How to restart Xiaomi Watch: from Mi Band to Watch 2 Pro

Xiaomi smartwatches are some of the most popular gadgets on the market, but even they sometimes fail: they freeze, do not sync with a smartphone or stop responding to touch. In 80% of cases, a simple reboot solves the problem, but not all users know how to do it correctly without risking damage to the device. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to restart for different models – from the budget Mi Band to the flagship Xiaomi Watch S3, and also tell you what to do if the watch does not respond to standard methods.

It's important to understand that the procedure varies depending on the generation of the gadget. For example, the fitness bracelets of the Mi Band series reboot differently than the Xiaomi Watch smartwatch with a full operating system. We have collected the current instructions for all the lines (2018-2026), including hidden features that are not written in the official manuals. If your watch freezes after updating the firmware or resetting, here you will find a solution.

Why Xiaomi Watches May Need a Reboot

Rebooting a device isn't just about turning it off and on, it helps solve a whole host of software problems:

• 🔄 Interface freeze: screen does not respond to swipes, buttons do not work, but backlight is on.
• 📱 Synchronization problems: Step, pulse, or notification data is not updated in the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app.
• 🔋 Fast battery drain: If the watch runs out in hours without active use, cache reset can help.
• 📲 Errors after update: New firmware versions sometimes contain bugs that are solved by restarting.
• 🚨 Hardware glitches: false alarms of sensors (for example, the pulse shows 200 beats per minute at rest).

According to service center statistics, 3 out of 5 Xiaomi break-downs are solved by software reset without repair, but it's important to distinguish between a real malfunction and a temporary failure, and if the problem persists after the reboot, it may be a battery, display, or motherboard that is damaged.

⚠️ Note: If the Xiaomi watch does not turn on after full discharge (the screen is black, there is no reaction to charging), do not try to reboot it forcibly. First connect to the charger for 30-60 minutes - some models block the on at a critical charge level.

Reboot methods for fitness bracelets Mi Band (all generations)

The Mi Band 2/3/4/5/6/7 bracelets do not have a physical on button, so the reboot is done via a touch screen or gesture combination.

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger (even if the battery is not discharged).
2. On the screen of the bracelet, swipe left to right 5 times in a row (for Mi Band 2/3) or top to bottom 3 times (for Mi Band 4 and newer).
3. Hold your finger on the screen for 10-15 seconds until the Xiaomi logo appears.

Mi Band 7 Pro and Mi Smart Band 8 AMOLED-display procedure simplified:

Press and hold the touch button under the screen for 8-10 seconds → wait for vibration → let go.

If the bracelet does not respond to touch, try a hardware reset:

Connect the bracelet to charging

Press the touch button 20 times in a row (interval ~1 second)

Hold the button for 10 seconds after the 20th press.

Wait for the double vibration and the Mi logo-->

⚠️ Warning: After hardware reset, all bracelet settings will return to factory settings (including account binding) and activity data for the past 7 days will be stored in the Mi Fitness app, but current metrics (steps, heart rate) will be zeroed.

Mi Band 6|Mi Band 7|Mi Band 7 Pro|Mi Smart Band 8|Another model|I don't use it.-->

Reboot of the Xiaomi Watch smart watch (all series)

Xiaomi Watch (including Watch S1/S2/S3, Watch Color and Redmi Watch) are based on proprietary OS or Wear OS (in new models), so the ways to reboot are different from bracelets.

Method 1: Through the settings menu (for the responsive screen)

1. Swipe your finger down the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Touch the icons ⚙️ "Settings".
3. Go to the System section → Reboot.
4. Confirm the action by pressing "OK".

Method 2: Forced reboot (if the screen is unresponsive)

For a physical button watch (e.g. Xiaomi Watch S3):

Hold the side button for 15-20 seconds → wait for the vibration and the Mi logo.

For models without a button (e.g. Xiaomi Watch Color 2):

Connect the watch to charge → hold the screen with your finger for 10 seconds → after vibration release.

💡

If the Xiaomi Watch S3 does not reboot through a button, try the combination: hold the button + tap the screen 3 times in a row.

What to do if Xiaomi watches don’t reboot

If standard methods don't work, the problem could be bigger.

1. Check the charging: ⚡ Connect the watch to another cable/charger. 🔌 Try charging from the computer (USB-port 2.0 or 3.0). 🕒 Leave on charging for at least 1 hour - some models do not show an indication when the discharge is below 5%.

Reset via app

In Mi Fitness or Zepp Life, go to Device Profile → Untie the device. After that, try rebooting the watch again.

Use the hidden recovery menu

If the clock is still unresponsive, it may indicate:

• 🔋 Failure of the battery (swelling, short circuit).
• 💧 Moisture intake (even if the model has protection) IP68).
• 🛠️ Damage to the motherboard (after falling or hitting).

💡

If Xiaomi watches are not turned on after all the manipulations, but when you connect to the charging, there is a slight vibration - with a probability of 90% of the problem in the firmware, in which case flashing through Fastboot (requires a PC and cable) will help.

Reboot after firmware update

Firmware updates for Xiaomi watches are usually installed automatically, but sometimes the process is interrupted, leading to a “brick” (inoperable state).

• 📶 Stable connection: Update the firmware only at charge level >50% stable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.
• ⏳ Do not interrupt the process: If the screen is on the progress bar – do not turn off the clock from charging and do not press buttons.
• 🔄 Forced rebuke after update: If the watch hangs on the Xiaomi logo after the update, hold the button for 20 seconds.

For models on Wear OS (e.g. Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro):

Go to Settings → System → Software Update → Reboot.

If the update is incorrect and the clock is rebooted cyclically:

1. Connect the watch to charge.
2. Hold the button for 30 seconds until the recovery menu appears.
3. Select Wipe cache partition (does not delete data!).
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: If after the update, the Xiaomi Watch S3 The error is E:Failed to mount. /system, Do not try to replay them yourself. This indicates damage to the memory partition - contact the service center.

How to Reset Xiaomi Watches to Factory Settings

If the reboot doesn’t work, the last step before you go to the service is hard reset, which will delete all data from the device, including:

• 👤 Linking to Xiaomi account.
• ⚙️ Individual settings (dials, notifications).
• 📊 Activity data (if not synchronized with the application).

Instructions for different models:

Once reset, the watch will automatically reset.

1. Open the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app.
2. Select Add Device.
3. Scanner. QR-code (will appear on the screen of the clock after resetting).

1. Reinstall the app.
2. Turn on Bluetooth and location on your smartphone.
3. Use another Xiaomi account (sometimes changing the region to China helps in your profile settings).

Frequent Reboot Errors and How to Avoid Them

Many users compound the problems by trying to reset the clock incorrectly.

• ❌ Use of non-original chargers: Cheap cables may not provide stable voltage, leading to failures when rebooting. Use only Xiaomi branded accessories (especially for the Watch). S3 wirelessly charged).
• ❌ Interrupting the upgrade process: If the progress bar is on the screen, don't turn the clock off charging.For the Mi Band 7 Pro, the update can last up to 20 minutes - that's OK.
• ❌ Reset via Untie Device in the app: It's not the same as rebooting!Offset only removes the account binding, but doesn't solve software failures.
• ❌ Ignoring vibration: If the watch vibrates when holding the button, it is a signal that the reset has begun.

Another common problem is that the watch reboots in a loop (turn on, show the logo and turn off again).

• 🔋 Battery discharge (even if the indicator shows charge).
• 📱 Firmware conflict (often after an update").
• 🛠️ Flash memory damage (requires flashing through PC).

💡

If the Xiaomi watch is cyclically rebooted, try to hold it on charge for at least 2 hours, even if the indicator is not on.Sometimes the power controller blocks the switch on at low voltage.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions