How to change time Xiaomi Mi 5: all ways and solutions to errors

The Xiaomi Mi 5, launched in 2016, is still popular with users due to its balanced features and support for custom firmware. However, over time, many owners face a time failure – the watch begins to lag, rush or completely stop updating automatically, the reasons may lie in a failure of synchronization with the network, outdated firmware or incorrect power saving settings.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change the time on the Mi 5, including manual settings, network synchronization and hidden options of the engineering menu. Particular attention will be paid to typical errors (for example, when time is reset after a reboot) and how to fix them without losing data. If your smartphone shows an incorrect date or hour, follow the instructions below – they will be suitable for all versions of MIUI, including global and Chinese.

Why is Xiaomi Mi 5 running out of time?

Before you change your settings, it's important to understand the root of the problem. On the Mi 5, most times get lost because of:

  • πŸ”‹ Energy saving mode that disables background synchronization. MIUI aggressively optimizes background processes, including time updates through the network.
  • πŸ“Ά If the smartphone cannot connect to the operator’s base station (for example, in the subway or outside the city), automatic synchronization stops.
  • πŸ•’ Failure to work NTP-Xiaomi uses servers ntp.aliyun.com and time1.cloud.tencent.com, which are sometimes inaccessible.
  • πŸ”„ Incorrect time zone, especially after travel or shift SIM-map. MIUI It is not always possible to determine geolocation correctly for automatic selection.
  • πŸ› οΈ Outdated firmware. MIUI below 10.0 were time-synchronized bugs fixed in newer builds.

If the time is only lost after switching off/reset, the fault is the discharged capacitor on the motherboard (a typical problem for devices older than 5 years), in which case only repairs in the service center will help.

⚠️ Warning: If, after manually setting the time, it is reset again to January 1, 1970, it is a sign of hardware failure. RTC-Reset the settings to the factory (Settings) β†’ The phone. β†’ Resetting your settings, but be prepared for data loss.

Method 1: Manually adjusting time through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to change the time manually, and this will work if the automatic synchronization is disabled or is not working correctly.

  1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
  2. Go to Additional β†’ Date and Time (in some versions of MIUI, the path may look like System and Device β†’ Date and Time).
  3. Turn off the slider Autodetermining Date and Time Zone Autodetermining.
  4. Click on the Set a date and Set a time to manually set the current values.
  5. For a time zone, select your region from the list (e.g. Moscow, GMT+3).

After saving the changes, check if the settings are reset after the reboot. If so, move on to the next method.

Turn off automatic synchronization

Check the current time zone

Ensure stable network signal

Reboot the smartphone after the changes-->

Method 2: Synchronizing time through the network

If manual settings don’t help or time is constantly getting lost, try forcefully syncing it over a mobile network or Wi-Fi.

  1. Enable date and time Autodetermination and time zone Autodetermination in the settings.
  2. Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network or make sure that mobile internet is working (the 4G/LTE icon in the status bar).
  3. Go to Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ System Update and check for MIUI updates. Install them if available.
  4. If synchronization is not happening, try changing. SIM-switch to another operator – some providers block NTP-request.

To speed up the process, you can use the engineering menu:

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In the menu that opens, select Phone Information and scroll down to the block. NTP-Click Update to force time synchronization.

Once a week.

After each reboot

Only on shifts. SIM-map

Never lost it.-->

Method 3: Using Third-Party Applications

If the system settings don't work, Google Play apps will come to the rescue, allowing you to control sync more accurately, and even replacing the standard clock.

  • ⏰ ClockSync – synchronizes time with multiple NTP-servers, supports manual offsetting.
  • 🌍 TimeZone Fix β€” Timezone Fix fixes, it's good for travelers. It works without rooting rights.
  • πŸ”§ Network Time – Advanced Tool for Configuration NTP-Allows you to add your own servers (e.g. pool.ntp.org).

Important: Once you install any of these applications, turn off automatic sync in your MIUI settings to avoid conflicts, and check the app's permissions - it should have access to the exact location and change system settings.

πŸ’‘

If you still have a time delay after installing the app, try calibrating the battery: completely discharge the smartphone before turning it off, then charge to 100% without interruptions. RTC-module.

Method 4: Reset network settings (if time is lost due to operator)

If the problem is mobile network related (e.g., time resets when changing) SIM-maps), reset network parameters:

  1. Open the Settings. β†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks.
  2. Select Network Settings Reset (in some versions of MIUI path: Settings β†’ Wireless Networks β†’ Additional β†’ Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile Internet and Bluetooth).
  3. Confirm action. The smartphone will reboot and all network settings (including saved Wi-Fi) will be reset.
  4. After restarting, turn on automatic time synchronization again.

This method helps in 60% of cases when the problem is caused by a conflict of settings of the operator. NTP-Requests (relevant to some corporate entities) SIM-map).

How to check if the operator is blocking NTP-traffic?
Install NetGuard or PCAPdroid and turn on traffic recording. Try synchronizing time β€” if the logs don't have requests to ntp.aliyun.com or time.android.com, then the operator is blocking them. Solution: use a VPN or change provider.

Solving hardware problems (if time is reset to 1970)

If all software methods have been tried, but time is persistently reset to 01.01.1970 or an arbitrary date, the problem lies in the hardware failure. RTC-This is typical for Xiaomi Mi 5 over 5-6 years old because of the fact that the device is not a real-time Clock:

  • πŸ”‹ The discharged capacitor on the motherboard (powers) RTC-module off).
  • πŸ”₯ Overheating or physical damage to the chip PMIC (Power Management IC).
  • πŸ’§ Corrosion of contacts after moisture.

In this case, only repairs at the service center will help, the average cost of replacing the condenser or soldering. RTC-module - 1500-3000 rubles (for 2026) Before visiting the workshop:

  1. Make a backup of the data through Settings β†’ Additional β†’ Backup and Reset.
  2. Check whether the warranty is valid (even if the smartphone was purchased a long time ago, some service centers are coming to meet).
  3. Check if there are spare parts for the Mi 5 – the model is discontinued and components may not be available.

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to disassemble your smartphone to replace the capacitor! Xiaomi Mi 5 has battery adhesive mount and brittle plumes.Unprofessional repairs can damage the display or motherboard.

Table: Comparison of methods of changing time on Xiaomi Mi 5

MethodDifficultyInternet is requiredIt's not rooting.Solves hardware failures
Manual setting⭐❌ No.βœ… Yes.❌ No.
Synchronization through the networkβ­β­βœ… Yes.βœ… Yes.❌ No.
Third-party annexesβ­β­βœ… Yes.βœ… Yes.❌ No.
Resetting network settings⭐⭐⭐❌ No.βœ… Yes.❌ No.
Repairs RTC-module⭐⭐⭐⭐❌ No.❌ No.βœ… Yes.

πŸ’‘

If the time is lost only after the smartphone is turned off, the problem is precisely hardware. No software methods will help - you need to replace the capacitor or RTC-module.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up time on Xiaomi Mi 5

Why did the MIUI update start to get out of time?
This is a typical problem for MIUI 12+ firmware on older devices like the Mi 5, because of the conflict of new energy saving algorithms with outdated hardware. Solution: Reverse to MIUI 10 or 11 via Fastboot (instructions are available on the 4PDA forum).
Can you change the time without accessing the settings (for example, if the phone is locked)?
Yes, but only if you have Developer Mode and Debugging enabled. USB. Connect your smartphone to your PC and use it ADB-Adb shell settings put global auto_time 0 adb shell settings put global auto_time_zone 0 adb shell date -s "YYYYMMDD.HHmmss where YYYYMMDD.HHmmss is the current date and time (e.g., the current date and time, 20260515.143000 for 15 may 2026 year-end, 14:30).
What if the time is not updated after the time zone change?
This error is related to the caching of location data. Try: Enable Flight Mode for 30 seconds, then turn it off. Delete the data of the Google Services application (Settings β†’ Applications β†’ App Management β†’ Google Play Services β†’ Storage β†’ Clear Data). Use a VPN to force a geolocation update (for example, connect to a server in your time zone).
How to check if it works RTC-module on Mi 5?
Perform the test: Turn off the smartphone and remove SIM-Leave it off for 10 to 12 hours (e.g. overnight) and turn on and check the time if it's more than 5 minutes off β€” RTC-The module is defective. On the Xiaomi Mi 5, the tolerance is allowed. RTC-module - no more than 1-2 minutes per day. Exceeding this value indicates the need for repairs.