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

Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets have long been an integral part of the daily lives of millions of users. They help track physical activity, monitor pulse, receive notifications and, of course, show the exact time. However, sometimes users are faced with the fact that the time on the device is confused or displayed incorrectly, this can occur after a reset, battery replacement or simply due to software failures.

In this article, we will take a look at all the possible ways to set time on Xiaomi watches, from automatic synchronization with your phone to manual adjustment via the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app. You will learn how to avoid typical errors, what to do if the time on the watch is not updated, and how to adjust additional parameters, such as display format or time zone. Instructions will be suitable for most popular models: Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7, Xiaomi Watch S1/S2, Amazfit GTS/GTR and other devices on the Xiaomi Wear platform.

Why does Xiaomi’s watch have a time lag?

Before we get to the setup, it is important to understand why the time on the device may not be displayed correctly, and there are several reasons, and they depend on the model and operating conditions:

• 🔄 Loss of communication with the phone – if the watch has not synced with the smartphone for a long time, they can use an internal clock that eventually “goes away".
• 🔋 Battery discharge – when fully discharged, some models reset the time settings to factory.
• ⚙️ Firmware failure – after updating the software or incorrectly disabling the device, time may be lost.
• ✈️ Changing time zone – if you are traveling, the clock may not have time to adjust to a new region.
• 📱 In-app problems – Mi Fitness or Zepp Life errors sometimes lead to incorrect synchronization.

Most of these problems are solved by simple resynchronization or manual adjustment, but if time is lost regularly, it may indicate a hardware malfunction, such as battery wear or damage to the RTC module (real-time clock), in which cases you may need to contact a service center.

Method 1: Automatic time synchronization with a smartphone

The easiest and most recommended way is to let the watch automatically take time from your smartphone.

1. Make sure the phone is on: 📶 Mobile Internet or Wi-Fi (for exact time). 📍 Geolocation services (to determine time zone). 🔄 Automatic date and time in phone settings (Settings) → System system → Date and time).

Mi Fitness

Mi Band

Zepp Life

Xiaomi Watch/Amazfit

Connect your watch to your phone via Bluetooth (if it’s not already connected).

Wait for automatic synchronization – usually it takes 10 to 30 seconds.

If the synchronization is not happening, try:

• 🔄 Reset the clock (press the button 10-15 seconds before vibration).
• 📱 Restart the app on your phone.
• 🔗 Disable and reconnect the clock in Bluetooth settings.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Mi Band 3), automatic synchronization only works when you are actively connected to the application. If you close the Mi Fitness, the watch can use an internal timer that accumulates error over time.

Method 2: Manually adjusting time through the application

If automatic synchronization doesn’t work or you want to set the time manually (for example, for testing), do the following:

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

1. Open Mi Fitness and select your device.
2. Go to Device Profile → Settings → Date and time.
3. Turn off the "Sync with the phone" option.
4. Enter the date and time manually, then save the changes.

For the Xiaomi Watch S1/S2 or Amazfit:

1. In the Zepp Life app, select a watch.
2. Go to Device → Settings → System → Date and time.
3. Turn off "Autosynchronization" and set the parameters manually.

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If you're manually adjusting your time again, try calibrating the battery: completely discharge the watch, then charge to 100% without interruption. This sometimes helps stabilize the RTC module.

Method 3: Time zone and time format setting

Time problems don't always involve wrong clocks -- sometimes wrong time zones or display formats are to blame, for example, if you're traveling, the clock might show your hometown time instead of your local time zone.

To change the time zone:

1. In the Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app, go to the watch settings.
2. Find the Time Zone section (in some models it is hidden in Additional settings).
3. Select "Auto" (to be determined by GPS) or manually select the belt.

To change the format of the time (12/24 hours):

• 🕒 In Mi Band: Device profile → Screen. → Time format.
• ⏰ In Xiaomi Watch: Settings → Display. → Clock format.

Important: On some models (e.g. Mi Band 2), the time zone is tied to the phone and does not adjust separately, in which case, change the belt directly in the smartphone settings.

What to do if the time on Xiaomi watches is not updated?

If neither automatic sync nor manual setup helps, try the following steps:

1. Reconnect the watch to your phone: Forget the device in the phone's Bluetooth settings. Remove the watch from the Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app. Reboot the watch (press the button for 10-15 seconds). Reconnect through the app.

Update the firmware:

Outdated software can cause malfunctions. Check for updates in the Device Profile → Software Update section.

Reset the clock settings:

On most models, the reset is done via Settings → Reset in the application. After the reset, you will need to reset.

Check the battery:

If the watch runs out too fast or turns off at 20 to 30 percent charge, the battery may be the problem, and replacing the battery will help.

⚠️ Note: On Mi Band 7 and later, after resetting, you may need to re-assign your Xiaomi account. Make sure you remember your username and password, otherwise the watch will become a brick"!

Additional settings: stopwatch, timer and alarm clock

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

• ⏱️ Stopwatch: available in the watch menu (scroll down on the home screen). Accuracy depends on the model - on Xiaomi Watch S2 The error is minimal, and on the Mi Band 3 can reach 0.5 seconds.
• ⏲️ Timer: Configured via the application (Device) → Timer, or right on the clock, you can set up to 5 timers at a time.
• 🔔 Alarm clock: supports one-time and repeating signals. Up to 10 alarm clocks are available on the Mi Band 7.

To set the alarm clock:

1. In the app, go to the Device Profile → Alarm clock.
2. Click "Add" and specify the time, days of repetition, type of vibration.
3. Activate the Smart Alarm (if any) option, which will wake you up in light sleep 30 minutes before the set time.

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In the models with AMOLED-screen (Mi Band 7, Xiaomi Watch) S2) You can set the alarm right on the clock through the menu, which is convenient if you don't have a phone on hand.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When setting the time on Xiaomi watches, users often make common mistakes that lead to failures.

• 🚫 Bluetooth shutdown during synchronization. This interrupts data transmission, and the clock may "hang" in the old time. Always wait for the process to be completed (the synchronization icon will disappear).
• 🔄 Using third-party customization apps, programs like Notify & Fitness or Tools & Mi Band may conflict with official software, leading to malfunctions.
• ⏳ Ignoring firmware updates: Outdated software often contains bugs that affect the time module.
• 🌍 The phone has a wrong time zone. The watch takes data from the phone, so if the smartphone has the wrong belt, the sync will be incorrect.

Another common problem is the time difference between a watch and a phone of 1-2 hours, which is usually because the phone has Automatic Daylight Saving Time on and the watch doesn't support it, so turn off automatic time adjustment on your smartphone or set the watch manually.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions