How to change the style of watches on Xiaomi: from standard dials to custom themes

The Chinese giant’s modern wearables not only track physical activity, but also express the wearer’s personality through visual design. Personalization of the interface is becoming a key aspect of smart devices, turning a standard tracker into a unique accessory. Many users purchase the Mi Band or Mi Watch without even knowing the thousands of available screen design options.

The process of changing visual style is very different depending on the model of your device and the operating system on which it is based. If you own a fitness bracelet, you will need third-party software to access the full functionality. Owners of full-fledged smartwatches with Wear OS or HyperOS have access to the Google Play Store or the built-in store in a way that greatly simplifies the task.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods for transforming the appearance of your watch, we will look at the official ways through the Zepp Life application, the hidden possibilities of customization through Mi Fitness and advanced methods for enthusiasts. Only a comprehensive approach will unlock the full potential of your gadget.

Official methods of changing dials in the Zepp Life app

The easiest and safest way to change the look of the screen is to use the regular Zepp Life app (formerly known as Mi Fit), a technique that is suitable for most popular wristband models, from Mi Band 3 to the latest versions, so you need to open the app on your smartphone, go to the Profile tab and select the connected device in the list.

Click on dial settings or dials to open the gallery of available images, and here are both static images and animated options that respond to wrist movements. The choices are huge, from minimalistic hand clocks to complex infographic compositions with pulse and footprints.

• 🎨 Choose your favorite design from a list of popular or new incomings.
• ⬇️ Click the Download button to install the file on your smartphone.
• 📲 Wait for automatic synchronization by holding the bracelet near the phone.

It’s worth noting that some dials are labeled with a “Pro” or “Premium” icon, meaning that activating them will require a paid subscription or a one-off in-app purchase. The free segment is also rich in choices, but takes time to find really high-quality content.

⚠️ Attention: When installing a heavy animated dial, battery life may be reduced by 10-15% due to the increased load on the graphics processor and screen.

Working with Mi Fitness for new models

With the release of new generations of trackers such as the Mi Band 7, 8, 9 and the Xiaomi Watch S1/S2/S3, the company has moved the main functionality to the Mi Fitness app. The interface here has changed to become more modern, but the logic of working with the themes has remained similar.

In the main menu, select your device, then go to Dials, and you'll see the All tab, where you'll see all the options available. Mi Fitness is the ability to create your own dials from photos in the phone gallery, and you can upload photos of a family, pet, or landscape, and customize the time and widgets.

The process of customization of the photo-dial is as follows:

1. Select the “Create” or “Mine” option in the theme store.
2. Download the image from the smartphone memory.
3. Adjust the position of the clock, date and pedometer on the screen.
4. Save the result and click "Install".

If the image is too low definition, it may appear blurry or pixelated on the screen. Apps usually crop the image automatically, but it is better to prepare the file with the correct proportions in advance.

💡

Use images with a dark background for AMOLED-screens to save battery power, as black pixels on such arrays do not consume energy.

Advanced Features with Notify & Fitness for Android

For Android users looking to go beyond the standard functionality, the real salvation is the Notify & Fitness app. It is a third-party tool that allows you to install any dials, even those designed for other models or have been removed from official stores.

After installation and initial setup (Bluetooth pairing), go to the Dials section, where you will find access to a huge database, including archival versions and custom creations. The app allows you not only to change the picture, but also to deeply customize the widgets displayed on the screen: weather, calendar, charge level and notifications.

One of the unique features is the ability to install GIF-You can upload a short video or a GIF, convert it to the desired format, and put it on the wristband, and that turns the screen of the device into a dynamic panel.

Using third-party software requires care. The interface may seem overloaded for a beginner. However, by understanding the Export/Import and Bracelet Settings menus, you will have full control of the device. Remember to periodically check the application itself for compatibility with newer versions of the bracelet firmware.

Change the themes of the interface on the Xiaomi Watch smart watch

If you own a full-fledged smartwatch, such as the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active, Watch 2 Pro or Redmi Watch series models, the process of changing the style looks different, not only the dial, but also system themes that change menu icons, fonts and color gamut of the interface.

Depending on the version of the operating system (Wear OS or HyperOS/MIUI for Watch), the actions may vary. In most cases, you need to open the Themes app directly on the clock or through a paired app on your phone (Xiaomi Wear or Zepp Life), and in the theme store you can sort the results by popularity, novelty or category (sports, classics, games).

To set the theme:

• 📱 Open the Themes app on your watch or in a companion app.
• 🔍 Find the package you like and click “Download».
• ✅ Confirm the installation and wait for the changes to be applied.

Some models support the "Always On Display" feature, and these models can be used to choose a separate, simpler, more energy-efficient style that will be displayed when you're not actively looking at the watch, which helps save energy by keeping the time-lapse fast.

⚠️ Note: Install themes from unverified sources on watches with Wear OS This can lead to system conflicts and battery drains. Use only the Google Play Store or the official Xiaomi Store.

Create your own design with WatchMaker

For those with a creative streak and a desire to create a unique style that no one else will repeat, the WatchMaker app is ideal.It is a powerful tool for creating custom dials from scratch or editing ready-made templates.The app is available for Android and iOS and supports a wide range of devices.

The interface is a constructor. You can add layers: background image, clockwise, minute hand, second hand, date indicator, pedometer, weather, and more. Each element can be moved, scaled and adjusted to its behavior, for example, you can make the second hand change color depending on the time of day.

The process of creating looks like this:

1. Select an empty template or base.


2 Add the "Image" layer for the background.




3. Add the Hand layer for the arrows.




4. Configure compilations for data.




5. Save and export for the watch.

Sophisticated expressions allow you to program the logic of the dial. You can set the conditions under which images or colors change. For example, if the pulse is above 120, the background turns red. It requires a basic understanding of the logic of the application, but the result is worth it.

Solving problems during installation and synchronization

Despite the simplicity of the process, users often face difficulties: the dial may not be installed, freeze during the boot phase or display incorrectly, most often the problem lies in an unstable Bluetooth connection or a crowded cache memory of the application.

If the installation is frozen, try the following:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and smart wristband/watch.
• 🗑️ Clear the cache of the Zepp Life or Mi Fitness app in Android settings.
• 📡 Make sure that the devices are close to each other (no more than 1 meter).

Another common problem is desynchronizing time after a style change, which is solved by forced synchronization through the application, go to the device profile and press the update button, and if the problem persists, it may be that the dial file is damaged and worth downloading.

In rare cases, especially when using modified versions of applications, it may be necessary to completely reset the device to factory settings.This is an extreme measure that will delete all training data, so only resort to it if other methods have not worked.

💡

The stability of the dials depends on the version of the firmware of the device. Before installing complex themes, update the bracelet software to the latest version.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)