How to set the time on the smartphone Xiaomi: 5 ways + error solving

Time on Xiaomi is not just numbers on the lock screen; it can lead to missed appointments, geolocation failures and problems connecting to corporate networks if your Redmi or POCO shows the wrong time.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to adjust time, from automatic synchronization over the network to manual time zone input. Particular attention will be paid to typical errors (for example, when time is reset after a reboot) and nuances for different versions of MIUI. Instructions are relevant for all modern models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Automatic time setting through the network

The easiest and most reliable way to do this is to let your smartphone get its own time data from a carrier or Google servers, a method that is recommended to be used 90% of the time, as it eliminates the human factor and takes into account the transitions to winter/summer time (where they still work).

To enable automatic synchronization:

• 📱 Open Settings (cog icon on the main screen).
• ⚙️ Go to the Additional Settings section → Date and time.
• 🔄 Activate switches: Autodetermine date and time (uses network data); Autodetermine time zone (important for travel).

Once activated, the smartphone will contact the Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers and update the data within 1-2 minutes. If the time has not changed, check your Internet connection or restart the device.

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If you travel frequently, leave the option “Time Zone Auto-Detection” turned on – this will eliminate manual adjustment when crossing borders.

2. Manual establishment of date and time

Automatic synchronization can cause disruptions in some regions (e.g., when the network signal is weak) or on custom firmware, where manual adjustment will help. Note that manual input is your responsibility for correcting the data, including winter/summer time transitions.

Instructions for manual adjustment:

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Date and time.
2. Turn off the switches Autodetermining Date and Time Zone and Autodetermining Time Zone.
3. Click on the Set a date and Set a time to enter values manually.
4. To select a time zone, tap on Select a time zone and find your region (e.g. Moscow, GMT+3).

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Important! Some models (e.g. POCO F5) may have a notification of the discrepancy between system time and server time after manual settings, and you can ignore it if you are sure that the input is correct.

3. Configure the format of displaying time

Xiaomi allows you to choose between 12-hour (AM/PM) and 24-hour format, which does not affect the system, but is important for ease of perception, for example, in Russia and Europe adopted the 24-hour format, and in the United States — 12-hour format.

To change the format:

• 🕒 Go to Settings. → Additional settings → Date and time.
• 📏 Find the option to Use 24-hour format and activate/deactivate it.
• 🔄 Changes apply immediately – check the time display in the status bar.

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global) also has a first day of the week setting, Monday or Sunday, which affects the display of calendars and weekly reports in apps.

24-hour |12-hour (AM/PM) | I don't know what it is | Depends on the host country-->

4. Solving problems with incorrect time

If Xiaomi time gets lost or is displayed incorrectly, the reasons can be different, from a malfunction of NTP servers to hardware problems with the RTC (Real-Time Clock) module.

4.1 Time is reset after resetting

This problem often occurs on devices with a discharged battery or after a failed MIUI update. The reason is a malfunction in the RTC chip, which is responsible for storing time when power is turned off.

Decisions:

• 🔋 Charge your smartphone to 100% and leave it on charge for 1-2 hours after reaching the maximum.
• 🔄 Reset your time settings: Settings → Memory. → Resetting settings → Resetting date and time settings
• 🛠️ If the problem persists, you may need to flash through Fastboot or replace the motherboard (at the service center).

Incorrect time zone

Time zone error is often manifested after the MIUI update or when you manually select a region, for example, if you are in Moscow (GMT+3), but the smartphone shows Beijing time (GMT+8).

How to fix it:

1. Turn off and turn on the time zone autodetermination again.
2. If the automatic mode does not work, select the time zone manually: Settings → Additional settings → Date and time → Select a time zone Use a search by city name (for example, "Moscow").
3. Check the region in the settings SIM-maps: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Region.

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If after changing the time zone, the time has not changed, restart the smartphone – it will forcibly update the system data.

4.3 NTP servers are not available

On devices with custom firmware (such as LineageOS) or after manually changing the hosts file, time synchronization servers may be lost, in which case time will either be reset or updated with a large delay.

Decisions:

• 📶 Check your internet connection (especially if you use it) VPN).
• 🔧 Make sure it's in the file. /etc/hosts No blocking of time.android.com or ntp.aliyun.com.
• 🔄 Manually specify an alternative server NTP: Settings → For developers → server NTP Enter, for example, pool.ntp.org or time.google.com.

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If you use custom firmware, install the ClockSync app from Google Play – it lets you manually synchronize time with selected servers.

5. Features of settings on different versions of MIUI

The interface and timing settings may vary depending on the MIUI version and regional firmware, and the key differences for popular versions are below.

Chinese firmware (China ROM) may not automatically sync with Google servers, in which case use Aliyun servers (ntp.aliyun.com) or set the time manually.

For devices with MIUI for Russia (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G), the option Dual Watch is available, which allows you to display time in two time zones simultaneously, which is convenient for those who often communicate with foreign partners or have relatives in another region.

6.Time on the lock screen and in the status bar

Even if the system time is set correctly, the display on the lock screen or in the top panel may differ, due to the settings of the themes and widgets.

How to set up the display:

• 🎨 To change the style of the clock on the lock screen: Settings → Lock screen → Watch style Options available: Analog, Digital, Minimalist.
• 📱 To hide or show seconds in the status bar: Settings → Lock screen → Additionally. → Showing seconds
• 🔄 If time is not updated on the lock screen, turn off and turn on the option to Show time in the theme settings again.

Some models (such as the Xiaomi 13T) have a Always-On Display (AOD) feature that displays the time even when the screen is off to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Always-On Display.
2. Choose the time display style.
3. Set up a schedule or leave the Always on mode.

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If AOD drains the battery quickly, set a schedule (for example, only at night) or turn it off altogether.

7.Sync time with other Xiaomi devices

If you have other Xiaomi gadgets (like the Mi Band, Xiaomi Watch, or Mi Home devices), their time can sync with your smartphone.This is convenient for data uniformity, but sometimes leads to conflicts.

How to set up synchronization:

• 📲 For Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch: Open the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app. → Settings of the device → Date and time. Turn on the option to Sync with your smartphone.

Mi Home

Application Mi Home → Profile → Settings → Region and time

Make sure the region matches the smartphone settings.

If time on gadgets is lost, follow the following steps:

1. Check whether synchronization with the smartphone is included in the gadget settings.
2. Update the firmware of the gadget through the official application.
3. Reconnect the device to the smartphone (forget the device in Bluetooth and connect again).

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For Xiaomi to work properly, all devices must be linked to one Mi Account and be in the same region.

8. Frequent questions and errors