The company's smartphones Xiaomi, including the popular line Redmi, offer users a wide range of interface customization options. However, after the first turn on or updating the firmware MIUI or new HyperOS, many owners discover that the usual time widget has disappeared from the main desktop. This often causes confusion, especially for those who are used to seeing a large time display immediately after unlocking the device.
Returning the dial to the screen is a simple process, but it has its own nuances depending on the version of the operating system and the design theme. The standard launcher POCO or MIUI hides some elements in the editing menu, and third-party themes can completely block the operation of system widgets. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the ways to add a watch, from standard methods to installing advanced applications.
Understanding the logic of the shell Android on devices Xiaomi will help you not only return the watch, but also customize it so that it matches your style. We will look at options for different models, explain why the widget may not be added, and offer alternative solutions for maximum usability of the smartphone.
The standard method of adding a widget through the editing menu
The easiest and most reliable way to return the time display is to use the built-in desktop editing menu. This method is universal for most models Redmi Note and flagship series. You don't need third-party utilities or complex settings; just a few touches of the screen are enough.
First, unlock your smartphone and go to the screen where you want to place the clock. This is usually the first page on the left, but you can choose any other. Make a long tap (press and hold) on an empty space on the screen where there are no application icons. After a second, the interface will change and a toolbar will appear at the bottom.
At the bottom of the screen you will see several icons. We are interested in the button labeled Widgets. Click on it. A library of all available system and user widgets will open. You will need to scroll down the list or use the search to find the section Clocks.
Inside the section you will find several design options: from simple digital indicators to complex analog weather dials. Select the style you like, hold it with your finger and drag it to a free area of the desktop. Release your finger to lock the widget.
☑️ Check before installation
Please note that some clock styles may require a certain amount of free space. If the widget does not fit into the selected place, the system will automatically suggest freeing up space or moving adjacent icons. In versions HyperOS the process can be slightly accelerated thanks to the updated widget menu interface.
Customizing the size and style of the clock in MIUI and HyperOS
After the widget has appeared on the screen, it often needs to be adapted to the overall design of the system. Shells Xiaomi allow you to change not only the appearance, but also the size of the occupied area. This is especially true for users who prefer minimalism or, conversely, large controls.
To change the size, pinch the clock widget again with your finger. In some firmware versions, a frame with markers around the edges will immediately appear. By pulling these handles, you can stretch the widget vertically or horizontally. However, it is worth remembering that system limitations they will not allow you to stretch the clock indefinitely - each style has a maximum and minimum size.
If you do not like the standard color or font, try changing the design theme. Go to the application Themes, which is preinstalled on all devices Redmi. In the search, enter “Clock” or “Clock” and see the theme preview. Often, changing the global theme automatically changes the style of the system time widget to a more suitable one.
Use dark themes if you have a smartphone with an AMOLED screen. This will not only save battery power, but also make the clock widget less noticeable in the dark, without interfering with sleep.
The new updates HyperOS introduced the “Super Wallpaper” feature and advanced Always On Display settings, which also affect how the clock looks on the locked and unlocked screen. Synchronizing styles between the lock screen and the desktop creates a sense of interface integrity.
⚠️ Attention: When installing third-party themes from unverified sources, the style of the system clock may be confused or displayed incorrectly (for example, white text on a white background). Always check that the theme is compatible with your version of Android.
Using the Clock app to create shortcuts
Many users do not know that the standard app Clock in MIUI has a hidden feature of creating separate shortcuts for different time zones. This is useful for those who travel frequently or have relatives in other regions. This widget differs from the standard one in that it shows the time of a specific city.
Open the application Clock through the menu of all apps. Go to the World timetab. Click on the plus icon + and add the city whose time you want to see on the main screen. After adding a city, press its name in the list.
In the context menu that appears, select the option Create a shortcut or Add to desktop. The system will automatically generate a widget specifically for this city. This is a great way to bypass the limitations of a standard widget, which usually only shows local time.
| Widget type | Functional | Battery consumption | Setting complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| System digital | Local time, date | Minimum | Low |
| System analog | Arrows, sometimes date | Low | Low |
| City label | Time of another region | Minimum | Medium |
| Third-party (KWGT) | Full customization | Medium/High | High |
This approach allows you to place on Clocks of several cities on one screen without the need to install heavy third-party applications. However, remember that each additional active widget may slightly affect the operation of RAM, although on modern processors Snapdragon or MediaTek this is almost unnoticeable.
Advanced customization via KWGT Kustom Widget Maker
For users who are not satisfied with the standard ones possibilities Xiaomi, there is a powerful solution - application KWGT Kustom Widget Maker. This is a tool that turns clock widgets into real works of art. You can create a dial of any shape, color and animation.
Download KWGT from Google Play Market. After installation, launch the application and select an empty preset. In the editor you can add layers: background, numbers, arrows, weather icons. The main advantage is complete independence from system themes MIUI.
To install the created widget on your desktop Redmi, perform a long tap on the screen, select Widgets and find it in the list KWGT. Select 4x2 or 4x4 size (or whatever size you have configured). Once added to the screen, click on the widget to select a specific design from your library.
The secret of animation in KWGT
In the KWGT editor, you can customize the animation of the appearance of numbers or the movement of arrows. To do this, use the "Animation" tab and set the trigger to "On Touch" or "Continuous" so that the clock is always alive.
It is worth noting that the free version KWGT has limitations, and access to all functions and ready-made design packages often requires purchasing the Pro version or individual plugins. However, even basic functionality allows you to create a clock that no other user has.
When using such heavy widgets, it is recommended to disable aggressive energy saving for the application KWGT. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications → KWGT → Battery saver and select mode No restrictions. This will prevent the time update from stopping in the background.
Troubleshooting: widget disappears or is not added
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the clock widget disappears from the screen after a reboot or is not added at all, giving the “Not enough space” error. This is a common problem associated with the launcher and the desktop grid.
The first reason may be full RAM. The system Android automatically unloads heavy widgets to free up resources for active applications. Check how many apps you have open in the background and close unnecessary ones.
The second reason is a malfunction of the launcher POCO or MIUI. Try clearing the launcher cache. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find System Launcher (or POCO Launcherin the list), click Clear and select Clear cache. Don't be afraid, your icons and folders will not be deleted, only the temporary cache will be reset.
⚠️ Warning: If you use gesture navigation and often swipe at the bottom of the screen, you may accidentally delete the widget. In the launcher settings, you can enable deletion confirmation or block the arrangement of icons.
Also, the problem may lie in the incompatibility of the widget version with the current version Android. After major updates (for example, from Android 13 to 14), old widgets may no longer work. In this case, delete all old clock widgets and add them again from the menu as described in the first section.
If the widget disappears after a reboot, check the power saving settings for the Clock application and make sure that the launcher was not reset to factory settings by accident.
Alternative applications for displaying the time
If standard means Xiaomi do not suit you, the store Google Play offers hundreds of alternatives. Applications like Google Clock, HTC Sense Clock or Digital Clock Widget can radically change the look of your smartphone.
When installing a third-party application, the process of adding it to the desktop remains the same: long tap → Widgets → selecting a new application. However, such widgets often have their own settings within the application, where you can set background transparency, fonts, and click behavior.
Particular attention should be paid to weather widgets. Many users prefer the combined Time + Weather widgets as it saves screen space. Make sure the app you select has permission to access geolocation, otherwise the weather data won't update.
Some apps offer clock "live wallpapers" that take up the entire screen. This is a beautiful option, but it consumes significantly more energy. Use such solutions with caution if your Redmi does not have a capacious battery or you are away from charging.
Why does the clock widget show the wrong time?
Most often the problem lies in the system date and time settings. Go to Settings → Advanced settings → Date and time and make sure that the option is enabled Use network time. If it is turned off, the phone may lag or rush depending on the manual settings.
Can I change the color of the numbers on the standard widget?
The color cannot be changed directly in the widget settings. The color depends on the active theme. To change the color, download another theme in the application Themes or use third-party widgets (for example, KWGT), where the color is adjusted manually.
How to remove the clock from the lock screen?
The clock on the lock screen and on the desktop is different elements. To remove them from the lock screen, go to Settings → Lock screen and turn off the clock display or select a style without them. This will not affect the widget on the main screen.
The widget has become transparent or invisible, what should I do?
This is a common bug when changing themes. Try temporarily enabling the standard theme Classic or Defaultto check if the widget appears. If yes, it means that the previous topic specified the styles incorrectly. Restarting the device will also help.
Why is the clock not updated in real time?
Most likely, the energy saving system has worked MIUI. Go to the battery settings, find the application responsible for the widget (Clock or Launcher), and set the operating mode No restrictions. This will prevent the system from “putting to sleep” the time update process.