Redmi 9S is one of the most popular budget smartphones from Xiaomi, but its owners are often faced with non-obvious nuances of setting up the interface. One of the frequently asked questions is how to return or add a clock to the home screen if it suddenly disappeared after an update or was never displayed. In this article we will look at all possible methods - from standard functions MIUI to bypassing restrictions using third-party tools.

The manufacturer often changes the logic of the shell, so even within the same model (Redmi 9S with firmware based on Android 10/11) solutions may differ. We took into account all current versions MIUI 12–14 and prepared universal instructions. If you do not find a clock in the standard set of widgets, do not rush to install third-party applications: first check the hidden settings.

Why is there no clock on the main screen by default? Redmi 9S no clock on home screen by default?

Unlike many other smartphones, Xiaomi in the latest versions MIUI removed the permanent display of the clock on the desktop. This is due to several factors:

  • 📱 Interface optimization: the manufacturer believes that the clock duplicates information from the notification panel, where the time is always displayed.
  • 🔄 Changes in MIUI 12+: with the release of new versions of the shell, the clock widgets were moved to the "Advanced" section or completely hidden.
  • 📦 Regional firmware: on some branded firmware for the Asian and European markets, the set of widgets may differ.
  • 🔧 Launcher settings: in Redmi 9S the launcher is used POCO Launcher or MIUI Launcher, where widgets are sometimes disabled by default.

It is important to understand that the absence of a clock on the screen is not a bug, but a feature of the firmware. However, you can return them in several ways, including hidden options and third-party solutions.

📊 Which launcher do you use on Redmi 9S?
Standard MIUI Launcher
POCO Launcher
Nova Launcher
Other
I don’t know

Method 1: Adding a standard clock widget via MIUI

The most obvious method is to use the built-in widget. However, it may be hidden. Here's how to find it: Redmi 9S it may be hidden. Here's how to find it:

  1. Tap your finger on any free space on the main screen and hold for 2-3 seconds until a menu appears.
  2. Select item "Widgets" (icon with squares).
  3. Scroll down the list to the section "Clock" or "Tools".
  4. If there is no widget, tap on the icon "More" (three dots) and select "Show all widgets".
  5. Drag the widget "Clock" to the home screen. In MIUI 14 it can be called Clock 4x2 or Analog clock.

If there is no clock in the list of widgets at all, this means that they are disabled at the firmware level. In this case, proceed to the next method.

Make sure that there is free space on the screen (the widget occupies 4×2 cells)

Check the MIUI version in Settings → About phone

Update the firmware to the latest version (if available)

Reboot your phone before setting up-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware for Redmi 9S (for example MIUI Global 12.5.3) the clock widget may be missing due to optimizations. In this case, resetting the launcher settings will help: go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications → Launcher, click "Storage" and select "Clear data". After the reboot, the widgets should appear.

Method 2: Using the Google Clock application

If the standard widget is not available, you can install the official application Google Clock, which offers flexible time display settings.

Steps:

  1. Download the application Google Clock from Play Market.
  2. Open the application and customize the appearance of the watch (analog/digital).
  3. Return to the main screen, hold your finger on an empty space → "Widgets".
  4. Find in the list "Clock" (Google) and drag the desired widget onto the screen.
  5. Adjust the size (options available 4×1, 4×2, 5×2) and display style.

Advantages of this method:

  • 🎨 More design options (including transparent background and dark theme).
  • 🔄 Synchronization with other Google services (for example, alarm clocks).
  • 📱 Works on all versions MIUI without restrictions.
💡

If the Google Clock widget does not update the time, check the application permissions in Settings → Applications → Clock → Permissions and enable access to exact location (needed to automatically detect the time clock belt).

Method 3: Installing a third-party launcher with clock support

If standard solutions do not suit you, you can completely replace launcher. This is a radical but effective method that opens up additional customization possibilities.

Best launchers for Redmi 9S with watch support:

Launcher Features Link
Nova Launcher Flexible customization of widgets, support for icon packs, gestures Play Market
POCO Launcher Optimized for Xiaomi, lightweight, has a built-in clock Play Market
Lawnchair Minimalistic design, support for Pixel style Play Market
Apex Launcher Many themes, ability to hide unnecessary elements Play Market

Instructions for setting up an example Nova Launcher:

  1. Install the launcher from Play Market.
  2. Set it as the default launcher (a suggestion will appear when you launch it for the first time).
  3. Hold your finger on the main screen → "Widgets".
  4. Select «Nova Clock» or install a widget from Google Clock.
  5. Customize the size, color and display style in the widget menu.
⚠️ Attention: When using third-party launchers, conflicts may arise with proprietary ones functions MIUI, for example, with navigation gestures or design themes. Before installation, make a backup copy of your settings in Settings → Advanced → Backup.

Method 4: Manually creating a shortcut with time (for advanced)

If none of The above methods did not work, you can use a trick and create a shortcut that will open the Clock application or display the time in the notification. This method is suitable for users who do not want to install additional software.

Instructions:

  1. Install the application «Tasker» or «Shortcut Maker» from Play Market.
  2. In Shortcut Maker select «Activity» → find com.android.deskclock (standard clock).
  3. Create a shortcut and place it on the home screen.
  4. Use the widget to display real-time time «UCCW» (Ultimate Custom Clock Widget) with script settings.

This method requires more time to set up, but allows you to create a unique clock design. For example, you can display the time in the format HH:MM:SS with the date or weather.

How to make a transparent clock on the lock screen?

To display the clock on the lock screen without a background, follow these steps:

1. Install Always On Display (if supported by your firmware).

2. In settings Lock screen → Clock style select a minimalistic option.

3. Turn off the background in Settings → Display → Always On Display → Transparency.

4. If the option is missing, use the application AcDisplay for customization.

Common problems and their solutions

When adding a clock to the main screen Redmi 9S users encounter typical errors. Let's look at the most common ones and how to eliminate them:

  • ⏳ The clock does not update: Check the time synchronization in Settings → Advanced → Date and time. Disable and enable again "Auto detection".
  • 🔳 The widget disappears after reboot: This is a bug in some versions MIUI. Solution - pin the widget in the launcher settings or use Nova Launcher.
  • 🎨 Cannot change widget size: In the standard launcher MIUI the size is fixed. Install a third-party launcher for flexible customization.
  • 🔒 No access to widget settings: Update the firmware or reset the launcher settings (see
    Attention
    in Method 1).

If the problem is not solved, check whether the widget conflicts with other applications. For example, some memory optimizers (for example, Security ot Xiaomi) may block time updates. Add the “Clock” application to the exceptions:

Settings → Applications → Application management → Security → Autostart
Is it possible to return the old clock from MIUI 11 to Redmi 9S?

No, the manufacturer has completely redesigned the widgets in new versions MIUI. However, you can install a theme «MIUI 11» from the official theme store, but this does not guarantee the return of the old widget. An alternative is to use a third-party clock with a similar design (for example, MIUI Clock Widget v Play Market).

Why does the clock on the widget show the wrong time?

This is due to a synchronization problem. Check:

  1. Time zone in Settings → Advanced → Date and time.
  2. Network settings (turn on "Auto-detect network").
  3. Permissions for the Clock application (access to location and Internet).

If the problem persists, try resetting the network settings in Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → Reset network settings.

How to make the clock on the lock screen the same as on the main screen?

In MIUI design hours on the lock screen and the main screen are configured separately. To unify the style:

  1. Open Settings → Lock screen.
  2. Select "Clock style" and select the most similar option.
  3. For a complete match, use themes from Mi Theme Store (for example, «Pixel Style» or «Minimal Clock»).
Is it possible to add seconds to the time display on the widget?

Standard widget MIUI does not support displaying seconds. Solutions:

  • Install Google Clock and select the widget with seconds.
  • Use UCCW or KWGT to create a custom widget.
  • Enable the display of seconds in the status line via Developer Options (need to be activated Settings → About phone → MIUI version (press 7 times)).
Will the clock widget drain your battery?

The clock widget consumes a minimal amount of energy - about 0.5–1% of charge per day. This is due to the fact that it does not update data in the background, but only displays the time synchronized with the system. However, if you use an animated clock (for example, with a second. arrow), consumption may increase to 2–3%.

To reduce consumption:

  • Select a static widget without animation.
  • Disable weather updates in the settings widget.
  • Use a dark theme (AMOLED screen Redmi 9S spends less energy on black color).
adb shell settings put global widgets_enabled 1

After the reboot, widgets should appear in the menu.-->