Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need for accurate time synchronization, which is important not only for keeping schedules, but also for the correct operation of banking applications, messengers and security systems. The lock screen is the first interface that the user sees, so displaying current data there is critical.
But standard MIUI or HyperOS shell settings can hide some options, making the process less obvious to beginners. Sometimes the clock lags behind, shows an incorrect time zone, or stops updating after a reboot. In this article, we will detail all the available methods for solving this problem, from basic settings to hidden engineering menus.
Incorrect time can lead to errors when logging into Google and Mi Accounts. So it's important to make sure your device has the right settings set, and we'll look at both automatic network synchronization and manual setups that are needed when there's no internet or specific user requirements.
Basic setting of date and time through the smartphone menu
The easiest and most reliable way to set the right time is to use the built-in system settings menu. To do this, unlock the device and find the Settings app. In the settings list, select the Additional Settings section, where the Date and Time is located, and this is where the key switches that control the timing of your gadget are located.
In the menu that opens, you'll see the option Use Network Time. If this switch is activated, the smartphone automatically receives current time data from the cellular operator or Wi-Fi network. This is the most accurate method, eliminating human error. However, if you are in roaming or areas with unstable signal, automation can crash by choosing the wrong time zone.
⚠️ Warning: When you turn on the automatic timing option, manual setting of the clock will not be available (grey). First, turn off network sync if you want to set the values manually.
If you don't like automatic mode, turn it off. Immediately after that, manual input fields will be active. You can select the year, month, day, and exact time in increments to a minute. Once you've completed the setup, remember to click Save or Confirm Action so that the changes take effect immediately.
Setting up time display on Always On Display
Xiaomi’s modern models are often equipped with AMOLED-screens that support the Always On Display function (AOD). This is a mode in which part of the pixels continue to work even when the phone is locked, displaying the clock, date and notifications.
To change the style of the face on the locked screen, go to Settings and select Always on screen and lock. Here you can choose from the preset style or download a new one from the theme store. Some themes allow you to customize the display format: 12-hour or 24-hour, the presence of seconds or dates.
It's important to understand that AOD consumes battery power, and you can set the settings menu to schedule the function, for example, to turn it on only in the day or 10 seconds after you touch the screen, and this will help save energy by keeping a quick look at the watch.
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Use dark themes for Always On Display on AMOLED screens – black pixels do not consume energy, which significantly prolongs autonomy.
Solving problems with automatic synchronization
Often users are faced with a situation where the option to use network time is turned on, but the time is still incorrect. SIM-card, operator or shell software bug failure, and in these cases, more in-depth tampering with settings is required.
The first step is to try to switch your phone to and from air mode, and this will force you to restart the communication module and initiate a new request for time at the base station. If that doesn't work, check if your region is correctly defined. There's a Time Zone in the date and time settings. Make sure that your city or region is selected there, not the neighboring area.
In some cases, clearing the cache of system services helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Go to the list of Google Play Services or Google Play Services. Go to Memory and click Clear Cache. Fear not, it won't delete your personal data, but it can fix sync errors.
| Problem. | Probable cause | Method of decision |
|---|---|---|
| Time strays after reboot | Settled internal battery or failure of the software | Enable synchronization via the Internet |
| Wrong time zone | Definition error SIM-map | Manually select the city in the settings |
| The clock is a few minutes behind. | Lack of synchronization of NTP | Switch to the "Auto" switch off/on |
| Format 12 hours instead of 24 | Settings of a region or topic | Change the date and time in the menu |
Use of the Engineering Menu for Advanced Users
For those who are not afraid to experiment, there is access to the engineering menu through a special code, which allows you to check the status of time synchronization at the modem level. Be careful: changing unknown parameters in the engineering menu can lead to unstable phone operation.
To enter the menu, open the Phone app and dial ##4636##. If the menu opens, select Phone Information. There are many technical options available. However, direct time settings are not usually available here, but you can check the registration status of the network on which time depends.
##4636##If standard code doesn't work (it's often blocked on newer versions of MIUI), you can use Activity Launcher from the Play Market, which lets you unlock hidden activity, find com.android.settings.DateTimeSettings and run it, and it's a direct way to set time, bypassing the standard menu.
⚠️ Warning: Do not change the values in the "Radio Band" or "Network Type" sections of the engineering menu without understanding the consequences.
The impact of the theme of design on the display of hours
The MIUI and HyperOS shells are tightly integrated with the theme store. Often, when you install a new theme, the time on the lock screen becomes unreadable, changes color, or disappears altogether. It's not a system bug, but a feature of a particular graphic.
If you notice that the watch is missing or is not displayed correctly, try temporarily switching to a standard Classic or Default theme. To do this, go to the Themes app, go to the profile (human icon) and select My Themes. Apply the standard design and check the lock screen.
Many custom themes allow you to customize the watch widget separately. Press and hold your finger on a locked screen (if the theme editing feature on the locked screen is enabled in the security settings), Here you can change the font size, position and color of the dial, adapting it to your preferences.
Why aren't there seconds in some topics?
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
Even after setting it up correctly, users may experience periodic crashes, such as time flying into the past or future after a long time of downtime on a battery-depleted phone, which is because when the settings are completely discharged, the settings are reset. RTC-real-time.
Another common problem is that time is out of sync across apps, like the browser time is right and the system clock isn't, and that's solved by clearing the Google Services app data and stopping the process by force, and it's worth checking if the phone has some questionable software that can block network sync requests.
- 📱 Check if Do Not Disturb or Sleep Mode is enabled, which may limit background synchronization.
- 🌐 Make sure the date on the calendar is true, sometimes the crash comes from the wrong date, not the time.
- 🔄 Update the system to the latest version via About Phone, as older versions MIUI They had famous leap years bugs.
If nothing works, the last resort is to completely reset your settings. Be sure to back up your data before doing so, and reset all system clocks and timers back to factory values and eliminate software conflicts.
☑️ Diagnosing problems with time
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In most cases, the problem is solved by simply switching the switch to "Use Network Time" or manual time zone adjustment.