Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets have become an integral part of the daily lives of millions of users. They monitor activity, display notifications and even monitor health. But sometimes it becomes necessary to turn off the device completely - whether to save charge, reboot or prepare for long-term storage. Unlike smartphones, where the power button is always at hand, with wearable gadgets, the process of disconnecting is not so obvious.
In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn off Xiaomi watches, from the popular Mi Band 7/8 to the flagship Mi Watch S3 and Redmi Watch 4. You will learn how to properly terminate the device without risking damage to the firmware, what to do if the watch does not respond to presses, and what hidden combinations of buttons service centers use to force shutdown.
Why you might need to turn off Xiaomi watches
At first glance, a smartwatch doesn’t need to be turned off — it’s designed to work around the clock, but there are a few good reasons to turn it off completely:
- 🔋 Saving battery life for prolonged periods of non-use (e.g. during vacation or repairs) Even in standby mode, bracelets consume up to 5% of their charge per month.
- 🔄 Software failures, where the clock is getting stuck, not synchronizing, or showing incorrect time, often resolve such problems.
- ✈️ Preparation for flight – some airlines require that electronic devices be turned off during takeoff and landing.
- 🛠️ Repair or replace the battery.
- 📦 Long-term storage (more than 3 months) The manufacturer recommends turning off the device if it is not used.
It's important to understand that simply removing the bracelet from your hand or turning off Bluetooth in your smartphone is not the equivalent of turning it off. The device continues to operate in the background, using up charge and processing sensor data. A complete power outage is the only way to completely "sleep" the gadget.
How to turn off Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets (all generations)
The Mi Band line is the most popular among Xiaomi fitness trackers. Despite the appearance, the shutdown process for most models (Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7/8) is almost identical, the main difference is the location of the buttons and touch areas.
To turn off, follow the following steps:
- Go to the main screen of the bracelet (press the physical button or swipe up the sensor).
- Scroll the menu to the right to the Settings (cog icon).
- Select System → Turn off (in some models, the item is called Disable Power).
- Confirm the action by holding the button or touching the tick on the screen.
If the bracelet does not respond to touch, try forced shutdown:
- Connect the bracelet to the charger.
- Hold the physical button for 15-20 seconds.
- Release the button after vibration - the device will turn off.
Sync data with Mi Fitness
Charge the bracelet to at least 20%
Make sure there are no magnets nearby (may knock down a compass)
Remember the current settings (they will reset at low charge)-->
One important caveat: Mi Band 3 and Mi Band 4 can be time-consuming when you turn off, because of the power-saving chip, so to avoid the problem, sync your time with the app before you turn off.
Turn off the Xiaomi Mi Watch and Redmi Watch
Xiaomi smartwatches (Mi Watch, Mi Watch Lite, Redmi Watch 2/3/4) have a more complex control system than fitness bracelets. Here, the shutdown can be done through menus and hardware buttons.
The standard method (for most models):
- Press and hold the side button (usually the right button) for 3-5 seconds.
- In the menu that appears, select Turn Off (Power icon).
- Confirm the action by moving the slider or clicking on the tick.
For the Mi Watch S3 and Redmi Watch 4 with Wear OS, the process is slightly different:
- Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
- Click on the Power icon (or Settings → System → Turn off).
- Confirm the shutdown by holding the OK button.
What to do if the clock is not turned off?
Data Warning: On a Wear OS watch (e.g. Mi Watch S3), shutting down does not cause data loss, but may interrupt background synchronization processes. If you used the watch to pay through Mi Pay, you will need to re-authorize after turning on.
Hidden functions and service teams
The manufacturer doesn't advertise the full capabilities of its devices, and there are hidden combinations that are used in service centers to diagnose and force them to shut down, and these methods should only be used in extreme cases, as they can lead to resets.
For fitness bracelets Mi Band 5/6/7/8:
- 🔧 Reset to factory settings + Shutdown: Hold the button for 10 seconds → When you vibrate, let go, hold on for another 10 seconds, and the bracelet will turn off and reset.
- 🔄 Reboot without turning off: connect to charging → Hold the button for 5 seconds → Release after the double vibration.
For the Mi Watch and Redmi Watch:
- 🛠️ Diagnostic mode: on the clock off, hold both buttons for 15 seconds → Connect to the PC through USB-C. The watch will include service mode (for firmware).
- ⚡ Emergency shutdown: If the watch overheats, place it in the fridge for 10 minutes (not in the freezer.
| Model of the device | Standard shutdown | Forced shutdown | Reset + shutdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 3/4 | Menu → Settings → Turn off | Hold the 15 second button on charging | Hold 20 seconds. → vibration → let go |
| Mi Band 5/6/7/8 | Swipe up → Settings → System → Turn off | Hold the 20 sec button | Hold 10 seconds → let go → hold another 10 seconds |
| Mi Watch Lite | Hold the side button 5 seconds → Turn off | Hold both buttons for 15 seconds | There's no separate team. |
| Redmi Watch 3/4 | Swipe down → Power down → Turn off | Hold the 25 sec button | There's no separate team. |
| Mi Watch S3 | Settings → System → Disconnect power | Hold the top button 30 seconds | Hold both buttons for 20 seconds |
Critical information: on models with NFC (Mi Band 7 Pro, Mi Watch S2), a forced shutdown can lead to the loss of tied bank cards.
What happens to data after shutdown
Many users fear that turning off the clock will result in a loss of accumulated information — steps, sleep, heart rate. In fact, all the data is stored in the device's memory and synced with the application the next time it is turned on.
- 📊 Unsynchronized data (for the last two years) 1-2 They may be lost if the battery runs out. Always sync before switching off.
- ⏱️ Timers and alarm clocks are reset. They'll have to be reset.
- 🔒 Notification settings (e.g., disabled apps) will remain, but may require re-authorization.
- 🏃 Training will be interrupted in the process without recovery.
On a Wear OS watch (such as the Mi Watch S3), you may need to re-enter a password for some features (such as Google Pay) after shutdown.
💡
If you turn off the clock before you fly, turn off In-Air mode in the settings beforehand, and in some models, it activates automatically when you turn off, which can block Bluetooth after you turn on.
How to turn on Xiaomi watch after switching off
Turning on Xiaomi devices is usually easy, but there are models with non-obvious logic, for example, the Mi Band 3 only turns on when connected to charging, and the Mi Watch S3 - with a long press of the side button.
General instruction:
- Connect the device to the charger (for Mi Band 1-5, this is mandatory).
- Hold the physical button (or touch zone) for 3-5 seconds.
- Wait for the vibration and appearance of the Xiaomi logo.
- After downloading, make a binding to the smartphone, if required.
For models with a touch screen (Mi Band 6/7/8, Redmi Watch):
- Just touch the screen after connecting to the charger.
- Hold your finger on the screen for 5 seconds.
Problems with turning on? If the watch doesn't respond:
- Check the charger (try another cable).
- Leave the device on charge for 10-15 minutes – it is possible that the battery is completely discharged.
- For the Mi Watch, try holding both buttons for 10 seconds.
💡
If the watch is not turned on after long storage, keep it on charge for at least 30 minutes. Modern lithium-polymer batteries can "sleep" at deep discharge and take time to "wake up".
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Misallowing or turning on Xiaomi watches can cause software failures, and these are the most common errors and ways to prevent them:
- ❌ Shutting down during synchronization → You'll always wait until the synchronization is complete in Mi Fitness.
- ❌ Use of non-original chargers → It can cause firmware to fail. Use only proprietary cables.
- ❌ Forced shutdown in the cold → below 0°C screen could get damaged. Let the clock heat up to room temperature.
- ❌ Long-term storage with discharged battery → It causes battery degradation. Optimal charge level for storage — 40-60%.
Pay special attention to models with waterproofing (Mi Band 7 Pro, Redmi Watch 3 Active).
- Wash the body with a dry cloth.
- Place the device in rice or silica gel for 1-2 hours to remove moisture.
- Only then turn it off.
⚠️ Attention: if after turning off the clock does not turn on, and charging does not help - do not try to disassemble the device yourself. 90% In cases, the problem is solved by flashing through the Mi Fit Tool, but this requires experience with the help of the user. ADB. FAQ: Answers to popular questions Can you turn off the Xiaomi Mi Band without a button (if it broke)? Yes, to do this, connect the bracelet to charging and wait for the charge indicator to appear. Then sharply turn off the cable - the device will turn off. Alternative way: discharge the battery until the battery is turned off. 0% (may take 1-2 Why does the Mi Watch go off? It's because it's power-efficient, and it uses a quartz generator to count the time that can go away when the power goes out completely. To avoid the problem, sync the time with the Mi Fitness app before turning off. How do you turn off Xiaomi smartwatches if they're stuck and unresponsive? Forced reboot: Connect the watch to charging. Hold the side button (or both buttons if there's two) for 20-30 seconds. After double vibration, let go, the watch reboots. If that doesn't work, drain the battery to 0% (wait 1-2 days without charging). Do you need to turn off the Xiaomi Mi Band overnight? No, it's not necessary. Bracelets are optimized for round-the-clock operation and consume minimal power in standby mode. Moreover, after a night shutdown, the watch reboots, if you don't officially switch off the watch from the Miness to the notification, you can's not worry about the watch, if you's power from the app.