Synchronizing time on a mobile device is not just a matter of convenience, but a critical feature for the correct operation of most system processes. If the clock on your Xiaomi smartphone is lagging or in a hurry, you may encounter inability to run applications, errors when connecting to Wi-Fi or problems with displaying messages in instant messengers. Many users do not even realize that the cause of failure lies in the dissynchronization of the system timer.
Modern operating systems, including MIUI and HyperOS, have powerful automatic setup tools that minimize the need for manual intervention. However, in some situations, such as when traveling between time zones or after resetting, the user still has to adjust the settings manually. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to manage time and date on Xiaomi devices.
We're going to look at not only standard setting scenarios, but also the possible problems that smartphone owners face: you'll learn why time is lost after turning off the phone and how to force sync if the automatic mode is not working.
Why is it important to synchronize time?
The accuracy of the system clock affects many more processes than it seems, and the security protocols used by banking applications and secure sites require that the time on the device coincides with the real one with the accuracy of seconds, SSL-Certificates may be considered invalid, which will result in blocking access to resources.
In addition, logging events in the system, task scheduler and alarm clocks work exclusively on the basis of the system timer. A mistake of several hours can lead to the fact that an important call does not take place, and data backup does not start at the appointed time.
Xiaomi device owners often use synchronization with cloud services to transfer data. If the time on the new and old device will differ, file version conflicts may occur, and you risk losing important changes to the docum.
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The exact time is necessary for banking applications, connection security and correct execution of the system’s background tasks.
Automatic time and date setting
The easiest and most reliable way to ensure accuracy is to entrust this task to the operating system. MIUI and HyperOS have an Internet synchronization mechanism that uses the Network Time Protocol (NTP) protocol, which allows you to receive time data directly from Google servers or a carrier.
To activate this function, you need to go to the settings menu. Usually the path is: Settings → Additional → Date and Time. Here you should find the "Use Network Time" or "Automatic Date and Time" switch and put it into the active position, after which the device will determine your time zone and set the exact value.
- 🕒 Open Settings and go to the Additional section.
- 🌐 Select date and time in the list of parameters.
- ⚙️ Activate the slider "Use network time».
- 📡 Make sure mobile internet or Wi-Fi is enabled for synchronization.
It is important to note that the device needs an active internet connection to operate automatically, and if you are in an uncoated area or run out of traffic, the system will not be able to update the data, in which case the clock may show the time of the last successful synchronization or the time set by the real-time hardware module.
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If the automatic setup doesn’t work, try turning on flight mode for 10 seconds and then turning it off – this will restart network modules and can help establish a connection to the time server.
Manual setting of parameters
Sometimes the automatic system crashes, or the user is required to set a specific time different from the network. In such cases, manual adjustment is available on Xiaomi smartphones. This can be useful if you are testing time-dependent applications, or are in a place where the network is catching a signal from a different time zone.
To go manual, you first need to turn off automatic synchronization. Find Settings menu → Additional → Date and time switch "Use Network Time" and turn it off. After that, the fields for choosing date, time and time zone will become active.
☑️ Checking manual settings
When you manually install, be careful with your time zone choice. Choosing the wrong region can cause time to differ by an hour or more, even if the numbers on the screen are set correctly. The system calculates time based on UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) and the selected offset.
⚠️ Note: When manually setting the time, some applications may not work properly because their internal timers will conflict with the system timers.
Setting up the time zone when traveling
For frequent travelers, Xiaomi smartphones offer convenient time zone management features. Instead of manually changing the time each time you cross the border, you can use the automatic belt detection function by geolocation or choose a second time zone to display.
The Date and Time menu often has the option "Select a time zone" on it, and you can see a list of all the regions in the world here. SIM-map or Wi-Fi doesn't work (for example, roaming), you can manually select the country and city you are in, which is especially true in countries with non-standard time shifting.
Why is time straying in roaming?
Android smartphones usually update the transition rules automatically through system updates, but in rare cases, especially in countries with frequently changing legislation, this may require manual intervention or updating the time zone database.
| Region | Standard displacement (UTC) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Moscow (MSK) | UTC+3 | Constant time, no transitions. |
| ekaterinburg | UTC+5 | It differs from Moscow by 2 hours |
| Vladivostok | UTC+10 | It differs from Moscow by 7 hours |
| kaliningrad | UTC+2 | It differs from Moscow by 1 hour |
Time format and date display
The user-friendliness of the interface depends largely on the usual format of displaying time. In the Xiaomi settings, you can switch between the 12-hour and 24-hour format, which affects not only the clock in the status bar, but also the display of time in the call log, messages and alarm clock.
To change the format, go to Settings → Additional → Date and Time. Here you will find the 24-hour format switch. If it is turned off, the time will be displayed with the designation AM (until noon) and PM (afternoon). If it is on, in the usual format for Russia and Europe from 00:00 to 23:59.
- 📅 Date format: You can choose the order of display of the day, month and year (DD.MM.GYYG or MM.DD.GYGG).
- 🔤 Language of the days of the week: Depends on the language of the system, but the date format is set separately.
- ⏰ Display of seconds: In some design themes and on lock screens, you can enable the display of seconds.
Also available in this section are the date settings on the lock screen, so you can choose whether the day of the week, the number of the month, or just the numbers will be displayed, so you can personalize the look of the lock screen to your preferences.
Solution: Time is lost after switching off
One common problem on older or faulty smartphones is resetting the time and date when the battery is completely drained or after it is turned off.This is because the device’s motherboard has a small battery (CMOS battery) that powers the real-time clock when the main battery is removed or discharged.
If this battery is dead, the phone will “forget” the current time and date every time it turns on, returning to factory value (for example, January 1, 2015).In modern Xiaomi smartphones, this battery is often missing or replaced with a capacitor that is charged from the main battery, so the problem occurs less often, but still possible with a deep discharge.
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Constant resetting of time after switching off the phone indicates a malfunction of the power supply on the board or a deep discharge of the main battery.
To solve the problem temporarily, you can use automatic synchronization every time you turn on, and once the phone is connected to the network, it will tighten the right time, but if the problem is repeated constantly, it may indicate that you need to repair or replace the battery.
⚠️ Note: If time is reset even when the battery is charged, this may be a sign of a software error in the firmware or a malfunction of the motherboard.
Additional settings and widgets
In addition to system settings, Xiaomi offers many ways to manage time through the interface: the widgets on the desktop can not only show the time, but also serve as a quick access point to the settings of the alarm clock, timer and stopwatch.
To add a widget, press and hold your finger in the free desktop space, select Widgets and find the Watch category. There are different styles available: digital, analog, with date and weather display. The choice of widget does not affect system time, but can duplicate it with errors if the widget is third-party and has its own synchronization settings.
Also worth mentioning is the Double Clock feature, which allows you to display the time of the second time zone directly on the lock screen or in the widget, which is convenient for those who often communicate with relatives or partners from other countries. You can set up a second city in the Clock → World Time tab.
Whether you rely on automatic network synchronization or prefer manual control, understanding these settings helps you avoid many common technical issues.