How to set time on Xiaomi Mi 4: automatic and manual synchronization

The Xiaomi Mi 4, released in 2014, is still popular with users due to its reliability and custom firmware installation, but over time, many owners face the problem of lost time — especially after resetting, replacing the battery or updating software. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to set the time on the Mi 4 through system settings, manually and using third-party applications.

It’s important to understand that the wrong time can affect not only the display of the date in the status bar, but also the operation of alarms, notifications, synchronization with cloud services, and even some functions of messengers. If your smartphone shows the wrong time or date, this may be due to disabled automatic synchronization, failure of the NTP module (Network Time Protocol) or hardware problems. Next, we will consider all possible ways to solve this problem.

Why is Xiaomi Mi 4 running out of time?

Before you start setting up, you should understand the reasons why the time on the Mi 4 may not work properly.

• 🔋 Discharged or faulty battery: If the battery is severely worn out, it may not provide power for the internal timer (RTC — Real-Time Clock with your phone turned off.
• 📡 No Internet connection: Automatic time synchronization requires access to servers NTP (for example, pool.ntp.org).
• ⚙️ Resetting to factory settings: after a hard reset, all parameters, including the time zone, are reset.
• 🔄 Incorrect firmware or modified software: custom ROM (LineageOS or Pixel Experience can have their own time settings.
• 🕒 Hardware failure: in rare cases, the problem lies in the chip itself RTC, counting-off.

If the time is only lost after rebooting, it is likely the battery or firmware is to blame, and if the watch runs away even with the phone on, check the sync settings.

Method 1: Automatically adjusting time over a network

The easiest and most recommended way is to enable automatic synchronization with NTP servers.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the section Additional → Date and time (on some firmwares the path may differ: System → Date and time).
3. Activate the switches: 🔄 Automatic date and time (using network data) 🌍 Automatic time zone (determines location by location) GPS mobile)

Wait for the update – usually takes 10–30 seconds.

If you don’t update your time after you turn on these options, try manually selecting another NTP server:

⚠️ Note: on certain firmware (for example, MIUI 8 and below) the automatic time zone option may not work smoothly, in which case it is recommended to manually select your region in the settings.

Method 2: Manually setting time and date

If automatic synchronization does not work (for example, in the absence of the Internet), you can set the time manually:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Date and time.
2. Turn off the automatic date and time option.
3. Click on the Set a date and Set a time to manually enter current values.
4. Choose the correct time zone (eg GMT+3:00 Moscow).
5. Save the changes.

This method is suitable for a temporary solution, but remember: the next time you turn on your phone or change time zones, time can again go astray if automatic synchronization is not enabled.

Method 3: Resetting time settings through the engineering menu

If standard methods do not help, you can try to reset the time settings through the engineering menu (does not work on all firmware):

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636###.
3. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information.
4. Scroll down and find Set time or Reset time.
5. Confirm the reset and restart the device.

This can help if the failure is due to a software conflict, but beware: wrong actions on the engineering menu can lead to unstable phone operation.

⚠️ Note: on some versions MIUI In this case, use alternative methods (for example, applications for time synchronization).

Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications

If the system settings don't work, you can install specialized time synchronization utilities.-3 applications for Xiaomi Mi 4:

Before installing, check the app’s compatibility with your version of Android (Mi 4 usually costs Android 4.4-6.0).Some utilities require superuser rights (root), which can be risky on legacy devices.

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If the time synchronization application does not start after installing, check if the battery optimizer blocks it in the MIUI settings. Add the program to the exception list.

Method 5: Checking and Replacing the Battery

If the time is only lost when the phone is turned off, the problem is almost certainly the battery, because the RTC module (which is responsible for counting the time) is powered by the battery even when the device is turned off, and when the battery is critically low or malfunctioning, the timer is reset.

How to check:

• 🔋 Watch battery life: if the phone runs out in a few hours without loading, the battery is worn out.
• 🔍 Remove the back cover and inspect the battery for bloating or corrosion of the contacts.
• 📊 Use diagnostic applications (such as AccuBattery) to find out the real capacity.

If the battery is faulty, it must be replaced. For Xiaomi Mi 4, 3080 mAh batteries labeled BM43 or BM44 are suitable. The average cost of replacing in the service center is 1000-1500 rubles (2026).

⚠️ Warning: When you replace your battery yourself, use original or certified batteries. Cheap alternatives can not only fail quickly, but also damage the power controller.

Solving time zone problems

Sometimes the time on the Mi 4 is displayed correctly, but the time zone is not correctly defined.

• 📍 Unplugged. GPS: Without geolocation, the phone cannot automatically identify the region.
• 🌐 Incorrect regional settings: for example, English (USA) is chosen, and the belt is GMT+0.
• 🔄 Conflict with SIM-map: some operators force the transmission of belt data, which may not match the actual location.

To fix this:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Date and time.
2. Turn off the automatic time zone.
3. Manually select your region (e.g. Moscow, GMT+3).
4. Reboot the phone.

After the shift SIM-maps (for example, when traveling abroad) the time zone is not updated, try temporarily disabling mobile data and enabling automatic determination again.

Frequent questions and answers

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If none of these methods worked, the problem could be hardware (an RTC chip or power controller malfunction) in which case, contact the service center for diagnosis.