How to call and configure widgets on Xiaomi smartphones: the complete guide

Widgets on Xiaomi smartphones are a powerful tool for quickly accessing information and managing your device without running full-fledged applications. They allow you to display weather, calendar, notes, smart home elements and even system functions directly on the home screen. However, many users face difficulties when adding or configuring them – especially after MIUI updates, which often change the location of options.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can call widgets to Xiaomi, from basic methods for beginners to hidden features for power users. You’ll learn how to add standard and third-party widgets, where to find a hidden catalog of system tools, and what to do if widgets suddenly disappear after an update. And we’ll also reveal a few customization life hacks that will favorably distinguish your smartphone from others.

1. Basic method: adding widgets through the main screen menu

The simplest and most versatile method works on all Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI 12-14 (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark). It does not require root rights or special knowledge - just a few taps.

To add a widget:

1. Click and hold the empty space on the home screen (not on the icon!).
2. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a panel with three tabs: Wallpaper, Widgets and Settings. Select Widgets.
3. Scroll down and scroll through the list of available widgets, showing both system widgets (weather, clock, calendar) and installed widgets (e.g. Google Keep or Spotify).
4. Click on the desired widget and hold it, then drag it to a free space on the main screen.

If the widget supports resizing (such as weather or notes), a frame with markers will appear after adding it, pulling it over to stretch the widget across width or height.

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Not all widgets can be scaled! System clocks and switches (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) are usually fixed in size, but weather widgets or music players often support resizing.

2. Hidden MIUI widgets: how to find system tools

MIUI hides some of the widgets in a separate menu that doesn't appear in the main list, and it gets tools to quickly access settings, monitor the system, and even some features for developers to see.

1. Open the widget menu (as in the previous section).
2. At the top of the screen, tap the icon. ⚙️ Settings (or ⋮ version MIUI).
3. Turn on the switch to show system widgets.

Additional options will now appear on the list, such as:

• 📊 System Monitor – displays the loading CPU, RAM temperature.
• 🔋 Battery – shows current charge level and operating time.
• 📶 Network – fast access to mobile data switches, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
• 🔍 Search - widget for quick search by device.

These widgets are especially useful for diagnosing a device or quickly managing key functions. For example, the System Monitor widget will help track which application is overloading the processor without opening Settings → About the phone.

3. Third-party app widgets: why they don't show up and how to fix it

A common problem for Xiaomi users is the lack of widgets from installed apps (such as Google Weather, Yandex Music or Telegram) in the main list.

• 📱 The app does not support Android widgets (such as some games or utilities).
• 🔄 Widget disabled in the application settings.
• 🚫 MIUI Blocks the background activity of the application (typical for Redmi with aggressive battery optimization).
• 🔧 The application requires additional permissions.

To solve the problem:

Make sure the app is installed and updated

Launch the application at least once

Check the permissions in Settings → Applications → [Application Name] → Permissions

Disable battery optimization for the application in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization

Reboot your smartphone-->

If the widget never came, try reinstalling the app or checking it is compatible with your version of MIUI. For example, some Samsung Health widgets don't work on Xiaomi due to a conflict of services.

4. Widgets on the lock screen: how to add and configure

Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi allows you to add widgets directly to the lock screen, which is convenient for quick access to information without unlocking the device, for example, you can display the weather, calendar or player.

To set up widgets on the lock screen:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select the lock screen widgets.
3. Slip on the empty slot (usually 2–3) and select the desired widget from the list.
4. Customize the information displayed (for example, you can select a city or unit of measurement for a weather widget).

Important: The widgets on the lock screen display limited information for security reasons, such as the Google Keep widget will not show the content of notes, but only the number of notes.

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Widgets on the lock screen consume an extra battery, as they update data even when the screen is off. If you notice an increased consumption, turn off unnecessary widgets.

5. widget problems after MIUI update: how to restore

MIUI updates often reset or delete widget settings from the home screen, due to changes in the structure of system files and conflicts between versions.

1. Restart the device – sometimes it helps to restore the widget cache.
2. Clear the launcher cache: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Find the MIUI Launcher (or Lawnchair if you use a third-party launcher). Select Storage → Clear the cache.

Reset the launcher settings

Settings → Home → Additional → Reset settings

This will return the standard layout of icons and widgets, but will not delete user data.

If the widgets still don't work, the problem may be in a particular application.

• 🔄 Update the application to the latest version.
• 📥 Reinstall it.
• 📧 Contact the developer for support (for example, through Google Play).

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After major updates (e.g., from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), some widgets may require reconfiguration of permissions. Check them in Settings → Applications → [Application Name] → Permissions.

6.Widget Customization: Hidden MIUI Possibilities

MIUI offers a few hidden features for fine-tuning widgets that many people don’t know about.

Changes in the transparency of the widget

Some widgets (such as weather or clocks) support background transparency settings.

1. Add the widget to the main screen.
2. Press and hold it, then select Change the widget (or Settings if there is no such option).
3. Pull the Transparency slider (if any) or select a display style (e.g. Dark/Light).

Grouping of widgets

MIUI 14 has the ability to group widgets into "stops" (similar to iOS).

1. Add several widgets of the same type (for example, two weather widgets) to the screen.
2. Drag one widget onto another, they will come together in a group.
3. To switch between widgets in a group, simply swipe them left/right.

Widgets in folders

Few people know, but MIUI allows you to put widgets inside folders on the home screen, which is useful if you want to hide tools that are rarely used, but keep them quickly accessible.

1. Create a folder (drop one icon to another).
2. Open the folder and tap the free space inside it.
3. In the menu that appears, select Widgets and add the desired one.

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Grouping widgets and placing them in folders does not work on all Xiaomi models; on some devices (for example, POCO F5), this feature may be disabled by the manufacturer.

7. Smart Home Widgets: Managing Xiaomi Devices from the Home Screen

If you use the Xiaomi Smart Home ecosystem (smart lights, sockets, robot vacuum cleaners), widgets will be an indispensable tool for quick management.

1. Make sure all devices are connected to the Mi Home app and are on the same Wi-Fi network with your smartphone.
2. Open the widget menu (as in the first section).
3. Find the Smart Home or Mi Home section.
4. Select the device you want to create the widget for (e.g. Yeelight or Roborock).
5. Configure the displayed controls (such as the on/off buttons or the brightness control).

Smart home widgets support the following functions:

• 💡 Smart lamps: on/off, color and brightness change.
• 🔌 Rosettes: Remote power management.
• 🤖 Robot vacuum cleaners: start cleaning, return to base.
• 🌡️ Sensors: display of temperature, humidity, air quality.

For devices that support Google Assistant or Alice, you can add voice assistant widgets, for example, Alice's widget allows you to control the smart home with a voice directly from the home screen.

FAQ: Frequent questions about widgets on Xiaomi