How to change the time on the Xiaomi bracelet: 5 ways with photos and videos

Xiaomi smart wristbands are some of the most popular activity-tracking gadgets, but even they sometimes get lost in time, which can happen after a setback, battery drain, or smartphone sync failure. Unlike classic watches, time is set not mechanically, but through software settings — and this often raises questions from users.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to change time on Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7, Redmi Watch 2/3 and other models, from automatic synchronization via the Mi Fitness app to manually editing in the engineering menu, and learn why watches can lag or rush, and how to fix it without going to the service center.

Important: the procedure differs depending on the firmware version of the bracelet and the smartphone model. If your gadget does not sync with the phone, first check the compatibility of the devices in the official list of Xiaomi.

Automatic time synchronization via Mi Fitness (Zepp Life)

The easiest way to update the time on the wristband is to sync it with the smartphone through a proprietary app, which works for all modern Xiaomi and Redmi models, if the gadget is connected to the phone over Bluetooth.

Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit, now renamed Zepp Life in some regions) automatically transmits the current time to the bracelet each time you connect, and if that doesn't happen, do forced synchronization:

📱 Open the Mi Fitness app on your smartphone.
🔄 Scroll down on the main screen to the Device block and tap the icon of your bracelet.
⚙️ Select "Sync Data" (or "Update" in new versions).
⏳ Wait until the process is complete (usually takes 5-10 seconds).

If the time on the bracelet has not changed, check:

🔋 Bracelet charge level (at a discharge below 10% synchronization may not work).
📶 Internet connection stability on the phone (the app compares time with Xiaomi servers).
🔄 App version (update it to Google Play or App Store).

📊 What kind of bracelet Xiaomi you have?

Mi Band 7

Mi Band 6

Redmi Watch 3

Another model

No bracelet.

If automatic synchronization is not working (for example, due to lack of Internet or Bluetooth failure), you can change the time on the bracelet through a hidden engineering menu. 5/6/7 Redmi Watch 2/3.

Attention: unsettling actions in the engineering menu can cause firmware to fail. Follow the instructions exactly!

⚠️ Warning: After manually adjusting the time in the engineering menu, the bracelet may start to lag by 1-2 minutes a day. GPS net.

Instructions for Mi Band 6/7:

On the bracelet, go to the main menu (swipe up from the main screen).
Select "More" → "Settings" → "About the bracelet".
Slip on the inscription "Firmware version" 5 times in a row (vibrational response should appear).
In the menu that opens, select "Time Settings" (or "Time").
Set the current date and time, confirm the preservation.

For Redmi Watch 3, the way is different:

Settings → System → Date and time → Disable “Auto Update” → Manually set the time

Turn off Bluetooth on your phone|Charge the bracelet to 30% or higher|Remember the current time on your smartphone|Do not interrupt the setup process-->

3.Why Xiaomi bracelet shows the wrong time: 7 reasons

If the bracelet time is regularly lost, the problem is not the settings, but hardware or software failures.

Reason.	How it manifests	Decision
Failure to sync with the phone	Time is still or gets lost after rebooting	Reconnect the bracelet to Mi Fitness, update the application
Battery discharged	Time is reset after full discharge	Charge to 100% and perform synchronization
Outdated firmware	The clock is behind/hurried for a few minutes a day	Update through Mi Fitness
Time zone failure	Time varies by ±2-3 hours	Check the time zone settings in the phone
Hardware defect	Time is lost arbitrarily, even after resetting	Contact the service center

Especially often, problems arise after updating the firmware of the bracelet or changing the smartphone, for example, when switching from Android to iPhone, you may need to completely re-tether the device.

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If the bracelet shows the time with a delay of 1-2 minutes, try to calibrate it: in the engineering menu, select "Time Calibration" and follow the hints on the screen.

4.How to reset Xiaomi bracelet settings to factory

If none of these methods worked, the last option is to completely reset the bracelet to the factory settings, which will delete all the data (steps, pulse, alarm clocks), but often solves problems with temporary failures.

For the Mi Band 5/6/7:

Open on the bracelet "Settings" → "About the bracelet".
Scroll down and select "Settings Reset."
Confirm the action (the bracelet vibrates and reboots).

For Redmi Watch 3:

Settings → System → Reset → Erase all data

⚠️ Warning: After resetting, the bracelet will unplug from the Xiaomi account. QR-code in the Mi Fitness app.

If the bracelet does not respond to touch, perform a hardware reset:

🔌 Connect the bracelet to charging.
🔘 Press the physical button (if any) for 10-15 seconds.
📱 After vibration, release the button - the bracelet will reboot.

5. Time synchronization through third-party applications

If the Mi Fitness app doesn’t update the time, you can use alternative programs like Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (for Android) or Tools & Mi Band. These utilities give you extended control over bracelet settings, including forced time synchronization.

Instructions for Notify & Fitness:

Install the app from Google Play.
Connect the bracelet through the Device menu.
Go to "Bracelet Settings" → "Date and time".
Activate the option "Forced Synchronization".

Advantages of third-party applications:

⏱️ The ability to synchronize time without the Internet.
🔄 Automatic adjustment when changing the time zone.
📊 Advanced time format settings (12/24 hour).

⚠️ Warning: Third-party apps may conflict with official Mi Fitness.Before using, disable autosynchronization in the proprietary utility.

How to find out the version of the bracelet firmware?

Go to Mi Fitness → Profile → Your Device → The firmware version. If the version is outdated (for example, below 1.10.0 for the Mi Band 7), update it through the same menu.

6. Frequent errors in changing time and how to avoid them

Many users make common mistakes that lead to even more crashes, and this is what you can’t do when setting the time on your Xiaomi bracelet:

❌ Disable Bluetooth during synchronization – this will interrupt data transfer and can lead to a firmware failure.
❌ Set time manually when connected to the phone – this will cause a conflict between automatic and manual settings.
❌ Use unofficial firmware – they often contain errors in the time module.
❌ Ignore Mi Fitness Updates – New Versions Fix Sync Bugs.

If after manually adjusting the time, the bracelet began to lag 5+ minutes a day, this is a sign of a hardware defect in the quartz resonator, in which case only a replacement board at the service center will help.

Another common problem is that you've had a battery failure, and if you've changed your battery, make sure that:

🔧 Battery contacts are not oxidized.
🔌 The display plume is connected tightly (when disassembling it is easy to damage it).
📱 The bracelet is properly assembled (check the tightness of the body).

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If the bracelet shows a time with an error of more than 10 minutes, first try resetting the settings. If this does not help, the problem is in the hardware (diagnosis is required).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can you change the time format on Xiaomi’s bracelet (12/24 hours)?

Yes, the format is customized via the Mi Fitness app: Open the bracelet profile in the app. Go to "Display Settings." Select "Time Format" and set 12- or 24-hour mode. On some models (e.g. Redmi Watch 3), this option is available from the bracelet menu: Settings → Screen → Time Format.

Why does the bracelet show the wrong time after updating the firmware?

This is a typical error when updating over an unstable Internet connection: 🔄 Reset the bracelet (press the button for 10 seconds). 📱 Untie and reconnect the bracelet in Mi Fitness. 🔙 Reverse the firmware to the previous version (if available).If the problem persists, wait for the next update or contact Xiaomi for support.

How to sync time on Mi Band without a phone?

Without a smartphone, you can only update the time on GPS models (such as the Mi Band 7 Pro or Xiaomi Watch S1). To do this: Activate GPS on the bracelet (in settings). Go outside and wait for the signal to be received (may take up to 5 minutes); Time will update automatically after location is determined. For bracelets without GPS (such as the Mi Band 6), synchronization without a phone is impossible.

The bracelet shows the time 3 hours ahead/back. How do you fix it?

It's a time zone error: ⏰ Time zone settings on your smartphone (should match your region). 🌍 Location settings in Mi Fitness (profile) → region). 🔄 Turn on automatic time zone determination in the phone. If the problem persists, manually set the time zone in the bracelet's engineering menu ("Time Zone" item").

Can I set up automatic time updates for flights?

Yes, for this: Turn on the "Auto-Time and Date Update" option on your smartphone (in system settings). In Mi Fitness, activate "Time Zone Sync." When boarding an airplane, turn on "In-Air" mode on the bracelet, and after landing, sync. On Mi Band 7 and later, the time is automatically updated when connected to Wi-Fi (if the function is supported by the region).