Modern wearable gadgets, such as the Xiaomi Watch S1, are complex computer systems running the Wear OS operating system. Like any smartphone or tablet, smartwatches can encounter software failures that require user intervention. Most often, the question of how to restart the device arises when the interface “freezes”, the touch screen fails or problems with connecting to the smartphone.
Unlike simple fitness bracelets, where the process often boils down to waiting for battery life, there are regular software and hardware methods for forced restart. Understanding the difference between a conventional shutdown and a forced reboot is critical to preserving data and operating the system correctly. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available options for restoring the health of your gadget.
Before we get to the point of radical action, most of the time lags are solved by standard interface tools, but if the touch layer is no longer responsive to touch, physical control buttons come to the rescue, and it's important to act consistently so that you don't damage the device's file system.
Staff reboot through the system interface
The safest and most recommended way to bring the watch back to life is by using a built-in menu, which ensures that all background processes are completed correctly and the app cache is cleaned properly.
To initiate the process, unlock the watch screen and swipe down from the top edge of the display to open the Quick Access panel. In the menu that opens, find the gear icon or power symbol, depending on the HyperOS or MIUI for Watch shell version, clicking on this element will open a list of system actions.
- 🔋 Click on the icon “Switch off” and confirm the action of swipe or tap to completely de-energize the gadget.
- 🔄 Select the Reboot option if available from your menu so that the device completes the off and on cycle automatically.
- 📱 Make sure that the battery is at least 15-20% before any system operations are initiated.
After selecting the appropriate item, a warning message will appear on the screen, the system will ask you to confirm your intentions, as this action will interrupt the current operation of all applications, and the confirmation will cause the display to be quenched and the Xiaomi logo will appear, which signals the start of the operating system boot.
⚠️ Note: If the clock was paired with the smartphone at the time of the reset and the data was synchronized, the process may take longer.
The use of a software menu is a regular script that does not pose risks to the integrity of the firmware. Software reset in this context is the preferred method when scheduled maintenance of the device or after installing new dials and applications.
📊 How often does your smartwatch require a reboot?
Every day.
Once a week.
Only when you're hanging.
Never hanged up.
Situations where the touch screen stops responding to commands require hardware management techniques. The Xiaomi Watch S1 has a special procedure for such cases, known as “hard reset” or Hard Reset (in the sense of rebooting, not resetting), which simulates battery extraction in devices with removable batteries.
The main tool here is the top rotary button, which also acts as an on key. A standard short press activates the screen or opens the list of applications, but to reboot you need a different algorithm of actions. You will need to press this button and hold it for a long time.
The retention time can vary from 10 to 20 seconds depending on the current CPU load. If the system is completely got stuck, it takes time to process the interrupt at a low level. At some point you will feel the vibration and the screen will blink, which will mean successful execution of the command.
Action: Press the top button
Duration: 15-20 seconds
Success indicator: Vibration + Xiaomi logo
There is also a nuance associated with button locking. If the clock settings have activated the function of protection against accidental clicks (for example, “In the pool” or “Sleep”), the buttons may not respond, in which case, first try to unlock the screen through the Xiaomi Wear app or Mi Fitness on your smartphone if the Bluetooth connection is active.
⚠️ Note: Do not use sharp objects to press the button, so as not to damage the mechanism of the rotary regulator and moisture-protective seals of the body.
After a successful reboot, it is recommended to check the sensor and interface response. If the problem is repeated regularly, it may not be a one-time failure, but a conflict of installed software or the need to update the system.
Reboot through the application on a smartphone
Smartwatch management is not limited to its own interface. A companion app, whether Mi Fitness or Xiaomi Wear, has extended peripheral settings, allowing you to perform a range of operations, including restarting, even if the watch screen is out or is unstable.
To do this, open the app on your smartphone and go to the profile of connected devices. The list of available control options often includes the item “Reboot” or “Switch off”, using this method is especially convenient when the watch is in your pocket or bag, and it is inconvenient to get it out for manipulation of the screen.
- 📲 Open the Mi Fitness app and select your watch from the device list.
- ⚙️ Find the "Device Settings" or "Management" section».
- 🔘 Click on the “Reset” button and wait for the command to be executed.
It is important to understand that this method requires a stable Bluetooth connection to work, so if the clock is so hung that the wireless module has stopped responding, remote reboot will not be possible, in which case a return to the physical button method is inevitable.
Why can't the app see the clock?
Often the reason is to desynchronize the Bluetooth encryption keys. Try to turn off and turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone without breaking (pairing) in the Android/iOS settings. If it does not help, remove the device from the list of conjugated in the application and re-assign.> This method is also useful for diagnosis. If the application sends a command, but the clock does not respond, this is a clear sign of a deep system failure or hardware malfunction of the communication module. In normal mode, the command is executed almost instantly. Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset) If a conventional reboot does not eliminate the problems, and the clock continues to run more radically. This procedure, often referred to as Factory Reset, completely removes all user data, settings, dials and installed applications, returning the device to the “out of the box” state, a method that should only be resorted to in extreme cases when other recovery methods have failed. Before starting the procedure, make sure you remember the login data to your Mi Account, as after the reset, you will need to re-authorize.Normal Reset to factory settings Reset All data is saved Complete data deletion Duration 30-60 seconds 2-5 Minutes Data Loss Risk No High (no backup) Purpose of using Minor Failure Solutions to Critical Software Errors To perform a reset via the clock menu go to Settings → System system → Resetting. The system will alert you to the consequences of this action. The confirmation will trigger the process of formatting the internal memory, which can be rebooted several times on its own during the process, and the alternative is to use the app on your smartphone. In the device management section, you can often find the "Untie and Reset" option. This action will break the connection to the phone and initiate the cleaning of the clock memory. Once the procedure is complete, you will need to re-run the initial setup process. ⚠️ Warning: Resetting to factory settings does not fix hardware defects. If the problem is caused by a battery or sensor malfunction, the procedure will not help, but only return the software part to its original state. Sometimes the inability to turn on or restart the watch is not due to the software, but to a critically low battery level. Lithium polymer batteries used in Xiaomi Watch S1, If the device has been discharged for a long time, it may take time to activate the power controller; if the charger is connected, the screen may not light up immediately; this is normal behavior for a battery protection system. Charging indicator (usually red or flashing) can only appear through the 10-15 When you're connected to the power source, any reboot attempts will be unsuccessful. 🔌 Use the original charging cable and power supply with at least current strength 1And. 🧹 Clean contacts on the back of the watch and on the charging dock from oxides and dirt. ⏳ Leave the device on charge at least for 30 You should also check the contacts for contamination. Sweat, skin fat and dust can create an insulating film that prevents normal current. Wipe the back of the watch and pin contacts on the dock with soft dry cloth. Make sure the magnets fit tightly and the device is fixed. If the indication does not appear after 30-40 minutes of charging and the on button does not respond, try to perform a plug-off cycle several times. Sometimes this helps to wake up the power controller. However, if this does not help, there is likely a hardware malfunction of the battery or control board. Prevention of hanging and the need for frequent reloading, and monitoring of the need for frequent reloading. Xiaomi regularly releases updates for the Watch S1 that include security bug fixes, power optimization and improved stability of the Wear OS operating system. Updates can be checked directly on the clock through the Settings menu → System → System Update or through a companion application on a smartphone. Automatic updates are often disabled by default to save traffic, so manual control is necessary. Installing a new version can take several minutes and require a stable Wi-Fi connection or a good Bluetooth signal. In addition, monitor the number of installed applications. Overflow of RAM with many running background processes is one of frequent reasons for slowing down applications and not using the installations. Regularly, at least once a month, a scheduled reboot of the clock will help keep the system in good shape. This allows you to reset temporary files and restart system services that could be “lost” during long-term operation without turning off. What if the watch does not turn off after resetting? If after resetting to factory settings, the watch is stuck on the logo or boot screen for more than 10 minutes, try to forcefully restart them with a button again. If the cycle repeats, perhaps the firmware is damaged. In this case, you will need to flash the device through special engineering utilities, that it is better to reboot the manufacturer's service, or reload the manufacturer's overload the service, or reload the service, or re-reliefense the manufacturer's, or reload the service. The guarantee is lost only in the case of physical intervention, opening the case or trying to flash it informally. How often should you reboot the Xiaomi Watch S1? There is no special need for a daily reboot. It is enough to do this once a week or when there are signs of unstable work (the interface is not working, the pulse meter is not working, the connection to the phone is lost), Frequent reboots for no reason can accelerate the wear of the memory cell, although in modern gadgets this resource is very large.