Owners of modern wearable gadgets from the Chinese technogiant often face the question of detailing the interface. Standard dial settings do not always display the exact time with the display of seconds, which can be critical for athletes, doctors or just pedantic users. The solution to this problem is not always on the surface, since Xiaomi’s policy in different versions of firmware and applications can vary.
There are several ways to achieve the desired result, and the choice of a particular method depends on the model of your device: this can be a popular fitness tracker Mi Band of the latest generations or a full-fledged smart watch Xiaomi Watch. In some cases, just change the screen design, in others – you will need to dive deep into the system settings or use third-party software.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of activating the second indicator, we will look at the regular capabilities of the MIUI for Watch and HyperOS system, and also discuss the possibility of customization through third-party applications, you will learn why this feature works out of the box on some models, and requires the installation of special dials on others.
Features of the interface MIUI for Watch and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s wearables interface is constantly changing. In recent versions of the watch operating system, such as MIUI for Watch and the new HyperOS, developers have bet on minimalism. Often, by default, the second hand or digital counter is hidden to save battery power and not overload the visual style.
However, many standard dials still have a second display function, but it may not be activated by default. To check, you need to go to the settings of a particular dial. This is usually done by long pressing on the screen or through the Settings menu. → Dials.
⚠️ Note: Not all standard dials support second display. If the current style settings do not have a Seconds switch, try a different built-in design style.
It is important to understand the difference between analog and digital dials. On analog (arrows), the second hand can be implemented software, but its smoothness depends on the frequency of updating the screen. In digital versions, the digits change once per second, which is less demanding on the processor resources.
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Use Always-On Display with caution when activating seconds, as frequent screen updates can reduce battery life by up to 30%.
Activation of seconds by changing the dial
The easiest and safest way to get seconds on the screen is to set a dedicated dial, with thousands of design options available in the official Watch Store or through a companion app, many of them created by third-party designers and with advanced functionality.
To find the right style, open the app on your smartphone that is associated with the watch. In the dial store, use a keyword search. The most effective queries will be "Seconds", "Secunda", "Chrono" or "Secundomer", and the system will give you a list of available options.
- 🔍 Open the Zepp Life or Mi Fitness app on your smartphone.
- ⌚ Go to your device profile and select “Dial Store».
- 📥 Type the word “Seconds” in the search and select the free option you like.
- ✅ Click “Install” and wait for data synchronization.
After you install the new design, check it. Note that some complex dials with live animation of seconds can consume more power. If you notice that the watch has become discharged faster, consider more static options.
Setup via Zepp Life and Mi Fitness
The central control of the watch settings is done through mobile apps. Depending on your device model, you can use Zepp Life (formerly Mi Fit) or the new Mi Fitness (formerly Xiaomi Wear).
In the Zepp Life app, you need to go to the Profile tab, select your device, and find the dial settings. There may be a switch that displays additional elements, including seconds, but most often this setting duplicates the capabilities of the dial itself.
Mi Fitness users have access to a more modern interface, and the Dials section is included in a separate menu in this app, where you can not only download new styles, but also edit existing ones if the watch model supports Custom Watch Faces.
☑️ Checking the application settings
Sometimes the problem is not the lack of function, but the time dissynchronization. If the clock shows the wrong time or seconds stick, try to find the Sync button in the app or reconnect the device via Bluetooth.
Use of third-party applications for customization
When regular features are lacking, third-party developers come to the rescue. The Android ecosystem allows dial-design apps that provide access to hidden watch features. One of the most popular tools is the Notify for Mi Band app (or similar ones for the Watch).
These programs allow you to create your own dials from scratch, so you can place a widget of seconds in any corner of the screen, select a font, color, and even add a stopwatch, which gives you maximum flexibility, but takes time to set up.
| Annex | Compatibility | Difficulty | Function of seconds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notify for Mi Band | Mi Band 2-8, Watch | Tall. | Full control, scripts. |
| AmazFaces | Mi Band, Amazfit | Medium | Dial designer |
| WatchMaker | Wear OS (Watch S1/S2/S3) | Very high. | Professional design |
| FaceBuilder | Mi Band, Watch | Low. | Basic templates |
When using third-party software, it is important to be careful: downloading dials from unverified sources can lead to unstable device operation. Always check ratings and reviews about a particular template before installing it.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party applications may require broad permissions to access health and geolocation data.
Risks of using modified software
Specific models: Mi Band vs Xiaomi Watch
The approach to setting the time varies significantly depending on the device line. Mi Band fitness trackers have a more limited menu and often depend on firmware updates that come through the app. Here seconds are most often only available in special dials.
Full-fledged smart watches Xiaomi Watch (for example, models S1, S2, S3, Watch 2 Pro) run on the basis of Wear OS or proprietary HyperOS. They have more customization options. In some models, you can turn on seconds through the engineering menu or special commands, if this option is hidden by the manufacturer.
For Mi Band owners, the key is the firmware version. In older versions, the feature could have been cut out but returned in updates. So always keep the firmware tracker up to date. For Xiaomi Watch, the version of the operating system and the presence of an app store are more important.
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On Mi Band trackers, seconds are available mainly through the installation of third-party dials, while on Xiaomi Watch smartwatches, the settings are wider and depend on the OS version.
Display problems and their solution
Even after the right setup, users can encounter artifacts, seconds can flash, display incorrectly, or disappear when the screen is locked, often due to energy saving mode, and the system automatically turns off the "heavy" interface elements to extend the battery life.
Try turning off the Saving Energy mode in the watch settings, and check if Do Not Disturb or Sleep mode is activated, which can simplify the face interface, and in some cases, a full reset to the factory clock settings helps.
If the problem persists, check the compatibility of the app version on your smartphone and the firmware of the watch.Mismatch versions are a common cause of bugs.Update both components to the latest available versions through the official App Store or Google Play.
- 🔄 Perform a restart of the clock (Settings menu) → Reboot).
- 📱 Update the companion app to the latest version.
- ❌ Remove the problem dial and install it again.
- 🔋 Turn off the energy saving mode for verification.
In rare cases, the defect may be hardware, such as a problem with the display controller, but it is more of an exception. Usually, software solutions are effective.