The Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets are among the most popular wearables on the market due to their combination of functionality, accuracy and affordable price. However, many users are faced with the problem of incorrect time display: the bracelet can show the wrong clock, lag or rush, and sometimes even reset after a reboot.
In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to adjust time on any Xiaomi Mi Band model, from old versions (Mi Band 2/3) to current ones (Mi Band 7/8 and Xiaomi Smart Band Pro). You will learn how to synchronize time automatically through the application, manually adjust the clock, change the display format (12/24 hours) and eliminate typical errors.
Why is Xiaomi Mi bracelet showing the wrong time?
Before you start setting up, it's important to understand why the time on the bracelet is lost.
- 📱 Lack of sync with the app.The bracelet gets the exact time from the smartphone via Mi Fit/Zepp If the sync fails (for example, because Bluetooth is turned off), the clock may be lost.
- ⏰ Incorrect time zone: If the phone or bracelet has the wrong region, the time will be different from the real time.
- 🔄 Resetting. Once you update the firmware or reset the bracelet to the factory settings, time may be zero.
- 📶 Problems with GPS. Some models (such as the Mi Band 7 Pro) may attempt to synchronize time across satellites, leading to errors.
- ⚡ At a critical charge level, the bracelet may not work properly, including time failure.
Interestingly, Mi Band 5 and later syncs not only when you connect to your phone, but also when you activate Autosynchronization in your bracelet settings, but even with this option, you can delay up to 1-2 hours if you are not connected to your phone.
Method 1: Automatic time synchronization with Mi Fit/Zepp Life
The most reliable way to set the time is to sync the bracelet to the official app.
- Make sure you have the latest Mi Fit update (for older models) or Zepp Life (for Mi Band 6 and newer).
- Turn on Bluetooth and allow the application to access geodata (this is necessary to determine the time zone).
- Open the app and wait until the bracelet connects (the icon ✓ next to the device name).
- Go to Profile → My device → Bracelet settings → Date and time.
- Activate Autosynchronize Time (in some versions of the app it may be called Sync with your phone).
After that, the bracelet should automatically tighten the time from the phone, if the synchronization does not occur:
- 🔄 Reset the bracelet (press the touch button 10-15 seconds before vibration).
- 📱 Reinstall the Mi app Fit/Zepp Life.
- 🔗 Disable and reconnect the bracelet in the Bluetooth settings of the smartphone.
☑️ Checking before synchronization
Starting with the Mi Band 7, Xiaomi moved to the Zepp Life app, where the sync algorithm changed a little bit. If you have an older version of the Mi Fit, upgrade it or install Zepp Life manually.
Method 2: Manual time setting (if automatic synchronization is not working)
If the bracelet persists in showing the wrong time despite synchronization, you can try to adjust it manually, which works for most models except the Mi Band 8 and Smart Band Pro, where manual adjustment is blocked.
Instructions:
- Open Mi Fit/Zepp Life and go to bracelet settings.
- Find the Date and Time section (in some versions it is hidden in Additional Settings).
- Turn off the auto-synchronization time option.
- Click on Manual Install and select date, time and time zone.
- Save the changes and wait for the vibration of the bracelet (signal of successful application of settings).
Attention! On Mi Band 6 and later, manual timing can be reset after rebooting the bracelet or updating the firmware, in which case you will have to repeat the procedure or return to automatic synchronization.
What if the application does not have manual configuration option?
Setting the time format (12/24 hours) and time zone
Many users are unaware that the Xiaomi Mi Band can change the format of the display time from 12-hour (AM/PM) to 24-hour and vice versa.
- In Mi Fit/Zepp Life, go to Profile → My Device → Screen and Brightness (or Bracelet Settings → Display).
- Find the option Time format and select the desired option.
- Save the changes and wait for the synchronization.
To adjust the time zone:
- 🌍 On the phone: check the date and time settings in the system (the option Automatically determine the time zone should be activated).
- 📱 In the appendix: in the Date and Time section, select the correct region (e.g. Moscow (UTC+3)).
| Model bracelet | Support for 24-hour format | Manual timing | Autosynchronization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 3/4 | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. |
| Mi Band 5 | ✅ Yes. | ⚠️ Partially (may be dropped) | ✅ Yes. |
| Mi Band 6/7 | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No (only through third-party applications) | ✅ Yes. |
| Mi Band 8 / Smart Band Pro | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes, with priority) |
If after changing the time zone, the time on the bracelet has not updated, try:
⚠️ Attention! Mi Band 7 Pro and Smart Band Pro may require a reboot of the bracelet when changing time zones. To do this, press the touch button 10 seconds before the appearance of the Xiaomi logo.
Problem Solving: Time is confused or out of sync
If the bracelet keeps showing the wrong time despite all the manipulations, check the following points:
- 🔋 Charge level. If it's below 10%, it might not work properly. Charge it to 100% and repeat the synchronization.
- 📲 Firmware version. Outdated software often causes failures. Update firmware through Profile → My device. → Firmware update.
- 🔄 Conflict with other devices. If the bracelet was previously paired with another phone, reset its settings (Settings) → Reset).
- 🛡️ Antivirus or energy saving: Some programs (e.g. Avast or Greenify) block background Mi Fit.
For Mi Band 6/7/8 models with constant time failures, forced synchronization will help:
- Open Zepp Life and go to the bracelet section.
- Pull the screen down to update the data (swipe to refresh gesture).
- If this doesn’t work, turn off and reconnect the bracelet in Bluetooth settings.
💡
If the bracelet shows time 1 to 2 hours late, check your phone's time zone settings. Sometimes your smartphones (especially Android) misidentify summer/winter time. Try manually selecting a city in the date and time settings.
Features of setting the time on different models Xiaomi Mi Band
Each version of the bracelet has its own nuances in the timing setting. Let's take a closer look at them:
Mi Band 3/4
These models support manual time adjustment, but often lose sync after a firmware update.
- After manually adjusting the time, do not update the firmware for 2-3 days.
- Use third-party apps like Mi Band Master for more flexible customization.
Mi Band 5
Here's the Autosynchronization feature, but it's not stable.
- Turn off and turn on Bluetooth on your phone again.
- Check if the Power Saving mode is enabled in the bracelet settings.
Mi Band 6/7/8 and Smart Band Pro
In these models, manual timing is locked, and automatic synchronization depends on the stability of the connection to the phone.
- Make sure the phone has the option of Exact Location enabled (necessary for time zone determination).
- Try reconnecting the bracelet via Zepp Life by selecting Add the device again.
💡
Starting with the Mi Band 6, Xiaomi has removed the ability to manually adjust time by betting on automatic synchronization, which is due to optimizing power consumption and simplifying the interface.
What do you do if nothing helps?
If all methods have been tried, and the time on the bracelet is still displayed incorrectly, radical measures remain:
- Reset to factory settings: In the Mi Fit/Zepp Life app, go to Bracelet Settings → Reset. Confirm action and wait for the bracelet to restart. Reconnect the device and set the time.
- Bracelet flashing (for power users): If the reset didn't work, you can try reflashing the bracelet through Mi Band Tools or Gadgetbridge. Careful! Wrong firmware can bring the device down.
- Support for Xiaomi: If you have a warranty bracelet, contact official support via the Mi Fit app (Feedback section). Enter screenshots of the errors and describe the problem in as much detail as possible.
⚠️ Before flashing the bracelet, make sure you download the correct version of the software for your model. For example, firmware for the Mi Band 6 will not work for the Mi Band 7, even if they look similar. Use proven sources such as the official Xiaomi website or forums. XDA Developers.