How to change the time on Xiaomi watch: instructions for Mi Band and Watch

Why Xiaomi Watches Have the Wrong Time and How to Fix It

Xiaomi smartwatches are some of the most popular wearables on the market, but even they sometimes show the wrong time, which can happen after a reset, a change in time zone or problems with syncing with a smartphone. 90% of the time, the problem is solved in 2-3 minutes, if you know where to look for the right settings.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to change time on different Xiaomi models, from the budget Mi Band to the flagship Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro. You will learn how to adjust time manually, sync it with a smartphone and what to do if the clock persistently “lags” or “hurries.” and also – why after updating the firmware on some models reset the time settings and how to avoid this.

Importantly, if your watch is a few hours apart, check the time zone on your connected smartphone first, and often that's where the problem lies.

Method 1: Automatic time synchronization with a smartphone

Most Xiaomi smartwatches (including the Mi Band 7/8, Xiaomi Watch S3, and others) automatically pull up time from a connected phone via the Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life).If synchronization works correctly, you don’t need to manually change the time — it updates every time you connect to the phone.

To check the synchronization settings:

• 📱 Open the Mi Fitness app on your smartphone.
• 🔄 Go to Profile. → Your device. → Settings of the device.
• ⏱️ Find the synchronization time and make sure it is enabled.
• 🔄 If the option is disabled, activate it and wait for the update (usually takes). 10-30 seconds).

If the clock time has not changed after the synchronization is turned on, try:

1. Reset the clock (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Remove and re-insert the watch into the charger (this resets the Bluetooth connection).
3. Update the Mi Fitness app to the latest version.

💡

If Xiaomi watches show time with a difference of 1-2 minutes, this may be due to a delay in sync. Try manually updating the data by pulling the screen down on the watch’s home screen (on models with a touch screen).

Method 2: Manual time setting (if synchronization is not working)

On some Xiaomi models (such as the Mi Band 6 or Xiaomi Watch S1), you can change the time manually on the device.

• 📵 The watch is not connected to the smartphone.
• ⚙️ Automatic synchronization is disabled or is not working properly.
• ✈️ You are traveling and want to change your time zone quickly.

Instructions for most models:

1. Swipe your finger up or down the screen to open the menu.
2. Find the Settings icon (cog) and select it.
3. Go to the System or Additional section.
4. Select a date and a time.
5. Turn off the Auto Update option (if it is active).
6. Manually set the current time, date and time zone.

Make sure the watch is at least 20% charged | Turn off the watch from your smartphone (if connected) | Remember your region's current time zone | Check if the watch is on "Do Not Disturb" (it can block changes)

-->

On non-touch screen models (such as the Mi Band 5), the path will be different:

1. Click on the touch button below the screen to open the menu.
2. Then, turn to the other side (or more).
3. Select Time Settings.
4. Turn off the synchronization and set the time manually.

Method 3: Reset the clock settings to correct the time

If neither automatic synchronization nor manual tuning helps, the firmware of the watch may have failed, in which case a factory reset will help, which will delete all data from the clock (except for the steps and training that are stored in the cloud), but will return the correct time.

How to reset your settings:

• 🔧 On the clock, go to Settings. → System system → Reset.
• ⚠️ Confirm the action (usually hold the button) 3-5 seconds).
• 🔄 After the reboot, connect the watch to your phone again via Mi Fitness.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Watch models S2 and a new reset may require input PIN-If you haven't installed it, use the standard code 0000 or 1234.

After discharge:

1. Open Mi Fitness on your phone.
2. Wait for the automatic clock connection.
3. Check if the time has been updated (usually within 1-2 minutes).

Mi Band 7/8|Xiaomi Watch S3/S2|Redmi Watch 3/4|Xiaomi Mi Band 6 older|Another model-->

Table: Features of setting the time on different models Xiaomi

If your model is not in the table, check the instructions in the official user manual or on the Xiaomi support site.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Sometimes, even after all the manipulation, the time on Xiaomi watches continues to get lost. Let’s look at typical situations and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The clock is constantly lagging or in a hurry for 1-2 minutes

This is typical for models with a cheap quartz generator (for example, Mi Band 3/4).

• 🔋 Check the battery power – at a low level, time can be lost.
• 🔄 Sync your watch with your smartphone more often (at least once a day).
• 🛠️ Update the watch firmware through Mi Fitness.

Problem 2: Time resets after turning off the clock

If the watch is completely discharged or has been manually turned off, it can reset the time to its default value (e.g. January 1, 2020).

1. Charge the watch to 100%.
2. Put them on the phone.
3. Wait for automatic synchronization (can take up to 5 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Watch models S1 and Watch 2 may need to be re-assigned to your Mi Account after full discharge.

Problem 3: Time zone changes on its own

If you travel frequently, the watch can automatically locate from GPS (on models with GPS module) or from smartphone data.

• 📍 In Mi Fitness go to Profile → The device → Location settings.
• 🔕 Turn off the time zone autodetection option.
• ⏱️ Manually select the desired time zone.

💡

If the Xiaomi watch is exactly 3 or 6 hours apart, it is likely that the time zone is not set correctly.

How to avoid problems with time in the future

To avoid the incorrect time on Xiaomi watches, follow these tips:

• 📲 Regularly update the firmware of the watch through Mi Fitness or Zepp.
• 🔋 Watch the level of charge - when the discharge is below 10%, the settings may be lost.
• 🔄 Once a week, force your watch to sync with your smartphone (open the app and wait for the data update).
• ✈️ Before traveling to another time zone, update the time on your phone – the clock will pull it up automatically.

If you use a Xiaomi watch from multiple devices (like a phone and tablet), make sure all devices have the same time, otherwise there may be a synchronization conflict.

For models with GPS (such as the Xiaomi Watch S3), it is useful to enable the option of Satellite Synchronization, which will allow the watch to automatically adjust the time on the GPS signal, which is useful for travelers.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions