How to set the time on the phone Xiaomi: all the ways

Incorrectly displayed time on a Xiaomi smartphone can cause alarm clocks, reminders and data synchronization to malfunction, especially after flashing, resetting or moving to another time zone. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to adjust time, from automatic synchronization to manual adjustment for different versions of MIUI.

The manufacturer updates the interface regularly, so the instructions for the Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 may differ from older models like the Mi A2. We took all the nuances into account and prepared a universal guide that will suit even devices without Google services. If after setting up time continues to get lost, at the end of the article you will find a section with the solution of typical problems.

Why is Xiaomi running out of time and should it be customized?

Failures in the display of time are most often associated with:

🔄 Disabled automatic synchronization – the phone does not update data from the servers NTP (Network Time Protocol).
🌍 Incorrect time zone – especially important when traveling or buying a used device from another country.
🔋 Failure after update MIUI — New firmware versions sometimes reset date/time settings.
📱 Lack of Internet – without a connection to the network, automatic configuration is impossible.
🔧 Hardware problems - rare, but it happens when the motherboard is damaged (for example, after a fall).

If the time difference is a few minutes, this may be due to the peculiarities of MIUI operation: the system sometimes artificially slows down time to save battery power, in such cases, it helps to restart the device or turn off the Battery Optimization function for system applications.

⚠️ Note: On custom firmware devices (e.g. LineageOS), the timing may be different. If you use unofficial software, check for a module. NTP Sync in the Developer Settings.

Method 1: Automatically adjusting time over the Internet

This is the most reliable method, because the phone itself synchronizes with the servers of the exact time. MIUI 12–14:

Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
Go to the section Additional settings → Date and time.
Activate the switches: 🔄 Autodetermining date and time 🌐 Time zone autodetermination

Network time

If the options are inactive (grey), check:

📶 Connecting to a mobile network or Wi-Fi.
🔒 No restrictions for the Settings application in the Permissions section → Auto-start.
🔄 Update of firmware (in some regions servers) NTP They can be blocked, they are required. VPN).

Internet connection (Wi-Fi/mobile data)

Absence VPN Proxy or Proxy (can block) NTP-server)

Auto-start permission for "Settings"

Updated version of MIUI (not lower than 12.5)

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On devices without Google services (e.g. Xiaomi for the Russian market), automatic synchronization can work through Mi Cloud servers. If time is lost, try logging into your Mi Account or installing the Google Services Framework application via APKMirror.

Method 2: Manually set date and time

If automatic synchronization is not available or is not working properly, set the time manually:

Go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time.
Turn off the switches Autodetermining Date and Time Zone Autodetermining.
Click on the Set a date and select the current date in the calendar.
Click on Set time and enter current time (use 24-hour format).
For a time zone, select your region from the list (e.g. Moscow, GMT+3).

Parameter	Recommended value	Note
Time format	24-hour	Avoids confusion with AM/PM
Time zone	Automatic or manual (e.g. Yekaterinburg, GMT+5)	When manually selecting, consider the transition to winter/summer time
Date format	DD.MM.GYG.	Standard for Russia and CIS
time-source	Network Time (NTP)	For accuracy, use the server time.google.com

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F3) After manual settings, time may be lost when you reboot, in which case resetting the network settings in the Settings section will help. → Connections and sharing → Resetting the network.

Automatically over the Internet

Manually at every failure

I never redesign it, I update it myself.

I use third-party apps.-->

Method 3: Configure through Developer Modes

If standard methods don't work, try using a developer menu, which is suitable for power users:

Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version (you will be notified "You are a developer").

Settings → Additional settings → For developers

Network time

pool.ntp.org

Forced time synchronization

For devices with MIUI 13+, additional configuration may be required:

adb shell settings put global ntp_server time.google.com

This command should be typed through ADB (Android debugging tool). If you are not familiar with ADB, you should skip this step.

How to enable USB debugging for ADB?

1. Activate Developer Mode (see above). 2. In the developer settings, enable USB Debugging. 3. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm trust in your computer. 4. Install Minimal ADB and Fastboot on your PC and execute a command in the terminal.

Solving Time Problems on Xiaomi

If time continues to go wrong, check out the following points:

1. Network resetting

Incorrect connection settings can block time synchronization.

Settings → Connections and Sharing → Network Reset.
Confirm the reset and restart the device.
After the reboot, reconnect to Wi-Fi and check the time.

How to change the format of the display time (12/24 hours)?

Go to Settings → Additional Settings → Date and Time → Time Format. Select 24-hour or 12-hour (AM/PM). On some models (e.g. Redmi 9A), this option may be in Settings → Screen → Display Style. If the option is not available, update your firmware or install an alternative launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher) that supports home screen time customization.

Can I set my time through the Mi Cloud?

Yes, but only on devices with MIUI for the global market (not for Russia). To do this: Sign in to Mi Account in settings. Activate data synchronization in Settings → Mi Account → Synchronization. Make sure that Autodetermination is enabled in Date and Time. For Russian versions of MIUI, this method does not work - use standard synchronization over NTP.

Why does the alarm go off on time, even though the time is set right?

The problem may be related to: 🔕 Battery Optimization – Add the Watch app to the exceptions in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery. 🔊 Do Not Disturb – Check the schedule in Settings → Sounds and vibrations → Don't disturb. 🔄 Clock app crashes - clear the cache in Settings → Annexes → The clock → If the alarm goes off 1-2 minutes earlier, that's normal behavior. MIUI — The system specifically makes a reserve for the launch of the melody.

How to sync time on Xiaomi Watch with your phone?

To synchronize time on Xiaomi Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch smartwatches: Make sure the phone is set to the right time (see Method 1). Open the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app. Go to the device profile and click Sync. If time is not updated, reconnect the watch to the phone via Bluetooth. On some models (such as Mi Band 7), the time is only updated when you are actively connected to the app. If the watch shows the wrong time offline, this could be a hardware malfunction.