How to change the time on the phone Xiaomi: full instructions

Xiaomi smartphones that work on the shell MIUI or a new HyperOS, usually automatically receives correct time data over the Internet, but when traveling, network failures or using two different devices. SIM-The system can display incorrect data in maps of different regions, which causes problems with notifications, banking applications and website security certificates.

The wrong time often leads to the fact that HTTPS-connections stop working because the site certificates are considered invalid, the user may experience a connection error in the browser or the inability to log in to messengers.

In this article, we will take a closer look at where to find your time settings, how to turn off intrusive automatic synchronization, and what to do if the time slider is gray and inactive. You will learn about the hidden functions of the engineering menu and the features of working with dual-SIM, which are often overlooked.

Where to find date and time settings in MIUI

The interface of the MIUI shell may vary depending on the version of Android and the firmware region, but the logic of building the menu remains the same. The standard path to the desired parameters lies through the main menu of system settings. You need to open the Settings application (the gear icon) and scroll through the list to the Additional section or immediately find the Date and Time item.

In some firmware versions, especially in Chinese or global Android 13/14 builds, this section can be hidden inside the Advanced Settings menu. If you don't have quick access, use the built-in Settings search by typing in "time" or "date," which is the fastest way to get to the desired subitem without much searching.

When you go to the section, you'll see the main switches, and that's where the automatic synchronization is, which is the default one, and it takes data from the nearest cell tower or Wi-Fi connection, and for most users, it's the perfect option that doesn't require any intervention.

• ⏰ Automatic time determination through the operator’s network.
• 🌐 Synchronization of the date through the Internet Protocol NTP.
• 📅 Manual setting of parameters with disabled automation.
• 🔄 Resetting time settings to factory values.

It is important to note that changing the time format (12 or 24 hours) is also in the same menu, but can sometimes be made into a separate time format subsection, which affects how the watch is displayed in the status bar and in the widgets on the desktop.

How to turn off automatic time synchronization

Often, users are faced with a situation where the time on Xiaomi’s phone “jumps” or does not want to change manually, the reason for this is the active automatic sync mode, while this switch is lit in blue, any manual changes will be ignored by the system or immediately reset.

To get full control, you have to force the network synchronization to be turned off. Find the menu item Use network time (or "Autoset time") and put the slider inactive, only then the fields for manually entering the hour, minute, day, month and year will be available.

⚠️ Warning: After you turn off automatic sync, your phone will stop adjusting the time when you switch to summer/winter time or when you change time zone.

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If the "Use Network Time" slider is inactive (gray), check if Do Not Disturb" or "Flight Mode" is on. Sometimes blocking the time settings is associated with active energy saving profiles.

When you manually set a year, a mistake even one year can cause many modern applications to fail, which check the relevance of system time at startup. SSL/TLS security certificates require a precise match to the server.

If you need to change the time temporarily (for example, for an application test), remember to return the switch to the on position after the work is completed, which will ensure the clock runs accurately and the alarm clock works correctly, even if the phone is turned off.

Time zone setting and working with Dual-SIM

One of the most common problems of Xiaomi smartphone owners with two SIM-When SIM cards are inserted into the phone from different operators or different regions (for example, Moscow and Vladivostok), the system can receive conflicting signals about the current time.

Date and time settings often feature the option to use time. SIM-If it's active, the phone will ignore your location and take time from the operator whose SIM card is chosen as a priority for voice calls or mobile Internet, which can cause the screen to display the time of another region.

To address this problem, it is recommended that:

• 📱 Disable the option “Use the time” SIM-maps" in settings.
• 🌍 Manually select the correct time zone from the list of cities.
• 🔌 Insert geolocation definition for more precise reference.

If you travel frequently, it’s more convenient to use the GPS automatic time zone function, leaving manual control only for the time, in which case the phone will realize that you have moved to a different time zone, and adjust the clock without requiring your intervention.

Also, when you change region in your phone settings (for example, when you reflash from China to Global), the list of available time zones may change. Make sure that your city is chosen, and not the neighboring one with the same shift of UTC, to avoid confusion with the switch to daylight saving time in other countries.

Solving problems with gray slider and glitches

It is not uncommon for the time setting to be locked (gray) and the AutoSetting switch to be turned off, and this can be caused by corporate security policies if the phone is working, or a system time service failure.

The first thing to do is check for active restriction profiles. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Privacy (or Child Safety). If restrictions are included, they can block changes to system settings. Also check if Guest mode is enabled.

If there are no profiles, try resetting your network settings. This won't delete your personal data, but will update your operator connection configuration, which often solves the problem of desynchronization. Path to reset: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth.

Using engineering code to fine-tune

For advanced users who do not have the standard settings, there is a possibility of a deeper diagnosis through the engineering menu, but be very careful: changing the parameters in the engineering menu without understanding their purpose can lead to unstable modem operation.

To get into the engineering menu, open the Phone app and dial ##4636##. If the code doesn't work, your version of MIUI may be blocking access to this menu, so you can try installing the MTK Engineering Mode app (for MediaTek processors) or the Snapdragon app.

Inside the menu, you'll find Phone Information or Network Information, and you'll see raw time data from the base station, but you can't change the time directly here, because that's the diagnostic menu, but you can see what time the carrier's phone is seeing, which will help you understand the reason for the discrepancy.

⚠️ Note: Do not change the values in the "Set preferred network type" fields or other technical parameters unnecessarily.

If the phone is constantly lagging behind or in a hurry even when synchronization is enabled, this may indicate a software bug in a particular firmware version, in such cases, waiting for a system update or, in extreme cases, a full data reset with a pre-saving backup helps.

The Impact of Wrong Time on Applications

Many users underestimate the importance of accurate time until they encounter bugs in applications. Current security protocols are time-tamped. If your Xiaomi time differs from real time by more than 5-10 minutes, most secure connections (HTTPS) will break.

This is particularly critical for:

• 🏦 Banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.).
• 💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) – messages may not come.
• 🌐 Browsers – the error “Your time is behind / in a hurry».
• 🛒 Marketplaces and shops.

In addition, an incorrect date can disrupt two-factor authentication (2FA). Codes in Google Authenticator applications are tied to the exact time. If the system time is downed, the codes will be incorrect and you will not be able to log in.

Also worth mentioning is the issue of certificates: When the time is wrong, the browser can alert you to a site’s dangers even if the site is completely secure, because the site’s security certificate (e.g., before 2026) doesn’t expire on your device (e.g., 2030).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Exact system time is not just the numbers on the screen, it's the foundation of your smartphone's security. Always keep sync on unless you have good reason to manually change.