The Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 1S is a popular model among urban dwellers, but even with such a reliable device, sometimes difficulties arise. The most common problem faced by beginners (and others): the scooter does not respond to the on button or behaves unexpectedly after charging. The reasons can be different from a banal discharged battery to software failures of the controller.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways Xiaomi 1S can turn on, including forced launch, resetting, and troubleshooting. You’ll learn what to do when the indicators aren’t on, how to tell hardware from software, and why a scooter can freeze after a firmware update. And for those who just bought the device, a detailed guide from the first turn on to setting up the mobile app.
Importantly, the launch algorithms may vary depending on the firmware version, and if your scooter was updated through the official Mi Home app, some button combinations may not work, as we'll talk about.
1. Standard on: power button and indicators
The most obvious way is to use a physical button on the steering wheel. On the Xiaomi 1S, it's located under the right handle (near the brake lever) and has a backlight. Here's how to turn on correctly:
- 🔄 Short press (0.5–1 sec): charge level check. The indicator flashes with one of four colors (green – 100–75%, blue – 75–50%, yellow – 50–25%, red – less than 25%).
- 🔋 Long press (3-5 seconds): full on. A beep (one short beep) should sound and a white indicator should light up.
- 🚫 No reaction: If nothing happens after 5 seconds of holding the button, go to the "Diagnostics of malfunctions" section».
Pay attention to the sound signals: 1 beep - successful inclusion; 2 beep - controller error (reboot required); 3 beep - locking due to a fall (you need to unlock through the application).
⚠️ Warning: If the light flashes red 10 times in a row, it indicates a critical battery error.
Forced start: what to do if the scooter does not respond
If standard on-line doesn't work, try one of the compulsory methods, which helps in 80% of cases when the problem is caused by a temporary failure of the controller or "hang" of the firmware.
Method 1: Hard reboot
The analogue of "pull out the battery" on a smartphone is suitable if the scooter suddenly stopped turning on after a fall or update.
- Hold the power button for 10-15 seconds until the indicator is completely turned off.
- Release the button and wait 30 seconds (this is important – the controller must completely discharge the capacitors).
- Press the power button again for 3-5 seconds for standard turn on.
Method 2: Combination of buttons for error resetting
This method works if the scooter is locked because of a fall or speeding, and it resets the time limit, but it doesn't affect the settings of the application.
Make sure the scooter is off | Hold the power button + brake button at the same time | Hold 5-7 seconds to double beep | Release the buttons and turn on the scooter in the standard way-->
If after this procedure the scooter turned on, but the Mi Home app displays a warning about a fall, synchronize data via Bluetooth.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use the button combination more than 1 time per hour.This can cause the gyroscope calibration to fail, and the scooter will spontaneously brake.
3. Checking the battery and charger
In 60 percent of cases, power issues are associated, and even if the light on the charger is green, it doesn't guarantee that the scooter battery is charged correctly.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The indicator does not burn when charging | Faulty zo or oxidized contacts | Drink the contacts with alcohol, try another ROM (only the original 42V/1.7A!) |
| Charging is underway, but the scooter does not turn on | Deep battery discharge | Leave 12+ hours on charging, then try forced start |
| Battery charges up to 100%, but quickly goes down | Degradation of elements (more than 500 cycles) | Replacement of battery in the service (cost) ~8 000 ₽) |
| ZU warms or smells of burns | Short circuit in the chain | Disable immediately, do not use until the diagnosis |
For accurate battery diagnosis: Turn on the scooter → Press the power button for 5 seconds → Count the flashing of the indicator.
- 🟢 4 blinks - battery normal.
- 🔵 3 blinks - charging is required.
- 🟡 2 flashings - deep discharge (you need to charge 12)+ hours).
- 🔴 1 blinking - a critical error BMS (repair).
💡
If the scooter has been discharged for a long time (more than 3 months), before the first switching on, charge it for 24 hours with a low current (use the RAM from the 19V laptop through the adapter).
4. Enable via the Mi Home mobile app
The official Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home for newer versions) allows you not only to control the scooter, but also to diagnose problems with the inclusion.
- Make sure that Bluetooth and geolocation are enabled on the smartphone (required to search for devices).
- Open Mi Home → press + → Add device → select Scooter.
- Hold the power button on the scooter for 5 seconds until you hear the beep.
- Your Xiaomi 1S will appear in the app – click “Connect”.
- After synchronization, go to Settings → Diagnostics, and you will see errors, if any.
Through the application, you can perform: Reboot the controller (Service section); Reset the lock after a fall (if the scooter issues an E22 error); Update the firmware (relevant if the scooter does not turn on after the update).
⚠️ Note: If an error is displayed in the application E01 or E02, This indicates a problem with BMS-Self-repair is dangerous - contact the service.
What to do if the app does not see the scooter?
5. Reset to factory settings: when and how to do
Full Reset is a last resort measure that helps if the scooter:
not activated after updating the firmware;
hung on the Xiaomi logo;
It does not respond to buttons and app.
The reset procedure removes all settings, including:
Link to the Mi Account;
speed limits;
travel history.
But it doesn't.
Turn off the scooter (hold the power button 10 seconds)|Make sure the battery is charged at least 30 times%|Hold the power button. + brake-button 10 seconds|Wait for the triple beep and the indicator blink|Release the buttons - the scooter reboots-->
After reset: Tie the scooter back to Mi Home; Calibrate the brakes (Service section in the app); Update the firmware to the latest version.
💡
Factory reset does not solve hardware problems (e.g., a burnt-out controller or a damaged battery) If the scooter does not turn on after reset, a diagnostic service is required.
6. Diagnosis of malfunctions: when to contact the service
If none of these methods worked, it's probably a hardware problem, and here are the signs that self-repairing is dangerous:
- ⚡ Short circuit: scooter sparks, smells of smoke, battery swelled.
- 🔥 Controller overheating: the body in the steering wheel area is hot even after 10 minutes of downtime.
- 💧 Moisture: The scooter does not turn on after rain or washing.
- 🔊 Extraneous sounds: grinding, crackling or buzzing when trying to turn on.
Average repair costs in Xiaomi service centers (2026):
| Malfunction | Cost (₽) |
|---|---|
| Battery replacement (original) | 7 500–9 000 |
| Controller repair | 3 000–5 000 |
| Replacement BMS-pay-off | 4 000–6 000 |
| Diagnosis + cleaning of contacts | 1 000–1 500 |
Before visiting the service: Take photos of errors in the Mi Home app; record a video demonstrating the problem; Check the warranty (on Xiaomi 1S it is 12 months from the date of purchase).