How to change the clock on the lock screen Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

Xiaomi’s lock screen is not just a protection against random clicks, but also an information panel where time plays a key role. Many users face a situation where the watch is displayed incorrectly: You lose your time zone, you don't update your flight time, or you just want to change the format of your display. In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can change the time on your lock screen, including hidden settings. MIUI Solutions for cases where standard methods do not work.

Despite the apparent simplicity of the task, the process may differ depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13 or 14), smartphone models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T) And even regional settings, like on devices for the Chinese market. ROM) The time setting menu may look different than on the global versions (Global) ROM). We have taken into account all these nuances so that the instruction fits the maximum number of users.

If you notice that the time on the lock screen does not match the real one, do not rush to blame the smartphone for the malfunction. 80% of the time the problem is solved by changing several settings in the settings. And for those who want to not just fix the error, but customize the display of time (for example, add seconds or change the font), we have prepared advanced instructions using hidden functions. MIUI and third-party applications.

Why can the clock on the lock screen be displayed incorrectly?

Before you start setting up, it is important to understand the cause of the failure, and most often the problem lies in one of the following factors:

• 🌍 The smartphone can automatically determine it by location, but sometimes chooses a neighboring region (for example, Moscow instead of St. Petersburg).
• ⏱️ Automatic synchronization disabled: If Auto-Update date and time is deactivated, the clock will freeze after manual change.
• 📱 Failure after update MIUI. After installing the new firmware version, the time settings may be reset, especially on devices with China. ROM.
• 🔄 Conflict with customization apps: programs like Good Lock or Always On Display can override system settings.
• 📶 Network time problems: If the smartphone can't connect to the servers NTP (for example, VPN Firewall, the synchronization is terminated.

Fun fact: on some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) The clock on the lock screen is updated less frequently than in the status bar, and this is done to save energy, but it can create the illusion of "hanging" time.

If the problem occurred after replacing the battery or repairing the motherboard, the cause may be a reset. RTC-In this case, you will need not only manual adjustment, but also verification of the hardware.

Method 1: Standard settings through the Date and Time menu

This is the basic method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of model and version. MIUI. The instructions are relevant for devices with Global ROM Europe ROM:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the section Additional settings → Date and time.
3. Activate the AutoDetermination switch if it's turned off. The smartphone will pick up the time zone by your location.
4. If the automatic definition doesn’t work, turn it off and select a time zone manually from the list.
5. Make sure to turn on the option to use the network to adjust the time (some firmware called Network Sync).

After the change, go back to the lock screen and check for the time update. If the clock is still incorrect, try Forced Sync:

1. In the same Date and Time menu, click on Sync Now (or Update Time).
2. If there is no button, turn off and enable Autodetermination again.

It's important! On devices with China. ROM The path to settings may be different: Settings → System and device → Date and time. Also, Chinese firmware sometimes doesn't have the option of automatic time zone detection, in which case you have to manually select it.

Method 2: Change the format of the display of time

By default. MIUI It shows the time on the lock screen in CH:MM format (for example, 14:30). However, you can add seconds, change the font or even hide the clock altogether:

Step 1: Set up the format through themes

• 🎨 Open the Topic app (Brush icon).
• Go to the Lock Screen section.
• Select any theme marked Customizable or Animated.
• Click Apply and check for changes. Some themes support displaying seconds (CH:MM:SS) or dates under the clock.

Step 2: Manual editing through ADB (for advanced users)

If standard options are not enough, you can change the system parameters through ADB. This method requires an unlocked bootloader and enabled debugging. USB.

adb shell settings put global lock_screen_clock_format 1

Where 1 is the format code:

• 0 - ChCh:MM (by default)
• 1 - CH:MM:SS (with seconds),
• 2 — CH: AM/PM (12-clock-form).

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If the clock has disappeared completely after the command, return the standard format with the command adb shell settings put global. lock_screen_clock_format 0 and reboot the smartphone.

Limitations:

• Nana MIUI 14 and newer some teams ADB They may be blocked for security reasons.
• Changes through ADB Reset after resetting settings or updating the firmware.

Method 3: Solving Time Synchronization Problems

If the lock screen time is not updated despite the autosynchronization settings enabled, the cause may be system failures or conflicts with applications.

1. Resetting date and time settings

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Additional settings → Date and time.
• Turn off Autodetermination and Network Synchronization.
• Manually set the wrong time (for example, an hour ahead).
• Turn back on autodetermination and synchronization.
• Reboot your smartphone.

2. Cleaning the cache of the Settings application

Sometimes the failure is caused by corrupted temporary files:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• Find the Settings app (or Settings).
• Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
• Restart the device.

3. Verification of server operation NTP

Xiaomi smartphones synchronize time with servers NTP (Network Time Protocol: If the server is not available (for example, due to the VPN or locking the provider, the time stops updating to check the connection:

• 🌐 Install ClockSync from Google Play.
• Run manual sync and see which servers are used.
• If synchronization fails, try connecting to another network (e.g., from mobile internet instead of Wi-Fi).

⚠️ Attention, some firmware. MIUI (especially Chinese servers NTP Default configured to Chinese domains (ntp.aliyun.com).If you are outside of China, this can cause delays.Solution: install a third-party time sync app (e.g. Network Time) and select a server in your region.

Verification of the module GPS

Time zone autodetermination depends on geolocation data. GPS Disabled or not working correctly, the smartphone can choose the wrong region:

• 📍 Enable Exact Location in Geodata Settings.
• Open Google Maps and wait for your location to be determined.
• Go back to the time settings and turn on Autodetermination again.

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If none of the methods worked, the problem could be hardware failure. RTC-chip (responsible for time off) In this case, a diagnosis is required at the service center.

Method 4: Customize the watch through Always On Display (AOD)

On smartphones Xiaomi with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi) K60) The feature is always on display (AOD), It's a system that allows you to configure the time-out:

Activation of AOD:

1. Go to Settings → Screen → Always On Display
2. Turn on the Always On Display switch.
3. Select the style of the watch from the suggested templates (for example, Digital, Analog, Minimalist).

Additional settings:

• 🕒 Click Settings under the selected style to change the color, font or add seconds.
• 📅 Turn on the date, charge level or notifications next to the clock.
• ⏳ Set up a work schedule AOD (For example, only at night or at certain hours).

Limitations of AOD:

• The function is only available on devices with AMOLED-display.
• Nana MIUI 12 and older AOD It can be turned off at a low charge level (less than 15%).
• Some watch styles require additional themes from the Xiaomi Themes store.

If AOD It does not support the screen, check it out:

• 🔋 Battery level (must be above 20%).
• 📵 Energy saving settings (turn off Ultra Mode or Super Saving).
• 🔄 Firmware updates (on some models) AOD It only appears after updating to MIUI 13+).

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To save charge, adjust AOD It's only up when you lift the device. AOD Turn on the option to show when climbing.

Method 5: Correcting time after resetting or firmware

After hard reset or custom firmware installation (e.g. LineageOS, Pixel Experience), the clock on the lock screen may be confused or displayed in the wrong format.

• 🔧 Settings are resetting NTP-server.
• 📡 The current region is defined as “by default” (often it is the default region). UTC+0).
• ⚙️ Custom firmware may not support automatic synchronization with Xiaomi servers.

Instructions for remediation:

1. After reset, immediately check the Date and Time settings (the path is specified in Method 1).
2. If automatic sync doesn’t work, install the ClockSync app and manually select a server (e.g. pool.ntp.org).
3. Custom firmware may require editing of the build.prop file (root rights required: ro.config.ntp_server=your.ntp.server.here
4. If time is lost after turning off the smartphone, check the work RTC-chip (requires diagnosis in the service).

⚠️ Attention! On devices with unlocked bootloader and custom recavery (TWRP) Timezone may be lost after firmware is installed. To avoid this, make a backup of the partition before firmware. /data/property, where the time settings are stored.

Frequent errors after the firmware:

Method 6: Hidden functions MIUI time-management

Firmware MIUI It contains several hidden options for setting the time that are not documented in the official instructions, and these methods are suitable for advanced users who are willing to experiment with system parameters.

1. Change the font of the watch through Developer Options

To change the font of the display time:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in your phone settings).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the option Minimum font width and set the value of 100.
4. Back to Settings → Screen. → Font and choose a different style (e.g. Mi Sans or Roboto).

2. Set up time updates through ADB

If the clock is updated too rarely (e.g. once per minute instead of seconds), you can change the synchronization interval:

adb shell settings put global ntp_sync_interval 60

60 is the interval in seconds. The minimum is 15 (update every 15 seconds), but this will increase battery consumption.

3. Reset time settings via Safe Mode

If the problem is caused by a conflict with the application:

1. Press the power button and hold the Turn off until the prompt to go to Safe Mode appears.
2. In Safe Mode, check the clock. If the time is displayed correctly, one of the installed applications is to blame.
3. Remove recently installed programs (especially those related to widgets or customization).

⚠️ Attention, changing system parameters through ADB or build.prop can cause your smartphone to run in an unstable way. Before experimenting, back up your data and be prepared to reset your settings.

On devices with MIUI 14 and newer some teams ADB They're locked by default. To unlock them, you have to turn them off. MIUI Optimization in the Developer Settings (Disable option) MIUI Optimization).

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up time on Xiaomi