How to change the time on the Xiaomi fitness bracelet: synchronization and manual adjustment

Xiaomi fitness bracelets are some of the most popular wearables on the market due to the combination of functionality and affordable price. However, many users face the problem: the time on the screen of the bracelet does not match the real one or gets lost after resetting. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to change the time on the Mi Band (including the Mi Band 5/6/7/8 models, Xiaomi Smart Band Pro and others), and explain why the watch can get lost and how to avoid it.

In most cases, the time on the wristband is synchronized automatically through the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new models). But what if the sync doesn't work? Or if you want to manually set the exact hour without connecting to your phone? We'll look at both options, from basic settings to solving non-standard situations.

Important: the procedure may vary slightly depending on the firmware version of the bracelet and the mobile app, and if your model does not support manual time setting, we will suggest alternative solutions.

Why is Xiaomi’s fitness bracelet the wrong time?

Before you change the time, you need to understand the reasons for its failure, and most often the problem lies in one of the following factors:

• 📱 The bracelet receives time from a mobile device via Bluetooth. If communication is interrupted or the application does not update the data, the watch can "hang".
• ⚡ At a critical charge level (below 5%), the bracelet enters energy-efficient mode, which can lead to a time failure.
• 🔄 Reset: Once you return to factory settings, the bracelet loses all data, including the current time, until it syncs again.
• 🌍 Incorrect time zone. If the phone has the wrong region, the bracelet will show the time based on this shift.
• 📲 Outdated software: In rare cases, firmware bugs on a bracelet or mobile app interfere with correct synchronization.

If your Mi Band is a few minutes or hours late, check the status of the connection in the app first. If the bracelet icon is illuminated in green, the connection is active, and the problem may be in the phone settings. If the icon is gray, you need to re-synchronize.

In Mi Band 7 and later, time is only synchronized via the Zepp Life app – Mi Fitness doesn’t support this feature, which is important to consider when choosing how to set up.

Method 1: Automatic time synchronization with Mi Fitness/Zepp Life

The easiest and most recommended way is to sync the bracelet to your phone.

1. Make sure your phone has Bluetooth enabled and location permission enabled (required for some versions of Android).
2. Open the Mi Fitness app (for older models) or Zepp Life app (for Mi Band 6/7/8).
3. On the home screen of the app, find your bracelet card and make sure it’s connected (the Bluetooth icon must be active).
4. Scroll down to the Device Settings section → Additional → Sync time.
5. Click on the Sync button and wait for confirmation.

Usually, the process takes no more than 10 seconds. After successful synchronization, the time on the wristband is automatically updated. If the synchronization button is not on the menu, then your model only supports automatic synchronization when you connect, in which case it is enough to just open the application, and the time will update itself.

⚠️ Note: On iPhone, time synchronization may be blocked due to iOS restrictions.If the bracelet doesn't update the time, try restarting your phone or temporarily disabling the power saving mode for the Mi Fitness app.

Method 2: Manual time setting (for supported models)

Some versions of the Mi Band (e.g. Mi Band 4 and Mi Band 5 with firmware up to 1.0.5.54) allow you to set the time manually without synchronization.

1. On the bracelet, swipe your finger up the screen to open the main menu.
2. Find the Settings icon (cog) and select it.
3. Scroll down to the item Additional. → Time and date.
4. Turn off the autosynchronization option (if it is active).
5. Enter the current time and date using touch buttons on the bracelet screen.
6. Save the changes and return to the main screen.

If the wristband menu doesn't have a time and date, then your model doesn't support manual settings, and then you just have to sync through the app.

Method 3: Resetting the bracelet to factory settings

If the time on the wristband is constantly lost or not synced despite all attempts, a complete reset can help, which will return the device to its original state, and after reconnecting, the time will be set automatically.

For discharge:

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → Additional → Reset settings.
2. Confirm the action (usually you need to hold the button on the screen for 3-5 seconds).
3. After rebooting the bracelet, reconnect it through the Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app.

⚠️ Warning: Reset removes all data from the bracelet, including training statistics, alarm clocks and screen settings. Before the procedure, back up important data in the application (Profile section) → Devices → Backup).

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If the bracelet doesn’t connect to your phone after reset, try removing it from the device list in Bluetooth settings, and then add it again through the app.

Table: Compatibility of time setting methods by models

As you can see from the table, manual time setting is only available for older models. In the new bracelets (Mi Band 6 and later), developers have removed this feature, leaving only automatic synchronization.

What to do if the time on the bracelet is constantly lost?

If the bracelet regularly “loses” the right time, the problem may be due to one of the following factors:

• 🔋 Weak battery. When charged low, the bracelet may not process data correctly. Try charging the device fully (at least 80%) and checking the sync.
• 📵 Unstable Bluetooth connection: If the connection is often broken, time does not have time to update, check if there is interference from other devices (for example, wireless headphones).
• 📱 Power saving restrictions on your phone. On Android, add Mi to your battery settings Fitness/Zepp Life on the exclusion list. On your iPhone, turn off Low Power Mode.
• 🔄 Conflict with other applications: Some programs to save charge or clean up cache can block background Mi Fitness.

If the problem does not disappear, update the bracelet firmware:

1. Open Mi Fitness/Zepp Life.
2. Go to Profile → Your Device → Update Firmware.
3. If a new version is available, install it and restart the bracelet.

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Updating the firmware not only fixes bugs over time, but also adds new features (such as extra dials or workout modes).

How to change the time format (12/24 hours)

Xiaomi bracelets display the time in 24-hour format by default, and if you prefer the 12-hour (with AM/PM designations), it can be changed through the phone settings:

1. On Android: go to Settings → System → Date and time → Time format and select 12-hour.
2. On iPhone: Settings → Basic → Date and time → turn off the 24-hour format.
3. Sync your phone with your bracelet via Mi Fitness/Zepp Life.

The format of the time on the wristband always matches the settings of the smartphone it's connected to, and you can't change it directly on the device, just through the phone.

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If the bracelet continues to show the time in 24 hours after changing the format on the phone, try restarting both devices or re-synchronizing them.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up time on Xiaomi Mi Band