Where to look for widgets on Xiaomi Redmi 9: a complete guide to working with MIUI

Have you just purchased Xiaomi Redmi 9 or updated the firmware, and suddenly discovered that the usual widgets have disappeared from the main screen? Or maybe this is your first time encountering the shell MIUI and you can’t understand where these useful mini-applications are hiding? Don’t worry - the problem is not in your smartphone, but in the features of the interface from Xiaomi.

Widgets on Redmi 9 (as on other devices from MIUI 12/13/14) are not implemented as obviously as in “pure” Android. The manufacturer has hidden them behind several gestures and menus, which often confuses new users. In this article, we will not only show where exactly the widgets are locatedbut also explain how to add them, configure them, and solve common display problems. We’ll also figure out why some widgets may suddenly disappear after a system update.

We warn you right away: the interface MIUI changes regularly with the release of new versions, so the arrangement of elements may differ slightly. If you have custom firmware or a beta version of the shell installed, some menu items may have different names. But the general logic of working with widgets remains the same.

1. Where are widgets physically stored on Redmi 9

Unlike most Android smartphones, where widgets are accessible through a long press on the home screen, there are two main ways to get to them. The first - through Redmi 9 there are two main ways to get to them. The first one is through widget menu, the second - through notification panel (yes, this is not obvious!). Let's look at both options.

The most reliable way:

1. Do long press on any free space of the main screen (not on the icon!).
2. A panel with three tabs will appear at the bottom of the screen: Wallpaper, Widgets and Settings.
3. Go to the tab Widgets —all available mini-applications will be displayed here.

If this panel does not appear, it means it is enabled mode "Light desktop" (more on this below).

Alternative method (does not work on all versions of MIUI):

1. Swipe your finger top to bottom on the main screen to open the notification panel.
2. Swipe to the right — quick widgets (weather, calendar, notes) can be displayed here.
3. Click on the button Edit (pencil) to add new ones.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware Redmi 9 widgets in the notification panel are disabled by default. To activate them, you need to go to Settings → Notification panel → Widgets and turn on the switch.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📱 MIUI version - in Settings → About phone. On versions below 12.5, widgets may be positioned differently.
• 🔄 System updates — sometimes after an update the widgets are “reset.”
• 🛠️ Launcher settings — simplified display mode may be enabled.

2. Why widgets may be missing on the screen

A frequent complaint from users Redmi 9: “There used to be widgets, but now they have disappeared!” There are several reasons for this, and most of them are easily remedied. The most common one is activate the "Light desktop" mode, which simplifies the interface by removing “unnecessary” elements. To return widgets:

1. Hold your finger on the main screen → tap on Settings (gear).
2. Scroll down and find option Light desktop.
3. Disable the switch and restart the phone.

Other possible reasons for the disappearance of widgets:

• 🔄 Reset the settings of the launcher —occurs after updating MIUI. Solution: re-add the widgets manually.
• 🗑️ Deleting the system applicationto which the widget is attached (for example, Weather or Calendar). Solution: restore the application via Settings → Applications → Deleted.
• 📵 Restrictions in power saving mode. Some widgets (especially weather) are disabled when activated Ultra mode. Check in Settings → Battery.
• 🔒 Parental Controls or user profiles. Widgets can be hidden for additional accounts.

What to do if the weather widget is not updating?

If the weather widget shows outdated data or a "No connection" error, try:

1. Open the full application Weather and wait for the data to update.

2. Check permissions for the application in Settings → Applications → Weather → Permissions (must be enabled Location and Autostart).

3. Clear the application cache in the same menu.

4. Reinstall the update for Weather via Play Market.

If the problem persists, it is possible that Xiaomi servers are temporarily unavailable in your region.

Another nuance: on Redmi 9 s MIUI 14 widgets can “hide” behind a gesture double tap on the screen Try twice. touch an empty space on the desktop - sometimes this opens a hidden menu of mini-applications.

3. How to add a widget to the home screen: step-by-step guide

When you have finally found the widget menu, the simplest thing is to add the desired element to the screen. But there are pitfalls here too. Here detailed instructions taking into account all the nuances Redmi 9:

Open the widgets menu (long press → "Widgets" tab)

Find the desired widget in the list and hold it with your finger

Drag the widget to a free space on the screen

If the widget does not fit, remove unnecessary icons or create a new screen (swipe left)

Release your finger and wait for the widget to appear

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A few important points:

• 📏 Widget size can be changed after additions: hold the widget → a frame with markers will appear, drag them.
• 🔄 Some widgets (for example, Google Search) require preliminary installation of the application from Play Market.
• 🔒 System application widgets (calls, messages) cannot be deleted - only hidden on another screen.
• 📱 On Redmi 9 you can place up to 5 widgets on one screen at the same time (depending on their size).

If the widget “comes back” when dragging, check:

1. Free space on the screen - the cells may be occupied by invisible icons.
2. Launcher settings - some MIUI themes have a limited number of widgets.
3. Application rights - some widgets require additional permissions (for example, Overlay on top of others windows).

4. Popular widgets on Redmi 9 and their settings

Not all widgets are equally useful. Redmi 9 has both standard mini-applications from Xiaomi, and the ability to install third-party solutions. Let's look at the most popular options and their features.

Widget type	Where to find	Functions	Features on Redmi 9
🌤️ Weather	Standard MIUI widget	Temperature, 5-day forecast, humidity	Requires enabled Locations i Autostart for the application Weather
📅 Calendar	Standard MIUI widget	View events, quick recording	Synchronizes with Google Calendarif an account is added
🎵 Music player	Widget Mi Music or Google Play Music	Playback control, track list	On MIUI 14 may not work with some streaming services
📊 System monitoring	Widget Security (Security)	Battery charge, RAM usage, CPU temperature	Shows data only for the current session (resets after reboot)
📱 Quick settings	Widget Control Center	Brightness, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight	You can configure the displayed switches in Settings → Notification panel

To install third-party widgets (for example, Widgetsmith or KWGT):

1. Download the application from Play Market.
2. Open it and create a widget using instructions.
3. Go back to the MIUI widgets menu - a new section with your custom elements will appear there.

On Redmi 9 with MIUI 13 and higher, some third-party widgets may not display correctly due to shell limitations. In this case, installing an alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Lawnchair).

If you need widgets for specific applications (for example, Telegram or Spotify), check:

• 📥 Is the latest application update installed.
• 🔧 Are widgets enabled in the settings of the application itself.
• 📱 Is the application compatible with your version of MIUI (some widgets only work on Android 11+).

5. with widgets on Redmi 9 and their solutions

Even after successful addition, widgets on Redmi 9 may behave unstable: not updated, disappear or displayed incorrectly. Here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

Problem 1: The weather widget shows a "No data" error. Solution:

• Check your Internet connection (the widget only works via Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• Open the full application Weather and wait for the data to load.
• Clear the application cache in Settings → Applications → Weather → Storage.
• Make sure that the correct city is selected in the weather settings (sometimes reset after updating).

Problem 2: The widget disappears after rebooting the phone. Solution:

• Check if the mode is enabled Battery optimization for the launcher (in Settings → Battery → Battery optimization find Launcher and disable optimization).
• Update MIUI to the latest version - in old firmware there was a bug with saving widgets.
• Try adding a widget to another screen - sometimes it helps.

Problem 3: The widget is not displayed completely or is cut off. Solution:

• Increase the size of the widget by pulling the corners after adding.
• Change the theme in Settings → Design —some themes crop widgets.
• If there is a problem with a custom widget, check its settings for compatibility with the screen resolution Redmi 9 (720×1600).

Problem 4: You cannot add a widget from the Play Store. Solution:

• Make sure that the application supports widgets (check the description in the Market).
• Restart your phone after installing the application.
• If the widget still does not appear, try installing the application on the memory card (sometimes it helps).

⚠️ Attention: On some versions of MIUI for Redmi 9 there is a bug due to which widgets are not updated in the background. To fix this, you need to manually add the widget application to the list Autostart (Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autorun) and disable battery optimization for it.

6. Alternative launchers for working with widgets

If the standard capabilities MIUI do not suit you, you can install third-party launcher. want:

• 🎨 Use custom widgets with advanced settings.
• 📱 Change the size and location of widgets more flexibly.
• 🔄 Return the classic widget menu, as in "pure" Android.
• 📁 Hide unnecessary MIUI system widgets.

Top 3 launchers for Redmi 9, optimized for widgets:

1. Nova Launcher — supports gestures, backup widgets and fine-tune the grid screen. The free version limits the number of widgets.
2. Lawnchair —a lightweight open-source launcher that imitates Pixel Launcher. Works well with the Google Search widget.
3. Apex Launcher —allows you to hide application icons, leaving only widgets on the screen. collapsible folders with widgets.

To install an alternative launcher:

1. Download it from Play Market.
2. Open the application and follow the setup instructions.
3. When prompted, select launcher as default application for the main screen.
4. Add widgets through the new launcher menu (usually long press → Widgets).

⚠️ Attention: When using third-party launchers, some MIUI system widgets (for example, Security or Cleanup) may not work correctly or disappear altogether. In this case, return the standard launcher to Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher.

If, after installing an alternative launcher, widgets started slow down, try:

• Disable animations in settings launcher.
• Clear the launcher cache in Settings → Applications.
• Reduce the number of simultaneously active widgets on the screen.

7. Hidden capabilities of widgets on MIUI

Few people know, but MIUI there are several hidden featuresrelated widgets. They can greatly simplify the work with your smartphone if used correctly.

1. notes"

This is not just a notepad - it supports:

• 📝 Synchronization with Mi Cloud (if enabled).
• 🖼️ Inserting images directly into a note.
• 🔍 Search by text inside the widget.

To activate advanced functions, hold the widget → Settings → enable Synchronization i Show images.

2. System Control widget

In addition to standard data about the battery and RAM, it can:

• 📊 Show CPU temperature (useful for gamers).
• 🚫 Block startup applications directly from the widget.
• 🔋 Display screen time for the day.

To see extended data, tap the widget twice - a full menu will open Security with detailed statistics.

3. Camera widget

Not everyone knows, but the camera widget on Redmi 9 supports:

• 📸 Quick launch portrait mode (long press on the widget).
• 🎥 Switching between photos/videos by swiping on the widget.
• 🔦 Switching on flashlight by double tapping (if activated in the camera settings).

4. Google Search widget

If you are using a widget from Google, then Redmi 9 it can:

• 🔍 Show personal reminders from Google Assistant.
• 📅 Synchronize with Google Calendar to display upcoming events.
• 🎵 Control music playback via Google Play Music.

To activate these functions, go to the widget settings (press → Widget settings) and enable the desired options.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about widgets on Redmi 9

🔍 Why did all the widgets disappear after the MIUI update?

This is standard system behavior during major updates (for example, from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13). Widgets are not deleted, but simply dropped from the screen. To get them back:

1. Reboot your phone.
2. Re-add widgets through the menu (long press → Widgets).
3. If widgets do not appear in the list, update related applications in Play Market.

As a last resort, reset the launcher settings: Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear data (this will not delete your files, only screen settings).

📱 Is it possible to move widgets to the lock screen?

On Redmi 9 with standard firmware No — MIUI does not support widgets on the lock screen However, there are workarounds:

• Use Always On Display (if your model supports) to display time and notifications.
• Install a third-party application like Lock Screen Widgets (requires root access on new versions of MIUI).
• Activate notification panel on the lock screen (in Settings → Lock screen → Notifications).

Please note: displaying sensitive data (messages, mail) on locked screen may be unsafe!

⚙️ How to resize a widget if the corners don't stretch?

If the widget resizing handles are inactive, try:

1. Delete the widget and add it again - sometimes this resets the restrictions.
2. Change the theme in Settings → Appearance (some themes block resizing).
3. Install a third-party launcher (for example Nova Launcher), where the size setting is more flexible.
4. Check whether the mode Optimizations for one hand is enabled in the screen settings - it may limit scaling.

For some system widgets (for example, Weather) resizing is blocked at the MIUI level.

🔄 The widget does not update automatically. How to fix?

The problem is typical for weather widgets, exchange rates or news. Procedure:

1. Open the full application to which it belongs. widget (for example Weather), and wait for the data to update.
2. Check permissions:
   • 📍 Location (for weather).
   • 🔄 Autostart (in Settings → Applications → Permissions).
   • 📶 Mobile data or Wi-Fi (if the widget requires the Internet).

Clear the application cache in Settings → Applications → [Application name] → Storage.

If the widget is still not updated, delete it and add it again.

For stock application widgets (for example Calendar) also check the synchronization of your Google account in the settings.

🛠️ Is it possible to create your own widget on Redmi 9?

Yes, but with reservations:

• 🎨 Without root access: Use applications like KWGT (Kustom Widget Maker) or UCCW. They allow you to create custom widgets from scratch, but take time to master.
• 🔧 With root access: Can be edited system widgets via MIUI Theme Editor, but this is risky (can lead to crashes).
• 📱 For beginners: Try it Widgetsmith —there are ready-made templates that are easy to customize for yourself.

Please note that on Redmi 9 with MIUI 13+, some functions of custom widgets may be limited due to Xiaomi security policy. For example, widgets will not be able to receive data about the battery or processor temperature without additional permissions.