Smart wearables owners often face a situation where after buying, resetting or long-term battery discharge, the screen displays incorrect time. This is not a defect, since most modern Xiaomi trackers do not have a built-in GPS module or a permanent connection to the cellular network to independently obtain accurate time stamps.
In this article, we will explore in detail the timing mechanisms of the Mi Band, Redmi Watch and Amazfit devices, why watches can show time lagging by an hour or two, how to adjust the time zone correctly when traveling, and what to do if automatic updating stops working.
Before you go into manual manipulation, you need to make sure that the basic conditions for the gadget to work are met. Often the problem is solved by simply rebooting the smartphone-tracker bundle. It is important to understand that the fitness bracelet is a dependent device, and its functionality is fully disclosed only in pairs with a mobile application.
Principle of automatic synchronization through the application
The main and most reliable way to set the right time is through automatic synchronization through the official application. For Xiaomi and Redmi devices, the Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life) is the main tool, and for more advanced models, Amazfit is the Amazfit app of the same name. When pairing, the gadget reads the time zone and exact time from the phone and installs them on its display.
The data exchange is in the background, but the initial setup requires active user action, so you have to open the app on your smartphone, wait for the Bluetooth connection, and go to the Profile tab, and that's where the connection status is displayed and the initial data exchange, including the timing, takes place.
If you've just connected your device, don't rush to close the app. Give the system a few seconds to exchange data packets. In some cases, especially with a weak signal or low battery charge, the process can take a long time. Make sure that the smartphone itself has the option "Use network time" or "Automatic date and time" enabled in the system settings.
⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone is manually timed and incorrect, the clock syncs to this erroneous information. Always check the time settings in the phone itself before connecting the tracker.
It’s worth noting that different models may have their own nuances in the software, for example, older versions of the Mi Band 4 firmware may have required more frequent manual synchronization confirmation, while newer models of the Mi Band 8 and 9 series do so almost instantly when an app is opened.
Solving Time Zone and Summer Time Problems
One of the most common causes of incorrect time is time zone mismatches, which often happens when traveling to another city or country, as well as when switching to winter or summer time (in regions where this is relevant), Xiaomi's device relies on the data that the app sends to it, and the app in turn takes it from the phone's settings.
If you have moved to a different time zone, the algorithm of actions should be as follows:
- 🌍 Open your smartphone settings and make sure you choose the right city or time zone.
- 📱 Turn off Bluetooth on your phone, then turn it back on to restart the service.
- ⌚ Run Mi Fitness or Zepp Life and wait for full data sync.
- 🔄 If time hasn’t changed, try temporarily disabling the Auto Time Zone option on your phone, setting the time manually, sync the clock, and then return the automatic mode.
Sometimes there is a situation where the application gets stuck in the old time zone, in which case it can help to clean the application cache or completely reinstall it.
It is useful for travelers to know that some advanced watches have built-in GPS. When activated outdoor workouts, such devices can independently adjust their location and therefore time, even without a phone.
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For frequent flights, turn on the “Flight Mode” on the clock during takeoff and landing to avoid dissynchronization with frequent cell tower changes.
Manual tuning and reset to factory settings
Unlike smartwatches based on Wear OS or watchOS, Xiaomi’s budget trackers don’t have a menu to manually set the time (hours, minutes) right on the device’s screen. The interface is too limited to enter numerical values. The only way to manually set up is to get the device to re-request the phone’s time.
If automatic synchronization doesn't work, the method is to reset the device to factory settings (Reset). This action completely clears the tracker's memory of temporary files and pairing errors. After resetting when reconnecting, the watch will request the current data again. To perform the reset on the device itself, you usually need to find Settings → System → Reset or pinch the touch button.
The procedure for resetting through the application looks like this:
- 📲 Go to the profile of your device in the application.
- ⚙️ Find the item "Device settings" or "Additional».
- 🗑️ Select “Sever a couple” or “Reset settings» (Unpair/Reset).
- 🔄 After the bracelet disappears from the list, re-pair as a new device.
It's important to understand the difference between simply turning off Bluetooth and completely breaking the pair. Simply turning off the radio module doesn't reset the clock's time settings, it keeps ticking away from the internal quartz generator. A complete break of the pair initiates the cleanup procedure.
After reset, the device may require firmware updates, and it is recommended to agree to this, as new versions of the software often contain corrections for time stamp errors and improve the stability of the Bluetooth connection.
Diagnostics Bluetooth and Connection Problems
Unstable connections are the main enemy of synchronization. If Xiaomi watches can’t reach the phone, the time on them will not be updated. In modern Android and iOS operating systems, energy saving settings can aggressively unload the background processes of the application, which blocks the transmission of time data.
To ensure stable operation, the following parameters must be checked:
- 🔋 Allow the application to work in the background (Battery Saver -> No restrictions).
- 📍 Provide access to geolocation (GPS), As on Android it is a mandatory requirement for Bluetooth scanning.
- 📶 Make sure that Bluetooth settings do not include a “Hide Device” checkmark or similar privacy option.
Sometimes forgetting your device in Bluetooth system settings helps. Go to Settings → Bluetooth on your phone, find your Mi Band or Redmi Watch in the list, click on the gear icon and select Forget the device or Unpair the pairing.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to pair the clock directly through the Bluetooth system menu Android/iOS, And that connection would be unstable, and it wouldn't allow for the transmission of health and time data.
For reliable synchronization, the phone and watch must be in close proximity (up to 1-2 meters), walls and metal structures can shield the signal, especially in models with a plastic case and a weak antenna.
Comparison of models and features of firmware
Different generations of Xiaomi devices run on different versions of operating systems and have differences in hardware, which affects speed and synchronization method. Below is a table comparing the timing features of popular models.
| Model of the device | Main annex | GPS presence | Features of synchronization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 6 / 7 / 8 | Mi Fitness / Zepp Life | No (depending on version) | Only through the phone, requires periodic opening of the application. |
| Redmi Watch 3 | Mi Fitness | Got it (built-in) | Can adjust time by satellite when activating sports. |
| Amazfit GTR/GTS | Amazfit | Got it (built-in) | Automatic synchronization via Wi-Fi (in some versions) and phone. |
| Mi Watch Lite | Mi Fitness | Got it (built-in) | Strictly linking to the region of the Mi Account. |
Owners of devices with their own GPS module are more fortunate: even without a phone while jogging, the watch can get accurate time from satellites, but in normal “wait” mode, they still rely on a smartphone to save battery life.
Firmware also plays a role. Devices released for the Chinese market (CN Version) may have time synchronization restrictions with servers outside China, unless you change the region in the application. Global versions (Global) are free of this problem and work around the world.