How to set the time on the Xiaomi Mi: from synchronization to manual adjustment

The Xiaomi Mi smartwatch is not just an accessory, but a full-fledged assistant that must work as accurately as possible. One of the key functions of any gadget is to correctly display time, but sometimes users face problems: the watch is in a hurry, lags behind or even shows the wrong date. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to adjust time on Xiaomi smart watches and fitness bracelets, including Mi Band, Mi Watch, Redmi Watch and others.

Unlike classic mechanical watches, where time is manually adjusted, Xiaomi smart devices can synchronize automatically via a smartphone or receive time data from a smartphone. GPS. But it's not always a smooth process, and we'll tell you how to force the clock to change, what to do if the clock is in the wrong time zone, and how to avoid the typical setup errors. MIUI Watch and Zepp OS, Because they have different synchronization algorithms.

If you just bought a Xiaomi watch or encountered a problem after updating your firmware, this guide will help you get your device back to work. For power users, we have prepared unique tips for calibrating time through ADB and alternative synchronization methods without a smartphone.

Why is Xiaomi Mi Watches Showing Wrong Time?

Before you start setting up, it's important to understand why the failures occur, and most often, one of the following factors is the problem:

• 📱 If Mi Fitness or Zepp Life hasn’t updated data for more than a day, the watch may “forget” the actual time.
• 🌍 Incorrect time zone, especially for travelers or when moving to another region.
• 🔄 Firmware failure. After a software update, the watch sometimes resets the time settings to the factory.
• 📡 Problems with GPS Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Watch) S1) They can receive time via satellites, but when the signal is weak, the data is distorted.
• 🔋 At a critically low charge, the watch enters energy-efficient mode, which can affect the accuracy of the stroke.

Most of the time, the problem is solved by simply resynchronizing, but if the watch keeps lying, you have to dig deeper, for example, on the Mi Band 7 and later, the internal RTC (Real-Time Clock) timer, which is responsible for counting time offline, sometimes gets knocked down, in which case manual calibration is required.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi watch shows the time with a difference of exactly 1-2 hours, check the settings for automatic transition to winter / summer time in your smartphone.

Method 1: Automatic synchronization through the application

The easiest and most recommended way is to synchronize time through the official app, and for most Xiaomi models, it’s Mi Fitness (for old bracelets) or Zepp Life (for new watches and bracelets), the process takes no more than a minute:

1. Open the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app on your smartphone.
2. Connect to the clock via Bluetooth (if the connection is severed).
3. Go to the device profile (usually the watch icon in the bottom menu).
4. Find the Device Settings section → Date and time.
5. Activate Auto-Synchronization (or Sync time with phone in English).
6. Wait for the update – Time updated notification will appear on the watch screen.

If you don’t have sync, upgrade to the latest version. For Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro and other models on Wear OS, the time setting can be in the System → Date and Time menu directly on the watch.

Make sure that the smartphone is enabled Bluetooth|Make sure the watch is at least charged. 20%|Update the Mi app Fitness/Zepp Life|Reset the clock if the synchronization fails-->

Once synchronized successfully, the clock will automatically update the time each time you connect to your smartphone, but if you travel frequently, it is recommended to manually check the time zone, as automatic determination sometimes fails.

Method 2: Manually adjusting time on the clock

If automatic synchronization is not working (for example, due to the lack of a smartphone at hand), you can adjust the time manually.This method is suitable for most models, including the Mi Band 6/7/8, Redmi Watch 2/3 and Xiaomi Watch S1/S2.

1. On the main screen of the watch, swipe up or down to open the menu.
2. Find the Settings section (cog icon).
3. Select the date and time (or time settings).
4. Turn off the autosynchronization option (if it is active).
5. Manually install: 🕒 Time zone (select your region from the list). ⏰ Exact time (hours, minutes, AM/PM). 📅 Date (day, month, year).

Save the changes and restart the clock (press the power button for 10 seconds).

On some models (such as the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite), manual time settings may be hidden, in which case try updating the firmware through the app or resetting the watch to factory settings.

⚠️ Attention: Manual time settings on the Mi Band older than the 5th model can cause a pedometer and sleep data to be lost, due to the device's internal timer not synchronizing with the motion sensors.

Mi Band 6/7/8|Redmi Watch 2/3|Xiaomi Watch S1/S2|Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite|Another model-->

Method 3: Time setting via GPS (for supported models)

Some Xiaomi smartwatches, such as the Xiaomi Watch S1 Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro can get accurate time via satellite systems GPS, GLONASS or BeiDou. This method is useful if you don't have a smartphone on hand or you're in an area without mobile network coverage. GPS:

1. Activate GPS mode on your watch (usually in the Training menu → Settings → GPS).
2. Wait until the clock finds the satellites (the signal indicator will appear on the screen).
3. After successful connection, the time will be updated automatically (may take 1-3 minutes).

This is especially true for tourists or athletes who use the watch offline, but note that GPS consumes a lot of power, so after setting the time, it is recommended to turn off the module if it is not needed.

If your model supports GPS, but the time is still not updated, check the geolocation settings in your smartphone. Sometimes the watch pulls up the time data from your phone, even if the GPS is activated on the device itself.

Method 4: Reset your time settings (if nothing helps)

If all of these things didn't work, there might have been a software failure, and then resetting the time to the factory settings will help, which is a good way to do it for all models, but then you'll have to reset the clock.

1. Open the Settings menu on the clock → System.
2. Select Reset settings (or Reset settings).
3. Confirm the action (usually you need to hold the button for 5 seconds).
4. After the reboot, connect the watch to your smartphone and perform the initial setup, including time synchronization.

If you travel frequently, turn on Auto Update in your time zone settings, which will allow your device to automatically adjust to a new region when connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi.

💡

For maximum time accuracy on Xiaomi watches, use a combination of automatic synchronization with your smartphone and periodic GPS checks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting the time on Xiaomi Mi