Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive display of Moscow time in the interface of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. This feature is especially annoying for users living in other time zones of Russia or abroad, as the system is forced to synchronize with servers in the capital.
There are several effective ways to address this, ranging from standard date settings to deeper changes to regional settings. Automatic synchronization is often the main culprit, as it pulls data from a Mi Account tied to a specific region. In some cases, manual intervention is required to force the correct time offset to be set.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available time-correction techniques, how to set your time zone correctly, whether to change the region of the device, and what hidden settings can affect the display of the clock, and following the instructions will help you get rid of confusion and see current local time on the screen.
Why Xiaomi is displaying the wrong time
The main reason lies in the algorithms of the Android operating system in conjunction with the shell MIUI. When you first turn on your smartphone, it requests geolocation or uses data. SIM-However, if the settings of the Mi Account are Russia, the default system can set the time of the Moscow region (UTC+3), Ignoring the user’s real position.
Another factor is the work of network operators: some SIM cards transmit incorrect time zone data when they register on the network. A smartphone, once it receives this data, automatically adjusts the clock, even if you previously set it manually. Network time takes precedence over manual settings if the corresponding switch is active.
Also worth considering is the work of the Watch or Alarm Widgets on the lock screen, which may have its own time zone settings, independent of the system. If you changed the time zone in the basic settings, but the widget continues to show Moscow time, then the problem is its configuration.
⚠️ Warning: Before making changes to system time settings, make sure you have internet access for quick re-synchronization if something goes wrong.
Basic date and time setting
The first step should always be to check the basic settings in the settings menu. This is where the master switch is located, which causes the phone to ignore your location. To access these settings, you need to go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time.
In the menu that opens, you will see the item "Use network time." If it is activated, the smartphone will take time from the operator. Often this source is the one that transcribes Moscow time for all subscribers of Russian operators, regardless of the region, and the automation shutdown allows you to manually specify any parameters.
Once automatic synchronization is disabled, manual input fields will be available, you can choose your own time zone from the list of cities, it is important to find your city or the nearest major city with the correct UTC offset, for example, for Vladivostok this will be UTC+10, and for Yekaterinburg - UTC+5.
☑️ Checking the time settings
Change of region of device
One of the most effective ways to remove Moscow time is to change the region in your smartphone settings: the MIUI shell tightly ties content, news and often timestamps to your chosen region, and the default for devices purchased in Russia is often “Russia”, which dictates the use of capital time.
To change your region, go to Settings → Additional settings → Region. From the list of countries, select the one that matches your time zone or the neutral one, for example, Germany or the United States, if you want to completely disable Russian service bindings. After changing the region, the interface can reboot and the time can be adjusted.
It's worth noting that changing your region doesn't just affect your watch, it can change the set of pre-installed apps, the available themes in the store, and the display of news in the Mi Browser or Explorer widget, and if you're only concerned about time, it might seem redundant, but it guarantees a system-level time zone change.
- 🌍 Change of the region changes the format of the date and time to the standards of the selected country.
- 📱 Some system applications may require re-authorization after a region change.
- ⏰ Weather and clock widgets are updated according to the new geographical location.
Configuring the lock screen widgets
Often users confuse the system time and the time displayed by widgets on a locked screen. In the new versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14, the lock screen has become highly customizable. If you have a dual-style watch or a specific widget, it can have its own logic.
To check, press and hold your finger on the lock screen to enter style editing mode. Choose your current style and see its settings. Some styles allow you to separately customize the display of the second time zone. If this option is enabled, you can see two times: local and Moscow.
Also check the wallpaper carousel settings, which sometimes overlays its widgets on top of the standard ones. Go to Settings → Lock screen and try to turn off the carousel or change the source of the wallpaper, which will help you understand whether a third-party service is causing the extra hours.
Hidden widget settings
Impact of Mi Account and Synchronization
Your Mi Account stores preferences, including region. If you sign up or profile for Moscow, cloud services may try to synchronize time according to that data, especially for devices that have been reset or reconfigured.
You can check the account settings in the Settings menu → Mi Account. Pay attention to the personal information section. Although there is no direct time change, the account region affects the operation of the cloud alarm and schedule synchronization. Cloud synchronization can return old time settings after rebooting.
If the problem persists, try logging out of your Mi Account, clearing the cache of Google and Mi services, and then logging in again. Sometimes this resets mistaken region-specific anchors. However, if you are actively using the Xiaomi ecosystem, logging out can temporarily disrupt some features, such as device search.
| Parameter | Time-effect | Where to change |
|---|---|---|
| Region of device | High (changes system area) | Settings → Additional settings |
| Time of the network | Critical (priority of operator) | Settings → Date and time |
| Mi Account. | Average (data synchronization) | Settings → Mi Account |
| Widgets | Local (lock screen only) | Editing the lock screen |
Specificity of communication operators and SIM-map
Do not forget that the source of the problem can be yourself. SIM-Telecom operators broadcast the Time Zone setting when you register your phone on the network. If you are roaming or the operator uses centralized equipment in Moscow, the phone can receive the signal "Moscow" even in Vladivostok.
In these cases, manual network setting helps. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Choose. SIM-map → Network type. Try switching mode from "Preferred" LTE» Only" 3G» Or vice versa, then back it up. Sometimes it causes the phone to re-query the network settings.
If you use two of them SIM-Check which one is chosen for data and calls by default. Often the time is pulled up from the main SIM card. By temporarily turning off the second SIM card in the settings, you can check whether they are not conflicting with each other.
Solving Double Time Problems
Sometimes users want to see two cities at once, but Xiaomi doesn't make it easy. Standard watches have a Double Watch feature, but it only shows up in the Clock app or on the desktop widget, not in the status bar. There can only be one time in the status bar.
If you have time displayed in 14:30 (MSK 12:30) format, you have activated the second time zone function somewhere. Check the Clock app, the World Time tab, or the desktop clock widget settings. Turn off the second city display if you don't need one.
For advanced users, there is a possibility of using ADB-commands to reset all the time settings to factory settings, but that requires a connection to a computer. auto_time 0 It forcibly shuts down network time at the system level, preventing the operator from changing your clock.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-The wrong change of system settings can lead to unstable operation of the smartphone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does time go wrong after the phone is restarted?
Can you completely remove the time from the lock screen?
Does the change in the region affect the work of banking applications?
What if time runs back or forward?
💡
For guaranteed results, always turn off Automatic Time before manually setting the time zone.
To sum up, the problem of Moscow time on Xiaomi is solved by standard system tools, the main thing is to find the source that imposes the wrong data: whether it is an operator, an account or a widget settings, the most reliable method is to turn off network synchronization and manually set your time zone.
Check system updates regularly, as newer versions of HyperOS often fix localization and time zone errors, and we hope your smartphone will now show accurate local time.
💡
If you travel frequently in Russia, it is most convenient to use the World Time widget on your desktop, adding your home city and city of stay to avoid getting confused in your belts.