The modern rhythm of life often forces us to be in contact with people or business partners who are in other time zones. Constantly calculating the time difference to avoid calling in the middle of the night becomes a tedious task. That is why the function double clocks on the smartphone screen is not just an aesthetic decoration, but a necessary tool for productive work and communication.
The operating system Android implements several ways to display the time of two different regions at the same time. This could be a special widget on the desktop, a status bar at the top of the screen, or the lock screen. However, depending on the manufacturer of your device, the paths to these settings may differ significantly.
In this article we will analyze all the available methods for activating a second time zone. You will learn how to set up widgets on pure Android, where to find hidden functions in the shell One UI from Samsung and how to add a second arrow on Xiaomi. It is important to understand that native support for two full-fledged dials at the same time is not built into all models in the budget segment.
Standard clock widgets on pure Android
On smartphones with minimal interface modification, such as Google Pixel or series devices Motorola, the process of adding a second time is as simplified as possible. The system offers flexible widgets that allow you to display information from several sources at once. First, you need to go to the desktop and call up the editing menu.
Make a long tap on a free area of the screen or pinch with two fingers to open the widget menu. In the list, find the section Clock or Clocks. Here you will see various design options: analog, digital and combined. Select one that supports displaying multiple cities.
- 🌍 Click on the World Clock widget to add to your desktop.
- ⏰ Select a display style: digital or analogue watch face.
- ➕ In the widget settings, add the second city from the list of proposed ones.
After placing the widget on the screen, additional configuration is often required. Click on the widget itself or use the edit button (usually a pencil) to change cities. You can select anywhere in the world, and the system will automatically take into account daylight saving time if it is relevant for the selected region.
⚠️ Warning: Some standard clock widgets may stop updating if you enable aggressive battery saving. Check the power consumption settings for system applications if the time stops ticking.
Setting up dual time on Samsung One UI
Device owners Samsung have one of the most advanced tools for working with time. The shell One UI allows you to display the time of two different cities directly in the status bar, which eliminates the need to create bulky widgets on the desktop. This is especially convenient, since the information is always before your eyes.
To activate this function, go to the main device settings. You will need the section General settings (General Management). Here is the item Date and time. It is in this menu that a switch is hidden that allows you to enable the display of a second time zone.
Activate the toggle switch Double clocks. Immediately after switching on, you will be able to select a second city. You can scroll through the list or use the search. An automatic switching option is also available: the phone will show the time of the second city only when you are roaming or connected to the network of another region.
| Setting option | Function description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Display mode | Always or only in roaming | Select “Always” for constant operation |
| Time format | 12-hour or 24-hour | 24-hour format eliminates confusion |
| Font style | Depends on the theme | Use system fonts for readability |
In addition to the status bar, you can customize the lock screen on Samsung. In the section Wallpaper and style select Clock. Some styles allow you to display the time of the second city in small font under the main clock, which looks very aesthetically pleasing and informative.
Interface features of MIUI and HyperOS on Xiaomi
Users smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco face some limitations in the standard firmware. Shells MIUI and new HyperOS do not always have a built-in function to display two clocks in the status bar without using third-party applications. However, solutions exist.
First of all, you should check the section Additional in the settings. Some firmware versions (especially global ones) have an item Double clock, similar to Samsung. If it is not there, widgets become the main tool. The standard set of Xiaomi widgets is rich, but often requires manual configuration of each element.
To add a widget, follow these steps:
- 📱 Hold your finger on an empty space on the desktop.
- 🔧 Select the widgets icon in the bottom menu.
- 🕒 Find the "Tools" or "Clock" category.
- ✅ Drag the "Dual Clock" or "World Clock" widget onto the screen.
If standard tools are not enough, users often turn to to the design theme. In the theme store Themes you can find special themes that forcefully add a second time line to the lock screen. This requires changing the entire visual shell, but gives the desired result.
⚠️ Attention: When installing third-party themes from unofficial sources, carefully check the permissions. Themes may request access to contacts or geolocation, which is redundant for changing the appearance.
Why does the widget disappear on Xiaomi after a reboot?
Some versions of MIUI have strict memory optimization. The system can upload clock widgets to save resources. To avoid this, you need to go to the battery settings, find the “Clock” or “System Services” application and select the “Unlimited” mode for background operation.
Using third-party applications to display the time
When the built-in functionality of the phone does not satisfy your needs, applications from the store come to the rescue. Google Play. There are many utilities that specialize specifically in displaying the time of different cities. They often provide more customization options than system solutions.
One of the popular solutions is an application World Clock Widget or similar tools from Google. They allow you to create widgets of any size and shape. You can place a list of 5-10 cities on the screen, highlight working hours and rest times, and add moon phases or weather.
Advantages of using third-party widgets:
- 🎨 High degree of customization of fonts and colors.
- 🌐 Support for an unlimited number cities.
- 📊 Possibility of displaying additional information (exchange rates, weather).
However, it is worth remembering about resource consumption. Complex widgets with live animation or frequent updates over the Internet can drain your battery faster. Choose static widgets if autonomy is a priority for you.
When choosing a third-party clock widget, pay attention to the date of the last update of the application in Google Play. If the developer has not updated the product for more than a year, the widget may not work correctly on new versions of Android.
Setting the lock screen for dual time
The lock screen is the first thing the user sees when picking up the phone. Placing information about the second time zone here is a logical decision. Setting methods depend on the version of Android and the manufacturer's shell.
On devices with pure Android, it is often enough to simply add a clock widget to the lock screen through the editing menu. On more complex shells, such as y Huawei or Honor, you need to go to Settings -> Lock screen -> Clock style. The options “City 1 / City 2” are often available here.
It is important to choose the right time zone for the second city. Don't rely on the city name alone, as different countries may have different rules for translating arrows. It is better to manually check the offset relative to your current time to avoid awkward situations when making calls.
Some users prefer to use “Live Wallpaper” with a built-in clock. This could be an animation of flying over a world map or just a stylish digital timer. Such wallpapers take up more battery, but look impressive.
Solution: why double clocks do not work
Even with proper settings, users may encounter problems. The time may not be displayed correctly, widgets may disappear, or the status bar may not show the second city. Most often the problem lies in permissions or energy saving.
The first thing you need to check is access to geolocation. To automatically determine your current zone and correctly calculate the difference, the system needs access to your location. Check whether the use of GPS for the system clock is prohibited.
The second common reason is “Sleep” applications. Android may put the clock widget to sleep, treating it as inactive if you rarely look at your desktop. In the battery settings, find the “Clock” application and set the operating mode to “Unlimited.”
⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces may change with software updates. If you do not find the described menu item, use the search in the phone settings by entering the query “clock” or “double”.
☑️ Diagnosing a problem with the clock
Comparison of time display methods
To summarize, we can say that the choice of method depends on your priorities: battery saving, aesthetics or maximum information content. Native solutions always work more stable, but third-party ones give more freedom.
For business people who often travel on business, the optimal solution would be a status bar on Samsung or a widget on pure Android. For those who follow the cryptocurrency market or stocks in other countries, complex widgets with quotes are suitable.
Do not forget that having a double clock is not only a convenience, but also a matter of time management. Visualizing time helps the brain switch faster between work and rest modes, especially when working remotely with international teams.
The most reliable way to get a double clock is to use the built-in functions of your shell (One UI, MIUI), as they are guaranteed to be compatible with the system and do not affect autonomy.
Is it possible to enable dual clocks on older versions of Android (6.0 - 8.0)?
On older versions of Android, the built-in dual clock feature in the status bar was often missing. However, widgets always worked. You'll have to use desktop widgets or install a third-party app from Google Play that emulates this feature. Also, on older phones, it was often possible to install themes that changed the lock screen.
Does turning on a double clock affect battery consumption?
The display of the second time itself practically does not consume battery, since this is static information that is updated once a minute. The cost can only increase if you use “live” widgets with animation or widgets that constantly update data via the Internet (for example, the weather in each city).
Why does the time of the second city get lost after a reboot?
This may occur due to a failure in time synchronization via the network. Make sure that the “Use network time” option is turned on in your date and time settings. Also check if your antivirus or system is blocking access to the system time for the widget.
How to add seconds to a double clock?
You cannot add seconds to a double clock in the status bar using standard Android tools. This option is only available for some desktop widgets. To display seconds in the status bar, root access and modification of system files are usually required, which is not recommended for ordinary users.