How to set and sync time on Xiaomi Mi Band 5: all ways

Why Mi Band 5 is running out of time and how to fix it

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet automatically syncs time with a connected smartphone via the Mi Fit or Zepp app. However, users often face problems: time lags, rushes or even resets after a reboot. The reasons can be different, from firmware bugs to incorrect phone settings.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to adjust the time on the Mi Band 5, including manual synchronization, firmware updates and solving typical errors.

If your Mi Band 5 suddenly starts displaying time with an error, don’t rush to reset it to factory settings. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by simple actions that will take no more than 5 minutes.

Preparation before setting the time

Before you start synchronization, make sure that the basic conditions are met:

• 📱 Smartphone and bracelet connected via Bluetooth (distance not more than 10 meters).
• 🔄 Automatic time synchronization is enabled on the phone (in the date and time settings).
• 📲 Installed the latest version of the Mi Fit app (or Zepp for new firmware).
• 🔋 The charge level of the Mi Band 5 is not lower than 20% (at low charge, synchronization may not work).

If you are using Mi Fit, check the app permissions in your phone settings.

• 📍 Geolocation (for automatic time zone determination).
• 📱 Bluetooth (to communicate with the bracelet).
• 🕒 Change of system settings (for time synchronization).

Note that if the Automatic Time Setting feature (in the date and time settings) is disabled on the smartphone, the bracelet will not be able to sync correctly, which is a common cause of errors in users who manually set the time on the phone.

Method 1: Automatic synchronization via Mi Fit

The easiest way is to let the Mi Fit app update the time on the wristband itself.

1. Open the Mi Fit app and connect to Mi Band 5.
2. Go to the Profile section → Mi Smart Band 5.
3. Scroll down and select the device settings.
4. Find the sync time and activate it (if the option is turned off).
5. Return to the home screen of the app and wait for automatic sync (usually 10–30 seconds).

If the time is not updated, try manually initiating synchronization:

1. In the Mi Fit app, pull the screen down (refresh gesture).
2. Click on the bracelet icon at the top of the screen and select Sync.

Important: If you use Zepp instead of Mi Fit, the algorithm is similar, but the path to settings may be different. In Zepp, time synchronization is included in the Device Profile → Additional settings.

Method 2: Manual time setting (if automatic does not work)

If automatic synchronization doesn't work, you can try to manually update the time through the hidden menu of the bracelet, which works even without a phone connection, but requires you to follow the steps precisely:

1. On the Mi Band 5 screen, swipe right to open the menu.
2. Scroll down to More (or More in English firmware) and select it.
3. Find the Settings section (cog icon).
4. Choose a time and date (or time and date).
5. Turn off Auto Sync and manually set the current time.
6. Save the changes and reboot the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds).

A critical nuance: once manually set up, the time on the Mi Band 5 can be lost every time it disconnects from the phone, a method that is recommended to be used only as a temporary solution if the automatic synchronization is not working due to a software failure.

Method 3: Update the bracelet firmware

Outdated firmware is one of the main causes of time problems on the Mi Band 5. Xiaomi regularly releases updates that fix synchronization bugs.

1. Open the Mi Fit and connect to the bracelet.
2. Go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Update firmware.
3. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until the process is complete (don’t turn off Bluetooth!).

The update can take up to 10 minutes. Once the firmware is installed, the bracelet will reboot, and the time should be synchronized automatically.

If the app doesn’t show an available update, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and bracelet.
• 📥 Remove the Mi Fit app cache in your phone settings.
• 🌐 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes updates are blocked by the provider).

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If you still have a time delay after updating your firmware, try untie the bracelet from your Mi Fit account and then reconnect it, which often helps with stuck sync errors.

Solving common problems

If the time on Mi Band 5 is still not displayed correctly, check out the following points:

1.The bracelet shows the time a few hours apart

It's a problem in the wrong time zone.

• 📍 In the phone settings, enable Automatic Time Zone Detection.
• ✈️ If you have recently traveled, manually select the correct time zone in Mi Fit (Profile) → Region).

2.Time is lost after bracelet reboot

The probable cause is a broken firmware or an application conflict.

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet to factory settings (Settings) → Reset to the Mi Band 5 menu).
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi Fit or Zepp app.

3.Time is updated, but with a delay of 1-2 hours

This may be due to energy savings on your smartphone. Turn off battery optimization for Mi Fit:

• 🔋 On Android: Settings → Annexes → Mi Fit → Battery → No restrictions.
• 🍏 On iPhone: Settings → Mi Fit → Background update → Included.

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If none of the methods worked, the problem may be a hardware failure of the bracelet’s internal clock, in which case, contact the Xiaomi service center.

Resetting the bracelet to factory settings

If all attempts to fix the time fail, the final option is to completely reset the Mi Band 5.This will remove all data from the bracelet, including training settings and notifications, so pre-sync the data with the app.

For discharge:

1. On the bracelet, open the menu and select Settings.
2. Scroll to Reset (or Reset) point.
3. Confirm the action by clicking on the icon of the tick.
4. After restarting, connect the bracelet to the Mi Fit again.

⚠️ Warning: Once reset, the bracelet will return to the factory firmware, and if you've previously updated the software, you'll have to re-install the current version through the app.

If the reset didn’t solve the problem over time, it could indicate:

• 🔋 Failure of the battery (at low charge time is lost more often).
• 🕰️ Hardware failure of the module RTC (responsible for the internal clock).
• 📱 Conflict with the firmware of the phone (rare, but occurs on custom phones) ROM).

More tips for working with Mi Band 5

To avoid future problems with time, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Regularly (every 1-2 months) update the bracelet firmware.
• 📴 Avoid a full battery discharge – this can cause internal clocks to fail.
• 🌍 When flying to another time zone, manually update the time via Mi Fit, even if autosynchronization is enabled.
• 🔗 If you use Mi Band 5 with multiple phones, connect it to only one device for stable sync.

For users who often experience time errors, it is helpful to know:

• 🕒 The bracelet stores time in Unix timestamp format and syncs with the phone via the protocol. BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy).
• 📡 If the phone has internet shut down, Mi Fit can use mobile network data to adjust the time.
• ⚡ With rapid battery discharge (less than a day), the probability of a time module failure is high - diagnostics are required.

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If you travel frequently, add the Time Belt widget to the Mi Band 5 home screen, which will help you quickly check local time without manually adjusting.

Frequently asked questions