When you display the wrong time on your smartphone screen, it may seem trivial, but it can cause a lot of inconvenience. Missed alarms, wrong time of arrival of messages in messengers and de-synchronization with banking applications are just the tip of the iceberg. In the MIUI operating system or its new version of HyperOS, the process of adjusting time stamps is implemented in an intuitive but sometimes hidden way.
Often users are faced with the fact that after moving to another city or a change of SIM-The device continues to show the time of the previous region, because Android prioritizes data from the mobile operator or through the mobile operator. GPS, Ignoring manual settings. In this article, we will take a closer look at all the timekeeping management methods on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO.
Understanding how a system timer works will help avoid many mistakes. An incorrect date can block access to secure sites, because security certificates require a precise match to the server, so it's important not just to know where to turn the wheels, but also to understand why the system behaves this way.
Automatic synchronization through the network
The most reliable and preferred way to maintain accurate time is to use network synchronization, in which your smartphone requests accurate data from cellular carriers or via an Internet connection on its own, and to activate this function, you need to go to the Settings menu, then select the Additional section and click on Date and Time.
Here you'll see the "Use Network Time" switch, which if it's active, all other time settings will be unavailable for editing, as the system takes over, which guarantees an error of no more than one second per month. SIM-The card is not defined or the signal is missing, the phone can switch to the internal clock, which tends to drift.
โ ๏ธ Note: If you are roaming, automatic timing may not work properly, in which case the phone may show the time of the operator's country, not your current location, unless geolocation is enabled.
Sometimes automatic synchronization gets stuck, and in this case, a simple switching of the switch helps: turn it off, wait 5-10 seconds and turn it on again, and this action forcefully triggers a request to the Network Time Protocol (NTP) time server, which requires an active Internet connection, whether it's mobile traffic or Wi-Fi, to work.
- ๐ Precision: Internet synchronization ensures atomic time accuracy.
- ๐ก Dependence: The function requires a cellular signal or Wi-Fi connection.
- ๐ Time zone: When the option is turned on, the time zone is also automatically determined based on your geolocation.
- โก Energy efficiency: The synchronization process is rare and has little or no effect on battery power.
Manual date and time setting
There are times when automatic mode is not suitable, for example, you are in an area where there is no network coverage, or you want to set a time from the future to test applications. To access manual control, first turn off the option "Use network time", only after that the input fields will become active.
Click on the "Time" bar and you'll see a digital or analog dial on the screen. You can scroll through the hours and minutes, and you can choose the 12-hour or 24-hour format. For many users, the 24-hour format is more convenient because it eliminates confusion between the morning and evening hours. Changes apply instantly after clicking the confirmation button.
You have to pay special attention to the date setting, and you can change the day, the month and the year on the same menu, and this is critical when you use old ones. SIM-When you reset your settings to factory, when the system can reset the date to a standard (often 2020 or 2021.
โ๏ธ Checking the time settings
Itโs worth noting that manual mode requires periodic checks, and the mechanism of the smartphoneโs internal clock, while modern, is still subject to minimal errors that accumulate over time. If you notice the phone starting to โrun awayโ or โlag behindโ for a few seconds a week, itโs best to return to network sync at the earliest opportunity.
Selection and change of time zone
Time zone is a parameter that is often overlooked, although it is responsible for the time shift relative to Greenwich. On Xiaomi devices, this parameter can be controlled regardless of time. In the Date and Time menu, find the Time Zone. If automatic determination is disabled, you can select the desired region from the list.
The list of cities and regions in MIUI is quite extensive and meets international standards. When choosing a city, the system automatically adjusts time. For example, choosing Moscow will give you UTC+3 time. It is important to choose your city or the nearest major city, since in some countries (for example, in the United States or Russia) there may be several time zones within the same country.
โ ๏ธ Warning: When traveling between time zones, remember to check this setting. Sometimes the phone does not have time to switch immediately, and the alarm clock may not work in time.
A special case is daylight saving time, which in some countries is done automatically by the operating system, provided the time zone database has the appropriate rules, but if you live in a region where the rules of transition are changed by political decisions, it is better to rely on manual adjustments or system updates that come in via OTA.
| City/Region | Displacement (UTC) | Automatic transition | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow | +3:00 | No. | Constant time. |
| ekaterinburg | +5:00 | No. | Constant time. |
| Novosibirsk | +7:00 | No. | Constant time. |
| Vladivostok | +10:00 | No. | Constant time. |
| London | +0:00 / +1:00 | Yes. | There is a transition to summer time |
If you are using Dual SIM with numbers from different countries, the phone is usually focused on SIM-The card you choose to send data to, or the one you're currently using for voice, can be confusing if you don't track which particular SIM is now dominating the system.
Solving time-resetting problems
One of the most annoying problems Xiaomi owners have is resetting the time and date after the battery is completely drained or the phone is turned off. If your smartphone shows a date every time it turns on, for example, January 1, 2020, this indicates a hardware problem. Inside the motherboard is a small power supply that keeps the internal clock running when the main battery is removed or discharged to zero.
In modern smartphones, this element is often embedded in the main board and can not be easily replaced by the user. However, if the phone is new and the problem already exists, this can be a warranty case. RTC-The Real-Time Clock (Real-Time Clock).
Why does time reset after switching off?
The software solution sometimes helps if the problem is caused by a software conflict. Try resetting the network settings or, in extreme cases, completely resetting to factory settings. Before that, make sure to back up the data. Often after a clean installation (or upgrade to the latest version of HyperOS), the problem disappears as the power management drivers are fixed.
- ๐ Zero discharge: Long-term storage of a phone with a fully discharged battery kills a backup battery.
- ๐จ Mechanical impact: Phone drop could damage plume connecting board to watch module.
- ๐ฆ Viruses: Rarely, but malware can block time synchronization to disrupt certificates.
- ๐ก๏ธ Temperature: Extremely low temperatures can temporarily disrupt the clock crystal.
If time is resetting all the time, don't rely on automatic backups taken when the time was wrong. Photos and documents can get incorrect timestamps, making it difficult to find them in the future, in which case you'd better set up manual sync immediately after you turn on.
Setting up the time format in the interface
The look of the watch is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also of perception. MIUI And HyperOS can be flexibly configured to see how the time will be displayed in the status bar and on the lock screen. โ Additionally. โ Time format.
There are two main options available here: 12-hour (designated AM/PM) and 24-hour. Choosing a 24-hour format (13:00 instead of 1:00 PM) is often recommended for business people and those working in graphics to avoid confusion.
โ ๏ธ Warning: Changing the time format in system settings does not always change the format in third-party widgets. Some "themes" may ignore system settings and dictate their display style.
And you can also mention the desktop widgets, which have their own settings, and by pressing and holding the widget, you can often change the style, color, and format of the widget, regardless of the system settings, and this allows you to create a unique interface, where, for example, the state bar has digital time, and on the desktop it has beautiful analog clocks.
๐ก
If you want seconds to be displayed continuously, turn this option on in the time format settings. However, keep in mind that frequent screen updates (especially on AMOLED) can minimize but increase battery consumption.
The Impact of Themes and Third-Party Apps
Xiaomiโs ecosystem is famous for its theme store, but users should be aware that some themes may conflict with standard time settings. After installing a new theme, check if the time is displayed correctly. Sometimes theme fonts do not support certain characters or formats, which can lead to time โgo awayโ from the edges of the screen or display incorrectly.
Third-party apps from Google Play, such as Clock Sync or various watch widgets, may request permission to change system time.Be careful when granting such rights.Apps with malicious code may intentionally distort time to disrupt banking apps or ads.
If you notice that time changes by itself without your involvement, check the list of newly installed applications, disable them from accessing time and network settings, and check if time synchronization is enabled through some remote control applications (such as TeamViewer or AnyDesk) that can adjust device time to the time of a remote computer.
- ๐จ Font conflict: Themes with non-standard fonts can break the colon or numerals display.
- ๐ก๏ธ Security: Never give root permissions to unverified time-shifting apps.
- ๐ฒ Widgets: Weather widgets often duplicate clocks and can show time of another city.
- โ๏ธ Compatibility: After Android updates, old themes may not work properly.
๐ก
System time settings are the highest priority, and if time is displayed incorrectly in only one program or theme, the problem is localized in them, not in the smartphone system.
Additional functions and synchronization
Todayโs Xiaomi smartphones are able to synchronize time not only with the network, but also with other devices in the ecosystem. If you have a Mi Band or Amazfit smartwatch, they automatically adjust the time when you connect to the phone, which creates a convenient bundle where all gadgets show the same time.
There's also a function that automatically changes the time when you cross the border. GPS-Even if you haven't changed. SIM-map, the smartphone will recognize that you are in another country, and will suggest (or change, if allowed) time zone.
It's important to keep seasonal time transfers in mind if you're in a country where it's practiced.The Android operating system gets daylight saving time updates through Google Play Services security updates.So keep the system updated so you don't sleep through work because of the wrong alarm clock.