Smartphones of the Xiaomi Redmi series are famous for their functionality and affordable price, but sometimes standard interface setup MIUI or a new shell HyperOS can confuse newcomers. One of the most common tasks that users face after a purchase is desktop personalization. In particular, many are interested how to put a clock on the main screento always see the time without unlocking the device. This is not just an aesthetic whim, but a matter of ease of use of the gadget in everyday life.
Unlike some other manufacturers, Xiaomi offers a wide selection of built-in widgets, but they are not always on the surface of the interface. The standard launcher hides some of the features in additional menus, which often leads to confusion: “Where did the clock go?” It is not difficult to understand the logic of placing elements if you know the correct path in the system settings. We will look at all the current ways to add, resize and stylize watch faces for Redmi Note, Redmi K and budget series models.
There are several methods for solving this problem: from using standard system tools to installing third-party applications from the store Google Play. Each of them has its own advantages. Built-in widgets are optimized for your device's power consumption, while third-party solutions offer endless creativity. In this article, we will analyze each step in detail so that you can turn your screen into a convenient and informative tool.
The standard method of adding a widget through the menu
The easiest and most reliable way to set the clock is to use the built-in functionality of the shell MIUI. To do this, just make a few touches on the screen. Find a free space on your desktop where there are no application icons and long press (tap and hold) with your finger. After a second, the interface will change: the icons will begin to shake, and a toolbar will appear at the bottom or top of the screen.
In the menu that appears, find a button with the inscription Widgets or an icon resembling a square with a plus inside. By clicking on it, you will open a library of all available elements. Scroll down the list or use the search to find a category "Clock". Here you will see several options for displaying time: from simple digital indicators to complex analog dials with date and weather.
Select the design you like and drag it to a free area of the screen. If the space is occupied, the widget will automatically move to the next available position or require free space. Once placed, you can resize the element. To do this, tap on the widget again and hold until blue markers appear in the corners. Pull them to stretch the clock to fill the entire screen or, conversely, shrink it to a minimum.
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware versions, when you try to stretch the widget, a message may appear stating that the desktop grid does not allow this. In this case, you must first change the grid size in the launcher settings to get more freedom of action.
It is important to note that the number of available styles depends on the version of your operating system. Owners of devices based on Android 13 and Android 14 with shell HyperOS can observe an updated widget design that integrates better with wallpaper. Older models on MIUI 12 or MIUI 13 may have a more limited set, but the basic functions remain unchanged.
Customizing the size and appearance of the clock
After you have placed the widget, you often want to adjust it to your style. The Xiaomi shell allows you to edit not only the size, but also some visual parameters. Touch and hold the installed clock, then select Edit or the pencil icon, if available in the context menu. Here you can switch between different themes, if the widget supports this feature.
The size of the grid plays a critical role in how your clock will look. By default, Xiaomi uses a 5x6 or 6x6 grid, but you can change it to a larger one (like 4x5) to make the widgets take up more space and look more impressive. To do this, go to Settings, find the section Home Screen and select item Grid. Experiment with the options to find the perfect balance between the number of icons and the size of the widgets.
Some users prefer the clock to take up the entire width of the screen, creating a “dashboard” effect. To do this, select the largest available widget in the menu and stretch it all the way. New versions HyperOS have “super widgets” that can combine clocks, weather and notes into one large block. This is especially convenient on smartphones with a large screen diagonal, such as Redmi Note 13 Pro or Redmi K60.
Use dark wallpapers with bright clock widgets for better readability and save battery power on AMOLED screens. Contrast improves the perception of information at first glance.
It is also worth paying attention to the transparency of the background. Some third-party launchers and themes allow you to make the widget background completely transparent, leaving only the numbers. This creates the effect of time floating above your favorite wallpaper. However, it is more difficult to achieve full transparency using standard Xiaomi tools; often a translucent background is left for text readability.
Using the “Themes” application to set the clock
If the standard set of widgets seems boring to you, the store “Themes” from Xiaomi will be a real salvation. This is the official application, pre-installed on all devices of the brand, which contains thousands of custom designs. To find a unique clock, open the application Themes and go to the tab "Widgets" or use the search for “Clock” or “Clock”.
In the store you will find both free and paid design options. Many designers create entire packages where the style of the watch is combined with application icons and wallpapers. After downloading the package you like, click the button Apply. The system will prompt you to choose which elements you want to activate: wallpaper, icons or just widgets. Select only widgets so as not to change the rest of the interface if this is not your plan.
After applying the theme, the new clock will appear in the general widget menu (via a long press on the desktop). Often, thematic widgets have advanced functionality: they can show the phases of the moon, humidity levels, or even steps taken during the day. However, it is worth remembering that complex animated widgets can consume more power.
| Widget type | Where to find | Features | Impact on battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| System digital | Widgets menu | Minimalism, high readability | Low |
| System analog | Widgets menu | Classic style, there is a second arrow | Average |
| Third-party (Themes) | Themes Store | Unique design, animations | High (depending on the animation) |
| Google Clock | Google Play | Sync with account, Material style | Low |
Be careful when downloading themes from third-party sources. The official Xiaomi store moderates it, but always check the author's rating and the number of downloads before installing. Poor-quality widget code can lead to unstable launcher operation or regular interface crashes.
Why are some themes not fully applied?
Some themes are designed for specific screen resolutions or versions of Android. If the theme does not fit your Redmi model, the system can apply only some of the elements, for example, wallpaper, but reject the widgets due to code incompatibility.
Alternative widgets from Google Play
When the capabilities of the standard shell are not enough, the application store comes to the rescue. Google Play. There are hundreds of specialized time display applications that are often more functional than stock solutions. One of the most popular is the application «Digital Clock Widget» or «HD Clock & Weather Widget». They allow you to customize the font, color, transparency, and even add your photos to the background of the clock.
The installation process for a third-party widget is slightly different. After downloading the application, you do not need to open its icon. Instead, go back to the home screen, long press and select Widgets. Find the name of the installed application in the list. Drag it onto the screen in the same way as a system widget. Some applications may request permission to access your location to display the weather.
The advantage of third-party solutions is the flexibility of customization. You can create a clock that changes color depending on the time of day, or add a currency rate display right below the numbers. For advanced users, there are applications like KWGT Kustom Widget Makerthat allow you to create a widget from scratch, using your own graphics and operating logic.
⚠️ Attention: Installing a large number of heavy third-party widgets can slow down the smartphone, especially on models with a small amount of RAM (3-4 GB). Monitor the performance of the device after installing new elements.
It is also worth considering that third-party widgets may not work correctly when changing the system theme. If you decide to change the global theme in Xiaomi settings, the custom watch may lose its style or become invisible. In such cases, you may need to re-configure or select a more compatible application.
Solving problems with disappearing widgets
A fairly common situation: you set up the ideal screen with a clock, but after rebooting your smartphone or updating the system, the widget disappeared. This can happen for several reasons related to memory optimization in MIUI. The system can forcefully close widget processes to save battery power by treating them as background tasks.
To prevent the clock from disappearing, you need to pin the application in memory. Go to Settings, select section "Applications" and find “Clock” or the name of a third-party widget. Go to item Activity control and select option No restrictions. This will prevent the system from “killing” the widget process, and it will remain on the screen permanently.
Another reason may be overflow launcher cache. If the desktop starts to slow down or items disappear, try clearing the application cache System launcher. To do this, go to application settings, find the launcher, press Memory and select Clear cache. It is important not to confuse this with the “Clear All” button, otherwise you will reset the arrangement of all icons on the desktop to the factory state.
☑️ Diagnosis of the missing one widget
In rare cases, the problem lies in a version conflict. If you recently updated Android, older widgets may become incompatible. In such a situation, the best solution would be to remove the old widget and add it again from the menu. Often this updates the configuration file and restores the functionality of the element on the screen.
Features of working in Always On Display mode
Owners of Redmi smartphones with AMOLED screens can use the function Always On Display (Always On Screen). It's not exactly a desktop widget, but it's an alternative way to always see the time even when your phone is locked. This function is configured through the menu Settings → Wallpaper and personalization → Always-on screen.
Here you can select the clock display style, which will be visible on a black background in standby mode. Options are available with large numbers, animation or even personalized signatures. The function consumes a minimal amount of energy thanks to the features of the AMOLED matrix, where only individual pixels light up.
It is worth noting that the Always On Display mode can be configured according to a schedule. For example, turn it on only from 8:00 to 23:00 or activate it only when receiving notifications. This allows you to find a balance between convenience and autonomy of the device. On some models, this function is called "Lock screen" and has advanced customization settings.
The combination of a widget on the main screen and Always On Display provides maximum comfort: you see the time without unlocking, and immediately after logging in.
If If you have a model with an IPS screen, the Always On Display function will not be available in hardware, since this technology requires backlighting the entire matrix, which will quickly drain the battery. In this case, you should rely solely on the desktop and lock screen widgets.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why can’t I resize the clock widget?
Not all widgets support resizing. The system clock usually allows you to change the height and width, but widgets from third-party apps or themes may have fixed proportions. Try choosing a different style in the widget menu or use a third-party launcher that forcibly allows resizing of any elements.
Is it possible to set your own clock with a second hand?
Yes, it is possible. Xiaomi theme store has many analog watch faces with second hand. Also, applications like Overdrop or Chronus from Google Play allow you to customize the display of seconds. However, keep in mind that a constantly moving arrow can increase battery consumption.
The clock on the screen shows the wrong time, what is the reason?
Most likely, time synchronization has gone wrong. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time. Make sure that the "Use network time"option is enabled. If the problem persists, check the correct time zone selection manually.
How to remove the clock from the main screen if it getting in the way?
Tap and hold the clock widget until the menu or trash can icon appears at the top of the screen. Drag the widget onto the icon Delete or Remove from screen. This action will not delete the application, but will only hide the element from the desktop.
Do clock widgets affect the speed of the smartphone?
Standard system widgets are optimized and have virtually no effect on productivity. Complex third-party widgets with live animation and constant data updates (weather, exchange rates) can create a small load on the processor and RAM, which is noticeable on budget models.