How to change the format of the time on the lock screen Xiaomi: 12-hour or 24-hour

Xiaomi’s lock screen is the first thing you see when you turn on a smartphone, and displaying the time on it plays a key role in the perception of the interface. Many users face the inconvenience when the device shows the time in a 12-hour format (with AM/PM symbols) instead of the usual 24-hour format, or vice versa. This is especially relevant for those who have moved to another country, bought a used device with other settings or just want to personalize the interface.

Unlike most Android devices, where the change in the format of time occurs through the system settings of the date and time, Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running MIUI have their own nuances. In some versions of the firmware, the option is hidden in the non-obvious menus, and in others it is not at all in the standard interface. This article will help you to understand how to change the format of time on the lock screen for any Xiaomi models, including the Mi 11, Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and others, regardless of the version of MIUI (12 to 14) and Android (10-14).

We're going to look at all the ways we can do it, from standard settings to hidden features to even editing system files for advanced users. If you don't find the right option on the menu, don't rush to drop your phone to factory settings: there's probably a solution, it's just hidden deeper than it seems.

Why does Xiaomi not change the time format through standard settings?

The main reason why Xiaomi users can not quickly change the format of the time on the lock screen lies in the architecture of the MIUI shell. Unlike the “pure” Android, where the date and time settings are unified, in MIUI, the display of time on the lock screen and in the status bar can be controlled by different modules of the system.

Here are the key factors complicating the process:

• 🔄 Separation of settings: The time format in the system tray (top panel) and on the lock screen can be configured separately.
• 📱 Model Dependence: On some devices (e.g, POCO F4 or Redmi K50) The option is hidden in the themes menu, and on others (Xiaomi 13 Ultra) – in the security settings.
• 🌍 Regional restrictions: Smartphones purchased in the US or India often have a 12-hour default format and can be blocked by firmware.
• 🔧 Limitations MIUI: In some versions of the shell (for example, MIUI 13 for Xiaomi 12T) The option is not available in the graphical interface and requires editing configuration files.

Another common problem is the caching of settings. Even after changing the time format in the menu, the lock screen can continue to show old values until the device is restarted or the launcher cache is cleared, and this is not a bug, but a feature of MIUI that tries to optimize performance by reducing the number of interface redraws.

Method 1: Change the format through system settings (for most models)

If your Xiaomi smartphone runs MIUI 12-14 and has no regional restrictions, try the standard method.It works for most models, including the Redmi Note 11, POCO X3 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 10T and newer devices.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the section Additional settings → Date and time.
3. Activate the switch Use the 24-hour format (or turn it off to switch to the 12-hour format).
4. Go back to the home screen and check the lock screen, and if the changes don't apply, restart the device.

On some devices (such as the POCO M4 Pro), the path may be slightly different:

Settings → System and device → Date and time → Time format

If you don’t have the option to use 24-hour format on your menu, it means that:

• 📵 The device uses firmware with regional restrictions (e.g., Indian or American version). MIUI).
• 🔄 Time settings are tied to the theme of design (relevant to the MIUI 14 on Xiaomi 13 and newer).
• 🛠️ Manual editing of system parameters is required (see Method 3).

Method 2: Change the theme (for MIUI 14 and later)

In recent versions of MIUI (starting with the 14th), displaying time on the lock screen may depend on the chosen theme, which is because Xiaomi developers have begun to integrate interface elements into themes, allowing users to flexibly customize the appearance of the device.

To change the format of the time through the topics:

1. Open the Themes app (brush icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the section My topics → Settings of the current theme.
3. Find the Lock Screen tab and select Time Settings.
4. Choose the format you want: 24 hours or 12 hours (AM/PM).
5. Apply the changes and restart the device.

If the theme settings do not have an option to change the time format, try:

• 🎨 Replace the topic with a standard (e.g, MIUI Default) and check for the option.
• 🔍 Update the Themes app via Google Play or App Store.
• 📥 Download an alternative theme with time customization support (e.g. Minimal Lock or Digital Clock).

Important: Some themes may reset your time settings after the update. If the format went wrong after the MIUI update, go back to the theme settings and apply the settings again.

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If after changing the theme, the time on the lock screen is displayed incorrectly (for example, it gets lost when unlocking), try turning off animations in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times to unlock the developer menu, then Settings → Additional → For developers → Animation = Off.).

Method 3: Manual editing of system parameters (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work and the option to change the time format is not on the menu, you can try changing the system settings manually, which is suitable for users with unlocked bootloader and root rights, as well as for those who are ready to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can cause firmware to fail, a method recommended only for advanced users.

Instructions via ADB:

1. Install ADB on your computer (you can download from the official Android website).
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your smartphone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute in the command line: adb shell settings put system time_12_24 24 For 12-Use the following: Adb shell settings put system time_12_24 12
4. Reboot the device with the command: adb reboot

If ADB doesn’t help, you can try changing the parameter directly in the MIUI database:

adb shell


su




sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db




UPDATE system SET value='24' WHERE name='time_12_24';




.exit




reboot

For root-righted devices, you can use applications like BuildProp Editor and add a line:

ro.miui.use_24hour_clock=1

(where 1 is 24-hour, 0 is 12-hour).

Method 4: Using third-party applications (without root)

If you don’t want to risk system files, but standard settings don’t help, you can use third-party apps. They don’t require root rights, but they may have restrictions depending on the version of Android and MIUI.

Top.-3 applications for changing the format of time:

How to use Lock Screen Clock Widget:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and select the watch style (e.g. Digital 24h).
3. Click Apply to Lock Screen and confirm permissions.
4. If the widget does not appear, restart the device.

Restrictions of third-party applications:

• ⚠️ Nana MIUI 14 Some widgets may not be displayed due to Xiaomi's security policy.
• ⚠️ Apps may be reset after firmware update.
• ⚠️ On devices with Always-on Display (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro), widgets can conflict with the system display of time.

💡

Third-party apps are the safest way to change the format of the time without risking system damage, but they can consume an extra battery and conflict with MIUI updates.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successfully changing the time format on the lock screen, Xiaomi users often experience side effects, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

Problem 1: The time on the lock screen changes, but the status bar stays the same.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI Lock screen time settings and status bar can be managed separately. If the format has not changed in another location after changes in one place, check the settings in Settings → Notifications and status bar → The clock.

Problem 2: After rebooting, the time format is reset.

• 🔹 Check if the cache cleaner app resets (such as Security or Clean Master).
• 🔹 Add the time display app (like Lock Screen Clock Widget) to the battery optimization exception list.
• 🔹 If you use ADB, use the flag command --user 0: adb shell settings put system time_12_24 24 --user 0

Problem 3: The lock screen displays both formats simultaneously (e.g., "13:45 PM").

This is due to a conflict of system and user settings.

1. Reset the lock screen settings: Settings → Passwords and security → Lock screen settings → Reset.
2. Remove all third-party time widgets.
3. Apply the standard theme of design.

Problem 4: The option to change the format of the time is not in the menu.

In this case:

• 🔹 Check the version. MIUI In Settings → Older versions (below 12th) may need an update.
• 🔹 Install global firmware (if you have a regional version, such as Indian or Chinese).
• 🔹 Use it. ADB or third-party applications (see Method 3 and Method 4).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions