A modern smartphone Xiaomi Redmi is not just a means of communication, but a powerful tool for work and entertainment, which should be maximally personalized to the needs of the owner. One of the key options for customizing the interface is adding widgets to the desktop, which allows you to get up-to-date information without having to open applications. Many users encounter difficulties when trying to add a new element, since the logic of the shell MIUI or HyperOS differs from the stock one Android.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the ways to add widgets, starting from standard system elements and ending with third-party application widgets. You will learn how to properly organize your screen space so that it is not only beautiful, but also functional. We will look at the nuances of working with widgets in different firmware versions, since the action algorithms can differ significantly.
Particular attention will be paid to troubleshooting - solving typical problems when the widget is not added, is not displayed, or does not work correctly. Understanding how the launcher works will help you avoid common mistakes and make using your smartphone Xiaomi more comfortable and efficient. Let's proceed to a detailed examination of the installation process.
The principles of operation of widgets in the MIUI and HyperOS shell
The shells MIUI and the new one HyperOS from the company Xiaomi have their own interface design philosophy, which is different from pure Android. The widget here is not just a static image, but an active element that consumes RAM and processor resources to update data in real time. The system strictly controls the background activity of applications, which can affect the relevance of the information displayed on the desktop.
There are two main types of widgets: system widgets, which are part of the launcher, and application widgets, installed with apps. The latest firmware versions Xiaomi introduce support for standard widgets Android 12+that have rounded corners and adaptive design. However, classic widgets have not gone away and continue to work in parallel, sometimes creating confusion among users.
⚠️ Attention: On older Redmi models with a limited amount of RAM (3 GB or less), installing a large number of active widgets can lead to a noticeable decrease in performance and accelerated battery drain.
It is important to understand that widgets are tied to specific accounts and applications. If you uninstall an application, its widget will stop working and disappear from the screen. It is also worth considering that some widgets require a constant Internet connection to display data correctly, for example, exchange rates or news.
Technical limitations of widgets
In older versions of MIUI (up to 12), there was a limit on the number of widgets on one screen, as well as on their minimum size. In new versions, these restrictions are removed, but the limit on the total load on the system remains.
Preparing the desktop for installing elements
Before you start adding new elements, you need to prepare free space on the desktop. Unlike some other launchers, MIUI does not always automatically move icons to free up space for the widget if the grid is occupied. You will need to manually organize the space or remove unnecessary shortcuts.
First, free up an area of at least 2x2 or 4x2 cells, depending on what widget you plan to install. If you have the Wallpaper Carousel feature enabled (Glance), it may take up the entire lock screen or the first desktop, which sometimes prevents widgets from installing in standard mode.
It is recommended to determine in advance what data you really need to see. This could be a clock, weather, calendar or step counters. Chaotic placement of elements will turn the desktop into an unreadable mess, reducing the overall ergonomics of using a smartphone Redmi.
☑️ Preparing the desktop
It is also worth checking if the “Simple Mode” mode (for older people) is enabled, which radically changes the interface and often blocks the ability to add standard widgets. You can switch to standard mode through the screen settings.
The standard method of adding through the editing menu
The most common and reliable method of installing widgets on Xiaomi Redmi is using the built-in desktop editing menu. This method works on all current firmware versions and does not require the installation of additional software. The algorithm of actions is intuitive, but has its own characteristics depending on the version MIUI.
First, you need to go to editing mode. This is done by pressing your finger for a long time on a free area of the desktop or by lightly pinching with two fingers (pinch your fingers together). After this, the interface will change: application icons will become smaller, and a toolbar will appear at the bottom or top.
On the bottom panel, find a button with the inscription Widgets or an icon resembling a square with a plus. By clicking on it, you will open a library of available elements. Here they are sorted by category or alphabetically, depending on your display settings. Select the desired widget by tapping it.
- 📱 Press and hold your finger on the selected widget to drag it to the desktop.
- 📐 Resize the widget by dragging the special handles on the frame, if supported.
- ✅ Release your finger when the widget takes the desired position to fix it.
- ❌ To delete, press the cross or drag the widget to the trash can that appears on the screen.
After placing the widget on the screen, the system may offer to configure its contents. For example, for a weather widget you will need to allow access to geolocation, and for a calendar you will need to select the account to be displayed. Do not ignore these requests, otherwise the widget may display data by default or be empty.
Use the "Auto-arrange" function in the editing menu (if available in your version of MIUI) so that the system itself beautifully arranges the icons and makes room for the new widget.
Using Google application widgets and third-party services
Ecosystem Google offers some of the most functional widgets, which often surpass standard analogues in terms of information content. On smartphones Xiaomi they work stably, but require correct permission settings. Especially popular widgets are Google Search, Google Maps, YouTube Music and Google Photos.
To add a widget from Google, make sure that you have installed and updated the application Google i Google Play Services. Often users delete them to save space, but they are necessary for widgets to function properly. The adding process is similar to the standard one: through the launcher widget menu.
Third-party applications, such as weather services (WeatherPro, AccuWeather) or launchers (Nova Launcher, Smart Launcher), also provide their own widgets. When you install such an application, its widgets automatically appear in the shared library. However, if you use a third-party launcher, the menu for calling widgets may differ.
| Application | Widget type | Requirements | Functional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Search | Search bar | Google account | Voice search, news |
| Xiaomi Weather | Info block | GPS, Internet | Forecast, humidity, wind |
| Calendar | List of events | Synchronization | Plans for the day/week |
| Files | Quick access | Memory access | Cleaning, popular files |
It is important to note that third-party application widgets may behave unstable if the application is “killed” by the energy saving system. To avoid this, you need to pin the application in memory or configure autorun.
Configuring and customizing installed widgets
Once the widget is on the desktop, you often need to customize it for yourself. Standard widgets Xiaomi usually have a minimal set of settings, accessible through a long press on the widget itself. In the context menu that appears, select the item Widget settings or similar.
Here you can change the display style (digital or analogue clock), select a city for the weather, and set the color theme (dark or light theme). Some widgets allow you to change the transparency of the background, which is especially important when using live wallpaper.
For third-party widgets, the settings can be much wider. For example, a news feed widget can allow you to select sources, and a music widget can allow you to change player skins. Don't forget to save the changes by clicking the button OK or Apply.
⚠️ Attention: Changing the size of the widget (stretching) may lead to some information being hidden or, conversely, empty fields appearing. Always check that the display is correct after changing dimensions.
If you want to achieve maximum uniqueness, you can use widget constructors that allow you to create your own layouts with quick launch buttons, counters and text. This requires more time to set up, but the result is worth it.
Typical problems and methods for eliminating them
Despite the convenience of the interface, users Redmi often encounter problems when working with widgets. The most common one is that the widget is not added to the desktop. This is usually due to a lack of free space or a crowded grid. In this case, the system may simply not respond to dragging.
The second common problem is that the widget is “frozen” and does not update the data. This may occur due to aggressive energy saving policies MIUI. The system puts background processes to sleep, and the widget stops receiving relevant information. This can be solved by adding the source application to the battery exceptions list.
The third problem is the disappearance of widgets after a reboot or system update. This happens if the source application has been uninstalled or corrupted. Also, widgets may disappear when changing the theme if the new theme does not support the sizes of standard interface elements.
- 🔄 Restart the launcher through the settings or reinstall the launcher update.
- 🔋 Disable energy saving for the application creating the widget.
- 🗑️ Delete the problematic widget and add it again from the menu.
- 📲 Check for updates to the system and the widget application itself.
In rare cases, clearing the launcher cache helps. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications → Launcher → Memory → Clear cache. This will not delete your icons and settings, but will reset temporary interface files.
Most problems with widgets on Xiaomi are solved by adjusting permissions and disabling aggressive power saving for specific applications.
Why does the weather widget show the wrong city?
This happens if manual city control is selected in the widget settings, rather than automatic determination by GPS. Also check if access to geolocation is allowed for the Weather application.
Is it possible to install widgets from an iPhone to Xiaomi?
Direct installation of iOS widgets (.wdgt) is not possible. However, there are launchers on Google Play that mimic the iOS style, including the appearance of the widgets. They change only the visual shell.
What to do if the widget overlaps application icons?
In MIUI, widgets have priority and can overlap icons. To avoid this, place the widget first and then fill the remaining space with icons, or use a larger grid in your screen settings.
Do widgets affect the speed of your smartphone?
Yes, active widgets, especially those that are updated frequently (news, social networks, weather), consume CPU and RAM resources. On budget Redmi models, this can cause micro-slowdowns of the interface.