How to reduce the metal strap on the Xiaomi watch: 3 proven ways + beginners’ mistakes

The metal strap on Xiaomi smartwatches is stylish, but not always convenient. If the bracelet hangs on the wrist or rubs the skin, it must be adjusted to the size. Unlike silicone or leather straps, metal links require accuracy: one wrong movement - and you can damage the latch mechanism or scratch the body of the watch. In this article, we will discuss three ways to reduce the strap (including the method without tools), tell you which links can be removed and which ones can not, and show how to avoid the typical errors from which the braces later break.

Important: the instruction is suitable for most Xiaomi models with metal straps - from Mi Band 5/6/7 Pro to Xiaomi Watch S1/S2/S3 and Redmi Watch 3 Active. However, the design of the latches may differ - we will warn about this in the relevant sections. If your model is not included in this list, check the type of strap mounting before starting work.

1. What tools will be needed to reduce the strap

For most Xiaomi metal bracelets, a minimal set of tools is enough, but if you plan to remove links with hidden pins (as in the Xiaomi Watch S3), you will need something more serious than scissors.

• 🔧 A thin screwdriver (flat or cross, depending on the type of pins) even a screwdriver for glasses will do.
• 📍 A pin or a stylus – for pressing pins in models with hidden fastening.
• ✂️ Manicure scissors or cutters – if the pins are plastic (for example, in Mi Band 7 Pro).
• 🔨 A hammer (small) is only for stubborn pins that do not come out with a screwdriver.
• 🧲 Magnet - so as not to lose small parts (pins, springs).
• 📏 Line or bar - for accurate measurement of strap length.

⚠️ Warning: Don't use passages or pliers to remove links, they leave traces on the metal. If the pin is stuck, it's better to gently tap the screwdriver with a hammer than to squeeze the link with a tool.

In some models (such as the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro), the manufacturer uses threaded microplastics, which may require a special key that comes with the watch, and if the key is not available, it can be replaced with a thin hexagon or even a clip bent at the right angle.

Method 1: Removal of links without tools (for straps with retractable pins)

This is the simplest method that works for most Xiaomi Mi Band metal bracelets and some Redmi Watch models, and the point is that the pins (rods connecting the links) are not rigidly fixed and can be pulled out by hand.

Step-by-step:

1. Place the watch on a flat surface with the display down so as not to scratch the screen.
2. Find an arrow or a label on the inside of the strap - it indicates the direction in which the pin should be moved.
3. Hold one link with your fingers and pull the other one towards the arrow. The pin should move.
4. When the pin comes out halfway, carefully pull it out completely (you can tamper with a nail or plastic card).
5. Remove the extra links and collect the strap back, inserting the pin in reverse order.

💡 Tip: If the pin does not lend itself, moisten it with an alcohol solution or WD-40 — It'll reduce friction. Don't use the oil, it can get the strap dirty.

This method is not suitable for straps with deaf pins (as in the Xiaomi Watch S3), where the rods are not visible from the outside, in such cases you will have to use a screwdriver or a stitch.

3. Method 2: Removal of links with a screwdriver (for straps with hidden pins)

If you don't have any visible pins on your strap or they don't move out with your hands, they're hidden inside the links, a design that you find in premium models like the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro or the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, and you'll need a screwdriver and a little patience.

Algorithm of action:

1. You can see which side of the screwdriver slots are, and they're usually on the inside of the strap, the watch box.
2. Put the screwdriver in the groove and press gently, moving the pin to the side, and if it's not moving, tap the screwdriver handle with a hammer.
3. When the pin comes out on 1-2 mm, tweez it with tweezers or a pin and pull it out completely.
4. Remove the unnecessary links and assemble the strap by inserting the pin back in, make sure it is fully in the groove, otherwise the link will hang around.

⚠️ Note: In some models, pins are fixed with micronuts (for example, in Xiaomi Watch). S3). If you see a little nut after you remove the pin, don't lose it.

Important: In the Xiaomi Watch S3 and S1 Pro, the first two links of the watch box cannot be removed, they lock the latch mechanism, and if you remove them, the strap will stop holding.

Method 3: Adjustment without removing links (for microperforation straps)

Some Xiaomi metal straps (such as the Mi Band 7 Pro or Redmi Watch 3 Active) have microholes for adjustment without removing the links.

How it works:

• 🔍 On the inside of the strap, find a number of small holes (usually 3-5 holes).
• 🔗 Insert the latch pin into the desired hole - the further away from the watch box, the longer the strap.
• 🔒 Hold the latch, making sure it is securely fixed.

This method is not suitable for models with all-metal links (for example, Xiaomi Watch S1), where there is no perforation. Also note that when used actively, the pin can pop out of the hole - check the fixation once every 1-2 weeks.

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If the adjustment holes are too tight, lubricate the pin with graphite lubricant (sold in auto parts stores) to make switching easier and protect the metal from wear.

5. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even if the instructions seem simple, many users make mistakes that cause the strap or watch to break, and here are the most common ones:

• 🔨 Too much pressure on the pin, it can bend the link or break the mount. Solution: use the hammer only for light taps.
• 🧲 Losing pins or nuts, without them, the strap won't fit together. Solution: work on white fabric or use a magnet.
• ❌ Removing the wrong links, like the first two boxes of watches, so you can check the table above or watch the video for your model.
• 💦 Solution: wipe the strap with alcohol and let it dry before you wear it.
• 🔄 Wrong assembly -- if the pin is not inserted, the link will hang around. Solution: check the fixation by pulling the strap to the sides.

⚠️ Attention: If the strap starts to creak or get stuck when you move your hand, you're either crooked or not fully inserted, and you take the bracelet apart and reassemble it, or you'll deform the metal over time.

6.How to fit a strap to size: practical advice

Before you remove the links, you need to determine how much you want to shorten the strap, and here's a step-by-step method for fine-tuning it.

1. Put the watch on your wrist and fasten the strap on the last hole (if there is a perforation) or as tightly as possible (if the links are whole).
2. Check how much space is left between the wrist and the strap: 👌 1 finger - the perfect fit. 👍 2 fingers – you can remove 1-2 links. ✌️ 3+ finger – you need to remove 3-4 links.

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Remove the extra links, starting with what is closer to the buckle (it is easier to observe symmetry).

💡 Athlete advice: If you're in the gym or running, leave half a finger free. When you're under load, your wrist expands and your strap is too tight.

For models with asymmetrical mounting (for example, Xiaomi Watch S2) remove the links on only one side - the one where the zipper is located.

7. Alternative methods: if nothing helps

If you can’t remove the links (for example, due to sour pins) or you are afraid of damaging the strap, there are several alternative solutions:

• 🔄 Use an extra hole - if the strap with a perforation, try to fasten it on one hole tighter.
• 🧲 Buy adjustable fastener - in accessories stores universal butterfly fasteners are sold, which allow you to fit any strap.
• 🔧 Contact the workshop - many services for repairing watches offer adjustment of straps (cost - from 300 rubles).
• 🛒 Replace the strap with silicone – if the metal bracelet is too rigid, you can buy an original or third-party strap made of hypoallergenic silicone.

⚠️ Note: If you decide to replace the strap with a non-original one, check the width of the mount. S1 22 mm wide straps are suitable, and 18 mm for the Mi Band 7 Pro. The discrepancy will lead to the fact that the bracelet will hang or will not stand in the grooves.

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If you're not sure about yourself, you should go to the service, and a damaged strap can cause you to lose your watch, for example, if the clasp gets loose and unfastensed on the run.

FAQ: Frequent questions about strap adjustment