).
3. Choose a style: Digital watch, Analog watch or Custom watch.
4. To customize, tap Additional and select items: ⏰ Watch (format 12/24 hours). 📅 Date (long/short). 🔔 Notifications (app icons with unread messages). 🔋 Battery charge (percentage or icon).

Preview

Features of AOD on Xiaomi:

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If Always-On Display drains your battery quickly, limit the battery life, such as setting the schedule in Settings → Screen → AOD → Schedule, so that the screen is turned on only during business hours (8:00 to 20:00).

5. widgets in the notification panel: quick access to functions

In MIUI, you can add widgets not only to the home screen, but also to the notification bar (curtain), which is convenient for quick management of functions such as turning on a flashlight, Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Step 1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar. Then swipe down again to open it up completely.

Step 2. In the upper right corner, click on the ⚙️ Settings (or Edit) icon.

Step 3. Here you'll see two sections:

• 🔄 Fast settings -- switches for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, airplane mode, etc. You can drag and drop them to change order.
• 📱 Widgets are small blocks of information (weather, calendar, music). Tap on + Add widget and select from the list.

Example of useful widgets for curtains:

• 🌡️ Weather - Temperature and short forecast.
• 🎶 Music - playback control (pause, next song).
• 💡 Flashlight - Quick access to on/off.
• 📶 Mobile data — the 4G/5G switch and traffic monitoring.

💡

The widgets in the notification panel work even when the phone is locked (unless privacy is set up).This is convenient, but it may not be secure - anyone can see your notifications or control music. To turn off the display on the locked screen, go to Settings → Lock screen → Privacy → Hide notifications.

6. Problem Solving: Why Widgets Don't Work or Disappear

Sometimes widgets on Xiaomi start to glittle: they don't update, disappear after a reboot or display incorrectly. Let's take a look at the most common problems and their solutions.

Problem 1: The widget is not updated (for example, the weather shows old data).

• 🔄 Reboot your phone — often this helps reset the widget cache.
• 📱 Check the permissions for the application to which the widget belongs (for example, AccuWeather must have location access).
• ⚙️ In the widget settings (slip it), enable Auto Update and set a minimum interval (e.g., 15 minutes).

Problem 2: The Widget disappeared after the MIUI update.

• 🗑️ Clear the launcher cache: Settings → Applications → Launcher → Clear the cache.
• 🔙 Restore the widget manually (see Section 1).
• 📥 If the widget was custom (KWGT), check the theme's compatibility with the new version MIUI.

Problem 3: The widget is not fully displayed or cropped.

• 📏 Try resizing the widget (pull around the corners).
• 🖼️ If the widget is custom, check the screen resolution in the settings KWGT (should match your Xiaomi resolution).
• 🔄 Switch to another launcher (like Nova Launcher) if the problem persists.

⚠️ Warning: On devices with MIUI Global Stable, widgets are sometimes blocked due to regional restrictions. For example, the Smart Home widget may not work if your Mi Account is tied to a region where this feature is not officially supported. Solution: change the region in your Mi Account to India or Russia (depending on the model).

7. Top-5 useful widgets for Xiaomi (worth a try)

In addition to standard MIUI widgets, Google Play has many useful solutions that will simplify the everyday use of a smartphone.

1. Another Widget is a minimalist widget for weather, calendar and system information, and supports dark theme and transparency settings.

2. Chronus is a universal widget with clocks, weather, calendars, even news feeds. Perfect for the home screen.

3. Battery Widget Reborn — detailed battery statistics: temperature, voltage, time to full discharge, useful for monitoring battery health.

4.Musei Live Wallpaper – Not exactly a widget, but it allows you to create dynamic wallpapers that are updated daily (for example, photos from NASA or art paintings).

5. Tasker + AutoNotification is for advanced users, allows you to create interactive widgets with triggers, for example, a widget that includes Do Not Disturb on a Schedule or runs a smart home script with tapa.

Example of setting up a Tasker widget:

Profile: "Wi-Fi Widget"


Event: Tap on the widget (AutoNotification)




Action:




1. If Wi-Fi is off → Turn on Wi-Fi




2. If Wi-Fi is on → Turn off Wi-Fi

FAQ: Frequent questions about widgets on Xiaomi