How to set the time on a Xiaomi watch without a phone: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi smartwatches — from budget Mi Band to flagship Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro — usually synchronize time automatically through the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app. But what if the phone is not at hand and the watch shows the wrong time? The reasons may be different: the smartphone died, forgot it at home, or the device simply “lost” after updating the firmware.

Time settings without a phone are possible, but the methods depend on the model of the watch and its functionality. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from manual adjustment through the menu to resetting settings and using alternative sources of synchronization. It is important to understand that not all models support independent time setting: for example, the Mi Band 3/4 without a phone can not update the date / time, and the Xiaomi Watch S1 or Watch 2 have built-in options.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge – at levels below 20%, some functions may be blocked.
• 🌍 Firmware region - on Chinese versions of watches (with suffix) CN in the model) may not be manually adjusted.
• 🔄 Last update – if the clock has not synchronized for a long time, time could be lost due to a software error.

1. Manual time setting via the clock menu (for supported models)

The most obvious way is to find the time adjustment option in the watch settings, but only models with full firmware (e.g. Xiaomi Watch S1, Watch 2 Pro, Redmi Watch 3 Active) have such a menu.

Instructions for watches with touch screen:

1. Swipe your finger up the screen to open the main menu.
2. Find the Settings icon** (cog) and tap it.
3. Scroll down to System → Date and time (on some models – Additional → Time).
4. Turn off the Autosynchronization option** (if it is active) and manually set the current date and time.
5. Save the changes and restart the clock (press the power button for 10 seconds).

On a physical button watch (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite):

⚠️ Note: On a firmware watch for the Chinese market (CN) You can lock the manual time setting, and then you can just reset or connect to the phone.

Charge the clock to 50% or higher|Check the firmware version (in settings) → "About the device")|Turn off Bluetooth (if the clock is trying to sync with your phone)|Remember the current time to check after the changes-->

2. time synchronization over Wi-Fi (for network-enabled watches)

Some Xiaomi models (such as the Watch S1 Pro or Watch 2) can update time over Wi-Fi, even without a phone connection.

1. Make sure the watch is connected to a Wi-Fi network (check Settings → Wi-Fi).
2. Activate the Auto Update option** in the Date and Time menu.

If Wi-Fi is not connected:

• 📶 Check if your model supports offline network connectivity (list below).
• 🔒 Make sure the network does not require authorization via a browser (e.g. in hotels or cafes).
• 🔄 Restart the clock and router.

Important: Xiaomi watches use NTP (Network Time Protocol) servers for synchronization. If your region is blocked (for example, in some CIS countries), the time may not be updated, in which case manual adjustment or change of region in the firmware will help.

3. Resetting to factory settings (if time is constantly lost)

If the clock is regularly incorrect, even after manual settings, the problem may be a firmware failure, in which case hard reset will help. All data (steps, training, settings) will be deleted!

Resetting instructions:

1. Open the settings menu on the clock.
2. Go to System → Reset settings (on some models – About device → Reset).
3. Confirm the action (it may be necessary to enter) PIN-code, if it is installed).
4. After the reboot, the watch will return factory settings, including the default time (usually January 1, 2020, 00:00).

After discharge:

• 🔄 The watch will automatically try to sync the time the next time you connect to your phone.
• ⚙️ If the phone is not available, set the time manually (see the first section).
• 📥 Update your firmware via Wi-Fi (if the model supports it) OTA-update).

⚠️ Note: On the Mi Band 3-7, the reset is performed by holding the touch button for 20 seconds before the appearance of the Xiaomi logo. After that, the device will return to the factory settings, but the time will still require synchronization with the phone.

4. Use of alternative synchronization sources

If neither manual settings nor Wi-Fi help, you can try syncing time through other devices or services.

Method 1: Connect to another phone or tablet

• 📱 Install the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app on any device with Android/iOS.
• 🔗 Connect the watch via Bluetooth and wait for automatic synchronization.
• 🔄 After updating the time, disconnect the clock from the phone - the settings will remain.

Method 2: Synchronization via computer (for advanced users)

Some watches (such as the Xiaomi Watch S1) can be connected to a PC via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and manually set the time.

1. Download and install Mi Band Tools or Gadgetbridge (wearables).
2. Connect the watch to the PC via Bluetooth adapter.
3. Enter the command in the terminal: adb shell date -s YYYYMMDD.HHMMSS For example, to set the time May 15, 2026, 14:30: adb shell date -s 20260515.143000

Method 3: Use GPS (for a module clock)

GPS models (such as the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro) can update time via satellite data.

• 🛰️ Activate. GPS in the settings of the clock (Settings) → Location).
• 🏃 Go to the open area (for the best signal).
• ⏱️ Wait for synchronization (can take up to 10 minutes).

💡

If you have a Xiaomi watch with NFC (like the Watch S1 Pro), try attaching it to a payment terminal (like a store), sometimes triggering the process of updating time through external servers.

5 Problems and Solutions: Why Time is Stuck Again

If Xiaomi keeps running away or resetting after setting up the time on the watch, the reasons may be as follows:

A common cause of failure is a battery that is discharged, and if the watch runs to zero, the internal settings (including the time) may be reset.

• 🔋 Charge the device to 100% at least once every 2-3 days.
• ⚡ Use only original chargers.
• 🛠️ If the battery is quickly depleted, check its condition at the service center.

Another possible problem is firmware conflict, for example, if you installed custom firmware (like Amazfit Mod), the timing may not be synced correctly, in which case you go back to the official version of the software.

💡

If Xiaomi watches are constantly resetting time, most likely the problem is in the hardware (battery or memory chip).In this case, self-repair is not recommended - contact an authorized service center.

6. Features of settings for different models

Not all Xiaomi watches are the same – the timing options vary depending on the model and firmware version, and below is a list of popular devices and the methods available for them.

Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7:

• ❌ No manual time settings – only sync via phone.
• ⚡ After resetting, the time is reset to 01.01.2020, 00:00.
• 🔄 The only way to update the time is to connect to a smartphone.

Xiaomi Mi Watch / Mi Watch Lite:

• ✅ Manual settings through Settings → System system → Date and time.
• 🌐 Wi-Fi support for autosynchronization.
• ⚠️ On the Chinese versions (CN) manual setting can be disabled.

Xiaomi Watch S1 / S1 Pro / Watch 2 / Watch 2 Pro:

• ✅ Full time settings menu (including time zone).
• 📡 Autosynchronization via Wi-Fi or mobile network (in models with a SIM).
• 🛰️ Support GPS time-adjustment.

Redmi Watch 2/3/4:

• ⚠️ Manual time setting is not available in most firmware versions.
• 📱 It requires mandatory synchronization with the phone.
• 🔄 After updating the firmware, time may be lost.

For an accurate definition of your model’s capabilities, check its specifications on the official Xiaomi website or in the documentation.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting the time on Xiaomi watches