How to install a widget on Xiaomi: all ways from A to Z

Xiaomi widgets are not just desktop decoration, but a powerful tool for quick access to information, which can track the weather, manage a smart home, control battery power or even run your favorite tracks without opening your apps. However, many users face difficulties in installing: the widget does not appear in the list, after the MIUI update, all settings are lost, third-party solutions refuse to work.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to install widgets on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from standard solutions to bypassing system limitations. We will focus on the problems after upgrading to MIUI 14/15, since they often break the usual functionality.

What widgets are supported on Xiaomi in 2026

Modern Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS support three types of widgets:

• 📱 Standard widgets MIUI — weather, clock, calendar, smart home management, pre-installed on the system and updated with firmware.
• 🎯 Google widgets – search bar, calendar, Google Fit. Available after installing Google apps (on models for the global market they are by default).
• 🛠️ Third-party widgets – from applications like Widgetsmith, KWGT or UCCW. Requires separate setup and sometimes manual resolution in security settings.

It is important to understand that the Chinese version MIUI (CN ROM) Google widgets are disabled by default – they must be installed manually through Settings → Annexes → Application management → Install the package APK. Also, some widgets may not work on devices with unlocked bootloader due to security restrictions.

How to install a standard MIUI widget: step-by-step instructions

The standard widgets are the easiest to install, they're already integrated into the MIUI shell. Here's how to add them:

1. Press and hold your finger on the empty desktop space (not the icon!).
2. At the bottom of the screen will appear menu – select the item Widgets (on some firmware it is called Add widget).
3. Scroll through the list of available widgets left/right. Xiaomi’s standard solutions are usually at the top of the list (weather, hours, steps, smart home).
4. Click on the widget you want and drag it to your desktop. Some widgets (like weather) let you choose a size — just stretch the frame after adding it.

If the widget doesn’t appear in the list, check:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📥 Make sure the app that the widget belongs to (such as Mi Home for Smart Home) is installed and updated.
• 🔒 On Chinese firmware (CN ROM) Some widgets are hidden – try switching to the global version ROM).

Update MIUI to the latest version

Install/update the associated application

Check the firmware region (Global/CN)

Reboot your smartphone-->

Installing Google widgets on Xiaomi

Google widgets (search bar, calendar, Google Fit) are often absent from Xiaomi smartphones by default - especially on Chinese versions of firmware.

1. Install the Google app from Google Play (if not).
2. Open Settings → Applications → App Management and search Google.
3. Click on Permissions and turn on all the switches related to displaying over other windows and accessing notifications.
4. Return to desktop, press and hold your finger in a free space → Widgets → find the Google section.

If the Google widget doesn’t appear even after installing the app:

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI The solution is to install Google Launcher (like Google Now Launcher) and add widgets through it.

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If after installation, Google widget does not update data (such as weather), clear the cache of the Google app in the settings and restart the smartphone.

How to install third-party widgets (KWGT, Widgetsmith, and others)

Third-party widgets, such as KWGT or Widgetsmith, require additional permissions.

1. Install an app for widgets from Google Play (like KWGT).
2. Open the app and create/select a widget (in KWGT this is done through the My Widgets tab).
3. Return to desktop, press and hold your finger → Widgets → find the section with the application name (e.g. KWGT).
4. Select the size of the widget (usually available options 2×2, 4×1, 4×2, etc.) and drag it to the screen.
5. Click on the widget to customize it (KWGT will open an editor where you can change the design, data and behavior).

If no widget is added:

• 🔧 Check what's in the Settings → Annexes → Special access → Display over other windows resolution for widget application enabled.
• 📵 On some firmware MIUI You need to turn off Minimizing applications in Settings → Additionally. → Laboratory (if this item exists).
• 🔄 Restart your smartphone after installing the widget app.

Problem Solving: Widgets Fail to Be Installed or Disappear

A frequent complaint from Xiaomi users is that widgets suddenly disappear after a system update or reset.

A special case is widgets on a locked screen, which can only be added to MIUI via the Mi Lockscreen app (not available on all models). If you don't have the option, try:

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi with HyperOS, locked-screen widgets are only supported for system applications (weather, pedometer). Third-party solutions cannot be added - this is a security limitation.

Widgets on Xiaomi with alternative launchers (Nova, Apex, Lawnchair)

If the standard MIUI launcher is not satisfied (for example, due to restrictions on widgets), you can install a third-party.

• 🌟 Nova Launcher supports all widgets, including KWGT Tasker.
• 🎨 Lawnchair – lightweight launcher with support for adaptive widgets.
• 🔧 Apex Launcher – Flexible grid settings for widgets.

To upgrade to an alternative launcher:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Press the Home button and select the new launcher as the main one.
3. Add widgets through the launcher menu (usually long press → Widgets).

The advantage of third-party launchers is that there are no MIUI restrictions on widgets, for example, in Nova Launcher you can:

• Change the size of the widgets to pixel accuracy.
• Overlaid widgets with each other.
• Use widgets that are not supported in the standard launcher.

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Alternative launchers (Nova, Lawnchair) are the only way to get around MIUI restrictions on widgets without root rights.

Hidden chips widgets on Xiaomi

Few people know, but MIUI has hidden possibilities to work with widgets:

• 🔄 Dynamic widgets: Some system widgets (weather, calendar) update data in the background. To speed up the update, add the app to AutoRun and turn off battery optimization for it.
• 🎨 Transparent widgets: in KWGT You can create a widget with a transparent background and overlay it on the wallpaper. → Transparent.
• 🔗 Interactive widgets: the Mi Home widget allows you to control smart devices directly from the desktop (turn on the lights, adjust the temperature.
• 📊 Widgets with data from Tasker: If you use Tasker, you can create a widget that will display custom information (for example, screen time or data from sensors).

Another lifehack is creating a folder with a widget, for example, you can put a weather widget in a folder along with the Google Maps and AccuWeather apps for quick access.

1. Create a folder on your desktop.
2. Add a widget to it (in some launchers this is done by drag and drop).
3. Open the folder with a swipe upwards – the widget will appear inside.

FAQ: Frequent questions about widgets on Xiaomi