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

Why Xiaomi Watches Are Stuck and How to Fix It

Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets are among the most popular wearables on the market due to a combination of functionality and affordable price. However, many users face a problem: the time on the screen of the gadget does not match the real one or gets lost after synchronization, 80% of the time this is due to improper synchronization settings, not hardware malfunction.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to adjust time on different Xiaomi models, from the budget Mi Band to the flagship Xiaomi Watch S3. You’ll learn how to tie your watch to your phone to automatically update time, how to set it manually if synchronization does not work, and what to do if time is lost after rebooting the device.

Important: the setup procedure may vary depending on the firmware version and watch model. If your device does not respond to standard methods, check its compatibility with the current version of the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit).

Preparation before setting the time

Before you change the time on your Xiaomi watch, follow a few mandatory steps that will help you avoid typical mistakes and save you time.

• 📱 Update your watch management app (Mi Fitness or Zepp Life) to the latest version on Google Play or App Store.Older versions may not support newer device models.
• 🔄 Reboot the watch and smartphone. This will reset temporary sync errors. On most models, the reboot is done by long pressing the physical button (if any) or through the Settings menu. → Reboot.
• 📶 Check your phone’s internet connection. Xiaomi watches use server data to synchronize time, so without a network, automatic setup is impossible.
• 🔋 Charge the watch to at least 20%. At low charge, some functions, including synchronization, may be limited.

If you are using the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro or a newer model with eSIM support, make sure that you are using the new model. SIM-The card is activated and the clock is connected to the mobile network, otherwise the time can only be synchronized when connected to the phone via Bluetooth.

Method 1: Automatic time synchronization through the application

The easiest and most recommended way is to synchronize time through the official app, which works for all models, including the Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7/8, Xiaomi Watch, Redmi Watch and others.

1. Open the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app on your phone.
2. Make sure the watch is connected to your phone via Bluetooth (the connection icon should be green).
3. Go to the Profile section → My devices. → [The name of your watch].
4. Select the Device Settings option → Date and time.
5. Activate AutoSync Time (or Sync with your phone depending on the version of the app).

After that, the clock time is automatically updated each time you connect to the phone, and if you've already turned on the option, but the time is still confused, try Forced Sync:

• 🔄 In the same section, click on the Sync Now button (may be called Update Time).
• 📱 Restart your phone and watch, then sync again.

Important! If you use the Xiaomi Watch S3 or Watch 2 Pro with your own Wear OS-based firmware, time synchronization can occur through a Google account, not Xiaomi. In this case, check the time settings in the watch menu: Settings → System → Date and time.

Method 2: Manual time change (if synchronization is not working)

If automatic synchronization is disabled or not working, the time on Xiaomi watches can be set manually, which is suitable for most models, except for devices on Wear OS (for example, Xiaomi Watch S3), where manual time setting is locked.

Instructions for Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7/8 and Redmi Watch:

1. On the watch screen, swipe up or down (depending on the model) to open the menu.
2. Select the option "Eye" (or Settings on Mi Band 7/8).
3. Go to Settings. → Date and time.
4. Turn off the autosynchronization option (if enabled).
5. Click on Set time and enter current metrics manually.
6. Save the changes and restart the clock.

For Xiaomi Watch models (not S-series):

1. Click on the physical button or swipe up the screen to open the menu.
2. Select Settings → System → Date and time.
3. Turn off automatically and set the time manually.

A critical feature for the Mi Band 8: if you use firmware with alternate dials (like Notify & Fitness), manual time setting may not be available, in which case return the standard dial through the app.

Solving the problems with time lost

If the time on Xiaomi watches is strayed regularly, the problem may be due to one of the following reasons:

For GPS models (Xiaomi Watch S2/S3, Watch 2 Pro) check if automatic location is enabled in the watch settings. If the watch supports dual synchronization (on Bluetooth and mobile), make sure both options are active.

⚠️ Note: if your Xiaomi watch after the firmware update started to knock down time by 1-2 hours, this may be due to an error in the zone settings. UTC+0.

Features of setting time on different models

The procedure for changing the time can vary significantly depending on the model of the watch, and below we have collected the key nuances for popular devices.

Mi Band 3/4/5

On these models, manual time setting is only available when autosynchronization is disabled. If date and time are not on the menu, update the firmware through the app. For Mi Band 5 with firmware 1.0.3.54 and above, the Sync When Connected option is available, which updates the time only when an active Bluetooth connection is available.

Mi Band 6/7/8

These wristbands feature hybrid synchronization: time is updated both via Bluetooth and via Wi-Fi connection (if the watch supports this feature) to enable Wi-Fi synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi.
2. Connect to the network.
3. Return to Settings → Date and time and activate Sync via Wi-Fi.

Xiaomi Watch S2/S3 and Watch 2 Pro

This watch runs on Wear OS and syncs time through a Google account to change your settings:

1. On the clock, open Settings → System → Date and time.
2. Select Automatic (for network synchronization) or Manually Install.
3. If the manual Set option is blocked, it means that the watch is tied to your Google account – change the time on your phone and it will update automatically.

Redmi Watch 3/4

These models often have a problem with resetting time when battery power is low. To avoid this, turn on the power saving option in the Zepp Life app settings → Optimize background synchronization. This will reduce the frequency of updates, but prevent crashes.

💡

If your Xiaomi watch after the firmware update began to show the time 3-5 minutes late, try rolling back the firmware to the previous version. To do this, in the Zepp Life application, go to Profile → My devices → Software Update → Roll back (if the option is available).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make common mistakes when setting the time on Xiaomi watches, which leads to constant crashes.

• ❌ Ignoring firmware updates: Outdated software versions often contain synchronization errors. Always install the latest updates.
• ❌ Bluetooth shutdown to save charge.Without a permanent phone connection, the watch cannot update the time (except for models with Wi-Fi or mobile network).
• ❌ Use of informal firmware. Alternative firmware (e.g. from Amazfit) may conflict with Xiaomi’s original synchronization algorithms.
• ❌ Time zone adjustment is wrong, and if the phone and the clock have different time zones, the automatic synchronization will not work properly.

Another common problem is conflict with other apps that try to manage time on the watch (such as Notify & Fitness or Tools & Mi Band).If you use third-party utilities, disable the options associated with time synchronization in them and leave this feature only to the official Zepp Life app.

⚠️ Note: on some Mi Band models 7/8 When you change time zones frequently (for example, while traveling), you may experience a Sync Failed error, in which case a complete reset of the clock to the factory settings will help, followed by re-binding to the phone.

Additional Tips for Accurate Synchronization

If you travel frequently or live in a region with an unstable internet, these guidelines will help you keep your time on Xiaomi watches accurate:

• ✈️ For travelers: Before traveling to another time zone, manually update the clock time via the app, even if autosynchronization is enabled.
• 📶 If you have a weak signal, connect your watch to Wi-Fi (if the model supports this feature), and sync over Wi-Fi is more stable than over a mobile network.
• 🔋 To save charge: If you turn off Bluetooth at night, manually sync the time before going to bed so the clock doesn't go off. On the Mi Band 8, this can be done via the widget Quick Settings.
• 🔄 After a firmware update: Always perform forced time synchronization, as new versions of the software may reset settings.

For models with GPS (Xiaomi Watch S3, Watch 2 Pro is useful to enable the option to Sync over satellites, which will allow the watch to update the time even without connecting to the phone using data from the satellite. GPS-To activate this function:

1. Open the Settings on the clock → Connections → GPS.
2. Enable the Use option to synchronize time.
3. Make sure the clock is on high precision mode for GPS.

💡

For maximum time accuracy on Xiaomi watches, use a combination of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS sync (if supported) to ensure that the time is updated even if one channel is temporarily out of sync.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions