How to change the time zone on Xiaomi Android-smartphone: 3 ways + solving errors

Changing the time zone on Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines) seems simple, but often raises questions from users. Incorrect time settings can lead to alarm clocks, calendars and even system notifications. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change the time zone, including hidden nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and the behavior of the system when roaming.

Xiaomi devices are closely integrated with Google services and the brand’s own cloud solutions, which means that the time zone can sync automatically via a mobile operator’s network, Wi-Fi or GPS, which sometimes leads to conflicts. For example, when traveling abroad, a smartphone can “hang” between two time zones or display the wrong time in applications.

Why it is important to set up a time zone on Xiaomi

What's wrong with the wrong time? In practice, the consequences can be serious.

• 🔔 Alarm clocks and reminders will not work on time (or at all), especially critical for those traveling between time zones.
• 📅 Calendar and events in Google Calendar or MIUI Calendar can shift for hours, which will lead to missing important meetings.
• 📱 System notifications (such as low battery power or updates) will come at uncomfortable times.
• 🌍 Geolocation services (Yandex.Maps, Google Maps) can give incorrect data about traffic jams or travel time due to time discrepancies.

In addition, some banking applications (such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff) link sessions to the system time of a device, and if it is very different from the server time, you can be blocked for suspicious activity, which is also true for two-factor authentication (2FA) in messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp.

Once a year (vacation) | Several times a year (business trips) | Never changed | Only when moving | I don't know how to do it-->

Method 1: Automatic network configuration (recommended)

The easiest way is to entrust the time zone change to the system, and Xiaomi uses a combination of data from a mobile operator, Wi-Fi and GPS to determine your location, to enable automatic synchronization:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the section Additional settings → Date and time.
3. Activate the switches: 🔄 Autodetermining Date and Time (using network data). 🌐 Time zone autodetermination (determined by geolocation).

After that, the smartphone should update the time zone within 1-2 minutes.

• 📶 Check your connection to a mobile network or Wi-Fi.
• 📍 Enable geolocation in settings (Settings) → Confidentiality → Permits → geodata).
• ⚡ Restart the device – sometimes sync services “hang up».

Internet connection (mobile data or Wi-Fi)|Geolocation enabled in settings|No active VPN (can block location)|Device not in power saving mode-->

⚠️ Attention: If you are using VPN (For example, to bypass locks, automatic time zone determination may not work properly. VPN, In this case, it is better to use manual adjustment (see Method 2).

Method 2: Manual time zone change (for fine tuning)

If automatic mode is disruptive or you need to set a non-standard time zone (for example, for application testing), use manual settings, which are also useful when traveling to regions where mobile operators do not update time zone data (for example, some resorts in Turkey or Thailand).

Instructions for MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time.
2. Turn off the options Autodetermining Date and Time Zone and Autodetermining.
3. Slap it on the time zone.
4. Type the name of the city manually (e.g. Moscow, New York, Tokyo) or select from the list.
5. Confirm the choice - time will be updated immediately.

On some models (for example, POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12), the list of time zones may be displayed not by city, but by UTC+3, UTC-5, etc. In this case:

• 🕒 Choose for Moscow UTC+3 (without taking into account the transition to winter time).
• 🕔 For London — UTC+0 (winter UTC+1 (summer).
• 🕗 For New York — UTC-5 (winter UTC-4 (summer).

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If your city is not on the list, choose the nearest major city in the same time zone, for example, Moscow (UTC+3) is suitable for Sochi, and Chelyabinsk (UTC+5) is suitable for Yekaterinburg.

Method 3: Resetting time settings through developer mode

In rare cases (such as a failed MIUI update or a Google service failure), the time zone may get stuck on the wrong value, even if you try to change it manually, in which case resetting your time settings through developer mode will help.

How to turn on the developer mode on Xiaomi:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version string and tap it 7 times in a row.
3. Enter the screen unlock password (if requested).
4. Return to the main Settings menu and a new section for developers will appear.

Next:

1. Open the Settings. → For developers.
2. Find the option Reset time and date settings (could be called Network Time Reset).
3. Confirm the reset and restart the device.

After the reboot, the time zone will return to factory settings (usually UTC+0), and you can reconfigure it.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other settings in developer mode unless you understand their purpose! For example, disabling the option Autosynchronization of network time can cause malfunctions in Google Play Services, which will affect app updates and geolocation.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after setting the time zone correctly, Xiaomi users sometimes encounter errors.

1.Time resets after rebooting

Reason: Conflict between MIUI settings and Google services, most commonly found on custom firmware or after manual updates.

Decision:

• 🔧 Turn off automatic synchronization in Settings → Google accounts → Synchronization (remove the tick from the date and time).
• 📱 Set the time manually (Method 2) and turn off Autodetermination.

2.Time zone does not change in roaming

Reason: Some mobile operators (such as MTS or Beeline) block the transfer of data about the time zone in roaming to save traffic.

Decision:

• 🌍 Connect to local Wi-Fi (such as a hotel or cafe) to help the system determine your location.
• 📡 Manually select the network operator in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network selection (sometimes automatic selection fails).

3. Time discrepancy in the annexes

Reason: Some applications (such as Telegram or Viber) use their own time servers, which may not match the system settings.

Decision:

• ⚙️ In the settings of the problem application, find the option to synchronize time and turn it on.
• 🔄 Reinstall the app – it will reset its time cache.

Features for different Xiaomi models

The process of changing the time zone is generally the same for all Xiaomi devices, but there are nuances for individual lines:

• 📱 Redmi Note 11/12: In some firmware, the Time Zone option is hidden behind an additional menu. To find it, tap the current time in the notification bar. → More. → Date and time.

On global firmware devices (such as the Xiaomi Mi 11 Global), the list of time zones is wider than in the Chinese versions (China ROM).If you want a rare time zone (for example, for Easter Island), install global firmware or use applications like ClockSync.

Additional tools: applications for time synchronization

If standard MIUI tools don't work, you can use third-party utilities, which are useful for:

• 🔄 Forced time synchronization with Google servers.
• 🌍 Definition of the exact time zone by GPS (useful in remote areas).
• ⏱️ Settings for multiple time zones at the same time (for travelers).

Top.-3 tested applications:

Check reviews before installing – some apps may contain ads or request unnecessary permissions (such as accessing contacts).

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If you travel frequently, add the World Clock widget to the home screen. For this, long press in the free space → Widgets → select the Watch and configure the display of several time zones.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions