Setting time on Xiaomi Watch 3: 4 ways + error solving

The Xiaomi Watch 3 automatically syncs time with a connected smartphone, but sometimes it fails — especially after changing time zones, updating firmware or resetting. In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to adjust time on a watch, from basic synchronization via Mi Fitness to manual adjustments in the absence of communication, and find out why the watch can show the wrong time and how to fix it without contacting the service.

It is important to understand that the Xiaomi Watch 3 (M2229GL1 and M2230GL1) uses two sources of temporary data: data from a smartphone (priority) and an integrated GPS module (for offline mode). If the watch displays a time with an error of 1-3 hours, the problem most often lies in the wrong time zone on the phone or in the conflict of application settings.

1. Automatic time synchronization via Mi Fitness

The main way to update time on Xiaomi Watch 3 is to sync with the Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life).

• 📱 Watch connected to smartphone via Bluetooth
• 🌍 Location service is enabled on the phone (GPS)
• ⏱️ The phone settings have the correct time zone

To start the synchronization:

1. Open the Mi Fitness app on your smartphone.
2. Go to Profile → My Devices → Xiaomi Watch 3.
3. Slap the icon. ⚙️ («Settings? next to the name of the watch.
4. Select the data synchronization item and wait for the process to be completed.

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone |Update the Mi Fitness app in the App Store/Google Play|Check your internet connection |Make sure your watch is at least 20%-charged-->

If the clock time has not been updated after synchronization, try:

• 🔄 Restart the clock (press the power button for 10 seconds).
• 📲 Remove the watch from the list of devices in Mi Fitness and connect again.
• 🌐 Manually update the time zone on your smartphone (even if it seems correct).

💡

If the clock shows time with an error of 3-4 hours, check the settings for automatic daylight saving time on the phone. On Android, this is done in Settings → System → Date and Time → Automatic Daylight saving time.

2. Manual time setting (without smartphone)

In some situations – for example, when traveling to another country without roaming or when resetting your watch – you may need to manually set the time. Xiaomi Watch 3 allows you to do this through the device menu, but with restrictions:

• ⏰ You can only change hours and minutes (date and year – you can’t change it).
• 🌎 Time zone will have to be adjusted on a smartphone.
• ⚠️ After connecting to the phone, the manual settings will reset.

Instructions for manual adjustment:

1. On the clock, scroll the screen to the right to the app menu.
2. Select the Settings icon (cog).
3. Go to the System. → Date and time.
4. Turn off Auto Sync (if active).
5. Click Set time and enter current values.

Important: manual time settings on the Xiaomi Watch 3 are reset the next time you connect to your phone or reboot, which is only suitable for a temporary solution, for example, if you are on a plane or area without communication.

3. Time zone and daylight saving time setting

Time errors on the Xiaomi Watch 3 are often associated with an incorrect time zone or a disabled automobilization to daylight saving time. The watch takes these parameters from the smartphone, so you need to fix them in the phone settings.

For Android:

1. Open Settings → System → Date and time.
2. Activate options: 🌐 Automatic Date and Time Determination 🌍 Automatic time zone selection ☀️ Automatic daylight saving time (if available)

If the automatic mode does not work, select the time zone manually.

For the iPhone:

1. Go to Settings → Main → Date and time.
2. Turn it on automatically.
3. If the time is still incorrect, turn off automatic mode, select the correct time zone and turn on sync again.

If the problem persists, try:

1. Delete the cache of the Mi Fitness app (on Android: Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Memory → Clear the cache).
2. Update the firmware of the watch through Profile → My devices → Software update.
3. Reset the clock settings to factory (Settings → System → Reset) and connect again.

💡

If the watch only shows the time with an error in offline mode (without the phone), the problem lies in the failure of the built-in GPS module. The solution is to update the firmware or calibrate the module through Mi Fitness (Settings → Additional → GPS Calibration).

5. Features of setting time in different regions

In some countries (such as Russia, the United States or the EU), the Xiaomi Watch 3 may behave differently due to time zones and daylight saving time support.

Russia:

• ⏳ The clock automatically takes into account the cancellation of the transition to daylight saving time (since 2014).
• 🌍 For correct work, select a time zone with a prefix (MSK).+1), (MIC),+2) etc.

United States/Canada:

• ☀️ The daylight saving time is on the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November.
• ⚠️ In some states (Arizona, Hawaii) daylight saving time is not used - this can cause discrepancies.

Europe:

• ⏰ Daylight saving time is canceled from 2021, but some devices may still support the old rules.
• 🔄 When travelling between EU countries (e.g. Germany to Spain), the time zone is automatically updated.

If you are traveling and notice that the clock does not update the time when crossing the border, try:

1. Manually update the time zone on the phone.
2. Reboot the watch and smartphone.
3. Turn on the plane mode for 10 seconds, then turn off.

6. Alternative ways to update time

If the standard methods do not work, you can use alternative methods:

Method 1: Through the Xiaomi Wear app (for old firmware)

Some versions of the Xiaomi Watch 3 support connectivity via the Xiaomi Wear app (available for Android).

1. Install Xiaomi Wear from Google Play.
2. Connect the watch through Add the device → Xiaomi Watch 3.
3. Go to Device Settings → Time Synchronization.

Method 2: Using the web version of Mi Account

If the watch is tied to your Xiaomi account, you can try updating the data via your browser:

1. Sign in at account.xiaomi.com.
2. Go to the Devices section → Xiaomi Watch 3.
3. Click Sync Data (if the option is available).

⚠️ Note: Using third-party time-setting apps (such as Notify & Fitness or Tools & Mi Band) may cause firmware to crash.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting the time