diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.sip.in
index 5ea0fbc78bb..1fd1d03bc86 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.sip.in
@@ -417,6 +417,7 @@ Constructs an empty metadata object
                                  double minimum,
                                  double maximum,
                                  int maximumVerticalLevels,
+                                 const QDateTime &referenceTime,
                                  const QMap<QString, QString> &extraOptions );
 %Docstring
 Constructs a valid metadata object
@@ -427,6 +428,7 @@ Constructs a valid metadata object
 :param minimum: minimum value (magnitude for vectors) present among all group's dataset values
 :param maximum: maximum value (magnitude for vectors) present among all group's dataset values
 :param maximumVerticalLevels: maximum number of vertical levels for 3d stacked meshes, 0 for 2d meshes
+:param referenceTime: reference time of the dataset group
 :param extraOptions: dataset's extra options stored by the provider. Usually contains the name, time value, time units, data file vendor, ...
 %End
 
@@ -471,6 +473,13 @@ Returns maximum scalar value/vector magnitude present for whole dataset group
 %Docstring
 Returns maximum number of vertical levels for 3d stacked meshes
 
+.. versionadded:: 3.12
+%End
+
+    QDateTime referenceTime() const;
+%Docstring
+Returns the reference time
+
 .. versionadded:: 3.12
 %End
 
diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.sip.in
index 33935738bc1..90061ffa0f6 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.sip.in
@@ -23,10 +23,20 @@ Represents a mesh time settings for mesh datasets
 #include "qgsmeshtimesettings.h"
 %End
   public:
+
+    enum TimeUnit
+    {
+      //! second unit
+      seconds,
+      //! minute unit
+      minutes,
+      //! hour unit
+      hours,
+      //! day unit
+      days
+    };
+
     QgsMeshTimeSettings();
-%Docstring
-Default constructor for relative time format and 0 offset
-%End
     QgsMeshTimeSettings( double relativeTimeOffsetHours, const QString &relativeTimeFormat );
 %Docstring
 Constructs relative time format settings with defined offset in hours
@@ -88,6 +98,20 @@ Returns format used for absolute time
     void setAbsoluteTimeFormat( const QString &absoluteTimeFormat );
 %Docstring
 Sets format used for absolute time
+%End
+
+    TimeUnit providerTimeUnit() const;
+%Docstring
+Returns the provider time unit
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.12
+%End
+
+    void setProviderTimeUnit( const TimeUnit &providerTimeUnit );
+%Docstring
+Sets the provider time unit
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.12
 %End
 
 };
diff --git a/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshrendereractivedatasetwidget.cpp b/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshrendereractivedatasetwidget.cpp
index 98e42d41911..64906bda9f3 100644
--- a/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshrendereractivedatasetwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshrendereractivedatasetwidget.cpp
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ void QgsMeshRendererActiveDatasetWidget::setTimeRange()
 
   // update combobox
   mTimeComboBox->blockSignals( true );
+  int currentIndex = mTimeComboBox->currentIndex();
   mTimeComboBox->clear();
   if ( groupWithMaximumDatasets > -1 )
   {
@@ -131,8 +132,9 @@ void QgsMeshRendererActiveDatasetWidget::setTimeRange()
       mTimeComboBox->addItem( mMeshLayer->formatTime( time ), time );
     }
   }
+  mTimeComboBox->setCurrentIndex( currentIndex );
   mTimeComboBox->blockSignals( false );
-
+  updateMetadata();
   // enable/disable time controls depending on whether the data set is time varying
   enableTimeControls();
 }
diff --git a/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.cpp b/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.cpp
index 74525c44505..ee51f58edb4 100644
--- a/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.h"
 #include "qgsgui.h"
 #include "qgsmeshtimesettings.h"
+#include "qgsmeshlayerutils.h"
 
 QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog( QgsMeshLayer *meshLayer, QWidget *parent, Qt::WindowFlags f )
   : QDialog( parent, f ),
@@ -30,14 +31,24 @@ QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog( QgsMeshLayer *meshLayer, QWidg
 
   loadSettings();
 
+  mReloadReferenceTimeButton->setEnabled( layerHasReferenceTime() );
+
   connect( mUseTimeComboBox, qgis::overload<int>::of( &QComboBox::currentIndexChanged ), this, &QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::saveSettings );
-  connect( mReferenceDateTimeEdit, &QDateTimeEdit::timeChanged, this, &QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::saveSettings );
+  connect( mReferenceDateTimeEdit, &QDateTimeEdit::dateTimeChanged, this, &QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::saveSettings );
   connect( mAbsoluteTimeFormatComboBox, qgis::overload<int>::of( &QComboBox::currentIndexChanged ), this, &QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::saveSettings );
   connect( mUseTimeComboBox, qgis::overload<int>::of( &QComboBox::currentIndexChanged ), this, &QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::saveSettings );
   connect( mRelativeTimeFormatComboBox, qgis::overload<int>::of( &QComboBox::currentIndexChanged ), this, &QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::saveSettings );
   connect( mOffsetHoursSpinBox, qgis::overload<double>::of( &QDoubleSpinBox::valueChanged ), this, &QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::saveSettings );
   connect( mPlaybackIntervalSpinBox, qgis::overload<double>::of( &QDoubleSpinBox::valueChanged ), this, &QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::saveSettings );
+  connect( mProviderTimeUnitComboBox, qgis::overload<int>::of( &QComboBox::currentIndexChanged ), this, &QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::saveSettings );
 
+  connect( mReloadReferenceTimeButton, &QPushButton::clicked, this, &QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::loadProviderReferenceTime );
+
+}
+
+void QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::loadProviderReferenceTime()
+{
+  mReferenceDateTimeEdit->setDateTime( QgsMeshLayerUtils::firstReferenceTime( mLayer ) );
 }
 
 void QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::loadSettings()
@@ -54,7 +65,12 @@ void QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::loadSettings()
     mUseTimeComboBox->setCurrentIndex( 1 );
   }
 
-  mReferenceDateTimeEdit->setDateTime( settings.absoluteTimeReferenceTime() );
+  // Sets the reference time, if not valid, sets the current date + time 00:00:00
+  if ( settings.absoluteTimeReferenceTime().isValid() )
+    mReferenceDateTimeEdit->setDateTime( settings.absoluteTimeReferenceTime() );
+  else
+    mReferenceDateTimeEdit->setDateTime( QDateTime( QDate::currentDate(), QTime( 00, 00, 00 ) ) );
+
   mReferenceDateTimeEdit->setDisplayFormat( settings.absoluteTimeFormat() );
 
   int index = mAbsoluteTimeFormatComboBox->findText( settings.absoluteTimeFormat() );
@@ -75,6 +91,8 @@ void QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::loadSettings()
 
   mOffsetHoursSpinBox->setValue( settings.relativeTimeOffsetHours() );
   mPlaybackIntervalSpinBox->setValue( settings.datasetPlaybackInterval() );
+
+  mProviderTimeUnitComboBox->setCurrentIndex( settings.providerTimeUnit() );
 }
 
 void QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::saveSettings()
@@ -86,6 +104,7 @@ void QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::saveSettings()
   settings.setRelativeTimeOffsetHours( mOffsetHoursSpinBox->value() );
   settings.setRelativeTimeFormat( mRelativeTimeFormatComboBox->currentText() );
   settings.setDatasetPlaybackInterval( mPlaybackIntervalSpinBox->value() );
+  settings.setProviderTimeUnit( static_cast<QgsMeshTimeSettings::TimeUnit>( mProviderTimeUnitComboBox->currentIndex() ) );
   enableGroups( settings.useAbsoluteTime() ) ;
   mLayer->setTimeSettings( settings );
 }
@@ -96,4 +115,9 @@ void QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::enableGroups( bool useAbsoluteTime )
   mRelativeTimeGroupBox->setEnabled( ! useAbsoluteTime );
 }
 
+bool QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::layerHasReferenceTime() const
+{
+  return QgsMeshLayerUtils::firstReferenceTime( mLayer ).isValid();
+}
+
 QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog::~QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog() = default;
diff --git a/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.h b/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.h
index 4791a1f1617..91ec6002e82 100644
--- a/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.h
+++ b/src/app/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.h
@@ -39,12 +39,14 @@ class APP_EXPORT QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog: public QDialog, private Ui::QgsMeshTim
     ~QgsMeshTimeFormatDialog();
 
   private slots:
-
+    void loadProviderReferenceTime();
   private:
     void loadSettings();
     void saveSettings();
     void enableGroups( bool useAbsoluteTime );
 
+    bool layerHasReferenceTime() const;
+
     QgsMeshLayer *mLayer;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.cpp b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.cpp
index 047b11aaabb..f087ae4d4f4 100644
--- a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.cpp
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata::QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata( const QString &name,
     double minimum,
     double maximum,
     int maximumVerticalLevels,
+    const QDateTime &referenceTime,
     const QMap<QString, QString> &extraOptions )
   : mName( name )
   , mIsScalar( isScalar )
@@ -141,6 +142,7 @@ QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata::QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata( const QString &name,
   , mMaximumValue( maximum )
   , mExtraOptions( extraOptions )
   , mMaximumVerticalLevelsCount( maximumVerticalLevels )
+  , mReferenceTime( referenceTime )
 {
 }
 
@@ -184,6 +186,11 @@ int QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata::maximumVerticalLevelsCount() const
   return mMaximumVerticalLevelsCount;
 }
 
+QDateTime QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata::referenceTime() const
+{
+  return mReferenceTime;
+}
+
 int QgsMeshDatasetSourceInterface::datasetCount( QgsMeshDatasetIndex index ) const
 {
   return datasetCount( index.group() );
diff --git a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.h b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.h
index fc723b03857..bcbc08e3610 100644
--- a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.h
+++ b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshdataprovider.h
@@ -388,6 +388,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata
      * \param minimum minimum value (magnitude for vectors) present among all group's dataset values
      * \param maximum maximum value (magnitude for vectors) present among all group's dataset values
      * \param maximumVerticalLevels maximum number of vertical levels for 3d stacked meshes, 0 for 2d meshes
+     * \param referenceTime reference time of the dataset group
      * \param extraOptions dataset's extra options stored by the provider. Usually contains the name, time value, time units, data file vendor, ...
      */
     QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata( const QString &name,
@@ -396,6 +397,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata
                                  double minimum,
                                  double maximum,
                                  int maximumVerticalLevels,
+                                 const QDateTime &referenceTime,
                                  const QMap<QString, QString> &extraOptions );
 
     /**
@@ -442,6 +444,13 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata
      */
     int maximumVerticalLevelsCount() const;
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the reference time
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.12
+     */
+    QDateTime referenceTime() const;
+
   private:
     QString mName;
     bool mIsScalar = false;
@@ -450,6 +459,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata
     double mMaximumValue = std::numeric_limits<double>::quiet_NaN();
     QMap<QString, QString> mExtraOptions;
     int mMaximumVerticalLevelsCount = 0; // for 3d stacked meshes
+    QDateTime mReferenceTime;
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayer.cpp b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayer.cpp
index 33214fd967c..e74ad2b8b3d 100644
--- a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayer.cpp
+++ b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayer.cpp
@@ -531,6 +531,13 @@ bool QgsMeshLayer::setDataProvider( QString const &provider, const QgsDataProvid
     mDataSource = mDataSource + QStringLiteral( "&uid=%1" ).arg( QUuid::createUuid().toString() );
   }
 
+  QDateTime referenceTime = QgsMeshLayerUtils::firstReferenceTime( this );
+  if ( referenceTime.isValid() )
+  {
+    mTimeSettings.setAbsoluteTimeReferenceTime( referenceTime );
+    mTimeSettings.setUseAbsoluteTime( true );
+  }
+
   for ( int i = 0; i < mDataProvider->datasetGroupCount(); ++i )
     assignDefaultStyleToDatasetGroup( i );
 
diff --git a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayerutils.cpp b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayerutils.cpp
index dc8fc08b09c..3fa86d87097 100644
--- a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayerutils.cpp
+++ b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayerutils.cpp
@@ -260,6 +260,22 @@ QgsRectangle QgsMeshLayerUtils::triangleBoundingBox( const QgsPointXY &p1, const
 QString QgsMeshLayerUtils::formatTime( double hours, const QgsMeshTimeSettings &settings )
 {
   QString ret;
+
+  switch ( settings.providerTimeUnit() )
+  {
+    case QgsMeshTimeSettings::seconds:
+      hours = hours / 3600.0;
+      break;
+    case QgsMeshTimeSettings::minutes:
+      hours = hours / 60.0;
+      break;
+    case QgsMeshTimeSettings::hours:
+      break;
+    case QgsMeshTimeSettings::days:
+      hours = hours * 24.0;
+      break;
+  }
+
   if ( settings.useAbsoluteTime() )
   {
     QString format( settings.absoluteTimeFormat() );
@@ -346,4 +362,25 @@ QString QgsMeshLayerUtils::formatTime( double hours, const QgsMeshTimeSettings &
   return ret;
 }
 
+QDateTime QgsMeshLayerUtils::firstReferenceTime( QgsMeshLayer *meshLayer )
+{
+  if ( !meshLayer )
+    return QDateTime();
+
+  QgsMeshDataProvider *provider = meshLayer->dataProvider();
+
+  if ( !provider )
+    return QDateTime();
+
+  // Searches for the first valid reference time in the dataset groups
+  for ( int i = 0; i < provider->datasetGroupCount(); ++i )
+  {
+    QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata meta = provider->datasetGroupMetadata( i );
+    if ( meta.referenceTime().isValid() )
+      return meta.referenceTime();
+  }
+
+  return QDateTime();
+}
+
 ///@endcond
diff --git a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayerutils.h b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayerutils.h
index c01d6359c2f..82efd055c8d 100644
--- a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayerutils.h
+++ b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshlayerutils.h
@@ -178,6 +178,15 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMeshLayerUtils
      * Formats hours in human readable string based on settings
      */
     static QString formatTime( double hours, const QgsMeshTimeSettings &settings );
+
+    /**
+      * Searches and returns the first valid reference time in layer's dataset group
+      * \param meshLayer mesh layer to parse
+      *
+      * \since QGIS 3.12
+      */
+    static QDateTime firstReferenceTime( QgsMeshLayer *meshLayer );
+
 };
 
 ///@endcond
diff --git a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.cpp b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.cpp
index 07a28e45a2c..f3f82518015 100644
--- a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.cpp
+++ b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ QDomElement QgsMeshTimeSettings::writeXml( QDomDocument &doc, const QgsReadWrite
   elem.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "relative-time-format" ), mRelativeTimeFormat );
   elem.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "absolute-time-reference-time" ), mAbsoluteTimeReferenceTime.toString() );
   elem.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "absolute-time-format" ), mAbsoluteTimeFormat );
+  elem.setAttribute( QStringLiteral( "provider-time-unit" ), mProviderTimeUnit );
   return elem;
 }
 
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ void QgsMeshTimeSettings::readXml( const QDomElement &elem, const QgsReadWriteCo
   mRelativeTimeFormat = elem.attribute( QStringLiteral( "relative-time-format" ) );
   mAbsoluteTimeReferenceTime = QDateTime::fromString( elem.attribute( QStringLiteral( "absolute-time-reference-time" ) ) );
   mAbsoluteTimeFormat = elem.attribute( QStringLiteral( "absolute-time-format" ) );
+  mProviderTimeUnit = static_cast<QgsMeshTimeSettings::TimeUnit>( elem.attribute( QStringLiteral( "provider-time-unit" ) ).toInt() );
 }
 
 bool QgsMeshTimeSettings::useAbsoluteTime() const
@@ -113,3 +115,13 @@ void QgsMeshTimeSettings::setAbsoluteTimeFormat( const QString &absoluteTimeForm
 {
   mAbsoluteTimeFormat = absoluteTimeFormat;
 }
+
+QgsMeshTimeSettings::TimeUnit QgsMeshTimeSettings::providerTimeUnit() const
+{
+  return mProviderTimeUnit;
+}
+
+void QgsMeshTimeSettings::setProviderTimeUnit( const QgsMeshTimeSettings::TimeUnit &providerTimeUnit )
+{
+  mProviderTimeUnit = providerTimeUnit;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.h b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.h
index 8e3b6c6034c..db95b3081db 100644
--- a/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.h
+++ b/src/core/mesh/qgsmeshtimesettings.h
@@ -35,7 +35,23 @@
 class CORE_EXPORT QgsMeshTimeSettings
 {
   public:
-    //! Default constructor for relative time format and 0 offset
+
+    /**
+     *  Time units used to display time
+     *  \since QGIS 3.12
+    */
+    enum TimeUnit
+    {
+      //! second unit
+      seconds = 0,
+      //! minute unit
+      minutes,
+      //! hour unit
+      hours,
+      //! day unit
+      days
+    };
+
     QgsMeshTimeSettings();
     //! Constructs relative time format settings with defined offset in hours
     QgsMeshTimeSettings( double relativeTimeOffsetHours, const QString &relativeTimeFormat );
@@ -84,6 +100,18 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMeshTimeSettings
     //! Sets format used for absolute time
     void setAbsoluteTimeFormat( const QString &absoluteTimeFormat );
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the provider time unit
+     * \since QGIS 3.12
+     */
+    TimeUnit providerTimeUnit() const;
+
+    /**
+    * Sets the provider time unit
+    * \since QGIS 3.12
+    */
+    void setProviderTimeUnit( const TimeUnit &providerTimeUnit );
+
   private:
     bool mUseAbsoluteTime = false;
 
@@ -93,6 +121,8 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMeshTimeSettings
 
     QDateTime mAbsoluteTimeReferenceTime;
     QString mAbsoluteTimeFormat = QStringLiteral( "dd.MM.yyyy hh:mm:ss" );
+
+    TimeUnit mProviderTimeUnit = TimeUnit::hours;
 };
 
 Q_DECLARE_METATYPE( QgsMeshTimeSettings );
diff --git a/src/core/providers/meshmemory/qgsmeshmemorydataprovider.cpp b/src/core/providers/meshmemory/qgsmeshmemorydataprovider.cpp
index 8b4981183d5..d307af2518a 100644
--- a/src/core/providers/meshmemory/qgsmeshmemorydataprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/core/providers/meshmemory/qgsmeshmemorydataprovider.cpp
@@ -387,6 +387,7 @@ QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata QgsMeshMemoryDatasetGroup::groupMetadata() const
            minimum,
            maximum,
            0,
+           QDateTime(),
            metadata
          );
 }
diff --git a/src/providers/mdal/qgsmdalprovider.cpp b/src/providers/mdal/qgsmdalprovider.cpp
index 0bd8c73515a..2c5f1aa8b55 100644
--- a/src/providers/mdal/qgsmdalprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/providers/mdal/qgsmdalprovider.cpp
@@ -493,6 +493,9 @@ QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata QgsMdalProvider::datasetGroupMetadata( int groupInde
     metadata[key] = value;
   }
 
+  QString referenceTimeString( MDAL_G_referenceTime( group ) );
+  QDateTime referenceTime = QDateTime::fromString( referenceTimeString, Qt::ISODate );
+
   QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata meta(
     name,
     isScalar,
@@ -500,6 +503,7 @@ QgsMeshDatasetGroupMetadata QgsMdalProvider::datasetGroupMetadata( int groupInde
     min,
     max,
     maximumVerticalLevels,
+    referenceTime,
     metadata
   );
 
diff --git a/src/ui/mesh/qgsmeshrenderervectorsettingswidgetbase.ui b/src/ui/mesh/qgsmeshrenderervectorsettingswidgetbase.ui
index bceb403bd6f..ef57f9cd738 100644
--- a/src/ui/mesh/qgsmeshrenderervectorsettingswidgetbase.ui
+++ b/src/ui/mesh/qgsmeshrenderervectorsettingswidgetbase.ui
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
    <rect>
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
-    <width>365</width>
-    <height>749</height>
+    <width>340</width>
+    <height>773</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
@@ -409,6 +409,9 @@
       <string>Traces</string>
      </property>
      <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_6">
+      <property name="sizeConstraint">
+       <enum>QLayout::SetDefaultConstraint</enum>
+      </property>
       <item>
        <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_6">
         <property name="topMargin">
@@ -450,6 +453,24 @@
         </item>
         <item>
          <widget class="QDoubleSpinBox" name="mTracesMaxLengthSpinBox">
+          <property name="sizePolicy">
+           <sizepolicy hsizetype="Ignored" vsizetype="Fixed">
+            <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+            <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+           </sizepolicy>
+          </property>
+          <property name="minimumSize">
+           <size>
+            <width>0</width>
+            <height>0</height>
+           </size>
+          </property>
+          <property name="maximumSize">
+           <size>
+            <width>16777215</width>
+            <height>16777215</height>
+           </size>
+          </property>
           <property name="minimum">
            <double>1.000000000000000</double>
           </property>
diff --git a/src/ui/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.ui b/src/ui/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.ui
index e0cb71b6bc6..81e3007da0d 100644
--- a/src/ui/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.ui
+++ b/src/ui/mesh/qgsmeshtimeformatdialog.ui
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
   <property name="windowTitle">
    <string>Time Display Options</string>
   </property>
+  <property name="toolTip">
+   <string>Reload from layer</string>
+  </property>
   <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_4">
    <item>
     <widget class="QComboBox" name="mUseTimeComboBox">
@@ -57,21 +60,48 @@
        </widget>
       </item>
       <item>
-       <widget class="QDateTimeEdit" name="mReferenceDateTimeEdit">
-        <property name="dateTime">
-         <datetime>
-          <hour>0</hour>
-          <minute>0</minute>
-          <second>0</second>
-          <year>2019</year>
-          <month>1</month>
-          <day>1</day>
-         </datetime>
+       <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_3">
+        <property name="topMargin">
+         <number>0</number>
         </property>
-        <property name="calendarPopup">
-         <bool>true</bool>
-        </property>
-       </widget>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QDateTimeEdit" name="mReferenceDateTimeEdit">
+          <property name="dateTime">
+           <datetime>
+            <hour>0</hour>
+            <minute>0</minute>
+            <second>0</second>
+            <year>2019</year>
+            <month>1</month>
+            <day>1</day>
+           </datetime>
+          </property>
+          <property name="calendarPopup">
+           <bool>true</bool>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QPushButton" name="mReloadReferenceTimeButton">
+          <property name="maximumSize">
+           <size>
+            <width>24</width>
+            <height>24</height>
+           </size>
+          </property>
+          <property name="focusPolicy">
+           <enum>Qt::NoFocus</enum>
+          </property>
+          <property name="text">
+           <string/>
+          </property>
+          <property name="icon">
+           <iconset resource="../../../images/images.qrc">
+            <normaloff>:/images/themes/default/mActionRefresh.svg</normaloff>:/images/themes/default/mActionRefresh.svg</iconset>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+       </layout>
       </item>
       <item>
        <widget class="QLabel" name="label">
@@ -284,9 +314,51 @@
      </layout>
     </widget>
    </item>
+   <item>
+    <widget class="QGroupBox" name="groupBox">
+     <property name="title">
+      <string>Provider time settings</string>
+     </property>
+     <layout class="QFormLayout" name="formLayout">
+      <item row="0" column="1">
+       <widget class="QComboBox" name="mProviderTimeUnitComboBox">
+        <item>
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>seconds</string>
+         </property>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>minutes</string>
+         </property>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>hours</string>
+         </property>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>days</string>
+         </property>
+        </item>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
+      <item row="0" column="0">
+       <widget class="QLabel" name="label_5">
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Time unit</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
+     </layout>
+    </widget>
+   </item>
   </layout>
  </widget>
- <resources/>
+ <resources>
+  <include location="../../../images/images.qrc"/>
+ </resources>
  <connections/>
  <slots>
   <slot>shaftLengthMethodChanged()</slot>