Suddenly hanging a wearable is a situation familiar to many smart tech owners. Xiaomi smartwatches, despite the high optimization of the system, are not immune to software failures that can occur after an update or due to an application conflict. When the screen goes out and the sensor ceases to respond to touch, the only sure solution is to force the device to restart.
Unlike smartphones, where it is enough to remove the battery or pinch the power button, in modern trackers and watches, the procedure can be different. Mi Band, Redmi Watch and models under the Amazfit brand have different power management architecture. Understanding these differences is critical to not damage the software of the gadget and bring it back to life.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways to reboot, from regular menus to emergency methods for fully locked devices, and learn how to properly prepare the device for the procedure and what to do if standard methods do not help.
When a forced reset is necessary
Users often confuse a scheduled restart with the need for emergency intervention, and a forced reboot is required when the programming interface ceases to respond to commands completely, which can manifest itself in the endless rotation of the boot indicator or the complete disregard of touch screen presses.
Sometimes the device works but doesn’t do it correctly, such as stopping notifications, the pulse sensor showing errors or not syncing data with the Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life), in which situations restarting helps clear the cache of temporary files and restart background services.
There are a number of symptoms that indicate that the gadget needs a “shake”:
- 📉 The screen is gone, but when moving the wrist, the backlight does not light up, although the device vibrates.
- 🔄 The watch hangs endlessly on the manufacturer’s logo and does not go to the dial.
- 📡 Bluetooth module is no longer visible to the smartphone, although the clock is turned on.
- 🔋 Charge indicator shows incorrect values or charging does not start.
It’s worth remembering that frequent freezes can indicate deeper issues, such as battery wear or memory damage. If a Xiaomi watch is required to restart regularly, consider diagnosing the hardware part.
Preparation for the resetting procedure
Before you go into action, you need to make sure that the device is ready to manipulate. Charge level is a critical parameter. If the battery is discharged below 10-15%, the reboot process can be interrupted, which will lead to cycling on or complete failure of the system.
It is also important to check the status of the connection with the smartphone. In some models, such as the Mi Watch Lite or Color, the command to reboot can be sent directly from the phone.
☑️ Checklist before rebooting
If you plan to perform a full reset, rather than just a reset, all unsaved workout data will be deleted. Sync your watch with your phone in advance to save activity history. This is especially true for models without built-in memory for music where the data buffer is limited.
Soft reboot via the settings menu
The safest and most recommended method is to use a standard operating system interface, which is suitable for all modern models, including the Amazfit GTR/GTS and the Mi Watch line, which ensures that all processes are closed correctly and that the integrity of the file system is maintained.
The algorithm is almost identical to most Wear OS devices or Huami/Xiaomi proprietary OSes, so you have to unlock the screen and find the settings icon. It usually looks like a gear.
Follow the standard navigation path:
- Click on the menu button or swipe left/right to search for the Settings section.
- Inside the menu, find the System item or Reboot immediately.
- Click on the Turn Off or Reboot icon.
- Confirm the action by touching the green tick or OK button.
Once confirmed, the screen will go out, and in 10-20 seconds, the Xiaomi or Amazfit logo will appear. The device will perform self-diagnosis and start in normal mode. If the sensor reacts with a delay, wait for the full load without trying to poke the screen chaotically.
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If the menu does not open due to freezing, try to clear the RAM: find the running applications in the menu and close them all before trying to turn them off.
Hardware method: use of power button
Situations where the touch screen stops responding require physical buttons. Most Xiaomi and Amazfit models have one two control buttons. Hard Reset via a button is analogous to retrieving the battery in older phones.
For single-button devices (such as the Mi Band 6/7/8 or Amazfit Bip), the procedure is to press the button and hold it for 15-20 seconds. Don't let go of the button when the first vibration or logo appears - wait until the screen is completely turned off and the device starts to boot again.
In dual-button models such as the Mi Watch or Redmi Watch 2 Lite, the combinations may differ:
- 🔘 Holding the top button for 10 seconds triggers the off menu (if the touchscreen is working).
- 🔘 Simultaneously pressing both buttons on 15-30 Seconds often lead to a forced system restart.
- 🔘 In some cases, a triple press of the bottom button is required to enter the recovery mode.
⚠️ Note: Do not use the method of long-term button retention constantly. Frequent forced power outages can damage the memory sectors where the system logs are stored.
If nothing happens after the button is released, check if the battery is not discharged to zero. Connect the charger for 5-10 minutes and repeat the procedure without turning off the cable (if the model allows).
Reboot through the application on a smartphone
Remote control is a convenient feature of the Xiaomi Home ecosystem. If the watch is getting stuck but the Bluetooth module continues to work, you can initiate a reboot from the phone. This is especially useful if the screen of the gadget is broken or does not respond to touch, but the backlight lights up.
Open the Mi Fitness (or Zepp) app, go to the Profile tab and select your device. In the options list, find the Settings section. There should be a Reboot or Unplug button (which also causes a restart).
The table below shows the compatibility of reboot methods for popular models:
| Model of the device | Menu on the clock | Button (hold) | Through the app |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 8 | No (only off) | No (touch button) | Yes (reset/reset) |
| Redmi Watch 3 | Yes. | Yes (15 seconds) | Yes. |
| Amazfit GTR 4 | Yes. | Yes (10-15 sec) | Yes. |
| Mi Watch Lite | Yes. | Yes (12 seconds) | Yes. |
Keep in mind that remote reboot requires an active connection to work, and if the clock is in Do Not Disturb mode or the plane, the command from the phone will not pass.
What if the app doesn’t see the clock?
Hard Reset: Full reset to factory settings
If a normal reboot doesn’t fix the bugs, you’ll have to resort to a radical measure called Hard Reset, which completely erases all user data, settings, and dials, returning the watch to “out of the box.”
Reset can be done via the device menu (Reset or Factory Reset) or through the app. Some models, such as Amazfit, require you to enter a confirmation code or pinch a specific button combination when the device is off.
Effects of total discharge:
- 🗑️ Completely remove your workout history that is not synced to the cloud.
- ⚙️ Reset all interface settings, brightness and alarm clocks.
- 🔗 Breaking the pair with the smartphone (re-pairing will be required).
- 🔄 Install the last saved firmware version (updates do not roll back).
⚠️ Warning: After reset, the watch may require you to enter a password from your Mi Account or Amazfit account if the theft protection feature was enabled.
Use this method only when other methods have been exhausted. Often freeze problems are solved by a simple firmware update, which can be found in the application.
Solving the problem: if the clock is not turned on
Sometimes, after trying to reboot, the device remains a black screen, which may indicate a deep discharge or "hang" of the power controller, first of all, set the watch to charge for at least 30-40 minutes, even if the indicator is not on.
If charging doesn't work, try waking up the controller. Connect the watch to the charger, wait for the battery icon to appear (if it does), and immediately press the shutdown button for 20-30 seconds. Sometimes the system catches the switch on just when the current is applied.
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If the watch does not respond to charging for more than 2 hours and the buttons do not cause vibration, a malfunction of the battery or control board is likely, which requires contacting the service.
It's also worth checking the contacts on the back of the watch and on the charging cable.Oxidation or contamination can prevent the voltage needed to start the bootloader process from being applied.