How to set the time on the Xiaomi smart watch: all ways and solutions to problems

Xiaomi smartwatches are not just an accessory, but a full-fledged assistant that syncs with your smartphone and displays relevant information, but sometimes users face the problem: time on the watch screen is confused, lagging behind or not updated at all. This can happen after a reset, battery replacement, or a failure in the Mi app. Fitness/Zepp In most cases, the problem is solved in a few minutes, but it is important to know what method to apply to your model.

In this article, we will look at all the possible ways to set time on Xiaomi smart watches, from automatic synchronization to manually adjusting through the application or the device itself. We will focus on the typical errors that users make, and give recommendations for troubleshooting. If your watch shows the wrong time, do not rush to carry them to the service: in 90% of cases, the problem is solved independently.

First, determine what your watch model is: it can be a fitness bracelet Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7, smart watch Xiaomi Watch S1/S2, Watch 2 Pro or another version. The model depends on the interface and the available customization options. Also check the firmware version - outdated software often causes time synchronization failures.

If you just bought a watch or reset it to factory settings, the time may not show up at all. That's OK: the device hasn't synced to the phone yet. In that case, just plug the watch into the Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit) and the time will set automatically. But what if you don't sync? Read more about that.

1. Automatic time synchronization through the application

The easiest and most recommended way is to synchronize time through the official app. Xiaomi watches automatically pull up the data about the time, date and time zone from your smartphone.

• 📱 Install the Zepp Life app (for the Android/iOS) Mi Fitness (for older models).
• 🔗 Connect the clock to your phone via Bluetooth (enable device search in the app).
• ⏱️ Wait for the first synchronization (usually takes 10–30 seconds).
• 🔄 Update the firmware of the watch if an update is available (in the Profile section) → My devices. → Update of the PO).

If the time is not automatically updated, try manually running sync:

1. Open the Zepp Life app.
2. Go to the Profile section → My devices. → [Your watch model].
3. Slip on the synchronization icon (round arrow) in the upper right corner.

Please note that the clock and phone must have the same time zone in order to work properly, and if you have recently traveled or changed your phone settings, manually update them:

Phone settings → System → Date and time → Automatic determination (enable)

2 Manual time setting on the clock (without phone)

Some Xiaomi models allow you to set the time directly on the device itself, which is true if you don't have access to the phone or the app doesn't sync.

For fitness bracelets Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7:

For smart watches Xiaomi Watch S1/S2 or Watch 2 Pro:

Important: After manually adjusting, the clock time may be lost again the next time you connect to your phone, which is because the Zepp Life app compulsorily synchronizes data. To avoid this, after manually adjusting, turn back on the Autosynchronization option in the watch settings.

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If you manually set up your time every day, check your phone’s energy saving settings. Some modes (such as “Ultra-Economic” on Xiaomi) limit the background of your apps, including time synchronization.

3. Solving problems with incorrect time

If the time on Xiaomi watches is regularly lost or displayed incorrectly, the reasons may be as follows:

One of the most common bugs is that the clock is 3-4 hours ahead or behind, and it's due to a misdefinition of the time zone.

Critical information: if after all the manipulations, the time on the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro watch continues to get lost, check the firmware version. In versions below 1.17.24, there was a bug with the RTC module, which is only fixed by updating through the Zepp Life app.

4.Sync time after resetting settings

If you reset Xiaomi watches to factory settings (e.g., via Settings → System → Reset), the screen time will reset to the default value (typically 00:00 on January 1, 2000).

• 🔄 Reconnect your watch to your phone via Zepp Life.
• 📲 Wait for automatic synchronization (can take up to 1 minute).
• ⚡ If the time is not updated, restart the clock (press the power button for 10 seconds).
• 🔧 For Mi Band models, try calibrating the time through the menu. → Settings → Time. → Sizing.

Some firmwares require re-assignment of the watch to Xiaomi account after reset.

1. Open Zepp Life and remove the device from the list.
2. Then add it again, scanning it. QR-clock-screen.
3. Once the time is successfully tied, the time is synchronized automatically.

If the watch after reset does not turn on or do not respond to the connection, try a forced reset:

1. Connect the watch to the charger.


2. Press the physical button for 15-20 seconds.




3. After vibration release the button - the clock will reset.

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After resetting, always update the watch firmware to the latest version, which eliminates most time-synchronization bugs and improves stability.

5. Features of setting the time on popular models

Depending on the Xiaomi model, the time setting process may differ, and consider the nuances for the most common devices:

Xiaomi Mi Band 7 and Mi Band 6:

• ⏳ Time is only synced via the app. Manual setting is available, but resets once connected to the phone.
• 🔋 When under 10%, the watch can reset time after rebooting.
• 📡 For stable synchronization, turn on Permanent Bluetooth in your phone settings (in the energy saving menu).

Xiaomi Watch S2 and Watch 2 Pro:

Xiaomi Mi Band 5 and older:

• ⏰ No manual time settings – only synchronization via Mi Fit/Zepp Life.

For models with Wear OS (e.g. Xiaomi Watch S3), time settings are done via Android system settings, similar to a smartphone, and additional options are available here, such as Automatic transition to winter/summer time.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Many users make the same mistakes when setting the time on Xiaomi watches, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

Mistake 1: Ignoring firmware updates

⚠️ Note: If you have never updated the firmware, there is a high probability that the time problem is due to an old version of the software. For example, Mi Band 4 version 1.0.9.14 had a critical bug that caused the watch to reset time when the battery was low.

Solution: Open Zepp Life, go to Profile → My Devices → Software Update and install the latest version.

Error 2: Bluetooth or energy saving mode is disabled

• 📴 Watches can’t sync time if Bluetooth on phone is turned off.
• 🔋 Energy saving regimes (for example, ultra-economical on the Xiaomi/Redmi) Block background work of Zepp Life.
• 📱 On some phones (such as Samsung) you need to manually allow the app to auto-run.

Mistake 3: Time zone mismatch on phone and Xiaomi account

If you have one time zone on your phone and another Xiaomi account, your watch may be showing the wrong time.

1. Open Zepp Life and go to Profile → Account Settings.
2. Make sure you have the correct region and time zone.
3. If necessary, update the data and reconnect the clock.

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If you travel frequently, turn on Automatic Time Zone Detection over the network in your phone settings, eliminating the need to manually adjust the time on your watch.

7. Alternative methods of time synchronization

If standard methods do not work, alternative options can be tried:

Method 1: Using third-party applications

For some models (such as the Mi Band 3/4), there are alternative apps like Notify & Fitness or Mi Band Master.

• 🔄 Forced time synchronization.
• ⚙️ Set up the format of the date display.
• 📡 Restore the connection if the clock fell off the phone.

Please note: Third-party applications may require ROOT-rights to Android or have limited functionality on iOS.

Method 2: Sync through the web version of Zepp Life

If the mobile app doesn’t work, try:

1. Visit the Zepp Life website from your PC.
2. Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
3. Check if the watch is on the list of devices, and if it's not, reconnect it.

Method 3: Reset the Zepp Life app cache

On Android, you can reset the app cache, which sometimes solves synchronization problems:

Phone settings → Applications → Zepp Life → Memory → Clear the cache

Important: If none of the methods worked and the watch is under warranty, contact the service center. There may be a hardware malfunction of the RTC module (real time), which requires a replacement board.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions