How to set up a watch on the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 3: the complete guide

Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is one of the most popular fitness bracelets, but even experienced users sometimes have questions about setting the time. Incorrectly set hours lead to failures in sleep tracking, improper alarm clocks and unsynchronized notifications. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to adjust the time on the Mi Band 3, including manual adjustment, synchronization with a smartphone and solving typical problems.

The Mi Band 3 is not a GPS-based device, and it depends entirely on the data on the smartphone, which means that any time changes on the phone are automatically transferred to the wristband, but only if you synchronize correctly. If your gadget shows the wrong time, the reasons may lie in the settings of the Mi Fit application, the firmware of the device or even in the regional settings of the phone.

Preparation for setting up: what to check before changing time

Before you start adjusting your watch, make sure that the basic conditions for the bracelet to work smoothly are met, most often due to:

• 📱 No communication between the wristband and smartphone (Bluetooth is disabled or devices are not paired).
• 🔄 An outdated version of the Mi Fit app or bracelet firmware.
• ⚙️ Incorrect regional settings on the phone (for example, incorrect time zone).
• 🔋 Low battery charge (less than 20%) – in this case, synchronization may be interrupted.

Also check if the phone is power-saving, which often blocks the background work of the Mi Fit, which stops the bracelet from updating the time. On Android, you can do this in Settings → Battery → Power Saving Mode, and on iPhone – in Settings → Battery → Battery Status.

Synchronize the bracelet with your phone via Bluetooth

Update the Mi Fit app to the latest version

Check the battery power of the Mi Band 3 (optimally >50%)

Turn off the energy saving mode on the smartphone

Make sure the time zone on the phone corresponds to the real one-->

If after checking all the points, the time on the bracelet is still lost, proceed to manually adjust or reset the parameters.

Synchronization of time through the Mi Fit application

The main way to update time on Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is to automatically sync through the official app, which works 90% of the time and does not require manual intervention.

1. Open the Mi Fit app on your smartphone.
2. Make sure the bracelet is connected (the Bluetooth icon should be on the top of the screen).
3. Go to Profile → Your Device → Mi Band 3 Settings.
4. Find the time and date (or time sync depending on the version of the application).
5. Activate Auto Sync or press Sync Now.

If the time and date are missing, your version of Mi Fit uses an alternative algorithm.

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds until vibrations appear).
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi Fit app (remove and download from Google Play or the App Store).
• 🌍 Check that the phone settings have the correct time zone and the option Automatic timing is enabled.

💡

If the time on the wristband is lost after a few hours, try turning off and switch on Bluetooth on your smartphone again, sometimes helping to restore a stable connection.

In rare cases, the problem lies in the regional settings of the bracelet. For example, if you are traveling and changing time zones, Mi Band 3 may not have time to update the data. To fix this, manually update the device firmware through Settings → Software update in the Mi Fit application.

Manual time settings on Xiaomi Mi Band 3

If automatic synchronization doesn't work, you can manually set the time directly on the wristband, which is a good method for emergencies, but remember, when you reboot or disconnect from the phone, the settings will reset.

Instructions for manual adjustment:

1. Swipe your finger up the bracelet screen to open the main menu.
2. Find the icon. ⚙️ Settings (cogs) and tap it.
3. Scroll down to the option (or in English firmware).
4. Select the time and date (Time & Date).
5. Turn off the autosynchronization option (if it is active) and enter the time manually using the touch button.
6. Save the changes by clicking on the tick ✓.

Note that manually, the bracelet will not automatically switch to winter/summer time, you will have to adjust the clock yourself when changing time zones or seasonal changes, and manually reset when:

• ⚡ Battery discharge to 0%.
• 🔄 Resetting the bracelet.
• 📱 Disconnect from the smartphone for more than 24 hours.

For users who travel frequently, it is recommended to leave autosynchronization on and adjust the time only in extreme cases, which will eliminate the need to constantly monitor settings.

Setting up alarm clocks and reminders

The right alarm clocks on Xiaomi Mi Band 3 depend on the correct time on the device. If the clock is stunted, the alarm clocks may not work at all or not on time.

1. Open the Mi Fit app and go to the section of your bracelet.
2. Select alarm clocks (Alarms).
3. Click Add an alarm and specify the time, days of the week and type of vibration.
4. Save the changes – they are automatically synchronized with the bracelet.

On the Mi Band 3, you can set up to 10 alarm clocks at a time, but if the time on the device is lost, the alarm clocks can:

• 🕒 Work late or in advance.
• 🔕 Not working at all (if the time difference is more than 1 hour).
• 🔄 Duplicate (e.g., fire twice due to synchronization failure).

To avoid problems, check your time sync regularly and reload the bracelet if necessary. It is also useful to activate the Repeat option for important alarms, which will increase the chances of timely activation.

Every day.

2-3 times a week

Only on weekends.

I'm awake.

Another option-->

One of the important things about the Mi Band 3 is that alarm clocks work even if the bracelet is not connected to the phone, but only if the time is set correctly. If you've turned off auto synchronization, make sure you manually update the clock when you switch to winter/summer time.

Tackling problems with time: frequent mistakes and fixing them

Even after setting up the time on Xiaomi Mi Band 3 can be lost. Let’s consider the typical reasons and ways to eliminate them:

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the bracelet to the factory settings.

1. Open on the bracelet Settings → Additional → Reset.
2. Confirm the action by clicking on the tick ✓.
3. After restarting, re-synchronize the device with the phone.

💡

Resetting removes all data from the bracelet, including activity statistics. Before the procedure, back up to Mi Fit if it is important.

In extremely rare cases, the problem can be hardware, such as a malfunction of the internal timer. If after all the manipulations, time continues to be lost, contact the Xiaomi service center or consider replacing the device (especially if it is on warranty).

Additional functions that depend on time

The correct setting of the watch on the Mi Band 3 affects not only the display of time, but also the operation of other functions:

• 📊 Sleep Tracking: If Time is Down, Sleep Schedules Will Be Inaccurate.
• 🏃 Recording workouts: Wrong time distorts data on exercise duration and intensity.
• 🔔 Notifications: Messenger alerts and calls may be delayed.
• 🌡️ Weather: Weather widget updated based on time and location.

For example, if the bracelet shows 14:00, but in fact 16:00, then:

• The sleep schedule will shift by 2 hours, showing the wrong time to fall asleep.
• Notifications of missed calls will arrive late.
• The training data will be recorded with the wrong time stamp.

To avoid such errors, check your timing regularly, especially after:

• 🛫 Flights to another time zone.
• 🔄 Updates to the firmware of the bracelet or phone.
• 🔋 Full battery discharge.

💡

If you use the Mi Band 3 for training, check the time on the bracelet before starting the class, which will help to avoid distortions in the statistics (for example, if the workout is recorded as an hour earlier).

Update firmware for stable operation of time

Sometimes time display failures are due to outdated bracelet firmware. Xiaomi regularly releases updates to correct synchronization errors.

1. Open Mi Fit and go to the section of your device.
2. Find the Firmware Update (Firmware Update).
3. If a new version is available, click Update and wait for the process to complete.
4. Do not turn off Bluetooth or close the app until the update is complete.

After the firmware update:

• The bracelet will automatically reset.
• All settings (including time) will be reset to factory.
• You will need to re-synchronize with the phone.

If you have problems with time after updating, try:

• 📲 Install an alternative bracelet management app (e.g. Notify & Fitness for Mi Band).
• 🔧 Manually roll back the firmware to the previous version (requires root rights on the phone).
• 📧 Contact Xiaomi with a description of the problem (attach screenshots of errors).

Note that Xiaomi’s support for Mi Band 3 has declined since the Mi Band 4/5/6, meaning that new firmware updates are less common and some features may not work well, so the only reliable way to do so is to use third-party apps to manage the device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up time on Xiaomi Mi Band 3