Smart watch Xiaomi Watch S1 — It's a stylish and functional device that combines classic design with modern technology, and it's suitable for everyday use and for sports training, thanks to its wide range of sensors and capabilities. However, many users have difficulty connecting or configuring individual functions for the first time, and in this article we will discuss all the steps of working with the watch, from unpacking to fine-tuning, and give tips for solving typical problems.
If you have just purchased a Xiaomi Watch S1 If you're planning to buy one, this guide will help you understand all the nuances, and we're not going to limit ourselves to basic instructions, but you'll find hidden features, recommendations for optimizing your battery, and even ways to customize your dial. And for those who already use the watch, we have prepared a section with non-obvious life hacks that will make interaction with the device even more convenient.
1. Unpacking and first powering up Xiaomi Watch S1
In the box with the watch you will find the device itself, a magnetic charging cable, brief instructions in several languages (including Russian) and a warranty card. S1 They come with a partially charged battery, so you can turn them on immediately after you buy them, but for full use, we recommend that you fully charge the device before you first connect.
To turn on the watch, press and hold the side button (located on the right) for 3-5 seconds until the Mi logo appears on the screen. The first turn on can take up to a minute – this is normal, since the device conducts the initial diagnosis. After downloading, you will be asked to choose the interface language. Here it is important to note that the Xiaomi Watch S1 Supports Russian, but some system notifications may be displayed in English.
- 📦 Set: watch, charging cable, instruction, warranty card
- 🔋 Charging: magnetic connector, full charge time — ~2 hours
- 🌐 Languages: Russian (partially), English, Chinese, etc.
- ⚙️ First Including: Hold the Side button until the logo appears
⚠️ Note: Do not use the Xiaomi Watch to charge S1 cables from other devices, even if they look similar, mismatched voltage can damage the battery. 5V 1A.
2. Connection to a smartphone: step-by-step instructions
For full operation Xiaomi Watch S1 You need to connect them to your smartphone via the Mi Fitness app (formerly known as Mi Fit), the app is available for Android (version 6.0 and higher) and iOS (version 10.0 and higher:
- 📱 Google Play for Android
- 🍎 App Store for iOS
After installing the application, follow the following steps:
- Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required!).
- Click on the profile icon in the upper right corner and select Add Device.
- In the list of devices, find the Xiaomi Watch S1 and confirm the choice.
- It'll appear on the clock. QR-code – scan it through the app or enter the code manually.
- Confirm the pairing on both devices.
The synchronization process can take a few minutes, and once you're connected successfully, you'll have all the functions of the watch, including notifications, health monitoring, and music management. If the watch doesn't connect, check:
Is Bluetooth enabled on your smartphone?
Is the Mi Fitness app updated to the latest version?
Is the application allowed to use the location (required for some functions)
Restart the watch and smartphone
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⚠️ Note: On the iPhone some features Xiaomi Watch S1 This may be limited by Apple's policies, such as not answering calls directly from the clock or setting third-party dials.
3. Set up the main parameters
After connecting to your smartphone, we recommend you immediately configure the key parameters of the watch to avoid problems in the future. Go to the settings menu on the watch, swipe up the main screen and select the icon. ⚙️ Settings. The following options are available here:
| Section | What can be customized | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Screen. | Brightness, backlight time, always on display (AOD) | Set brightness to 70-80% for balance between visibility and power consumption |
| Notifications | Vibration, sound signals, choice of applications for alerts | Disable notifications from unnecessary apps (such as games) in Mi Fitness |
| Health | Heart rate measurement, inactivity reminders, sleep monitoring | Turn on automatic pulse measurement every 10 minutes for accurate data |
| Sport | Autodetermining activity, goals by steps / calories | Set your goals to fit your daily workload (e.g., 8,000 steps instead of the standard 10,000 steps) |
Pay special attention to the setting of the always-on display (AOD). This feature is useful if you want to see time without unnecessary movements, but it significantly reduces battery life (up to 30–40%). AOD:
- Go to Settings → Display.
- Select the screen always on.
- Set the display style (digits or full dial).
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If you turn it on AOD, Turn off automatic pulse measurement in the background, which will save up to 15% of the charge per day.
Installation and change of dials
One of the main advantages of Xiaomi Watch S1 — You can customize your dial. 5-7 options are available by default, but you can download additional ones through the Mi Fitness app:
- Open Mi Fitness and select your watch from the device list.
- Go to the Dials section.
- View the available options and click Download on your favorite.
- After loading, the dial is automatically synchronized with the clock.
To change the dial directly on the clock:
- Touch and hold the main screen for 2-3 seconds.
- Scroll through the available options left/right.
- Click on the selected dial for application.
Some dials support widgets, small windows with information about the weather, steps or pulse, to add a widget:
- 📱 Swipe left/right on the watch's main screen.
- 🔄 Select Add a widget to the menu.
- ⚡ Customize the data displayed (such as weather forecast or charge level).
Where to download the unofficial dials?
5. Health monitoring and sports functions
Xiaomi Watch S1 equipped with sensors to track heart rate, blood oxygen levels (SpO₂), Sleep quality and stress levels: To be accurate, follow these guidelines:
- 🩺 Pulse: Wear the watch tightly but not squeezing the wrist.
- 😴 Sleep: Turn on Do Not Disturb During Sleep for accurate monitoring.
- 🏃 Sport: Choose the appropriate activity type from the workout menu.
- 💧 Sweat: After intense workouts, wipe the sensors with a dry wipe.
To start a sports training:
- On the watch, select the Sport icon (running man).
- Flick through the list of activities (running, cycling, swimming, etc.).
- Click on the desired sport and confirm the start of the training.
- Once completed, click Finish – the data is automatically synced to Mi Fitness.
In the Mi Fitness app, you can view detailed statistics on each workout, including:
- 📊 Route on map (if enabled) GPS)
- ⏱️ Activity time and pace
- 🔥 Calories spent and average heart rate
⚠️ Attention: Sensor SpO₂ (Oxygen level in Xiaomi Watch S1 It is not intended for medical diagnosis, its readings may vary depending on external conditions (for example, low temperature.
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To accurately track sleep, wear a watch on your non-working hand (left hand for right-handers, right hand for left-handers), which reduces the likelihood of random movements that distort data.
6. Optimization of battery life
Average operating time of Xiaomi Watch S1 It takes 7-12 days to charge a single charge, but it depends on the settings. If your watch is running out too fast, check the following parameters:
| Function | Impact on the battery | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Always on screen (AOD) | Reduces working hours by 30-50% | Turn off or use a minimalist style |
| Automatic heart rate measurement | Expenditure ~5-10% daily | Set the interval of 30 minutes instead of 10 |
| Vibration notifications | Expenditure ~3-5% a day | Turn off vibration for unnecessary applications |
| GPS training | Expenditure ~15-20% per hour of use | Use only when necessary (for example, for running outdoors) |
Additional tips for saving charge:
- 🌙 Turn on Power Saving Mode in Settings (disables background processes).
- 📵 Disable notifications from social media if they are not critical.
- 🔄 Update the firmware of the watch – new versions often optimize power consumption.
If the watch runs out in less than 3 days in standard use, this may indicate a software failure or battery defect.
- Go to Settings → System → Reset.
- Choose Reset all settings.
- Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.
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Before resetting, save your Mi Fitness workout data as it will be deleted from the watch.
7. Solving common problems
Even with a reliable watch like the Xiaomi Watch S1, We've collected the most common problems and ways to fix them:
- 🔄 The clock doesn't sync: Reboot the watch and the smartphone. Remove the device in Mi Fitness and reconnect. Check if Bluetooth and Internet are on on on the phone.
- 📵 No notifications: In your smartphone settings, allow Mi Fitness to show notifications. Check if the Do Not Disturb on the watch is enabled.
- ⚡ Fast discharge: Disable unnecessary functions (AOD, Check if background training is running (for example, if you forgot to complete running mode).
- 🔊 Mike or speaker not working: Make sure nothing blocks microphone/dynamic holes (dust, moisture). Check the sound settings in Settings → Sound.
If none of these methods worked, please contact Xiaomi Service Center before visiting:
Make a backup of the data in Mi Fitness
Write down the serial number of the clock (located in Settings) → About the device)
Bring a check or a guarantee card with you.
Reset the clock to factory settings (on request)
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You can use a hidden menu of engineering settings to diagnose software problems.
- Go to Settings. → About the device.
- Click 5 times in a row on the Software version.
- Enter the code 1234 (by default).
- In the engineering menu, you can test the display, vibration, sensors, etc.
⚠️ Warning: Do not change the parameters in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose.
8 Hidden functions and life hacks
Xiaomi Watch S1 They have some non-obvious features that are not mentioned in the official manual:
- 🎵 Music control: On a watch, you can switch tracks and adjust volume even if the phone is at the other end of the room (provided they are connected via Bluetooth).
- 📸 Remote camera shutter: Mi Fitness has a camera control function – the watch can serve as a remote for taking selfies.
- 🔦 Flashlight: Quickly turn on the screen backlight at maximum brightness by swiping down and holding the flashlight icon.
- 🚪 Do Not Disturb Schedule Mode: Set up automatic notifications off during sleep or appointments.
- 💦 Waterproof: The watch can withstand immersion to a depth of 50 meters (standard 5) ATM), But after swimming, wash them with fresh water.
Another useful feature is quick responses to messages, and if you have a notification from your messenger on your watch, you can:
- Flick the message to the left.
- Select one of the predefined answers (e.g., “OK,” “I’ll be back later”).
- The answer will be sent automatically via smartphone.
Android smartphone owners can unlock their phones with a watch to set it up:
- In Mi Fitness, go to Device Settings → Unlocking the phone.
- Follow the instructions on the screen (you will need to turn on Bluetooth and allow access to notifications).
- Now that the watch is connected, the phone will unlock without entering a password.
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The unlock feature only works on Xiaomi, Redmi or other devices. POCO steerable MIUI. On other Android smartphones, it may not be available.