How to change the design of the watch on Xiaomi: all the ways for Mi Band and smart watches

Why Xiaomi can and should change the dials

Xiaomi’s smartwatch is not only a functional health-tracking gadget, but also a stylish accessory.The manufacturer offers dozens of built-in dial designs, and users can install custom options through third-party apps. The change of design takes less than a minute, but completely transforms the look of the device.

The main reasons to change the dial: Aesthetics — classic arrows, minimalist numbers or animation themes for mood. Functionality — some designs display weather, pulse or notifications more convenient than standard. Unique — custom dials allow you to stand out among the owners of the same watch.

In this article, we will analyze all the ways to change the design – from official to hidden chips for advanced users.

Important: features depend on the model. For example, the Mi Band 7 supports animated dials, and the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pros -- even interactive widgets with modifiable widgets. Check your model specifications before you start.

The official way: change through the application Mi Fitness / Zepp

The easiest and safest method is to use a proprietary app. 5/6/7/8, Xiaomi Watch, Watch S1/S2) The instructions are universal, but the interface may vary slightly depending on the software version.

Steps to change the dial:

1. Open the Zepp app on your smartphone and connect the watch via Bluetooth.
2. Go to the Profile section → My devices. → [The name of your watch].
3. Slip the dial icon (usually at the top of the screen).
4. Select the category: Recommended, Classic, Sport or Designer.
5. Click on the option you like and confirm the installation with the Apply button.

Synchronization takes 10 to 30 seconds. If the dial is unchanged, reset the clock (press the power button for 10 seconds) or check the Bluetooth connection. On some models (e.g., Xiaomi Watch). S1 Active) official dials support dynamic elements - the arrows can move smoothly and the background can change depending on the time of day.

Download the latest version of Zepp from the App Store/Google Play

Make sure the watch is connected to the phone.

Battery charge of the device > 20%

Turn off the energy saving mode on your phone-->

Installation of custom dials: step-by-step instructions

Official designs are limited, but enthusiasts create thousands of custom designs, and you'll need to install them:

• 📱 Android smartphone (for iOS, the method does not work on all models).
• 🔗 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band or Amazfit Watchfaces.
• 🔋 Charge the clock > 50% (to avoid failures in file transfers).

Instructions for Mi Band 7/8 Xiaomi Watch:

1. Download and install Notify & Fitness from Google Play.
2. In the app, go to the dials → Download new ones.
3. Choose your favorite design (filter by watch model!).
4. Click Set and wait for synchronization.
5. In the proprietary Zepp app, apply a new dial (it will appear in the list of "My").

⚠️ Attention: Castom dials may contain errors or display data incorrectly (such as weather or steps). Before installing, read other users' reviews in the design description. If the watch no longer responds to touch, reset them to factory settings via Settings. → System system → Reset.

Hidden dials: how to unlock additional designs

Some Xiaomi models have undocumented dials hidden in their firmware, which can be activated via an engineering menu or special commands, such as the Mi Band 7, which has a secret design with a fire dragon animation that doesn't show up in Zepp.

Methods of unlocking:

• 🔄 Switching through gestures: on some watches, a quick shaking of the wrist or double touching the screen cyclically changes the dial (works on Xiaomi Watch) S1).
• 📟 Mi Band Codes: In Notify & Fitness, enter manually ID hidden dial (e.g. 20230515 for the theme "Neon arrows").
• 🔧 Engineering menu: for Xiaomi Watch go to Settings → The phone. → Software version and tap 10 times the build number, and you'll see a menu with Hidden Watchfaces option.

⚠️ Attention: Using an engineering menu can cause firmware to fail. - Xiaomi Watch models S1 Pro and newer hidden dials are often tied to regional firmware, which can reset the interface language to Chinese. Before experimenting, back up your data using Zepp.

Classic arrows

Digital with date and weather

Animated (fire, water, space)

Minimalistic (time only)

A photo of yourself as a background-->

Creating your own dial: tools and nuances

If the finished options don't work, you can design a unique design.

• 🎨 Editor: Watch Face Maker (for Mi Band) or Facer (for Xiaomi Watch).
• 🖼️ Sources: background image in resolution 240×240 (for the Mi Band 7) or 454×454 (Xiaomi Watch S1).
• 📊 Data: Determine which items will be displayed (time, date, steps, weather, battery).

The following is a step-by-step guide for Watch Face Maker:

1. Install the app and select a template for your watch model.
2. Upload the background image (you can use your photo).
3. Set the position of arrows, numbers and widgets by drag and drop.
4. Export the project to a.bin or.wfz file.
5. Transfer the file to the watch via Notify & Fitness or Amazfit Watchfaces.

💡 Useful advice:

• Use contrasting colors for hands – in the sun the screen of the clock dims.
• Avoid overloaded designs: More than 5 widgets (pulse, weather, notifications) reduce readability.
• For animated elements (e.g., moving clouds), use the format APNG.

💡

If your custom dial doesn’t sync with your clock, try renaming the file to a clock. custom.bin Also check that Notify & Fitness has enabled the option to Allow Unofficial Dials.

Problems with changing the dial and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, users encounter errors, and consider typical scenarios and ways to fix them:

If the watch has ceased to respond to touch after setting the custom dial:

1. Connect the device to charge for 30 minutes (sometimes helps to reset the error).
2. Press the physical button for 15-20 seconds to force a reboot.
3. If the screen is black, reset via Zepp (Profile) → My devices. → Reset).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Watch models S1 Pro and Watch 2 Pro incorrect custom dials can lead to loss of communication with the user. GPS Check compatibility on forums before installation (e.g., check compatibility on the heart rate sensor, 4PDA).

Changing the dial on the children’s watch Xiaomi

Children’s models (Xiaomi Mi Bunny, Mi Rabbit) have limited customization options due to parental control, but even here you can change the design through the official Mi Bunny app (for Android) or Xiaomi Wear (for iOS).

Features of the process:

• 👶 Only 5-7 built-in dials are available (usually with cartoon characters).
• 🔒 The change requires confirmation through the parent’s account.
• 🎨 Castom designs are installed only by bypassing protection (not recommended - the risk of blocking the device).

Instructions for Mi Bunny:

1. Open the app and select a child profile.
2. Go to the Device. → Dial settings.
3. Choose one of the available options and confirm the change.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi's children's watch, changing the dial can reset geofence settings and time limits:

• School/Home Schedule in the Safety section.
• A list of authorized contacts for calls.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the dials to Xiaomi

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For Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro and later, custom dials are installed only through applications with support for Zepp. OS (The standard Mi Band methods don't work!