Owners of Xiaomi smart wearables often face a situation where you have to force or routinely deactivate the gadget, which may be necessary to save battery power during long downtime, during flights when flight mode is required, or, most often, when the system is software freezes. Unlike smartphones, where the off button is in the explicit lock menu, the logic of the Mi Wear or Zepp interface may differ depending on the model.
Many users mistakenly believe that simply removing or depleting the battery is the only way to stop work. However, correctly shutting down the work extends the life of the electronic software complex and prevents the accumulation of errors in the system cache. In this article, we will discuss in detail the software and hardware methods of shutting down for various lines of activity trackers.
Standard algorithm through the device menu
The most common way to deactivate the Mi Band bracelets (starting with the 4th model) and the Mi Watch involves using a touch interface. You need to unlock the screen, swipe down or up (depending on the firmware version) open the quick access menu or the main app menu. Find an icon that resembles a gear or the letter "M".
Inside the settings section, you should scroll down the list, and you'll have System or System, and you'll click on it, and you'll see Power off or Shutdown, and you'll have the system request confirmation to avoid accidental tapping, and that's standard security.
It is important to understand that on some budget models of fitness trackers, the full shutdown function may not be in the user interface. In such cases, the device goes into sleep mode when you lower your hand, but does not turn off completely. Complete power outage on trackers without a screen is often only possible through battery discharge to 0%.
Disconnection through a companion application
If the touch screen is late or you prefer to control the gadget from your phone, you can use the Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life) or Zepp. This method is especially relevant when you need to reset your connection settings before reselling the device. Open the application on your smartphone and go to the Profile tab.
Select your bracelet or watch from the list of connected devices. In the menu that opens, look for Settings. Scroll through the list of options to the end. There may be a Unplug or Reset button. Pressing this button will force the device to restart and reset the connection settings, which is equivalent to turning off and then turning on in pairing mode.
It is worth noting that direct power control (Switch off button) via Bluetooth is not available on all models, most often the application initiates a reboot, not a complete shutdown, but you still need to interact with the device itself to completely shut down.
- 🔋 Make sure the battery charge is above 10% before performing the reset to avoid data writing errors.
- 📱 Keep your smartphone next to your watch at a distance of no more than 1 meter during surgery.
- 🔄 After the detachment, the device will automatically go to the search mode for a new phone.
Forced reset when getting stuck
The situation where the sensor stops responding to touch and the screen freezes in one image is familiar to many. In this case, the standard menu is not available. The only solution is a hardware reset, known as Hard Reset buttons. Most Xiaomi and Amazfit models use a single physical button.
You need to hold the power button for a long time, and it usually takes 10 to 20 seconds to go out, and then the brand logo might appear, and if you want to turn it off, release the button as soon as the screen goes out, without waiting for it to turn on again.
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If the device does not respond to a long press, try connecting it to the charger for 1-2 minutes to “wake up” the power controller, and then repeat the shutdown procedure.
On models without physical buttons (where only a touch sensor is used, as in the old Mi Band), a forced reboot is accomplished by mounting a tracker to charge. Connecting to a power source often initiates a system reboot if it was in a deep sleep or error state.
⚠️ Note: Do not hold the button for more than 30 seconds unnecessarily, and on some models, this may trigger a recovery mode (Recovery Mode), which can be difficult for the average user to exit.
Specificity of Mi Watch and Amazfit models
The Mi Watch, which is powered by Wear OS or HyperOS, has a more complex menu structure, similar to smartphones, where you turn off through the notification curtain. Swipe from top to bottom to open the control center. There should be a power icon.
The logic may be different for the Amazfit line (GTS, GTR, T-Rex) and in some versions the shutdown button is hidden in the Settings menu -> System -> Shutdown. In others, it requires a double tap on the physical button to call the menu where the shutdown option is selected. The exact algorithm depends on the Zepp OS firmware version.
Hidden button combinations
Owners of T-Rex sports models should be aware that buttons can be protected from accidental pressing.
| Model of the device | Type of management | Action to turn off | Retention time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 6/7/8 | Touch-sensitive | Menu -> Settings -> Turn off | N/D (tap) |
| Mi Watch Lite | Sensor + Button | Application menu -> Settings -> System | N/D (tap) |
| Amazfit GTS/GTR | Physical button | Double press -> Shutdown | N/D (tap) |
| Mi Watch (Wear OS) | Touch-sensitive | The curtain -> The food icon | N/D (tap) |
| Folding device | Hardware. | Holding the power button | 15-20 seconds |
What to do if the clock is not turned off
Sometimes software failure is critical, and standard methods don't help. If the screen is on but not responding, or the device is cyclically rebooted, a deep discharge is required. Leave the gadget on until the battery is completely depleted. This is safe for modern lithium polymer batteries, since the power controller will turn off the power supply when a critical minimum is reached.
After the screen has gone out and no longer responds to charging, leave the device to lie down for 2-3 hours. Then put it on charge. In most cases, this "cures" software glitch. If the problem recurs, you may need to flash the device through the official application.
☑️ Diagnostics of the problem
In rare cases, the problem lies in sticking a button or getting moisture. If you suspect mechanical damage, do not try to charge the device, as this can cause a short circuit.
Flight mode as an alternative to shutdown
Often, users don't have to turn off the device, they just have to turn off the data, like in an airplane or to save energy, and in this case, it's better to use the Airplane Mode, which turns off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but leaves the clock and sensors running.
To activate this mode, swipe across the screen to open the quick access panel. Find the airplane icon. This action will break the connection to the smartfo, but the timing notifications and sensor readings will remain available. This also helps if the clock is "glutching" when synchronized.
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Using flight mode saves up to 40% of battery life per day compared to an active Bluetooth connection, while maintaining the functionality of the fitness tracker.
For eSIM-enabled models (such as the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro or ColorOS Watch), the cellular shutdown is done separately in network settings, an important nuance because finding a network in low signal conditions quickly land the battery.