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

Xiaomi smart watches are not just an accessory, but a full-fledged assistant in everyday life that tracks your activity, shows notifications and, of course, shows the current time. However, sometimes users face a problem: the watch shows the wrong time, does not sync with the phone or gets lost after an update. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to adjust time on Mi Band devices, Xiaomi Watch, Redmi Watch and other models of the brand – from automatic synchronization to manual adjustment.

It is important to understand that the timing mechanism depends on the watch model, firmware version and even regional settings. For example, smartwatches with GPS (for example, Xiaomi Watch S3) can automatically determine the time zone, while budget fitness bracelets (Mi Band 6) require forced synchronization with a smartphone. We will look at universal methods, as well as features for specific product lines.

If your watch is a few minutes or hours late, don’t blame the manufacturer – 90% of the time, it’s solved in 2-3 simple steps, and then you’ll find step-by-step instructions, compatibility tables, and answers to frequent questions that will help you avoid typical errors.

Why is Xiaomi Smart Watches Showing Wrong Time?

Before you start setting up, you should understand the reasons for the failure. The wrong time on Xiaomi watches can occur for several reasons:

• 📱 No sync with smartphone – the watch receives time from the phone via Bluetooth, and if communication is interrupted, the data is not updated.
• ⏰ Wrong time zone – if the phone has the wrong region, the clock can show the time with offset.
• 🔄 Failure after a firmware update – sometimes new versions of the software reset the time settings.
• 🔋 Discharged battery – at a critical charge level, the watch enters an energy-saving mode, which can affect accuracy.
• 🌍 Automatic timing is disabled—in some models, this feature can be manually deactivated.

The most common cause is Bluetooth problems, for example, if you're out of range (left it at home and went for a run), the clock will count down on its own, but without adjusting to GPS or network, which can result in a few days of error of 1-2 minutes, and it's also worth checking whether the power saving mode on the phone blocks the background work of the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life application.

⚠️ Warning: On the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro and Watch 2 Pro, when Flight mode is activated, time synchronization automatically turns off, and to get back accurate data, you just need to exit this mode or manually update your phone.

Method 1: Automatic time synchronization with a smartphone

Most Xiaomi smartwatches are the default time from a connected smartphone, and this is the most reliable method because it eliminates manual errors. Here's how to set it up:

1. Make sure that Bluetooth is on and the watch is connected to the phone. Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new models) and check the connection status at the top of the screen.
2. Go to Profile → My devices → [Name of your watch].
3. Slip the icon ⚙️ (settings) and select Data Sync.
4. Activate Autosynchronization of Time (if disabled).
5. Return to the home screen of the app and wait for the data update (usually 10-30 seconds).

If the synchronization is not happening, try:

• 🔄 Restart the clock (press the power button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app on your phone.
• 🔗 Disable and reconnect the watch in the Bluetooth settings of the smartphone.

Bluetooth enabled on phone and watch | Watch connected to Mi Fitness/Zepp Life| Phone correct time zone | Autosynchronization enabled in watch settings-->

On some models (e.g. Redmi Watch 3 Active), automatic synchronization only works when the phone has an active internet connection, and if you are in Airplane mode or not, the watch may not update the time.

Method 2: Manual setting of time on Xiaomi watches

If automatic synchronization doesn't work or you want to set the time manually (for example, to test functions), you can do it directly on the clock.

For fitness bracelets Mi Band 5/6/7 and Redmi Band:

1. Swipe your finger up the screen to open the menu.
2. Select the option More → Settings → Time and date.
3. Turn off the Auto Update option (if it is active).
4. Click Set time and enter current values manually.
5. Confirm the changes with the OK button.

For smart watches Xiaomi Watch S1/S2/S3 and Redmi Watch 2/3:

1. Click on the physical button or swipe down the screen to open the Quick Access panel.
2. Slip the icon ⚙️ (settings) or find System Settings.
3. Go to Date and Time → Set Manually.
4. Select a time zone, then set the current time and date.
5. Save the changes and wait for the screen to reboot.

On the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, when you manually set the time, GPS sync automatically turns off, which can affect the accuracy of jogging. If you are exercising, it is recommended to return to automatic mode after adjusting the time.

Mi Band 5/6/7|Redmi Watch 2/3|Xiaomi Watch S1/S2/S3|Another Xiaomi model|Another brand watch-->

Method 3: Time synchronization via GPS (for a watch with a module)

Xiaomi’s premium smartwatches (like the Watch S3 or Watch 2 Pro) feature a built-in GPS- module that allows you to get accurate time from satellites. This method is useful if you’re on a hike or abroad where there’s no access to a mobile network. Here’s how to activate it:

1. On the watch, open the settings menu (usually a swipe down or button ⚙️).
2. Go to Location → GPS- settings.
3. Enable the option to Auto-determine time by GPS.
4. Go out into an open space (such as a balcony or street) and wait until the clock finds the satellites (may take 1-3 minutes).
5. After successful connection, the time will be updated automatically.

Note that GPS- synchronization consumes additional battery. If you notice that the watch is running faster, check if this mode is on all the time.

⚠️ Warning: On the Xiaomi Watch S1, when the GPS- sync is first turned on, you may need to update your satellite data. If the time is not updated, restart the clock and try again.

To verify the accuracy of the GPS- time, it can be compared to online services like time.is. The error usually does not exceed 0.5 seconds, which is much more accurate than synchronization over Bluetooth.

Problem Solving: The clock doesn't update the time

If none of the above methods worked, perhaps the problem lies deeper.

Problem 1: The clock shows time with a delay of 1-2 hours

It's probably the wrong time zone on the phone or the wrong clock.

• 📱 On phone: Settings → System → Date and time → Time zone.
• ⌚ On the clock: Settings → Date and time → Time zone.

If the belt is correct but the time is still going down, try manually setting another belt (e.g. UTC+3 Moscow instead of Automatically), then go back to automatic determination.

Problem 2: Time is lost after a firmware update

This is a well-known error in some versions of the software.

1. Turn off the watch from your phone in Bluetooth settings.
2. Remove them from the list of devices in the Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app.
3. Reset the clock (press the button for 10-15 seconds).
4. Reconnect the clock to your phone and wait for full synchronization.

Problem 3: The watch is not synced with the iPhone

iPhone users often face communication issues due to the limitations of iOS.

• 🔄 Reinstall the Mi Fitness app (remove and download from the App Store).
• 🔗 In your iPhone settings, go to Bluetooth → [Clock Name] → Forget this device, then plug it back in.
• 📶 Turn on your iPhone Modem (even if you’re not connected to the internet) — this sometimes helps stabilize the connection.

Additional settings: time format, stopwatch, timer

In addition to the main time, on the Xiaomi smart watch you can configure:

• ⏱️ Display format (12-hour or 24-hour): Settings → Display → Time format.
• 🔔 Alarm clocks: Add up to 10 alarm clocks with vibration or sound.
• ⏲️ Timer and stopwatch: Available via swipe left on the home screen.
• 🌙 Do Not Disturb Mode: Turns off notifications and vibrations at a given time (good for sleep).

On the Xiaomi Watch S3 and later, the Smart Alarm feature is available, which analyzes the phases of sleep and selects the optimal time to wake up.

1. Open the Zepp Life app on your phone.
2. Go to Profile → Sleep → Smart alarm clock.
3. Set a time range (e.g. 6:30 to 7:00) and activate the option.

For models with Always-On Display, you can configure time display even in sleep mode. This feature is available in Settings → Display → Always-On, but remember that it increases battery consumption by 15-20%.

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If you travel frequently, add multiple time zones to the Zepp Life app, and the clock will automatically switch when you change location (requires GPS or a phone connection).

Compatible with different smartphones: Android vs iOS

The functionality of Xiaomi smartwatches may vary depending on the phone’s operating system, and the key differences below are:

iPhone users often complain about sync delays (up to 5-10 minutes), due to Apple's restrictions on the background of third-party applications.

• 🔄 Open the Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app regularly (once every 1-2 hour).
• 📶 Enable permission for it to Update Content in the background (iPhone Settings → Mi Fitness → Background Update).
• 🔋 Turn off the power saving mode on your iPhone when the watch is connected.

Android smartphones are usually less problematic, but sometimes shell manufacturers (e.g. MIUI, ColorOS) block the background of applications.

1. Go to Phone Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Battery.
2. Select the No Limits mode.
3. Activate the Autostart option.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting the time on Xiaomi watches

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For maximum time accuracy on Xiaomi smart watches, use the combination of automatic synchronization with the phone + periodic GPS- correction (for models with a module).