How to install a watch on Xiaomi: 5 ways to solve errors

Watches on Xiaomi smartphone is not just a time indicator, but the basis for the correct operation of many functions, from alarm clocks and reminders to sync with cloud services and smart devices. Incorrectly configured time can lead to MIUI failures, errors in authorization in banking applications or even problems with connecting to the mobile network. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to adjust time on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices – from automatic synchronization to manual time zone input.

Xiaomi smartphones use their own MIUI shell, which may vary depending on the version and the region of the firmware. For example, on the global versions (MIUI Global), the time settings menu may look different than on the Chinese (MIUI China), we took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will suit most models, from the Xiaomi 13 Pro to the budget Redmi Note 12.

If your smartphone starts showing the wrong time after updating your firmware or resetting your settings, don't panic. 90% of the time, the problem is solved in 2-3 minutes without going to the service center. The main thing is to know where to look for the right settings and how to apply them correctly.

1. Automatic time synchronization over the network

The easiest and recommended way to set up a watch on Xiaomi is to use automatic synchronization with time servers over the Internet, which guarantees accuracy up to a second and takes into account winter/summer time transitions (if they operate in your area).

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Additional Settings section (on some models – System and Device → Date and Time).
3. Activate the switches: 🔄 Date and time autodetection – allows the smartphone to receive data from servers NTP (Network Time Protocol). 🌍 Time zone autodetection – automatically selects a belt based on your location (requires switched on) GPS mobile).

Once these options are activated, the smartphone syncs the time for 10-30 seconds. If the changes don't apply, check your Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network) and reboot the device. On some MIUI firmware, you may need to manually select a time server, click on Select Time Zone and specify your nearest city.

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If automatic sync doesn’t work, try manually specifying pool.ntp.org or time.google.com time server in the developer settings (if enabled).

⚠️ Note: On root-rights or custom firmware devices, automatic synchronization may not work properly, in which case it is recommended to use manual settings or install a time synchronization application (for example, ClockSync).

2. Manual establishment of date and time

If automatic synchronization is not available (for example, if there is no Internet) or if the data is incorrect, you can adjust the clock manually, this method is also useful for testing applications that require changing system time.

Turn off automatic date and time | Select your time zone manually | Set the current date | Set the exact time (hours, minutes, seconds) | Save the changes and restart your smartphone (if necessary)

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Detailed algorithm:

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time.
2. Turn off the switches Autodetermining Date and Time Zone Autodetermining.
3. Click on Set a date and select the current date in the calendar.
4. Click on Set time and enter current hours, minutes and seconds (for accuracy, you can use atomic clocks on the Internet).
5. Select Time Zone – if your city is not on the list, choose the nearest one with the same belt (for example, for Moscow – UTC+3).

After saving the changes, check if the time is displayed correctly on the lock screen and in the status bar. If the difference with real time is more than 1-2 minutes, repeat the setting or check the battery (on older Xiaomi models with a discharged battery, time can be lost).

3. Configure the format of displaying time

In addition to accuracy, Xiaomi users can customize the time format to their preferences, such as selecting a 12-hour format with AM/PM or 24-hour, and changing the order of the date display. These settings do not affect system time, but can be useful for convenience.

To change the format:

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time.
2. Click on Time Format (or Date and Time Format on some firmware).
3. Choose one of the options: ⏰ 24-hour format – standard for most countries (e.g. 15:30). ⏱️ 12-hour format - with designations AM (before noon, and PM (Afternoon, popular in the United States and the United Kingdom.

DD.MM.GYG.

MM/DD/YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

MGGG-MM-DD

On Xiaomi models with MIUI 14 The newer time format can automatically change depending on the language of the system, for example, when changing the language to English (USA), the format will switch to the new language. 12-sentry AM/PM.

4.Sync time with Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets

If you use a Xiaomi Watch, Mi Band or other Xiaomi fitness bracelet, the time on it should automatically sync with the smartphone via the Mi Fitness app. However, sometimes crashes occur and the bracelet displays the wrong time. Here's how to fix this:

1. Make sure that your smartphone is automatically time synchronized (see section 1).
2. Open the Mi Fitness app and check if your device is connected (the bracelet icon at the top of the screen should be active).
3. Go to the device profile (click on its icon) and select Device Settings → Time Sync.
4. Click Sync Now – If there is no option, disconnect and reconnect the bracelet to your phone.

Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro|Mi Band 8|Xiaomi Watch S3| Other fitness bracelet | Don't use a smartwatch

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⚠️ Attention: On the Mi Band bracelets 5/6/7 Xiaomi Watch S1 When changing the time zone on the smartphone, you may need manual synchronization. For this, in the Mi Fitness app, go to the device settings and select Update data.

5. Solving problems with wrong time

If the time on your Xiaomi is straying or displays incorrectly even after manually setting up, the reasons may be as follows:

To diagnose more complex problems:

1. Check if the device has any applications for changing system time (for example, cheats in games), such programs can block standard settings.
2. If you are using custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), upgrade to the latest version or install the NTP Sync Fix module via Magisk.
3. On dual-SIM models, the network confluence can cause time disruptions, so try temporarily disabling one of the SIM cards and checking the sync.

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If the time problem has occurred after the MIUI update, try rolling back the firmware or waiting for a patch from Xiaomi. Often these bugs are fixed in future versions of the software.

6. Features of setting the time on different models Xiaomi

Depending on the smartphone model and the MIUI version, the timing process can be nuanced, and here are some key differences for popular devices:

• 📱 Xiaomi 13/13 Pro (MIUI 14+): Time settings moved to System and Device → Date and time. It also has the option to Use local time on the network, which automatically adjusts the clock to the carrier's standards.
• 📱 Redmi Note 12/11 (MIUI 13): Some regional firmware does not have the option of manual server selection NTP. To activate it, you need to turn on the developer mode and manually specify the server in the settings.
• 📱 POCO F5/X5 (MIUI 14 for POCO): Shell POCO Launcher can conflict with the system clock. If the time on the desktop is different from the status bar, update the launcher or reset its settings.
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite (MIUI 12.5): In this model, when activating Double Clocks (a display of the time of the second time zone), the main time can be lost. The solution is to disable the double clock or upgrade to MIUI 13.

For Android One devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi A3), the time settings are controlled by the standard Android menu, without Xiaomi's branded options. Here, you just need to activate automatic synchronization in the System → Date and Time section.

7 Additional functions: double clocks and alarm clocks

Besides the basic time setting, Xiaomi offers useful features for working with the watch:

• ⏲️ Double clock: Allows you to display time in two time zones at the same time, useful for travelers or those who work with foreign partners. → Lock screen → Double watches.
• 🔔 Smart alarms: In the standard Watch app, alarm clocks can be adjusted to sleep phases (Mi Band connection required) or weather conditions (e.g., earlier rise on a rainy day).
• 🌙 Night mode: Automatically changes the color temperature of the screen depending on the time of day. → Display. → Night mode.

To activate the double clock:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select Double Watch and turn on the option.
3. Specify a second time zone (e.g. New York City (UTC-5) to track time in the U.S.).
4. Configure the display: you can show both times on the lock screen or in the status bar.

If the double watch does not appear, check if the option to Show the clock on the lock screen is disabled in the security settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up time on Xiaomi