Smart wearables like Xiaomi’s Smart Band or Watch are designed to be autonomous for as long as possible. Unlike smartphones, they rarely require a full shutdown because their operating system is optimized to run 24/7. However, there are situations when you have to force the gadget to be turned off: the device freezes, stops responding to touches or requires a deep reboot to eliminate software errors.
Many users have difficulty finding the off button, as most current models either lack a physical power button or are combined with a touchpad. Understanding the logic of the Wear OS operating system or Zepp’s proprietary shell helps avoid panic and missteps that could damage the tracker’s software.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to correctly complete work, from a regular shutdown through the menu to a hard reset. You will learn how to safely disconnect the battery and what to do if the screen is out, but the device continues to vibrate. Follow the instructions to not disrupt the system files.
Staff shutdown through the software menu
The safest and most appropriate way to turn off any electronic device is to use a regular interface. For Xiaomi smartwatches and bracelets, as well as Amazfit devices, this process can vary depending on the firmware version and the presence of a touch screen. If your device has a display, the first thing you need to do is unlock it to access the main menu.
Usually, to turn off, you need to scroll through the list of applications or functions to the very end, where the Settings item or the gear icon often hides. In some models, such as the Mi Watch, you just need to press and hold the functional button on the side of the case to call the context menu, where you will see the “Switch off” option or power icon.
- 🔋 Press and hold the side button. 5-10 second-on.
- ⚙️ Find the “Settings” section in the list of applications.
- 🛑 Select System and click Power Off).
- ✅ Confirm the action if a confirmation request appears on the screen.
Importantly, some Mi Band fitness trackers may not have a full menu shutdown feature, which is deliberately designed to simplify design and increase battery life, and in such cases, the full shutdown is replaced by a deep sleep mode, when the screen goes out and the sensors stop actively scanning the indicators.
⚠️ Note: If the watch is getting stuck and does not respond to touch, the program shutdown through the menu will not be available.
Why is there no button on the bracelets?
Forced reset when getting stuck
When a smartwatch stops responding to commands, it's called a system frieze, which can be due to a memory buffer overflow, a smartphone sync conflict, or a software failure. Unlike a full shutdown, a forced reset doesn't delete your data, it just restarts the operating system, much like we reboot a computer with a Reset button.
To do this, most Xiaomi and Amazfit models use a long-press method. You will need to find a single physical button on the device body. If the button is touch-sensitive (as on some versions of the Mi Band, where the entire stripe is a button), the principle remains the same.
☑️ Hard reset algorithm
The key here is the duration of the press. A short press usually changes the dial or opens the activity menu. The average (3-5 seconds) causes the shutdown menu. Only prolonged retention (more than 15 seconds) causes the power controller to ignore the OS's program commands and force the system to shut down, followed by automatic start-up.
If nothing happens after 20-30 seconds of holding the button, the device may be completely discharged or the charge controller has crashed, in which case you need to connect the watch to the charger and wait 10-15 minutes before trying to reboot.
Disabling models without a screen (Mi Band and analogues)
Owners of fitness trackers of the Mi Band series (especially older versions) 1S, 2, 3) often face no obvious way to turn off. These devices have a minimalist design, where the interface is the role of the user. OLED-It's a display, and it's controlled through a single touch area, and in these models, software shutdowns may not exist in the classical sense.
If your tracker is behaving incorrectly, flashing or showing artifacts on the screen, the best solution is to completely discharge the battery. Leave the device on until it itself goes out and stops responding to movements. Then put it on charge - when you connect the power, many models automatically reboot.
For newer models, such as the Mi Band 4, 5, 6 and higher, the procedure is simplified. Although there may not be a separate off button in the menu, the reboot feature is often built into the settings section.
- 📱 Open the Mi Fitness or Zepp app on your smartphone.
- 🔗 Go to the device profile and find the item "Bracelet settings».
- 🔄 Select the Reboot option if it is available in your firmware version.
- ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed without taking the clock off the charge.
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If the Mi Band bracelet does not turn off and warms up, put it on a flat surface away from flammable objects and wait for the full discharge of the battery.
Keep in mind that using the tracker continuously in non-stop mode without periodic reboots can lead to a buildup of system debris. Periodic discharge to zero (at least once every few months) is useful for calibrating the battery controller and cleaning the device’s RAM.
Full reset to factory settings
Sometimes, a simple shutdown or reboot is not enough to fix the problem: If the watch is slow, out of sync, or has software errors, a full reset may be required, which will return the device to the “out of the box” state by removing all user data, settings, and pairings.
There are two main ways to reset: through the device’s menu or through a companion app on your smartphone, and the second is more reliable because it ensures that the connection is broken properly and the cache is cleared.
| Resetting method | Where to find out. | Effects of consequences | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the clock menu | Settings → System → Reset | Deletion of data from the clock | Low. |
| Through the Zepp app | Profile → Selection of device → Unpair | Splitting the pair and cleaning | Medium |
| Through Mi Fitness. | The device → Settings → Reset | Complete cleaning | Low. |
| Hard Reset (button) | Special button combination (rarely) | Deep memory cleansing | Tall. |
Before resetting, make sure the watch is at least 50% charged. Interrupting the reset process due to battery discharge can cause the device to "brickle" when it stops turning on completely.
⚠️ Warning: Full reset irreversibly deletes the workout history and settings stored in the watch's memory. Make sure the data is synced to the cloud or app on the phone.
Physical battery shutdown
In the very rare cases where software methods fail and the device continues to consume energy or warm up, physical intervention may be required, as is the case with older models or devices with faulty electronics, and physical battery shutdown is a radical measure that should only be resorted to when you are fully confident in your actions.
This requires a gently open device body. In most modern Xiaomi and Amazfit watches, the case is not designed for disassembly by the user and assembled with glue. You will need a hair dryer to heat the perimeter of the screen and a thin plastic blade (spooder) or a thin blade.
Procedure:
1. Heat the screen perimeter to 60-70 degrees.
2. Carefully tuck the screen or back cover.
3. Find the battery connection plume.
4. disconnect the connector from the board with tweezers.Once the plume is turned off, the device is guaranteed to turn off, but it is worth considering that self-opening the case automatically deprives you of the manufacturer's warranty, and there is a high risk of damage to the moisture seals, after which the watch will no longer be waterproof.
If you don't have experience repairing small electronics, it's best not to try to disassemble the device yourself. In the event of a critical failure where the watch doesn't turn off and warms up, it's safer to leave it in a metal container to full discharge than to risk damaging the lithium battery, which could lead to a fire.
Frequent problems and their solution
Users often experience a situation where the clock seems to be off (the screen is black) but continues to vibrate when alerted or show battery power when connected to a PC, suggesting that the device is in deep sleep mode rather than being turned off completely.
Some models, especially the Wear OS, have a bootloop problem: endless reboot. If you see a Xiaomi or Amazfit logo that appears and disappears indefinitely, you can’t shut down normally, and only wait for full discharge or try to enter Recovery mode (if the model provides it), which usually requires you to connect to the charger at the time of pressing the button.
- 📉 The screen is black, but the clock vibrates - the device is in sleep mode.
- 🔄 The clock is constantly rebooted - a firmware or memory failure.
- 🔌 Do not respond to charging – possibly oxidized contacts or burned controller.
- 📱 Not visible in Bluetooth – perform a network reset or complete reset.
If none of the software methods are helping to disable the device and it continues to behave inadequately, the problem is likely to be in the hardware, in which case the only correct solution is to go to an authorized diagnostic service center.
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The normal operation of smartwatches implies their constant on state; a complete shutdown is only required for long-term storage or in case of critical failures.