Replacement of the dial on Xiaomi watches: instructions with photos, errors and life hacks

Why Change the Xiaomi Watch Dial and What You Need to Know Before You Start

The dial on Xiaomi’s smartwatch is not just an aesthetic element, but a key part of the interface that affects usability. Standard factory designs are often limited in functionality: Somewhere you don't have a weather widget, sometime you're too small, and sometimes you just want to refresh the look of the gadget. S3, Watch 2 Pro or other models can be literally 5 minutes – if you know the nuances.

But before you start looking for a new design, there are a few things to consider: First, not all dials are compatible with all watches. S4 The Mi Band 7 may not be supported due to memory and processor limitations, and secondly, some third-party dials (especially from unverified sources) may reset or even block the screen, as we’ll discuss in the bug section. Finally, after replacing some data (such as steps or pulse) may not be displayed correctly if the new dial is not optimized for your firmware.

In this article, we will discuss:

• 🔍 How to check the compatibility of the dial with your watch model
• 📱 Step-by-step instructions through the official Mi Fit and Zepp apps
• 💻 Alternative installation methods (including third-party services and manual download)
• ⚠️ Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• 🎨 Where to download quality dials (including free)

Compatibility of dials: how not to make a mistake with the choice

The first rule when replacing a dial is to make sure it is supported by your watch model. The manufacturer divides all Xiaomi smartwatches into several platforms, and the dials are not interchangeable for them:

• 📌 Mi Band (all generations) - use simplified dials with limited animations, support.bin and.wfz formats.
• 📌 Xiaomi Watch (S1/S2/S3/S4, Watch 2 Pro – working on the Wear platform OS or proprietary firmware, support.apk and.wfz formats with the extension.zip.
• 📌 Redmi Watch (2/3/4) — Compatible with Mi Band dials, but may not support complex animations.

To determine the compatibility, check:

1. Watch model (written on the box or in the device settings in the About Device section).
2. The firmware version (relevant to the Watch) S3 And newer – some dials require the latest firmware).
3. Screen resolution (e.g. Mi Band) 8 screen 192×490 pixels, and the Watch 2 Pro — 466×466).

Important! Wear dials OS (For example, Xiaomi Watch S4) They are installed as regular apps via Google Play, while Mi Band requires downloading via Mi Fit or third-party utilities.

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Before installing a new dial, take a screenshot of the current screen of the watch – so you can quickly return the old design if the new one does not like.

Official method: Replace the dial with Mi Fit or Zepp

The safest and easiest method is to use Mi Fit (for Mi Band) or Zepp (for Xiaomi Watch) apps, which automatically check compatibility and offer only those dials that are guaranteed to work on your model.

Instructions for Mi Fit (Mi Band) 5/6/7/8, Redmi Watch):

1. Open the Mi Fit app and connect the watch to your phone via Bluetooth.
2. Go to the Profile section → My devices. → [Your model].
3. Select the dial (or themes in new versions).
4. Scroll through the list of options available. Free dials are marked with a green tick.
5. Click on your favorite design and confirm the installation. Synchronization will take 10 to 30 seconds.

Instructions for Zepp (Xiaomi Watch) S1/S2/S3, Watch 2 Pro):

1. Start Zepp and select your watch from the top menu.
2. Go to the dials. → Shop.
3. Filter the list by category (sports, classic, digital) or use search.
4. Click on the dial, then Install. Some topics require payment (50 to 300 rubles).
5. Wait until the sync is complete. If the dial does not appear, reset the clock (Settings) → Reboot).

Charge the clock to a minimum 50%|Update Mi Fit/Zepp last-minute|Connect the watch to Wi-Fi (for the Watch) S3/2 Pro)|Make a backup of current settings-->

Important for the Watch 2 Pro: Some Zepp dials require you to activate a premium subscription, even if they are marked as free.

Installation of third-party dials: risks and instructions

If official options are not enough, you can install a third-party dial, which opens up access to unique designs (such as those with Cyberpunk animation or stylized Apple Watch), but requires caution.

• ⚠️ Incompatibility – the watch can freeze or reboot.
• ⚠️ Viruses – in archives with dials sometimes hidden malicious scripts.
• ⚠️ Resetting – some files overwrite system data.

Where to download safe dials:

• 🌐 AmazfitWatchFaces is the largest database for Xiaomi/Redmi (check the reviews!).
• 🌐 4PDA — Russian-speaking community with mods and instructions.
• 🌐 Telegram channels (e.g. Mi Watch Faces).

How to install a third-party dial on the Mi Band:

1. Download the.bin or.wfz file to your phone.
2. Use Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (Android) or Tools & Mi Band (iOS):
3. If the dial does not appear, reset the clock (Settings) → Reboot).

For Xiaomi Watch (Wear) OS):

1. Download the.apk file (for example, from WatchFace Cloud).
2. Move it to the clock through ADB or send it to the mail opened on the device.
3. On the clock, open the file through Files and install it as a regular application.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

The error "Can not install the dial" in Zepp:

This problem often occurs on the Xiaomi Watch. S3 and the Watch 2 Pro:

1. Turn off the Bluetooth watch in your phone settings.
2. Close the Zepp application through Task Manager.
3. Turn on Bluetooth again and restart Zepp.
4. Reset the dial.

⚠️ Note: If after installing a third-party dial on the Mi Band missing notifications about calls, check the settings in Mi Fit → Notifications. Some custom themes block vibration.

How to create your own face for Xiaomi Watch

If none of the options are good enough, you can design your own design.

• 🎨 Graphic Editor (Photoshop, GIMP or Figma).
• 📏 Template for your watch resolution (you can download it on AmazfitWatchFaces).
• 🛠️ The Wireless Convertibility Tool (Watch Face Builder or Mi Bandage).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the template for your model (for example, for Watch). S3 — resolution-patter 466×466 px).
2. In the graphic editor, draw a design, considering:

PNG

Watch Face Builder

.wfz

.bin

Mi Fit

ADB

For Wear. OS (For example, Xiaomi Watch S4) It’s more complicated – you’ll need Android Studio and knowledge of the basics of Wear development. OS. The finished projects can be found on GitHub.

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Creating a custom dial requires strict adherence to markup. If the elements (time, date) are shifted by at least 1 pixel, they will not appear on the clock!

How to return a standard dial

If the experiment with a new design fails, you can always go back to the factory dial.

For the Mi Band (all generations):

1. Open Mi Fit and go to Profile → My devices. → Dial.
2. Select the Standard (or Basic) tab.
3. Click on the first option in the list (usually a classic dial with a clock and date).
4. Confirm the installation and wait for the synchronization.

For Xiaomi Watch (Zepp):

1. In the Zepp app, open the Dials → My dials.
2. Find the System or Default section.
3. Choose a standard design (e.g. Classic or Digital).
4. Press Apply.

If the clock doesn't respond:

In case of serious failures (for example, after installing a broken dial), you may need to reset the settings:

1. For Mi Band: in Mi Fit, select Device Settings → Reset to factory.
2. For Xiaomi Watch: on the watch itself go to Settings → System system → Reset.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting to factory settings will remove all data from the clock (steps, training, alarm settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about replacing dials with Xiaomi