How to turn on Xiaomi Mi Watch: 5 ways to do different things

The Xiaomi Mi Watch has become one of the most popular activity-tracking gadgets, but even with a simple action like turning on, users sometimes have difficulties, especially when it comes to first setting up after purchase, draining the battery or resetting to factory settings. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn on the Mi Watch, from standard start-up to solving emergency situations.

It's important to understand that the process can vary depending on the model: Mi Watch Lite, Mi Watch Color, Mi Watch S1 or more, and we've taken these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will work for most devices, and if your watch doesn't respond to the power button, doesn't show charging or is stuck on the logo, here's the solution.

1. Standard inclusion of Xiaomi Mi Watch

The easiest way is to use a physical button, which is on the right end of the body on all Mi Watch models, to turn on the watch:

1. Make sure the device is charged (the charging indicator should burn when the cable is connected).
2. Press and hold the power button for 3-5 seconds until the Xiaomi logo appears.
3. Release the button and wait for the system to boot up fully (usually 10-20 seconds).

If the watch is new and is turned on for the first time, after downloading, you will be asked to choose a language, connect to the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp for new models) and adjust the basic parameters. S1 Pro and newer at the first inclusion requires mandatory binding to the account Xiaomi through QR-code.

If the button does not respond, check:

• 🔋 Charge level: connect the watch to the charger for 10-15 minutes, even if the indicator is not on.
• 🔌 Cable and Power Unit: Try Another USB-cable or socket (use the original adapter on the 5V/1A).
• 💧 Moisture: If the watch is wet, dry it for 24 hours before turning on.

Inclusion after full discharge

If the Xiaomi Mi Watch is dead and doesn't show signs of life, a standard button press may not work.

1. Connect the watch to the charger and leave it for a minimum of 30 minutes (even if the indicator doesn’t light up).
2. After 30 minutes, press and hold the power button for 10-15 seconds.
3. If the screen is black, turn off the cable, wait 1 minute and try again.

On the Mi Watch Lite and Color models, a forced reset may be required after a deep discharge.

1. Connect the watch to charge.
2. Press the power button for 20+ seconds until you feel the vibration.
3. Release the button and the clock should reset.

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If the charging indicator flashes red and goes out after a few seconds, try cleaning the contacts on the back of the watch with an alcohol wipe.

If these actions did not help, the problem may be:

• 🔋 Failed battery (replacement required).
• 🔌 Damaged charging connector (check for mechanical defects).
• 📱 Software failure (requires firmware via PC).

3. Forced reset (if the clock is getting stuck)

If the Xiaomi Mi Watch is stuck on the logo, does not respond to touch or power button, perform a hard reboot:

1. Turn off the clock from the charger (if connected).
2. Press the power button for 15-20 seconds until the screen goes out and reboots.
3. If the screen doesn’t go out, wait until the battery is completely discharged (it may take a few hours), then charge and turn it on again.

For Mi Watch S1 and newer models with touch button:

• Press and hold the touch button (marked by a dot on the screen) for 10 seconds.
• If there is no reaction, use a physical button on the body.

After the forced reboot:

• 🔄 The clock can start in recovery mode (if there was a firmware failure).
• ⚙️ You may need to reset the date, time and phone connection.

4. Enable after resetting settings

If you reset to factory settings (e.g., Settings → System → Reset or after firmware), the watch will turn on automatically, but will require initial setup.

1. After reset, a welcome screen will appear with a choice of language.
2. Connect your watch to your phone via Mi Fitness or Zepp (scan). QR-clock-screen).
3. Sync your Xiaomi or Zepp account details.

On the Mi Watch S1 Pro and Watch 2 Pro models, you may need to:

• 📱 Re-linking to the phone (the old watch-phone pair is torn).
• 🔒 Entering a password from your Xiaomi account if protection is enabled.

Charging hours by at least 50%|Keeping important data (steps, training)|Disconnecting the hours from the phone in the app|A password from your Xiaomi account (if protection is enabled)-->

If the clock is not switched on after reset:

• 🔋 Check the battery charge (reset consumes additional energy).
• 📴 Try another cable or power supply.
• 🔄 Perform a forced reboot (see Section 3).

Inclusion problems and solutions

If the Xiaomi Mi Watch is not turned on despite all attempts, use the table to diagnose the problem:

If none of these methods worked and the clock still doesn’t respond, you may need to:

• 🔧 Firmware via PC (for experienced users).
• 🛠️ Repairs at the service center (if the problem is iron).

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90% of problems with the inclusion of Xiaomi Mi Watch are solved by charging, resetting or replacing the cable. If the watch does not respond to charging and power button for more than a day, this is an occasion to contact the service.

6. Frequent user errors

Many of the problems with inclusion are due to non-obvious errors, and here are the most common ones:

• 🔌 Use of non-original cable: cheap cables may not provide enough current to charge. Always use the original cable or certified analogue.
• 🕒 Insufficient charging time: After full discharge, the watch may require up to 1-2 hours of charging before turning on.
• 📱 No phone binding: some models (e.g. Mi Watch) S1 Pro) not fully enabled without connection to the Zepp application.
• 💦 Moisture: Even if the watch has 5 protections ATM, Salt water or steam can cause contact corrosion.

Another common mistake is to try to turn on the watch immediately after being removed from the box without removing the protective film from the charging contacts. Check the back of the case: if there is a transparent sticker, remove it before connecting to the charger.

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If you bought a used watch, reset the settings before turning on. To do this, press the power button for 15 seconds until the recovery menu appears (if supported by the model).

7.Firmware as a last resort

If the Xiaomi Mi Watch is not turned on due to a software glitch, it may be necessary to flash it.This method is suitable for power users and requires:

• 🖥️ Windows computer.
• 🔌 Original Firmware Cable (sometimes different from standard charging cable).
• 📁 Firmware for your model (download only from official sources, for example, en.miui.com).

Instructions for firmware through the Mi Flash Tool:

1. Download and install the Mi Flash Tool and drivers for Xiaomi Mi Watch.
2. Connect the watch to the PC in firmware mode (usually the power button + cable connection is clamped).
3. Select the firmware file in the Mi Flash Tool and press Flash.
4. Wait until the process is complete (don’t turn off the clock!).

Warning: improper firmware can turn a watch into a brick. If you are not sure about your skills, contact the service center. For Mi Watch S1 models and newer firmware via PC, the manufacturer can block it, in which case only official repairs will help.

Frequently asked questions