Xiaomi electric scooters are some of the most popular vehicles in the city, but many owners have difficulty turning on their lights for the first time (M365, Pro 2, 1S, 4 Pro) and firmware versions. In this article, we will discuss all the official and alternative ways to turn on the flashlight, as well as typical errors that may cause the light to fail.
Xiaomi scooters feature an integrated lighting system that often involves speed locking (the flashlight only turns on when moving) or requires pre-tuning through a mobile app. If you first encounter brand technology, intuitive button pressing may not work. Next, step-by-step instructions with the nuances of different models and generations.
1. Standard method of switching on the flashlight through buttons
Most of the Xiaomi models, for example, M365, Pro, Essential) are equipped with a physical flashlight button, but its location and logic vary:
- 🔘 Power button: one short press turns on/off the front light (on some models – only when holding 2-3 seconds).
- 🔄 Double tap: Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 4 Pro and 1S Double click activates constant lighting (instead of blinking when braking).
- 🚲 Automatic turn on: on scooters with firmware 1.5.0+ The light will light up automatically when you start moving (speed) > 3 km/h).
Important: on models up to 2020 (for example, M365 First revision) the flashlight button may be combined with the power button:
- Hold the power button for 2 seconds until vibration.
- Immediately after the vibration, press the same button once (without holding!).
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If the flashlight does not respond to pressing, check the battery level – at a discharge below 10%, the system turns off the lighting to save energy.
On the Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 3 Lite and 4 Ultra scooters, the flashlight button is placed separately and below the display (💡). Single pressing includes front light, holding for 3 seconds – activates the “always on” mode (even in the parking lot).
2. Turn on the flashlight via the Mi Home app or Xiaomi Scooter
If the physical button doesn’t work or doesn’t (as on some budget models), the lighting can be controlled through the official app, which is also useful for setting up the automatic flashlight when driving or changing the flashing mode.
Instructions for Mi Home (relevant for firmware 1.3.5–2.1.8):
- Connect the scooter to the app via Bluetooth (if not connected).
- Go to the Device → Scooter settings → Lighting.
- Activate the "Light on" switch.
- In the "Modes" section, select: 🌓 Auto - turns on when driving. 🔦 Always burning (discharges the battery faster). 🚨 Only the brake - flashes when you press the brake.
For Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 4 Pro and later, use the Xiaomi Scooter app (formerly Mijia):
- 📱 Open the Control tab.
- 🔧 Click on the gear icon (settings).
- 💡 Choose the Light. → Lighting mode.
- ⚡ Set the desired mode and save the changes.
An important caveat: once you change the settings in the app, the scooter may need to reboot. Turn it off with the power button, wait 10 seconds and turn it on again. If the flashlight still doesn't work, check the firmware version - on older versions (1.2.7 and below), control through the application can be limited.
3. Why the lamp is not turned on: diagnostics of malfunctions
If neither the buttons nor the app help activate the lights, the problem could be hardware or software.
| Symptoms. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The light doesn't respond to the button, but the scooter is riding. | Firmware failure or resetting settings | Update the software through the application or reset settings (Settings) → Reset) |
| The lights flash and go out | Low battery charge (<15%) | Charge the scooter to 30% and try again |
| The lamp is only turned on when moving | Activated mode "Auto" in the settings | Change the mode to "Constantly" in the application |
| The lights are not on, but the lights on the panel are working. | Wire break or lamp contacts oxidation | Disassemble the flashlight and check the connections (driver requires) T10) |
| The lights are on, but very dimly. | Pollution of the lens or wear LED-element | Clean the lamp glass with alcohol or replace the lamp |
On scooters Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 1S Pro 2 after updating to version 1.6.1+ The flashlight can be locked when accelerating above 25 km/h (according to EU safety requirements).To turn off this restriction, you need to roll back the firmware or use custom firmware (not recommended for beginners).
How to check the flashlight chain with a multimeter?
⚠️ Warning: If the flashlight stopped working after a fall or impact, do not try to disassemble it yourself without experience. LED-Xiaomi modules use fragile soldered joints that are easily damaged.
4. Alternative ways to turn on the flashlight (for advanced users)
If standard methods fail, you can try activating the lights via a service menu or direct control of the controller, which is suitable for models with firmware 1.3.5-1.7.2.
Method 1: The combination of buttons for logging into the service menu
- Turn off the scooter.
- Hold the power button. + flash-button (or power) + brake on models without a separate light button).
- Turn on the scooter without releasing the buttons before you appear. BEEP-BEEP (sound-sign).
- Release the buttons and you will be taken to the engineering menu.
- Press the power button 3 times in a row to go to the Light Settings section.
- Select the lighting mode with the flashlight button and save the changes with a long press of the power button.
Method 2: Direct command via Bluetooth (for Android)
This method requires the installation of the nRF Connect application and knowledge. UUID-A team for your model. Example for Xiaomi M365:
UUID service: 0000fee7-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
Lamp switching command: A5 05 04 01 01 00 00 E9Detailed instructions for working with nRF Connect can be found in the section FAQ.
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Using a service menu or direct commands can result in a reset or scooter lock, only if you are confident in your actions!
5. Xiaomi scooters and their lighting features
Each Xiaomi model has unique nuances in the control of the flashlight. Below is a comparison table for popular versions:
| Model | Type of lamp | Including | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Electric Scooter M365 | Front LED (1W) | Power button (hold 2 seconds) + short-press) | Automatic shutdown at speed < 3 km/h |
| Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 | Front (1.5W) + rear-stop | A separate button under the display (💡) | “Always on” drains the battery in 4-5 hours |
| Mi Electric Scooter 1S | Front (2W) + side-light-emitting diodes | Mi Home app or double pressing of power button | Side lights are switched on only when driving > 5 km/h |
| Mi Electric Scooter 4 Pro | Front (3W) + posterior) | Button 💡 under the display or Xiaomi Scooter app | Supports 3 lighting modes (auto/constant/off) |
| Mi Electric Scooter Essential | Front (0.5W) | Only through the Mi Home app | No physical flashlight button |
On scooters Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 3 Lite and 4 Ultra implemented a system of “smart lighting”, which automatically adjusts the brightness of the flashlight depending on external lighting (works only when connected to the application).
Important for Pro 2 and 4 Pro owners: If the flashlight becomes dim after the firmware update, check the energy saving settings in the app. In Eco mode, the brightness of the light decreases by 30%.
6.How to improve lighting on Xiaomi scooter
Xiaomi standard lights are often criticized for their low brightness (especially on models up to 2021).If you are not satisfied with the standard lighting, consider the following upgrade options:
- 💡 Replacement LED-module: M365 and Pro can be installed lamps with power up to 5W (Xiaomi Original Upgrade Light).
To install an additional lamp will require:
Check the compatibility of the lamp with the voltage of the scooter (usually) 36V or 48V)
Purchase a steering mount (diameter 22-25 mm)
Disconnect the scooter from power before installation
Use a heat shrink tube to isolate connections
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Example of installation of a bicycle lamp:
- Buy a flashlight with a steering wheel mount (for example, Xiaomi Mi Smart) LED Bike Light).
- Fix it on the steering wheel of the scooter with silicone screeds.
- Connect to USB-port of the scooter through the adapter (if the lamp supports power from the 5V).
- Adjust the lighting angle so that the light does not blind oncoming pedestrians.
⚠️ Attention: Installation of lamps with a power over 5W This can cause Xiaomi's regular wiring to overheat. Use additional fuses or lay a separate battery power line.
7. Frequent errors when turning on the lamp and how to avoid them
Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that interfere with the proper operation of the lighting, and here are the most common ones:
- 🔄 Incorrect sequence of pressing: on M365 Many hold the power button for too long, which is why the scooter reboots instead of turning on the flashlight.
- 📱 Unsynchronized settings: changing the lighting mode in the application without subsequent rebooting of the scooter.
- 🔋 Ignoring Charge Level: When the light is below 15%, the flashlight turns off automatically, but users keep trying to turn it on.
- 🔧 Self-repair without diagnosis: disassembling a flashlight without multimeter check often leads to damage to contacts.
How to avoid problems:
- Always check the firmware version before setting up (in the app or through the service menu).
- After changes in the application, restart the scooter (turn off and turn on the power).
- Use only original chargers – poor-quality adapters can damage the lighting system.
- Before a long trip, check the operation of the lamp in the parking lot (some models turn off the lights after 5 minutes without moving).
If the lantern stopped working after rain or washing, the contacts probably corroded.
- Dry the scooter in a warm room for 12-24 hours.
- Remove the front panel and clean the lamp contacts with an alcohol solution.
- Apply dielectric lubrication to the connections (for example, CRC 2-26).