Personalizing wearables is not just a fashion nod, it’s a way to make interactions with your device more comfortable and informative. Changing the watch face allows you to display exactly the data that is important to you at a particular time, whether it’s steps, pulse or weather. Devices from Xiaomi and Redmi often underestimate the possibility of customizing the interface, limiting themselves to standard options laid down by the manufacturer.
Modern models like the Mi Watch, Redmi Watch or Mi Smart Band fitness bracelets offer a huge library of designs. However, the installation process can be confusing for a beginner due to the peculiarities of the operating system and proprietary software. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to manage the visual design of your watch using the current Mi Fitness app (formerly known as Zepp Life).
It's important to understand that design choices have a direct impact on the autonomy of the device. Bright, animated dials with a constantly active screen consume significantly more power than static black and white circuits. So before you start experimenting, you should evaluate your priorities: maximum functionality and beauty or long-term operation without recharging.
Preparation for installation: application and synchronization
The foundation for managing any watch settings is to connect your smartphone correctly. Without a stable Bluetooth connection, you can't download new graphics. Make sure your watch is paired with your phone through the official Mi Fitness app, which you can download from Google Play or the App Store. It's this software suite that serves as a bridge between the cloud storage of designs and the memory of your gadget.
Often users are faced with the fact that the store dials do not open or does not work correctly. This may be due to an outdated version of the application or the firmware watch itself. Before starting the interface modification, it is recommended to check for updates in the menu of the device profile.
☑️ Ready to set up dial
You should also pay attention to the permissions you gave the app on your phone. Mi Fitness requires storage and geolocation access to work properly. Without these permissions, the data synchronization process can be interrupted during the file transfer to the device.
Navigation on the dial store in Mi Fitness
The interface of the Mi Fitness app is intuitive, but it hides a lot of hidden features. To find a new design, you need to go to the Profile tab, select the connected device, and find the Dials section, which opens up an online directory that contains thousands of design options.
The catalog is structured into categories: Recommended, Popular, Animated and Classic. Using filters helps you quickly find the style you want. For example, if you want minimalism, sorting by Simple will weed out overloaded options. The online library is regularly updated with new topics, especially in the lead-up to the holidays or the release of new watch models.
When choosing, consider the size of the file and the presence of a "Free" tag. Some premium designs may require internal currency or subscription, but free content is more than enough for most users. Once you click the "Download" button, the file is downloaded to the phone and automatically transmitted to the watch.
Instructions for the installation of a standard dial
The process of installing the selected design takes only a few seconds, but requires a certain sequence of actions. First find the design you like in the application directory. Click on the preview to review it in detail, and make sure that the location of the elements is satisfactory. Then click the Install or Sync button.
During the data transfer, a progress indicator will appear on the smartphone screen, at which point it is strongly recommended not to open other heavy applications or go far from the clock so as not to break the Bluetooth connection. If the transmission is interrupted in the middle, the dial may not be installed correctly or remain in the form of a black screen until the reboot.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to turn off the phone screen or lock the device during the dial synchronization process, as some energy saving systems may interrupt background data transmission.
Once installed successfully, the watch vibrates to confirm the theme change. If that doesn't happen, check the "My dials" section of the app, which should show a success message. Sometimes you need to manually activate a new design through the control menu if the automatic replacement doesn't work.
How to create your own unique face with a photo
One of the most popular features is the ability to set your own image as a background, which allows you to turn the gadget into a personal accessory with photos of loved ones, pets or favorite landscapes. In the Mi Fitness app, this feature is usually located at the top of the directory or in a separate Create tab.
To create a custom dial, select a photo from the smartphone gallery. The system will suggest selecting a framing area, since the clock screens have different aspect ratios (round or rectangular). It is important to center the image correctly so that the key objects are not overlapped by time or date widgets. The resolution of the original photo should be high enough, otherwise the picture will appear blurry on a display with a high pixel density.
Secrets of creating the perfect photo dial
After selecting the photo and setting the time display (digital or analog format), click Save and Set. The process will take a little longer than loading a normal dial, since the image requires processing.
Configuring widgets and functional blocks
Modern dials are not just a beautiful picture, but an information panel. Many designs support customization of widgets — small blocks that display data about steps, calories, weather, moon phase or current music track. Not all dials allow you to change these blocks, but in supported models, this is done through the editing menu in the application.
To change the information you see, look in the app for the "Tune" button below the selected dial, where you can choose which data will be displayed at the bottom or top of the screen, for example, for an athlete it is more important to see the pulse and pace, and for an office worker it is more important to see the calendar and notifications, and Customization allows you to adapt the same visual style for different tasks.
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Use the Pulse widget only if you really need it. Constant monitoring and displaying heart data on the screen increases the load on the processor and sensors, reducing the time of the device.
It’s worth noting that the number of blocks available to customize depends on the complexity of the dial itself. Simple minimalist designs often have no modifiable elements, while complex sports interfaces can offer up to 4-5 customizable zones.
Comparison of popular types of dials
To help you make your choice, we have compiled a comparative table of the main design types available for Xiaomi and Redmi devices. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the use case.
| Type of dial | Battery consumption | Informativeness | Best application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animated | High-pitched | Medium | Everyday sock, demonstration |
| Classic (Arrows) | Low. | Low. | Business meetings, formal clothes |
| Sports (Data) | Medium. | Maximum | Training, active lifestyle |
| Photo dial | Depends on the photo. | Low. | Personalization, gift |
When choosing between beauty and functionality, always keep balance in mind. If you're planning a long trip without charging, you'd better switch to a static black dial. If you're at a party or a meeting, the animated design will make a bigger impression.
Solving problems when changing the design
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users sometimes face technical difficulties. One of the common problems is that the dial does not set or reset to a standard one after rebooting. This may indicate a clock overflow, in which case it is recommended to remove several unused old dials through the application, making room for new files.
Another common situation is to de-synchronize the time or weather sensor on a new dial, and make sure that the Mi Fitness app includes the appropriate permissions to access geolocation and weather data, without which the widgets will show dashboards or incorrect values.
⚠️ Warning: If the watch starts to warm up or discharge quickly after installing the heavy dial, return the standard design immediately. This may indicate a mistake in the graphic element code or incompatibility with the current firmware version.
It is also possible that a particular dial is simply not optimized for your watch model (e.g., a round-screen design on a rectangular clock).In this case, the image may be stretched or cropped. Always check compatibility in the dial description before loading.
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The main cause of installation problems is an unstable Bluetooth connection or a crowded device memory, and cleaning up excess files and re-pairing solves 90% of errors.