After turning on a new fitness tracker or completely discharging it, users often face a situation where the screen displays an incorrect date or time.The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 device does not have its own module. GPS or SIM-maps to get data from the network, so it relies entirely on a smartphone connection, which means that without first setting up through the mobile app, the gadget will show arbitrary values or time from the factory.
The time-setting process takes only a few minutes, but requires a certain sequence of actions. Automatic synchronization is the main and most reliable way to correct the clock. However, in some cases, the system may fail, and then the user has to resort to manual methods or change the settings of the phone itself.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the stages of setting, possible causes of desynchronization and how to eliminate them, you will learn how to properly link the bracelet to the phone, why it is important to choose the right time zone and what to do if time is constantly lost after rebooting.
The principle of working hours in a fitness bracelet
Many owners mistakenly believe that the smart wristband works as a full-fledged watch that needs to be customized separately.In fact, the Mi Band 4 acts as a secondary display for your smartphone. The device's internal timer is only for short-term countdowns, but not for long-term storage of an exact date.
The main mechanism of work is periodic exchange of data over the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol. When the tracker is connected to the phone, it regularly requests the current time and date. If the connection breaks, the bracelet continues to count down, but may start to lag or rush due to the characteristics of the quartz generator.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to search the menu of the bracelet itself for the time setting function - there are no such settings in the device interface.
It is important to understand that the source of time is your phone’s operating system (Android or iOS), and if the smartphone is running the wrong time, the bracelet will be the same, so the initial diagnosis should always begin with checking the settings of the mobile device.
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Make sure your smartphone has enabled the “Autoset Time over Network” feature to avoid manual adjustments in the future.
Preparation for device synchronization
Before you start pairing, you need to make sure that all the components of the system are ready to work. A stable connection is a key factor in success. If the Bluetooth on the phone is intermittent, the time data transfer process can be interrupted.
First of all, check the battery power of the tracker. At low charge, the device can go into energy-saving mode, limiting background activity and synchronization frequency, and it is also worth updating the companion application to the latest version, as older versions may contain bugs.
For successful configuration, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Make sure that Bluetooth on your smartphone is activated and visible to other devices.
- 🔋 Charge the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 minimum 20-30% before the start of the procedure.
- 📲 Install the official Mi Fit (or Zepp Life) app from Google Play or the App Store.
- 🌐 Check if there is an active Internet connection on your phone to check the time with the server.
If you have previously used a bracelet with another phone, it is recommended to perform a factory reset, which will help to avoid profile conflicts and errors in data transfer.
☑️ Checking before connection
Basic method: synchronization through the application
The easiest and most efficient way to set the time is to use the regular functionality of the application. Once installed and registered in Mi Fit or Zepp Life, you need to add the device to the list of available devices.
Once pairing is successfully completed, the initial data exchange occurs, at which point the current time and date are transmitted from the phone to the tracker, usually taking 5 to 15 seconds, and the phone icon confirming the connection can flash on the bracelet screen.
If the time is not set automatically, try the following steps:
- Open the application and go to the "Profile" tab.
- Select your Mi Band 4 from the list of devices.
- Pull the screen down for forced data updates (swipe down).
- Wait for the synchronization to be completed, the indicator of which will be displayed on the screen.
⚠️ Note: When you first connect, the app may request permission to access the geolocation. Without this permission, time synchronization on Android may not work correctly.
In some cases, Bluetooth is required to be turned on and off again, which helps shake up the connection and make the devices exchange data packets again, including the current time.
Time zone setting and time format
A common cause of wrong timing is not so much a minute error as a wrong time zone. Xiaomi Mi Band 4 doesn't have a built-in world map and trusts the phone's settings completely. If you're traveling or moving, it's important to keep an eye on that setting.
You can find settings in the Mi Fit app that are associated with displaying time, and you can switch the format from 12-hour to 24-hour, and this is a global setting that applies to all notifications and alarms.
The table below shows the main parameters of the time setting:
| Parameter | Where to set up | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Time zone | Phone settings | Auto (on the net) |
| Time format | Application Mi Fit | 24 hours (for Russia) |
| Synchronization | Automatically when connected | Included. |
| Summertime | Android/iOS system settings | Automobile |
Note that daylight saving time is also regulated by the smartphone operating system. If the phone doesn't switch, the bracelet will stay in winter time, too. Make sure the date and time section of the phone ticks "Auto-Tune" on it.
What if you moved to a different time zone?
Solving problems with desynchronization
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the time on the bracelet is constantly lagging or reset after disconnecting from the phone. This may indicate a software failure or conflict of versions of the software.
The device profile often shows a notification of updates in the application. The firmware contains bug fixes, including those related to the timer and Bluetooth connection. Updating to the latest version is a mandatory step in troubleshooting.
If the update didn’t work, try the following methods:
- 🔄 Perform a full reset of the bracelet through the app menu (Unpair/Untie).
- 📵 Remove the device from the Bluetooth list in your phone settings.
- 🗑️ Clear the Mi Fit app cache in Android settings.
- 🔁 Reboot your smartphone and pair again.
⚠️ Warning: When uncoupling the device, all accumulated workout data that has not yet been synced to the server may be lost.Make sure you open the app and let it update before resetting.
In rare cases, the problem is that the smartphone's aggressive energy saving policy can kill the application process in the background, preventing it from synchronizing time. Add the app to the battery exceptions.
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The most common cause of time failure is the Android system banning the app from running in the background. Add Mi Fit to the power saving exceptions list.
Additional functions and time widgets
Once you have successfully set the time, you can customize its display on the tracker screen.The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 supports a variety of dials, many of which show not only the clock, but also the date, day of the week and even the weather.
To change the dial, go to the app, select your bracelet, and go to the dial store, and you can download new designs.
There's also a wrist lift feature that allows you to see the time just by looking at your hand, and if it doesn't work properly (the screen doesn't light up or goes out too quickly), you can adjust the sensitivity in the app.
Remember that alarms and reminders also depend on the time set. If the time is knocked down, the notifications will not arrive at the right time.