Xiaomi’s modern wearables have long since ceased to be pedometers, becoming full-fledged information centers on the wrist. However, the basic function – displaying current time – often raises questions for beginners when they first turn on the device. Many users mistakenly believe that the setting should be done manually through the tracker menu itself, looking for hidden buttons or trying to find non-existent items in the interface.
In fact, the architecture of smart wristbands is different: they don't have their own operating system in the full sense of the word, but act as an external display for a smartphone. This means that the source of the exact time, date and even time zone is the phone, not the device itself. Any changes are made remotely, through proprietary software, which eliminates the risk of failure of the user settings.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the synchronization process, look at the causes of possible out-of-synchronizations, and learn how to customize the look of the dial. You will understand why the Mi Band or Smart Band doesn’t show the right time immediately after being removed from the box and how to make them work correctly in conjunction with your Android or iOS.
The principle of synchronization of time
It’s fundamental to understand that Xiaomi’s fitness trackers don’t have the function of manually setting the clock inside their menus.The whole logic of the work is tied to a permanent or periodic connection to a mobile device. When you’ve just unpacked a new gadget, its internal clock can show an arbitrary value or time from a manufacturing plant, which is often different from your local one.
The correction process occurs automatically when the Bluetooth connection is established. A companion app, whether Mi Fitness or the outdated Mi Fit, reads the system time of the smartphone and transmits the data packet to the bracelet, which guarantees absolute accuracy, since the phone, in turn, synchronizes with the cellular operator or through the Internet protocol NTP.
⚠️ Note: If after connecting the bracelet shows the time with an error of several hours, check the time zone settings on your smartphone, not on the tracker.
It’s worth noting that some advanced models, such as the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro or 8 Pro, feature an integrated GPS module. These devices are able to get accurate time directly from satellites, however, even they prefer the priority of data from the phone to save battery power.
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The time on the Xiaomi bracelet is always copied from the smartphone at the time of connection, manual setting on the device itself is not provided.
Preparation of the smartphone and installation of the application
The first step to get your Mi Band working properly is to install the current version of the control app. For modern models (starting with the 6-series and later), Xiaomi has moved to the Mi Fitness platform (formerly known as Xiaomi Wear). Older models may require the Mi Fit app, but the trend is towards unification.
Download software should be exclusively from official stores: Google Play Store for Android or App Store for iPhone. the use of third-party apk files can lead to unstable work and inability to conduct initial synchronization. After installation, you will need to create a Mi Account or log in to the profile Google/Apple.
- 📱 Make sure your smartphone has Bluetooth module and geolocation enabled (GPS), Without permission to access the location, Android can block the search of devices.
- 🔋 Charge the bracelet at least until 20-30%, so that it does not turn off during the initial configuration and firmware update.
- 🌐 Check the stability of the Internet connection on the phone, as the first time you start the application will download the necessary profiles and updates.
After you register in the application, you need to add a new device. To do this, click on the plus in the corner of the screen or select "Add device." The system will prompt you to scan. QR-code or find the bracelet in the list of available Bluetooth devices. When pairing, the monitor screen will have a confirmation request, which you must accept by touching the touch button.
Step-by-step instructions for setting up through Mi Fitness
The time setting process in the Mi Fitness app is as automated as possible, but requires a sequence of actions. If you just bought a device, it will likely require an update to the firmware immediately after you connect, a critical step, as older firmware versions may contain errors in the operation of real-time clocks.
Open the app and go to your device profile. This is usually the top card with the bracelet image, and it shows the charge percentage, signal level, and version of the software. If you have an update, a red tag will appear. Press it and wait until you have finished the process without turning off your smartphone screen or moving far away from the tracker.
☑️ Checking before synchronization
In most cases, the time is updated instantly after successful pairing. However, if this does not happen, you can speed the process. To do this, find the item "Device settings" in the device menu or just pull the list down to update the data. Some versions of the interface have a separate button "Sync".
⚠️ Note: During firmware updates or data synchronization, you should not press buttons on the bracelet or try to break the connection, this may lead to a software failure.
If automatic synchronization doesn’t work, try this method: completely close the application (unload from memory), turn on Bluetooth again, open Mi Fitness and wait for the connection. This is usually enough for the data protocol to initiate the transfer of the time stamp.
Setting up the time and date format
In addition to accuracy, users are often interested in the format of the display. 24-Time-Style, but some prefer 12-clock-cycle AM/PM. Change of this parameter is also made exclusively through a smartphone.
Go to the device menu in the Mi Fitness app. Find the dial settings or the time format section. Here you will see a switch between the 12-hour and 24-hour format. Once you select the desired option, the change will apply to the bracelet for a few seconds.
| Parameter | Where to set up | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| Format 12/24h | Mi Fitness appendix | It doesn't. |
| Interface language | Mi Fitness appendix | It doesn't. |
| Raising the wrist | Screen menu and brightness | Average influence |
| Do not disturb mode. | Device profile | Positive. |
Also available in this section is the date setting. Please note that the date format (DD.MM.GYG or MM/DD/GG) usually depends on the regional settings of the smartphone itself, but some dials allow you to change the order of display elements regardless of the system.
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To change the language of the bracelet menu (for example, in Russian), you do not need to change the language of the phone, this is done separately in the device settings in the application.
Selection and installation of dials
One of the highlights of the Xiaomi Smart Band line is the ability to change dials. It's not just a decoration: different dials display time, date and additional information in different ways. Some show only the clock, others show the full date, day of the week and even the weather.
In the Mi Fitness app, go to Dials (or Dial Store) and there's a huge selection of free options, from classic analog arrows to minimalist digital indicators, and you can filter them by style or functionality.
When you select your favorite design, click the "Download" or "Install" button. Data transfer can take anywhere from 10 to 60 seconds depending on the complexity of the graphics and the speed of the Bluetooth connection. Once installed, the new dial will immediately appear on the tracker screen.
Hidden possibilities of dials
For maximum autonomy, it is better to choose static images with a black background.
Solving problems with desynchronization
Despite the stability of the work, users may experience a situation where the time on the wristband begins to lag or show an incorrect value after a few days of use, most often due to the fact that the bracelet has lost contact with the smartphone and did not receive updated data.
The first thing you need to do is check the power saving settings on your phone. Android's aggressive algorithms can kill the background process of the Mi Fitness app, which causes constant time synchronization to stop. Add the app to the exceptions or whitelist.
- 🔄 Reboot the bracelet through the device menu in the app, this often resolves small software glitches.
- 📡 Make sure that the Bluetooth is active and the bracelet is within range (usually up to 10 meters without barriers).
- 🗑️ In extreme cases, reset the bracelet to factory settings through the application and pair it again.
Another reason could be a change of time zone when traveling: If you arrive in another country, the time on the phone will change automatically (when geolocation is turned on), and the next time you connect the bracelet will also update the data. If this does not happen, check if the phone is manual time.