Disconnecting Recovery on Xiaomi M365: Complete leadership with risks and alternatives

Regenerative braking on Xiaomi M365 — One of the most talked about features among scooters, on the one hand, it increases range by bringing energy back to the battery when braking. On the other hand, many users complain of sudden jerks, unpredictable downhill behavior or discomfort when driving on rough roads. If you too have experienced these problems, this article will help you understand how to completely turn off recovery or reduce its impact.

It's important to understand that the manufacturer has not provided a standard way to deactivate this feature through the scooter menu. All methods require firmware intervention, the use of third-party applications or physical modifications. This means that any changes you make at your own risk - the warranty on the device will be lost, and the wrong actions can lead to a failure of the controller or even fire. Before you start, weigh the pros and cons.

If you do, we’ll discuss 4 working ways to disable recovery (including software and hardware), compare the pros and cons, and tell you how to get it back if the result doesn’t suit you. For beginners, we recommend starting with the safest methods – adjusting the recovery force through applications.

What is Recovery on Xiaomi? M365 And why they want to shut it down.

Regenerative braking (or KERS — Kinetic Energy Recovery System is a system that converts the kinetic energy of a scooter back into electrical energy when slowed down. M365 It activates automatically as soon as you release the gas handle or press the brake, which in theory should increase the range by 5 to 15 percent, but in practice, many people face problems:

• 🔥 Sharp jerks when descending from the slide - the scooter begins to "slow down" spontaneously, which can be dangerous.
• 🚦 Unpredictable behavior on rough roads – recovery is triggered at the slightest change in speed.
• 🔋 Accelerated battery wear – frequent charge/discharge cycles during recovery shorten battery life.
• 😤 Discomfort when driving – constant “slowing down” is tiring, especially at long distances.

The manufacturer adjusts the recovery quite aggressively to maximize energy efficiency, but this goes against comfort. M365 Pro, 1S, Essential) The power of recovery can be adjusted through the official app, but it can't be completely turned off.

Before you move on, check if your problem is really related to recovery, and sometimes similar symptoms can be caused by:

• 🔧 Wear of brake pads (they can cling to the disc even without pressing the brake).
• 🔄 Controller malfunction (spontaneous brake operation).
• 📉 Wheel imbalance (vibrations at high speed).

Method 1: Disabling recovery through custom firmware (the most reliable method)

This method involves flashing the scooter controller using modified software, which is the most efficient, but also the most risky, because if you make a mistake, the scooter may stop turning on.

• 💻 Windows computer (Mac/Linux Not supported by most tools).
• 🔌 Cable USB-TTL (for example, CP2102 or FT232RL).
• 📱 Firmware with disabled recovery (e.g. DownG or ScooterHacking Utility).
• 🔧 Screwdriver for disassembling the scooter.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the firmware from a trusted source (we recommend the ScooterHacking.org forum or DownG’s GitHub repository). m365 DownG).
2. Connect. USB-TTL To the controller: Disassemble the scooter by removing the bottom cover. Find the controller board (usually under the battery). Connect the wires. TX, RX, GND to the relevant contacts (the scheme is in the documentation for the firmware).

Run the firmware program

ST-Link Utility

Flash Tool

Start the firmware

Do not turn off the cable or turn off the scooter during the process!

Get a scooter together.

I downloaded the firmware for my controller model|Bought it. USB-TTL adapter (CP2102/FT232RL)|Prepared the workplace (good lighting, tools)|Backup of the original firmware (if possible)|Read reviews about the selected firmware on the forums-->

⚠️ Warning: Some custom firmware disables not only recovery, but also speed limiting, overheating protection and other safety features, which can overload the controller or ignite the battery when driving heavily. Before you install the firmware, make sure that the selected version retains critical protections.

If the scooter does not turn on after firmware:

• Check the cable connection (the contact may have broken).
• Try to re-flash the original firmware.
• Please refer to the ScooterHacking forum with error logs.

Method 2: Using applications to adjust the recovery force

If you don't want to shut down completely, but you just want to reduce the recovery effect, you can use third-party applications that don't require a scooter or firmware to be disassembled, but they don't work on all models.

• 📱 m365 DownG allows you to adjust the recovery force (from 0 to 3), speed, battery voltage and other parameters. M365, Pro, 1S, Essential.

How to set up recovery through m365 DownG:

1. Download the app from the official repository (don’t use the Google Play versions – they’re outdated!).
2. Connect to the scooter via Bluetooth (press the power button for 5 seconds until the blue indicator flashes).
3. In the menu, select Settings. → KERS (Recuperation).
4. Set a value of 0 (total shutdown) or 1 (minimum recovery).
5. Save the settings and restart the scooter.

Note that on some firmware, the app may not save the settings after the scooter is turned off, in which case you will have to repeat the procedure before each trip or use firmware with constant settings.

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If after changing the settings, the scooter began to behave strangely (twitch, spontaneously brake), reset the parameters to the factory in the same application and try a different level of recovery.

Method 3: Physically disable recovery (for advanced users)

If the software didn't work, you could go a radical way of physically turning off the recovery circuit, which requires soldering skills and understanding of circuits, but it's guaranteed to take away the effect, and minus, you'll lose the ability to charge the battery when you brake, which will reduce the range by 10 to 20 percent.

What needs to be done:

1. Disassemble the scooter and find the controller (usually located under the battery).
2. Find the transistors or diodes responsible for recovery (their location depends on the version of the controller; the circuits can be found on ScooterHacking).
3. Carefully unfurl one of the contacts or snack on the wire going to the motor (usually a yellow or green wire in the motor connector).
4. Insulate the bare contacts with a shrink tube or tape.
5. Get a scooter and check the work.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect shutdown can lead to short circuit or overheating of the controller. If you are not sure about your skills, you should consult a specialist.

The alternative is to put a switch in the recovery circuit to turn it on/off as needed, which is more difficult, but it retains the ability to bring it back.

Method 4: Controller Deception (alternative firmware-free method)

This is a way for people who don't want to stitch the scooter, but are willing to do a little bit of tuning, and the idea is to trick the controller into thinking that recovery isn't necessary.

• 🔄 Calibrate the brakes so that they will work later.
• 📉 Reduce the sensitivity of the gas handle (in some firmwares, this affects recovery).
• 🔋 Use an external module (e.g., BMS-bypass) that blocks recovery signals.

Instructions for brake calibration:

1. Turn on the scooter and place it on a flat surface.
2. Press both brake handles simultaneously for 5 seconds until you hear the beep.
3. Release the handles and hold them again for 3 seconds.
4. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times. This will reset the brake system.

If this method doesn’t help, try to reduce the sensitivity of the gas through the app. m365 DownG:

1. Get on the scooter.
2. Go to the Settings → Throttle.
3. Set the Throttle Response setting to a minimum.
4. Save the settings.

These techniques don't shut down recovery completely, but they make it less visible. If you need a radical solution, go back to methods 1 or 3.

Risks of turning off recovery: what you lose

Before you turn off recovery, you need to understand the consequences of this.

• 🔋 Reduced range by 10-20% (depending on driving style).
• 🛑 Less braking efficiency – without recovery, the scooter will brake only with mechanical brakes.
• 🔥 Increased load on brake pads (they will wear out faster).
• ⚡ Risk of overheating of the controller during long descents (recovery partially cools the system).
• 🚫 Loss of warranty (any interference with firmware or hardware will void Xiaomi warranty).

On the other hand, the advantages of turning off recovery:

• ✅ More smooth driving, especially on downhills.
• ✅ Less battery wear (no permanent charge/discharge microcycles).
• ✅ The ability to ride without “slowing down».

⚠️ Attention: If you drive in mountainous terrain, shutting down the recovery completely can be dangerous, and without it, the scooter will accelerate on the slopes, and the mechanical brakes may not be enough for emergency braking. In such cases, it is better to use a minimum recovery level (1) instead of a complete shutdown.

How to bring recovery back

If after disabling the recovery you realized that it is still needed, you can return it in the following ways:

• 🔄 For custom firmware: reflash the controller with the original firmware (you can download it on ScooterHacking.org or from the official Xiaomi website).
• 📱 For applications (m365 DownG: Return the recovery value to 3 and save the settings.
• 🔧 For physical disconnection: solder back disconnected wires or replace damaged parts.

If the scooter stopped turning on after firmware:

1. Check the connection. USB-TTL and repeat the firmware.
2. Make sure you download the firmware for your version of the controller.
3. Please contact thematic forums for help (attach error log).

Important: If you are selling a scooter, it is recommended to return all settings to factory settings to avoid claims from the new owner.

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Before any manipulation with the firmware or hardware, be sure to back up the original settings, which will allow you to quickly return everything back in case of problems.

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off recovery on Xiaomi M365