How to set the time on the smart watch Xiaomi: a guide

Many wearables owners face a situation where after buying or working long hours, the gadget shows the wrong time.This can disrupt the workout schedule, disrupt reminders and simply cause irritation when looking at the screen. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, the process of synchronizing time usually occurs automatically, but there are a number of nuances that require manual user intervention.

The correct operation of the watch depends on the correct setting of the smartphone, since smart watches themselves rarely have a built-in GPS module or cellular connection to get accurate time from the network. The main source of data is the mobile device to which the tracker is connected. Understanding the principle of operation of the phone-app-bracelet bundle will help to avoid most common errors in the initial setup.

In this article, we will take a look at the algorithms for different models, including the popular Mi Band series and Xiaomi Watch line, and we will look not only at standard procedures, but also at ways to solve complex problems when time runs away or stops updating after a reboot.

Time synchronization principles in the Mi ecosystem

The fundamental difference between a smartwatch and a conventional mechanical or quartz watch is that you don't have to manually adjust your hands through physical buttons. All the magic comes from Bluetooth protocols and specialized software. When you carry a watch with you, it periodically pings your phone to check the relevance of system data.

The key element here is the intermediary app. Depending on your device model, it could be Mi Fitness (formerly Zepp Life) or the official Xiaomi Wear. It's inside this software that you have algorithms that tell you to update your time zone and the exact time, and if the application doesn't have Internet access or geolocation, it won't be able to get the actual data from the server.

It is important to understand that the watch does not have its own operating system in the full sense of the word (unless it is a full-fledged Wear OS device), so it is completely dependent on the host. The time zone change on the watch occurs only after receiving a signal from a conjugated smartphone, manually changing the region on the bracelet itself is impossible.

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Always check if the automatic time change on the smartphone itself is included in the basic system settings before blaming the watch.

There are several levels of synchronization that occur at different frequency, with base time updated with each Bluetooth connection, while sunrise and sunset data may require deeper interaction with the company's servers.

Preparing a smartphone before connecting

Before you try to set up a gadget, you need to make sure that the time source — your smartphone — is working correctly, and often the problem lies in the settings of Android or iOS, which block the transfer of accurate data to external devices.

First of all, check the date and time settings in the system. They should be set to automatic mode. To do this, go to Settings → System → Date and Time and activate the "Use Network Time" switch. If there is a manual value here, the watch will broadcast it, even if it is wrong.

The second critical point is app permissions: Modern versions of operating systems strictly control access to geolocation, as it is used to determine the time zone. Without GPS enabled, the app may not realize that you are in Moscow, for example, and not in London.

• 📍 Make sure that geolocation services are included globally in the notification curtain.
• 📱 Check that Mi Fitness or Zepp Life is allowed to access the location "Always" or "When using".
• 🔄 Update the app to the latest version via Google Play or App Store.

Also worth paying attention to energy saving: Aggressive battery settings can kill the background synchronization process, which will stop the clock from updating if you haven’t opened the application for a long time.

Instructions for Mi Band (series 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Fitness trackers of the Mi Band series are the most popular wearable devices of the brand. the process of setting time on them is as simplified as possible and is tied exclusively to work with the Mi Fitness application (or Zepp Life for older models).

Once the tracker is turned on and paired with the phone, the first sync is automatic, so you just open the app, wait for the green connection indicator to appear, and wait a few seconds, and then packets of data are exchanged, including the timing.

If the time on the bracelet screen has not changed, try the following steps:

1. Go to the device profile in the app.
2. Find the item "Device settings" or "Brecelet settings".
3. Scroll down to the "Time" or "Time Zone" item.
4. Make sure you choose “Automatically” or your current city.

Sometimes forced synchronization helps. The tracker profile often has a data update button or just exit the application and re-enter. Bluetooth reconnection also often solves the problem of the suspended status of the connection.

It's worth noting that the trackers themselves don't have the ability to set the time format (12 or 24 hours) regardless of the phone, and they copy that setting completely from the smartphone system.

Set up time on Xiaomi Watch and Redmi Watch

More advanced watches, such as the Xiaomi Watch S1, Redmi Watch 3 or Xiaomi Watch 2, have a more complex menu structure, but the principle remains the same. However, users of these devices often need manual intervention due to the presence of their own display settings.

Unlike simple bracelets, you can set the dial in detail. To change the time format (12/24 h) or date format (GG-MM-DD or DD-MM-GG), you need to go to the settings menu of the watch itself. Press the wheel or side button, find the Settings gear icon.

Next, follow the path: System → Date & Time. Here you will see the current time, which is likely to be locked for direct editing (gray field), as it syncs. However, format switches may be available below.

If your watch is running on Wear OS by Google (such as the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro), then time management is completely in the hands of Google.

• ⌚ Open the Google Clock app on your watch.
• 📲 Use the Pixel Watch app or Google Wear app OS phone-on.
• 🌐 Time is taken exclusively from your Google account and your region settings.

For models with proprietary OS (HyperOS Connect), it is important to choose the right region when you initially configure the Xiaomi Wear application. An error in choosing a region (for example, China instead of Global) can lead to time servers responding with a delay or misalignment.

Solving problems with desynchronization

When the clock time starts to lag or rush a few days after setting up, it is called time drift or desynchronization.This is a common problem that can be caused by software failures or loss of connection.

One common reason is that the Bluetooth module is put to sleep in the background. The phone's operating system can turn off the app's background activity to save battery power, resulting in the watch not getting a daylight saving signal or a time zone change signal if you're traveling.

To fix this, add a companion app to power saving mode exceptions. On Xiaomi smartphones, this is done via the Safety menu → Battery → Permissions → Autostart. Make sure the switch for Mi Fitness is active.

⚠️ Warning: If the time is reset to 00:00 or 1970 after reconnection, this may indicate a full discharge of the built-in clock battery.

It's also worth checking if third-party alarm or timer apps that can intercept system time conflict, and in rare cases, a full factory reset through the device's menu helps.

If the problem is only seen when changing city, check your data roaming settings. The watch may not receive current time if the phone does not transmit data about the current cell tower to the app.

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The stability of the time on smart watches directly depends on the stability of the background work of the companion application on the smartphone.

Table of compatibility of applications and time functions

Different device models require different software platforms, and confusion in applications is the main reason why users can't customize their gadgets. Below is a summary table for orientation.

Using informal apps can cause the time setting function to work incorrectly or not at all. Always download software from official stores.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)