How to change the date on the Xiaomi phone: all the ways and nuances

Even a simple setting like date and time on a Xiaomi smartphone can affect app performance, data synchronization, and even device security. Incorrect time settings often cause messaging (like WhatsApp stops sending messages), errors in banking applications, or problems updating system files. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to change the date on Redmi, POCO and other Xiaomi phones, from automatic synchronization to manual adjustments to take into account the features of MIUI firmware.

It's important to understand that the timing is not just a phone model, but also an operating system version. For example, in MIUI 14 and later, the menu interface is different from the older versions, and some devices (such as POCO F5) may have additional options for gamers. We'll look at universal methods that work on 90% of the brand's devices, and also point out nuances for specific models.

Why it is important to set the date and time correctly

What would you think could go wrong if the phone had the wrong date?

  • πŸ“± Application failures: Many programs (especially banking and instant messengers) check system time to protect against fraud.
  • πŸ”„ Synchronization problems: Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) may not correctly save files or duplicate them if the time on the device does not coincide with the server time.
  • πŸ”’ Security Errors: Some Certificates (for example, for VPN or HTTPS-The wrong time may cause warnings about β€œuntrusted connections".
  • ⏰ Alarm clocks and reminders do not work: if time is lost due to a change in time zone, all planned events may not work on time.

Especially critical is the correct timing for root-access or custom firmware devices, in which case automatic synchronization can be disabled, and the user will have to manually monitor the relevance of the data.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) may work with Mi Account protection and require re-authorization if you manually change the date to a value that is very different from the current one (more than 30 days.

Method 1: Automatic synchronization over the network

The easiest and most recommended method is to enable automatic time synchronization with Xiaomi or Google servers, which ensures that the date and time will always be relevant, even after a reboot or change. SIM-map.

To enable automatic synchronization:

  1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
  2. Go to the section Additional settings β†’ Date and time.
  3. Activate the switches: πŸ”„ Autodetermining date and time (using mobile network or Wi-Fi data). 🌍 Time zone autodetermination (important for travel).

If the options are grey and inactive, check your internet connection. Some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global) may need to enable Precise Location in your geodata settings.

Connecting to Wi-Fi or mobile internet|Included geolocation (for time zone)|Absence VPN (It can block time servers)|Updated firmware (in older versions) MIUI There are synchronization bugs)-->

Method 2: Manually changing date and time

If automatic synchronization doesn’t work (for example, because there’s no internet) or you want to set an arbitrary date, you can do it manually, and this method is also useful for testing applications that depend on system time.

Instructions for manual adjustment:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Additional settings β†’ Date and time.
  2. Turn off the Auto-Date and Time option.
  3. Click on the Set a date and Set a time to enter values manually.
  4. To change the format of the display (24-hour or 12-hour), use the option Time format.

If the problem persists, try clearing the cache of system applications:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management.
  2. Find Settings (system application) and click Clear cache.
  3. Do the same for the Google Services Framework.
  4. Reboot the phone.

πŸ’‘

If the weather or currency widgets stop updating after the time change, delete and add them back to the home screen, which will reset the cache.

How to change the format of the date display

By default, Xiaomi uses a date format that corresponds to the region (for example, DD.MM.GYYYYYYYYYY for Russia), however, it can be changed to American (MM/DD/GYYYYYYYYY) or any other.

For this:

  1. Open Settings β†’ Additional settings β†’ Language and input β†’ Regional Standards.
  2. Select the country that is suitable for you (e.g. USA for MM/DD/GY).
  3. If the format is not available, install a third-party customization app (e.g. MoreLocale 2).

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI EU) have additional formatting options directly in the Date and Time menu, where you can select:

  • πŸ“… Displaying the day of the week before the date.
  • ⏰ 24-hour or 12-hour format.
  • 🌐 Use of localized month names (e.g., January instead of January").

⚠️ Note: Changing regional standards may affect the performance of some applications (e.g. Google Pay may require re-assignment of the card).

Additional features: double time zone and time alarm

Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi smartphones have dual-time zone support, a useful feature for those who often communicate with people from other countries or travel, to activate it:

  1. Go to Settings. β†’ Date and time.
  2. Click on Additional Settings β†’ Double Time Zone.
  3. Select the second time zone from the list (e.g. UTC+1 for Europe).
  4. Activate the second time display in the status bar.

Xiaomi also has a sunrise/sunset alarm function that is useful for those who are watching biorhythms.

  1. Open the Watch app β†’ Alarm clock.
  2. Press + to add a new alarm clock.
  3. Select the sunrise/sunset option and specify the city.
  4. Set offset (for example, "-30 minutes" before sunrise).

πŸ’‘

Dual time zone is only available on devices with MIUI 13 and later. On older firmware, this feature can be added through third-party launchers (for example, Nova Launcher) with time widgets.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up time on Xiaomi

Can I change the date to Xiaomi without the internet?
Yes, but only manually. To do this, turn off automatic synchronization in the settings and set the date and time yourself, and note that without the Internet, some applications (for example, banking) may not work correctly.
Why did the MIUI update go wrong?
This is a known problem with some firmware versions. After updating, reset your network settings (Settings β†’ Mobile β†’ Settings β†’ Reset) and restart your phone. If it doesn't work, reset to factory settings (be sure to back up!).
How to return the stopwatch to the status bar?
Starting with MIUI 14, the stopwatch in the status bar is disabled by default. To return it, use the Activity Launcher app, search for activity com.android.settings.DateTimeSettings and activate the Show seconds option.
Can you set your birth date as a system date?
No, the system date is always real-time, but you can add a birthday event to a Google or Mi Calendar calendar and it will be displayed on the home screen as a widget.
Why is POCO F3 time 5-10 minutes behind?
This is a hardware problem with the Real-Time Clock (RTC) on some batches of devices. Solutions: Update your firmware to the latest version. Calibrate your time manually once a week. If your phone is warranty, contact the service center to replace the motherboard.