Xiaomi smartphone time is not just numbers on the lock screen. The correct setting depends on the operation of alarm clocks, synchronization of notifications, call logs and even some MIUI functions, such as “Do not disturb” on the schedule. If your phone shows the wrong time, knocks down the date after the reboot or does not update time zones when moving, the problem is solved in 2-3 minutes through the system settings.
In this article, we will analyze all the ways to adjust time on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO: from automatic synchronization over the Internet to manual date entry for models without SIM-We will pay special attention to typical errors, for example, when the phone “hangs” in the past after resetting to factory settings or does not take into account the transition to winter/summer time. MIUI 14/15 (including global and Chinese firmware versions).
Why Xiaomi is running out of time: 5 main reasons
Before you can adjust the settings, you need to understand why the phone's watch is not behaving properly.
- 🌍 Disabled automatic synchronization – the phone does not tighten data from the NTP-Network Time Protocol (Network Time Protocol).
- 📶 Internet problems – without a network, the device cannot update time via time.android.com or ntp.aliyun.com (Chinese servers).
- 🔋 Battery reset – on some models (for example, Redmi Note 8 Pro) when completely discharged and the system clock is reset.
- 🛠️ Manual time zone change – the user manually selected the wrong region (for example, Moscow instead of Yekaterinburg).
- 📱 Firmware errors - bugs in MIUI, Especially after the update "over the air» (OTA).
If the time is only lost after the phone is turned off, the problem may lie in the hardware — for example, in the malfunction of the RTC (Real-Time Clock), which is responsible for counting down time when power is turned off, in which case only the service center will help.
Method 1: Automatically adjusting time over a network
This is the easiest and most recommended method. The phone itself pulls up the current data from Xiaomi or Google servers, given your time zone, and the instructions are suitable for all models on MIUI 12-15, including the Xiaomi 13T, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5.
Connect your phone to Wi-Fi or mobile internet
Make sure that SIM-The card is active (for mobile network)
Check your account balance (when using mobile Internet)
Turn it off. VPN (can block NTP-server)-->
To enable automatic synchronization:
- Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
- Go to the section Additional settings → Date and time.
- Activate Sliders: Autodetermining Date and Time Zones Autodetermining Time Zones
- Select the sync source: Network (recommended for most users) Network and GPS (more precisely, but consumes more battery)
If the time has not changed after this, try to manually select the NTP server:
- In the same Date and Time menu, click Select Time Server.
- Enter one of the addresses: time.google.com (the most reliable) ntp.aliyun.com (for Chinese firmware) pool.ntp.org (universal)
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If the phone is not connected to NTP-server, try to change the server. DNS Wi-Fi settings at 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).
Method 2: Manually adjust date and time
If automatic synchronization is not working (for example, there is no internet or you use your phone as a mobile phone). MP3-playerless SIM-You can set the time manually, and this method can also be useful for testing functions tied to the date (for example, stocks in games).
Instructions:
- Go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time.
- Turn off the Autodetermining Date and Time slider.
- Click Set a date and select the current date in the calendar.
- Click Set time and enter hours/minutes using the dial.
- If necessary, change the Time Zone (for example, from UTC+3 to UTC+5 for Yekaterinburg).
⚠️ Note: When manually setting the time, some functions will not work MIUI, For example, automatic weather updates or synchronization of events in the Google calendar, and errors in messengers (such as Telegram or WhatsApp) can also occur when sending messages.
On devices with an unlocked bootloader, manually changing the date can cause security certificates to fail, in which case only factory resetting will help.
Method 3: Sync through your Mi Account
If your phone is linked to a Xiaomi account (Mi Account), you can sync time through the cloud, a method that is useful when settings are lost after a reset or firmware.
How it works:
- Make sure you are logged in to Mi Account (check in Settings → Xiaomi Account).
- Enable data synchronization: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Synchronization → Enable all
- Reboot the phone.
Once rebooted, the system will automatically adjust the correct time from Xiaomi servers, a method that is particularly relevant for Chinese-based devices (such as Xiaomi 12S Ultra), where there may be problems accessing Google servers.
Table: Particular cases and decisions
Below are typical scenarios where time on Xiaomi is not behaving properly, and ways to fix them.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Time is lost after turning off the phone | RTC chip failure or a dead battery | Check the battery at the service center or replace it. |
| The clock “freezes” on one value. | Firmware error or conflict with the application | Update MIUI or reset your settings |
| The wrong time zone when roaming | Belt autodetermination disabled | Enable Autodetermining Time Zones in Settings |
| Time is behind/hurried for a few minutes | Incorrect NTP server | Change server to time.google.com or pool.ntp.org |
| The date cannot be changed (grey text) | Device policy restrictions (e.g. on work phone) | Remove restrictions through the device administrator |
Method 4: Adjusting time through ADB (for advanced)
If standard methods do not help, you can change the system time through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), this is useful for debugging or if the phone is locked, but you need to urgently adjust the date.
Instructions:
- Install. ADB-computer-driver.
- Enable USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging on USB
- Connect the phone to your PC and execute commands: adb shell su date -s YYYYMMDD.HHMMSS where YYYYMMDD.HHMMSS is the current date and time (e.g. 20260515.143000 for May 15, 2026, 14:30:00).
⚠️ Attention: Time change through ADB On devices without an unlocked bootloader, the su command will not work, and it can also disrupt licenses in games (such as Genshin Impact) or banking applications.
What happens if you set a future date?
How to check if the time is set to Xiaomi
To make sure the phone clock is showing the exact time, do a few checks:
- 🔍 Compare time on your phone to official servers: Open in your browser time.is. Check the difference with your region (should be) ≤ 1 second).
- ⏰ Make sure the alarm goes off on time: Set the alarm 1-2 minutes ahead. Check if it works (even if the screen is off).
- 📱 Check sync with other devices: Open Google Calendar and compare the event time to another device (like a laptop).
If the difference is more than 5-10 seconds, then the time settings are not working correctly, in which case repeat the steps from Method 1 or try changing the NTP server.
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For maximum accuracy, use time.google.com server – it updates the time every millisecond and is supported directly by Google.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When setting up time on Xiaomi, users often make common mistakes that lead to even bigger problems.
- ❌ Manually set the date when automatic synchronization is enabled – this causes a conflict of system processes.
- ❌ Use it. VPN In the case of time synchronization, some VPN You may change your geolocation, which may make your phone think you’re in a different time zone.
- ❌ Disable Google Play Services – it is responsible for communicating with the NTP-server.
- ❌ Changing time zones manually while traveling – it’s better to enable automatic determination.
If the changes still cause time to go wrong, try resetting your network settings:
- Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Network Reset.
- Confirm the reset (this will remove saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords).
- Restart your phone and check the time.