How to reset the Xiaomi smart watch: a full guide with photos and videos

Xiaomi’s smartwatches can be reset in a variety of situations, from preparing the device for sale to fixing software failures. However, an incorrect reset often leads to data loss, inability to re-synchronize with the phone or even β€œbricking” the gadget. In this article, we will analyze all the current reset methods for Mi Band models 3/4/5/6/7, Xiaomi Watch S1/S2, Watch 2 Pro and others, including hidden features and nuances for each version of the firmware.

We will focus on saving important data (steps, sleep, training) before reset β€” many users lose statistics for months of wear due to one wrong operation, and learn how to avoid typical errors, such as when the watch is no longer defined by the Mi Fitness app after resetting due to a conflict of Bluetooth versions. All instructions are tested on current firmware in 2026.

When do I need to reset Xiaomi smartwatches?

Factory reset is a last resort that should only be used in certain cases, and here are the most common scenarios:

  • πŸ”„ Watch glitches: spontaneous reboots, screen freezes, incorrect display of time or notifications.
  • πŸ“± Sync problems: The device doesn't connect to the phone despite reinstalling the Mi app Fitness/Zepp Life.
  • πŸ”’ Change of ownership: Before selling or transferring the watch to another person, all personal data must be deleted.
  • πŸ”§ After a failed update: if the firmware "broken" functionality (for example, heart rate sensors stopped working).
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Virus removal: Very rare, but suspicious notifications or advertisements may appear on the watch (usually due to third-party firmware).

It's important to understand that resetting won't help if the problem is with a hardware piece, a broken screen, a faulty battery, or damaged sensors, and that requires repair or replacement of modules, and it's useless to reset the clock if it's gone to zero and doesn't turn on, so you need to restore the battery first.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro models with Wear OS Reset via phone settings (Settings) β†’ Connected devices β†’ Factory resets may result in loss of connection to Google account (FRP-In this case, you will need to enter a login / password from the last associated account.

πŸ“Š What kind of smart watch Xiaomi you have?
Mi Band 7/8
Xiaomi Watch S1/S2
Watch 2 Pro
Another model
I haven't bought it yet.

Preparing for resetting: what to do before the start

Before you reset your watch, follow the mandatory steps to avoid losing data and avoid problems with reconfiguration:

  1. Sync your data with Mi Fitness or Zepp Life. Open the app, wait for full sync (the cloud icon in the top corner should disappear), which will save your cloud activity history.
  2. Take screenshots of screens with settings (if they are important) such as notification settings, screen order, or personal dials.
  3. Write down the IMEI (for models with SIM, such as the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active). Find it in the watch settings or on the box.
  4. Check the battery power. The level must be at least 50%, otherwise the reset may interrupt.

If you use Mi Band 3/4/5, note that after resetting, the binding to the Mi Account is retained. To completely untie the watch, you need to remove it from the list of devices in the Mi Fitness app before reset, otherwise the new owner will not be able to connect them.

Synchronize data with the application

Write down the IMEI (for models with SIM)

Charge the watch to 50%+

Untie the watch from your Mi Account (if you sell)

Make backup settings (screenshots)-->

For models on Wear OS (Watch 2 Pro) additionally:

  • πŸ”— Turn off your watch from Google Fit and Wear OS phone-setting.
  • πŸ“‹ Export your health data via Google Health Connect (if you use it).

Method 1: Reset via the clock settings menu

The safest and most recommended method is to reset directly in the watch interface, which is suitable for most models, but there are nuances for different versions of the firmware.

For Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7/8:

  1. Scroll down the clock screen to Settings (cog icon).
  2. Select System β†’ Resetting (or Restore and Reset on New Firmware).
  3. Confirm the action by selecting Yes (on some models you need to press and hold the screen for 3 seconds).
  4. Wait for the reboot (the watch vibrates and shows the Xiaomi logo).

For Xiaomi Watch S1/S2, Watch 2 Pro:

  1. Click on the physical button (or swipe up on the Watch 2 Pro) to open the menu.
  2. Go to Settings β†’ System β†’ Data Reset.
  3. Enter. PIN-code (if installed).
  4. Choose Delete Everything and confirm.

The Watch 2 Pro may require a reset of your Google account (like on new Android smartphones).If you forget your password, restore it in advance!

What if the "Reset" item is not on the menu?
On some firmware (especially for Mi Band 3), the reset point is hidden. In this case: 1. Update the watch firmware through the Mi Fitness app. 2. If the update doesn't help, use Method 2 (reset via the app). 3. Older models may require a rollback of the firmware to the factory version via Mi Band Tools (power users only).

Model clockThe way to dumpTime of procedureIs PIN required?
Mi Band 3/4Settings β†’ System β†’ Reset~30 secondsNo.
Mi Band 5/6/7/8Settings β†’ Recovery and Reset~1 minuteNo.
Xiaomi Watch S1/S2Settings β†’ System β†’ Data reset~2 minutesYes (if installed)
Watch 2 ProSettings β†’ System β†’ Reset parameters~3 minutesYes (Google FRP)

Method 2: Reset via Mi Fitness/Zepp Life

If the watch does not respond to touch or the reset item is not on the menu, you can use the official application. This method is suitable for all models except the Watch 2 Pro (there is a reset only through the menu of the watch).

  1. Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new models).
  2. Go to the device profile (shoot the icon of the clock on the home screen).
  3. Select Device Settings β†’ Untie the device.
  4. Confirm the decoupling and wait for the synchronization.
  5. After the undocking, the watch will automatically reset to factory settings.

Important: This method does not work if the clock is already untied from the account or not connected to the phone. In such cases, use Method 1 or Method 3 (hardware reset).

⚠️ Note: Some versions of Mi Fitness (especially in restricted regions) may not have the "Untie the device" option. Solution: Update the app to the latest version. Try using Zepp Life instead of Mi Fitness. Change the region of the Xiaomi account to "Russia" or "Global" in the profile settings.

πŸ’‘

If the watch does not reset after wagging, restart them manually: press the touch button for 10 seconds before vibration.

Method 3: Hardware reset (for non-working hours)

If the watch is getting stuck, does not respond to touch, or does not turn on, you can perform a forced reset via a combination of buttons. This method works on most models, but requires strict adherence to the instructions.

For Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7/8:

  1. Remove the capsule from the strap.
  2. Find the touch button on the back (under the screen).
  3. Connect the watch to charge.
  4. Press the touch button for 20-30 seconds until you feel the vibration and see the Xiaomi logo.
  5. Release the button and the watch will reboot in factory condition.

For the Xiaomi Watch S1/S2:

  1. Press and hold the physical button (right) for 15 seconds.
  2. When the screen goes out, release the button and press it again once.
  3. The watch will boot in recovery mode – select Wipe data (use the navigation button).

On the Watch 2 Pro, hardware reset is performed through a combination of:

1. Press the physical button for 10 seconds before turning it off.


2 Hold it for another 5 seconds after the vibration.




3. In the recovery menu, select "Factory Reset" (switch points with a button, confirm with a short press).

⚠️ Attention: On models with AMOLED-screens (Watch) S1 Pro, Watch 2 Pro) Prolonged button holding can cause the watch to overheat. If the watch gets hot, release the button and let it cool for 2-3 minutes before trying again.

πŸ’‘

Hardware reset erases all data without recovery, and only use it if other methods fail.

What to do after resetting: setting up from scratch

After a successful reset, the watch will return to a "out of the box" state.

  1. Reconnect to the phone: Open the Mi Fitness/Zepp Click Add device and select watch model. Follow the instructions on the screen (may require scanning) QR-clock-code).
  2. Recover: If you synchronized before reset, the activity history will be automatically pulled from the cloud, dials and settings will have to configuring again.
  3. Update firmware (recommended): Go to Device Profile β†’ Software Update. Install the latest version (this will fix possible bugs after reset).

For the Watch 2 Pro, additionally:

  • πŸ”‘ Link a Google account (you will need to enter a login / password).
  • πŸ“± Install the necessary apps through the Play Market on the watch.
  • πŸ”„ Set up sync with Google Fit and Health Connect.

If the watch is not connected after resetting:

  • πŸ”„ Restart your phone and watch.
  • πŸ“± Remove the watch from the list of Bluetooth devices in the phone settings.
  • πŸ”§ Reinstall the Mi app Fitness/Zepp Life.
  • 🌐 Check if Bluetooth and Internet are on your phone.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even with the right reset, users often face problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

Problem.Possible causeDecision
The clock is not turned on after resettingThe battery was drained during the procedure.Connect to charging for 30+ minutes, then try turning on
Not connecting to the phone.Bluetooth version conflict or residual data in cacheClear the Mi Fitness cache, reboot your phone, try another device
Asks for an old Xiaomi account after a resetThe watch did not leave the previous owner.Contact your former owner to remove the watch from your account.
No "Dump" item on the menuOutdated firmware or regional restrictionsUpdate the firmware through the app or use a hardware reset
After reset, the sensors do not work.Calibration failure or damage in hardware resetRecalibrate the sensors in the settings of the clock or contact the service

If none of these methods worked, there may be a hardware problem, such as the Mi Band 5/6 often fails the vibratory motor, giving the impression that the watch does not respond to reset (although the procedure does).

How to distinguish a software failure from a hardware failure?
Signs of software failure (resolved by reset): - Watch on but glitches (hangs, synchronization errors). - Screen working but not responding to touch. - Incorrect display of time or notifications. Signs of hardware failure (repair required): - Watch not turned on even after charging. - Screen physically damaged (cracks, broken pixels). - Vibration or backlighting is not working. - Fast battery discharge (less than 6 hours of operation).

FAQ: Frequent questions about resetting Xiaomi smartwatches

Can I reset my watch without my phone?
Yes, you can do this with Method 1 (through the clock menu) or Method 3 (hardware reset), but without the phone you can't: Save data before reset, update the firmware after reset, reset the clock (you'll need an app).
Will health and training data be dropped?
This depends on whether the data is synchronized with the cloud: πŸ“Š Synchronized data (steps, sleep, training) will be saved in the Xiaomi account and will recover after re-binding. ❌ Local data (unsynchronized) will be deleted irrevocably. ⚠️ Google Fit data may not recover on Watch 2 Pro if Health Connect sync is not configured.
What to do if the clock is reset PIN-code?
That means that the clock has a locking code: πŸ”’ If you have installed the code yourself, enter it. πŸ“± If you bought a watch with your hands, ask for it. PIN previous owner. πŸ”§ For the Mi Band. 5/6/7 dropable PIN Mi Band Tools (root required on the phone). 🚫 On Watch. 2 Pro without PIN Unlocking the clock is not possible, it is Google’s protection (FRP).
How to reset your watch if it doesn’t turn on?
Try the following steps: Connect the watch to charge for 1-2 hours (even if the indicator does not burn). perform a hardware reset (see Method 3). If the screen remains black, check the charging cable and power supply (use the original from Xiaomi). For the Mi Band, try to hold on charging 12+ hours - sometimes this "resuscitates" a completely discharged battery. If nothing helps, most likely, the battery or power charge is faulty - contact the service.
Can the discharge be cancelled?
No, once the reset is confirmed, all local data is deleted irrevocably: πŸ“€ If the data is synchronized with the cloud, it will recover when re-linked. βš™οΈ Settings of the clock (dials, order of screens) will have to be adjusted again. πŸ”„ On the Watch 2 Pro, you can try to roll back the firmware through ADB, But it's a complicated procedure for experienced users.