Does the screen of your Xiaomi smartphone display the wrong time? Desktop clocks are in a hurry or behind by a few minutes, and the date even shows yesterday? MIUI, especially after a firmware update or change SIM-In 90% of cases, the fault with automatic synchronization is due to the system simply cannot connect to the servers. NTP (But there are other reasons, from simple errors in settings to hardware failures.
In this article, you will find 3 proven ways to set time on the Xiaomi desktop — from basic manual adjustment to hidden features for power users. We will also discuss why the watch can go down after a reboot, how to fix the error "failed to sync time" and what to do if the time settings are not on the menu at all. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15 (including HyperOS) and models from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Why Xiaomi is running out of time: 5 main reasons
Before you change your settings, it's important to understand why the desktop clock is showing incorrect data.
- 🔄 Disabled automatic synchronization is the most common problem after resetting or updating MIUI.
- 📡 Mobile network or Wi-Fi problems – without internet, a smartphone can’t get the exact time from servers NTP.
- 🕒 Wrongly selected time zone – especially important when moving or using VPN.
- 🔋 Failure of the module RTC (Real-time) – hardware malfunction requiring repair.
- 🛠️ Conflict after root rights or custom firmware – a modified system can block system services.
If the time is only lost after the shutdown/reset, the fault is the discharged capacitor on the motherboard (the RTC battery), in which case only the service center will help. In all other situations, the problem can be solved software - more on that.
Method 1: Automatic time synchronization (recommended)
The easiest and most reliable method is to enable automatic synchronization with NTP servers.
- Open Settings → Additional → Date and time.
- Activate the switches: ⏱️ Autodetermining date and time 🌍 Time zone autodetermination
Wait 10-15 seconds – the clock on the desktop should be updated.
If the options are not available or gray (inactive), it means:
- 🔒 On the smartphone set the profile of work (limiting settings).
- 📱 You. MIUI for corporate devices (unblocking required).
- 🔧 System applications are disabled (e.g. com.android.providers.settings).
Make sure that mobile internet or Wi-Fi is enabled
Disable VPN or proxy servers
Check the balance. SIM-Cards (when using a mobile network)
Reboot your smartphone if the time is not updated-->
⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F5) Automatic synchronization works only when connected to Wi-Fi. Mobile Internet can be blocked by the operator.
Method 2: Manually set time and date
If automatic synchronization doesn't work, you can manually set the time, and this method can also be useful if you're in an area without network coverage (for example, in the subway or outside the city).
Instructions:
- Go to Settings → Additional → Date and time.
- Turn off the Auto-determining Date/Time and Time Zone options.
- Click Set a date and select the current date in the calendar.
- Click Set time and enter current time (use 24-hour format).
- For the time zone, select your region (e.g. Moscow, GMT+3).
Important: After manual installation, time will start to lag by 1-2 seconds per day due to the inaccuracy of the quartz resonator in your smartphone. To avoid this, synchronize your clock manually every 2-3 days or turn on automatic mode when you have Internet.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Time strays after reboot | RTC capacitor discharged | Replacement at the service center |
| You can't change the time zone. | Active work profile | Disable the profile in Settings → Special. capabilities |
| Gray buttons in the time settings | System applications disabled | Restore com.android.providers.settings via ADB |
| Time is not synchronized over Wi-Fi | Blocking NTP by router | Change the DNS to 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1 |
Method 3: Reset time settings via ADB (for advanced)
If standard methods don’t work, you can reset your time settings via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader or root rights.
Step-by-step:
- Install ADB on PC (download from the official website).
- Enable USB debugging on your smartphone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock Developer Mode, then Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging over USB).
- Connect Xiaomi to your PC and execute commands: adb shell su settings put global auto_time 1 settings put global auto_time_zone 1
- Reset the device.
If the time is not synchronized after the execution of commands, check the work of the service com.android.server.timezone:
adb shell dumpsys activity service com.android.server.timezone⚠️ Attention: Use ADB This can lead to a loss of warranty if you have not unlocked the bootloader officially through the Mi Unlock Tool.
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
How to fix the error "I failed to synchronize time"
Message failed to synchronize time appears when the smartphone can not connect to the NTP servers.
- 🔄 Switch Network Type: If you’ve used mobile internet, connect to Wi-Fi and vice versa.
- 🔒 Turn it off. VPN/Proxies – They can block access to time servers.
- 📡 Change. DNS: In Wi-Fi settings, select 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).
- ⚙️ Reset network settings: Settings → Connections → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth.
- 🕒 Install an alternative server NTP via ClockSync (requires root).
If the error appears on MIUI for Chinese firmware (for example, on Xiaomi 13T Pro for the Chinese market), the problem may be regional restrictions, in which case only the firmware re-flashing to the global version will help.
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Before resetting the network, save the Wi-Fi passwords in your notebook – after the procedure, all saved networks will be deleted.
Additional settings: time format, clock widget and alarm clocks
In addition to the basic time settings, Xiaomi can customize the display of the clock on the desktop and related functions:
- ⏰ Change the time format: Go to Settings → Additionally. → Date and time → Time format and select 24-hourly 12-clockwork (AM/PM).
- 📱 Add the watch widget: click on the desktop → Widgets → The clock → Choose a style (analog, digital, weather-friendly).
- 🔔 Set the alarm clock with time in mind: in the Watch application, you can create an alarm clock that is automatically adjusted when changing the time zone.
- 🌙 Adaptive clock: in MIUI 15 appeared the function Dark mode for the clock, which changes the color of the dial depending on the time of day.
Some models (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+) offer a dual-watch option, which is to display time in two time zones simultaneously, to activate it:
- Open Settings → Screen → Desktop → Watch widgets.
- Choose a style marked Double Watch.
- Set up the second time zone in Settings → Additional → Date and time → Additional hours.
Frequent questions and decisions
We have collected answers to the most popular questions of Xiaomi users about setting the time:
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If after all the manipulations, time continues to be lost, check your smartphone for viruses (for example, through Mi Security) - some malware blocks access to NTP servers.