Modern smartphones of the line Honor work on the basis of a shell MagicOS (formerly Magic UI), which offers a wide range of options for customizing the interface. One of the most popular elements of personalization is displaying the time on the home screen, so as not to go to the lock or notification panel every time. Users are often looking for a way to place a large or stylish clock, but the Android settings menu may not be obvious to beginners.
The procedure for adding a widget is intuitive, but has its own nuances depending on the firmware version and the specific device model, be it Honor 90, Magic 5 Pro or older series. In this article, we will look in detail at how to not only add a standard clock, but also customize its appearance to suit your style, and also solve typical problems when the widget is not displayed or disappears.
Basic installation method through editing mode
The simplest and most universal method that works on 99% of devices Android, including smartphones Honor, consists of using a long press on a free area of the screen. This gesture activates the desktop editing mode, allowing access to all system widgets. You won't need third-party applications or complex settings.
After activating the editing mode, the interface will change: application icons will begin to shake, and a toolbar will appear at the bottom or top of the screen. We are interested in the item that is usually called Widgets or Widgets. By clicking on it, you will be taken to the full library of available elements, from weather to a calculator.
In the list that opens, you need to find a category Clock. The system will offer several options for displaying time: digital, analog (with arrows), combined with date or weather. Select the design you like and pinch it with your finger, dragging it to an empty space on the main screen. Release your finger to lock the widget.
☑️ Check before installation
Please note that some large widgets take up space of 4x2 or even 5x2 cells. If there is not enough space on the screen, the system will not allow you to place the item and it will return to the menu. In this case, you will have to remove unnecessary application icons or move them to another page.
⚠️ Attention: On some models Honor with a very high screen resolution, small widgets may look disproportionate. It is recommended to select medium or large sized elements for better readability.
Customizing the style and appearance of widgets
After the clock has appeared on the screen, many users want to change its color, font or background transparency. The shell MagicOS allows basic configuration through the context menu of the widget itself. To do this, you do not need to delete the element and look for a new one.
Press and hold your finger on the already installed clock widget. A pop-up menu will appear with several options. Select item Customize or Change style (the icon may look like a pencil or gear). In the window that opens, you can switch between different color schemes and time display formats.
If the standard settings are not enough, you should pay attention to the function Themes. In the app Themes, pre-installed on your smartphone, you can download design packages that completely change the design of system widgets, including the clock. This allows you to make the interface unique without installing third-party software.
Use dark clock widgets on AMOLED screens to save battery power, since the black pixels in such displays are actually turned off and do not consume energy.
It is worth considering that changing the global theme can affect not only the clock, but also application icons, the notification shade and the settings menu. Before using the theme, carefully review the preview to make sure that the new style suits you.
Using third-party applications for customization
Built-in tools Honor are good, but sometimes you want something exclusive: a ticker, moon phases, world time or a minimalist design in style Material You. For these purposes, the store is ideal Google Play, where thousands of specialized applications are presented.
One of the most popular solutions is the application Google Clock. Even if your smartphone already has a system clock, installing the official version from Google will add new, often more functional options to the widget menu. They synchronize perfectly with alarms and timers within the application.
For advanced users, there are powerful tools like KWGT Kustom Widget Maker. This is a constructor that allows you to create a widget from scratch: select any font, add animation, display data about the process or battery charge next to the time. However, setting up such widgets requires time and understanding of the logic of the application.
- 🕒 Google Clock —a simple, reliable option with world time and timers.
- 🎨 KWGT —limitless design possibilities for experienced users.
- ⚡ Overdrop —stylish weather and time widgets with modern design.
- 🔋 Battery Widget Reborn - a combination of time and detailed battery statistics.
When installing third-party widgets, make sure you provide the necessary permissions. For example, to display the exact time and work alarms, the application may need access to the system in the background.
Problems with display and desktop grid
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the clock widget does not fit into place, “jumps” or is displayed incorrectly. Most often this is due to the desktop grid settings in MagicOS. By default, the system may use a fine grid (for example, 5x6), which is why large widgets simply do not find space.
To fix this, go to the desktop settings. Pinch the home screen with two fingers (zoom out gesture) and press the button Settings (usually the gear in the corner). Find the item Grid or Layout and select the option with fewer cells, for example, 4x5. This will increase the size of each cell.
After changing the grid, all the icons may shift and you will have to rearrange your desktop. But large, beautiful clock widgets will stand up straight and look proportional. This is especially true for models with small screens, where every pixel counts.
| Grid size | Number of icons | Suitable for widgets | Visual style |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 x 5 | Less | Large (4x2, 5x2) | Minimalism, emphasis on content |
| 5 x 6 | Medium | Medium (2x2, 3x2) | Standard balance |
| 6 x 7 | Maximum | Small (1x1, 2x1) | Utilitarian, a lot of data |
⚠️ Warning: Changing the desktop grid may lead to to the fact that folders with applications will “fall apart”, and icons will move to other pages. Be prepared to spend 5-10 minutes restoring order.
Features of widgets in power saving mode
Smartphones Honor are known for their aggressive optimization of energy consumption. In Battery Saver mode, the system can limit data updates for widgets to extend battery life. As a result, the clock may show the wrong time or stop updating seconds.
If you notice that the widget is frozen, check your battery settings. Go to Settings → Battery → Launch applications. Find the application responsible for the widget in the list (for example, “Clock” or “System Interface”), and make sure that the switch Autostart is active.
It is also worth disabling the "Smart Saving" option for specific widgets, if such a setting is available in your firmware version. This ensures that the clock will be updated in sync with the system time, even if the screen is turned off for a long time.
Why does the widget disappear after a reboot?
Sometimes third-party launchers or themes conflict with system processes. If the widget disappears every time you turn on the phone, try resetting the launcher settings or updating the application that created the widget to the latest version.
For weather widgets combined with a clock, it is important to have a stable Internet connection. In airplane mode or when there is no network, such a widget can only display the time, hiding temperature data, which is normal behavior and not a bug.
Always On Display widgets and screen lock
In addition to the main screen, owners Honor can configure the display of the clock when the screen is turned off (function Always On Display or AOD). This allows you to see the time without touching the smartphone, which is convenient in your pocket or on the table.
Activation occurs through the menu Settings → Display and brightness → Always On Display. Here you can choose the style of the clock, which will be lit constantly or appear on a schedule. Animated options are available that respond to touching or lifting the device.
It is important to understand the difference: a widget on the home screen is an interactive element of the launcher, and AOD is a display function. Adjusting the style in one place does not change the look in another. You can have a stark digital clock on your lock screen and a bright analog clock on your desktop.
Using an AOD does drain your battery, although only slightly (about 1-2% per day on modern OLED panels). If the charge is critical for you, set up a work schedule: for example, turn on only from 8:00 to 23:00.
The combination of a widget on the main screen and Always On Display provides maximum control over time, allowing you to choose the level of detail depending on the situation.
Why is the clock widget reset to standard after a system update?
With major updates MagicOS or Android system resources of widgets can be changed by the developer. Third-party themes or custom settings often fail because the new firmware code is not compatible with old configurations. Solution: Re-add the widget and apply the theme if it is updated by the developer.
Is it possible to change the size of the clock widget after installation?
Yes, in most cases. Long-press the widget on the home screen until a frame with dots around the edges appears. By dragging these points you can change the size of the grid occupied by the widget. However, not all widgets support resizing, especially complex third-party elements.
How to add a clock with seconds to the Honor home screen?
Standard widgets Honor often show only hours and minutes to save space. To see the seconds, it is better to use third-party applications from Google Play (for example, "Digital Clock Widget") or select a specific style in the theme settings that provide seconds indication.
The clock widget shows the time with an error of 1 hour, what should I do?
Most likely, the time zone settings have gone wrong. Go to Settings → System and updates → Date and time. Make sure that the "Auto-set time" and "Auto-set time zone" options are enabled. If the problem is in daylight saving time, try disabling and enabling these switches again.