The wrong date in photos in the Xiaomi gallery is a common problem that occurs after resetting, changing the battery or manually changing the system time, as a result, all the pictures are sorted randomly, and the memories in applications like Google Photos are displayed incorrectly. In this article, we will discuss how to fix metadata. EXIF on Redmi smartphones, POCO Xiaomi and other Xiaomi ranges – from standard tools to third-party applications.
Many users mistakenly believe that the date in the photo is only tied to the file system, but in fact it is stored in metadata. EXIF — If your Xiaomi shows the wrong time after the update MIUI If you move to a different time zone, you can fix the problem, and you need to figure out whether you need to fix the system time of the device or if you need to edit the files themselves.
In this article you will find:
- 🔧 How to sync time on Xiaomi with Google servers to automatically edit the date on new photos
- ⚙️ Step-by-step instructions for changing metadata through a standard gallery MIUI
- 📱 Review of the 3 Best Date Editing Package Apps in Hundreds of Photos
- ⚠️ Frequent mistakes that cause a date to go down again (and how to avoid them)
1. Check system time on Xiaomi: why photos are saved with the wrong date
Before you edit the metadata, make sure the smartphone itself shows the current time. On Xiaomi, date and time may be lost due to:
- 🔄 Manual changes in settings (for example, when testing features or saving charge)
- 🌍 Time zone changes without automatic updates
- 🔋 Reset to factory settings (time reset to default)
- 📡 Network absence (if synchronization is disabled) NTP)
To check the current settings:
- Open Settings → Additional → Date and time.
- Make sure options are enabled: Auto-Date and Time (uses network data) Time Zone Auto-Determination (by network) GPS mobile)
If the options are disabled, activate them and wait for sync (it can take up to 1 minute).
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (Automatic synchronization is unstable. If time is lost after reset, try manually selecting a time zone or updating it. MIUI last-minute.
If the system time is correct, but the photos are still stored with the wrong date, the problem is:
- 📸 Camera settings (for example, Manual Date mode is enabled in professional mode)
- 🗃️ metadata EXIF (They could have been modified by third-party applications)
- 🔄 App conflict (e.g. Google Photos and Xiaomi's standard gallery argue over priority)
2. Correction of date and time through the standard gallery MIUI
The standard Gallery app on Xiaomi allows you to edit metadata only for individual photos, but does not support batch processing, which is suitable if you need to correct the date for 5-10 pictures.
Instructions:
- Open the Gallery app and select a photo with the wrong date.
- Put the button on it. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner → Details.
- Scroll down to the Date and Time block and click Edit.
- Enter the correct values and save the changes.
⚠️ Note: After editing metadata through the gallery MIUI This can be shifted to the end of the album or duplicated, because the system perceives it as a "new" file. To avoid chaos, reboot the gallery after editing (close it in multitasking).
Limitations of the method:
- ❌ It does not work for video (video metadata is edited only via PC).
- ❌ It does not support batch change (you will have to edit each photo manually).
- ❌ On some firmware, the edit option may not be available (depending on version). MIUI).
Make a backup photo|Check the version. MIUI (update if necessary)|Close the background apps (especially Google Photos)|Disable battery optimization for gallery-->
3. Package date change in hundreds of photos: top-3 apps
If you need to fix the date on dozens or hundreds of shots, standard tools MIUI In this case, one of the specialized applications will help. We tested 7 programs and selected the 3 best for Xiaomi:
| Annex | Pluses | Cons | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXIF Editor | Package processing (up to 500 photos at a time) Support for formats JPEG, PNG, WEBP Russian | Advertising in the free version No video editing | Google Play |
| Photo Exif Editor | Modifying geotags and other metadata Preview changes before saving Export to a separate folder | Paid version for batch processing Complex interface for beginners | Google Play |
| Metadata Remover | Removal or Replacement of Metadata Support RAW-Files no advertising | No Russian Language Restriction on 20 photos in the free version | Google Play |
Recommendations for use:
- Before mass editing, back up your photos (e.g., copy them to your PC or cloud).
- In the application settings, select the option Save to a new folder so as not to overwrite the originals.
- For convenience, sort the photo by the date of shooting (even if it is incorrect) - so it is easier to allocate groups for batch editing.
Example of work in EXIF Editor:
- Open the application and allow access to the files.
- Select a folder with a photo (for example, DCIM/Camera).
- Slip on the calendar icon → Please indicate the correct date and time.
- Click Apply to All and confirm the changes.
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If you've lost your photos after batch editing, don't panic! Just update your media base: go to Settings. → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
4. Manual editing EXIF via PC: for experienced users
If your smartphone doesn’t have enough power to handle thousands of photos, or you prefer to work on a large screen, use desktop software, which is suitable for professional photographers or Xiaomi owners with large photo archives.
Tools required:
- 🖥️ ExifTool (free, cross-platform) or FastStone Image Viewer (for Windows).
- 🔌 USB-Type C Cable to Connect Xiaomi to PC.
- 📁 Backup photo (required!).
Instructions for ExifTool (via command line):
- Download ExifTool and unpack it in a folder with a photo.
- Open the Command Prompt (Win + R → enter cmd).
- Go to the folder with the photo command: cd C:\path\folder\f/f/photo
- Change the date for all JPEG-Files in the folder use the command: exiftool -AllDates="2023:10:15 14:30:00" -overwrite_original *.jpg 2023:10:15 14:30:00 — the necessary date and time in the format of GYYYYY:MM:DD CH:MM:SS.
For FastStone Image Viewer:
- Select a photo in the program → Tools → Change date/time.
- Select the Install option for all selected and enter the correct values.
- Save the changes (originals will be rewritten!).
⚠️ Note: When editing via PC, Xiaomi may not immediately display changes to the gallery.To speed up the process, restart your smartphone or use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) to update the media base manually: Settings → Update media files.
5. Sync with Google Photos: Automatic Date Editing
If you use Google Photos, the service can automatically correct the date on the photo based on:
- 📍 Geotechs (if stored in metadata).
- 👥 Facial recognition (if Group of People function is enabled).
- 📅 Data from other Google services (such as Google Maps or Google Keep).
How to enable automatic editing:
- Open Google Photos and go to Settings → Backup and Sync.
- Make sure that the backup option is enabled.
- Upload your photos to the cloud (if they are not synced).
- Wait for processing (may take from a few minutes to a day).
- After processing, check the date in the web version of Google Photos (photos.google.com). If it is corrected, download the photo back to Xiaomi.
Limitations of the method:
- ❌ Not for all photos (depending on the availability of additional metadata).
- ❌ Can correct the date inaccurately (for example, with a margin of error of several hours).
- ❌ It requires a stable internet and a place in the cloud.
What if Google Photos doesn’t fix the date?
6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Even after successful editing, the date in the photo can get lost again.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Date is lost after Xiaomi reboot | Battery Failure (smartphone forgets time) | Replace the battery or calibrate it with Engineer Mode (#4636##) |
| Photos in the gallery are displayed in a chaotic order | Conflict between date in EXIF and the date of creation of the file | Use it. EXIF Editor to synchronize both parameters |
| Editing applications do not save changes | Files are protected from writing (e.g. copied from the SD-map) | Transfer the photo to internal memory or give the application the right to file |
| Date fixed, but Google Photos displays old | App cache not updated | Clear the Google Photos cache in the app settings |
Additional advice:
- 🔄 If you travel frequently, turn off automatic time zone determination and set it manually.
- 📸 Before important shootings (wedding, vacation) check the date in the camera settings (camera settings) → Additionally. → Watermark – the current date is displayed there).
- 🔋 If the problem occurs after a battery replacement, reset Xiaomi’s settings to factory settings (but back up first!).
💡
The most common cause of date failure in Xiaomi photos is a faulty battery. If time is reset after your smartphone is turned off, check the battery using the AccuBattery app or at a service center.
7. Alternative methods: watermarks and file renaming
If you can't fix the metadata, you can go around:
Method 1: Adding a watermark with a date
Many photo editing apps (like Snapseed or Lightroom) allow you to tag text. You can add the correct date as a watermark:
- Open the photo in Snapseed.
- Select the Text tool.
- Enter the date in the format DD.MM.YYYY And put it in the corner.
- Keep a copy (don’t overwrite the original!)
Method 2: Rename files
If the date is EXIF not critical, you can rename files by template YYYY-MM-DD_HH-MM-SS.jpg. For that:
- Use a file manager with batch renaming (e.g. Solid Explorer).
- In Xiaomi, the standard Files application will suit this: Highlight the photo → Rename. Select Add date and specify the desired format.
Cons of alternative methods:
- ❌ Watermarks spoil the appearance of the photo.
- ❌ Renaming does not affect sorting in some galleries (they use the same name). EXIF, Not the file name).
Decision:
- In the editing app settings, select the option to Rewrite the original (if available).
- Use the file manager to remove duplicates.