How to Manage Xiaomi Watches: From Basic Setup to Hidden Features

Smart watches and fitness bracelets Xiaomi has long ceased to be just accessories for sports – they have become full-fledged assistants in everyday life. From tracking sleep to controlling music on a smartphone, from contactless payments to stress monitoring, the capabilities of devices grow with each new firmware. 20-30% functionality, not even knowing about hidden settings and life hacks.

This article will not just list buttons and menus, but will also look at system nuances that the manufacturer does not advertise, such as why the Mi Band 8 can discharge overnight, how to make the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro show notifications from specific applications, or why the pulsemeter disappeared after the update, and you will also learn how to manage a watch without a smartphone if it is dead, and what to do when the device “hangs” on the logo.

It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or a seasoned user, there's something new here, and for convenience, we've divided the material into blocks, from basic setup to solving non-obvious problems, and yes, at the end of the day, you'll find a list of secret button combinations that are not even mentioned in the official instructions.

1. First on and binding to a smartphone

Even if you took the watch out of the box and it showed the time right away, it doesn't mean it's ready to go. Without a smartphone, most of the functions will be locked. Here's what you need to do in the right order:

• 📱 Install the Mi Fitness app (for older models) or Zepp Life (for newer ones). Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro may require Xiaomi Wear - check compatibility on the manufacturer's website.
• 🔋 Charge the device to at least 50%. If the battery is discharged below 20%, sync may be interrupted, and the firmware may fly off.
• 🔄 Turn on Bluetooth and geolocation on your phone. Without that, your watch won't find your smartphone, even if it's lying next to you.
• 🛡️ Allow all requests for the app: notifications, access to contacts, calendar. Otherwise, the watch will not be able to show incoming calls or events.

The most common mistake is trying to tie the clock through Settings → Bluetooth on your phone, so they'll connect like a normal headset, but the fitness features won't work!

If the clock is not specified in the annex:

1. Reboot both the watch and the smartphone.
2. Remove the device from the list of connected Bluetooth devices on the phone.
3. In the Zepp Life app, click Profile → My devices. → Add the device and select the model manually.
4. If nothing helps, reset the watch to factory settings (instructions in the next section).

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If you have an iPhone, turn off the Limit Compatibility feature in Bluetooth settings before you link it, which can block health data transmission.

2. Basic settings: time, notifications, screen

Once you're connected to your phone, the clock syncs automatically, but you have to manually adjust the other parameters.

🕒 Time and date

If the clock is not showing the right time:

• 🌍 Check the time zone in the application (Device Profile) → Settings → Time zone. Sometimes he gets lost after the flights.
• ⏱️ Enable Autosynchronization of time (ibid.) If you do not have an option, update the firmware of the watch.
• 📵 If time is stuttered every day, turn off battery saving in your phone settings for the Zepp Life app.

📳 Notifications

By default, the watch shows notifications from all apps, but this can be changed:

1. In the Zepp Life app, go to the Device Profile → Notifications.
2. Select Apps and tick only those that are important (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, Calendar).
3. For the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Vibration settings are available for each notification type separately.

Important: on Android 12+ You need to additionally allow notifications in the system settings (Applications) → Zepp Life → Notifications → Permission).

🖥️ Screen and interface

Set the display to suit you:

3. Managing music and calls

One of the biggest benefits of a smartwatch is that it can control media and calls without even reaching your phone.

🎵 Controlling music

Xiaomi watches can:

• 🎧 Switch tracks (swipe left/right on the music screen).
• 🔊 Adjust volume (on Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro – torsion on the side button).
• 📻 Play music autonomously (only if you download tracks to watch memory via Zepp Life).

On the Mi Band. 7/8 There is no built-in speaker, so music can only be controlled, but not listen directly to.

📞 Calls.

To receive calls directly from the clock you need:

1. The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Redmi Watch 3 Active.
2. Active connection to the phone via Bluetooth (range - up to 10 meters).
3. Permission to access the microphone in Zepp Life settings.

If the bell doesn't go on the clock:

⚠️ Note: iPhone calls may not be transmitted due to iOS restrictions.Solution - turn on in the iPhone Bluetooth settings → Zepp Life → Allow access to the microphone and restart both devices.

Bluetooth on your phone

The watch is connected to Zepp Life

Allowed access to the microphone

Charge of watches > 30%

Phone within 5 meters radius-->

4 Fitness functions: pulse, sleep, training

Xiaomi watches are all about health monitoring, but many users are faced with inaccurate data, and let's figure out how to set it up properly.

❤️ Pulse and SpO₂

For accurate pulse measurement:

• 🩺 Put your watch tightly on, but don't squeeze your hand. 2-3 finger.
• ⏱️ Do not move during measurement (even a small tremor distorts the data).
• 🔄 Enable Continuous Monitoring in Settings → Health → Heart rate.

If the pulse is not measured:

⚠️ Warning: On the Mi Band 8, the sensor may be switched off due to energy savings. → Battery → Optimize and disable limitations for pulsemeter function.

💤 Sleep tracking

To ensure that the clock correctly fixes the phases of sleep:

1. Wear them 30 minutes before bedtime – the device needs time to calibrate.
2. Turn on the Smart Alarm in your sleep settings – it will wake you up in the optimal phase.
3. Check that Zepp Life lists the correct age and gender – the algorithms of the analysis depend on this.

Secret Life Hack: If the watch doesn't record sleep, restart it before going to bed (hold the 10 seconds button).

🏃 Training.

Xiaomi has over 100 training modes, but most users only use "Run" and "Walk."

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For accurate running tracking on Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro connect an external heart rate sensor (e.g. Polar) H10) It's Bluetooth, it'll improve accuracy. 20-30%.

5. Advanced features: payments, voice assistant, automation

Xiaomi's modern watches are much more than just time-dating, and we'll look at some of the most useful, but little-known, features.

💳 Contactless payments

In the models with NFC (Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Mi Band 8 NFC) You can tie a bank card:

1. Open Zepp Life and go to Device Profile → Contactless payments.
2. Select a bank from the list of supported banks (Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB, etc.).
3. Enter the card details and confirm SMS-code.
4. To pay, bring the clock to the terminal and hold the 2 second button.

Limitations:

• 🚫 On iPhone payments through Xiaomi watches do not work (Apple restriction).
• 💰 Limit of one transaction – up to 5,000 ₽ (bank-dependent).
• 🔄 After 5 unsuccessful attempts, the card is blocked (you can unlock it in a mobile bank).

🎤 Voice assistant

The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro has a built-in XiaoAI (Chinese equivalent of Alice) to activate it:

1. Hold the side button for 3 seconds.
2. Tell the command in Chinese or English (Russian is not supported).
3. To control a Xiaomi smart home, say “XiaoAI, turn on the light.”

⚙️ Automation (if/then)

The Zepp Life app has an Automation section where you can configure triggers:

• 🌅 Alarm clock at sunrise: clock vibrates 30 minutes before dawn.
• 🏃 Exercise reminder: If you haven’t completed 5,000 steps by 18:00, the clock will remind you of your workout.
• 💤 Sleep mode: automatically turns on "Do not disturb" from 23:00 to 7:00.

6. Update firmware and reset settings

Regular firmware updates add new features and fix bugs, but sometimes the update doesn't go as it should, and we'll figure out how to update properly and what to do if the watch breaks.

🔄 How to update firmware

There are two ways:

1. Through the app: Open Zepp Life and go to Device Profile → Update firmware. If a new version is available, click Update. Wait until it's completed (don't turn off Bluetooth!).
2. Manually via file (if automatic update doesn’t work): Download the firmware for your model from Xiaomi Firmware. Place the file in the MiFit or ZeppLife folder on your phone. In the app, click Update manually and select the file.

Important: Before upgrading, charge your watch to 100% and make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi (update via mobile internet may be interrupted).

⚠️ What to do if the update is suspended

If the clock shows progress bar for more than 30 minutes:

1. Reset the clock (hold the 15-second button).
2. If it doesn't help, reset to factory settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Confirm
3. After reset, repeat the update.

⚠️ Note: If the clock doesn’t turn on after a failed update (black screen or endless boot), don’t try to sew it through your own device. ADB — This can permanently disable the device).

🔧 Reset to factory settings

Reset is required if:

• 🔄 The clock is glitching after the update.
• 📵 Not synchronized with the phone.
• 🔋 They discharge quickly for no reason.

How to reset:

1. On the clock: Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. If the screen is not responding, hold the button for 20 seconds until the vibration.
3. For Mi Band: Unplug the charging cable, hold the 10 seconds button, then plug the cable back in (the clock will reset in reset mode).

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After reset, all data (steps, sleep, workouts) will be deleted from the clock, but stored in the Zepp Life cloud if synchronization was enabled.

7. Solving common problems

Even the most reliable devices sometimes fail, and we've collected the most common problems and actually working solutions (without tips like "reset the device").

🔋 Fast battery discharge

If the clock is discharged for 1-2 day instead of the promised 7-14:

• 📊 Check the expense statistics in Settings → Battery, if the screen eats >40%, reduce the brightness and lighting time.
• 🚫 Turn off continuous pulse monitoring (if not necessary).
• 📵 In the phone settings, forbid Zepp Life to work in the background (this will not interfere with synchronization, but will save the phone charge).
• 🔄 Update the firmware – in new versions optimized energy consumption.

On the Mi Band 8, a quick-discharge bug may be associated with a sensor SpO₂. Turn it off in Settings. → Health → Oxygen in the blood.

📵 The clock is not synchronized with the phone.

Causes and solutions:

🔍 Sensors are not working (pulse, steps)

If the watch has stopped tracking activity:

1. Check if they are close to the wrist (gap). >2mm distorts data).
2. Wipe the sensors on the back with an alcohol napkin (sweat and dirt interfere with reading).
3. Turn on and off the Training mode - it resets the sensors.
4. If nothing helps, reset the watch to factory settings.

🔐 The clock is locked (forgotten) PIN)

If you've installed PIN-code and forgot it:

1. Connect the watch to charge.
2. Hold the button for 15 seconds until the reset menu appears.
3. Select Reset (on Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro you need to confirm swipe up).

Important: after discharge PIN The clock will return to factory settings!

8. Secret functions and button combinations

The manufacturer does not advertise these features, but they can make life easier.

🔑 Hidden combinations

• 🔋 Check the status of the battery: on the off clock hold the button 5 Seconds: The screen will flash green/red (green) = >50%, red = <20%).
• 📡 Flight mode: on Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro swipe down from the top edge of the screen and click on the icon of the aircraft.
• 🔍 Screen test: enter the code ##3646633 in the engineering menu (hold the button when connecting to charging##.
• 🔄 Forced synchronization: Shake the clock 3 I have been working for Mi Band (once in a row) 7/8).

🤫 Undocumented features

• 🎮 Watch games: on Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro you can install 2048 or Snake through third-party dials.
• 📸 Phone Camera Control: In Zepp Life, Enable Remote Shooting – You Can Now Take Photos by Pressing the Watch Screen.
• 🔊 Alarm clock: if you set two alarm clocks with an interval of 5 minutes, the second will work only if you do not stand on the first.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions