How to Switch a Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter S1: Full guide to photo and video

The Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter S1 — A procedure that can dramatically improve your performance, add new features, or eliminate factory constraints, but the wrong actions can turn your vehicle into a brick. From tool preparation to solving possible errors, and also tell you what versions of the software are relevant in 2026 and how they differ from old releases.

Many owners face a dilemma: sew the scooter themselves or contact the service. On the one hand, official updates through the Mi Home app are safe, but often lack “advanced” features. On the other hand, custom firmware gives you access to overclocking, speed limit deactivation, and even integration with alternative applications like ScooterHacking Utility, but here lies the main danger: Incompatibility of the firmware with the controller can lead to loss of warranty or failure of power electronics. S1.

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1.Why stitch through Xiaomi Scooter S1: pros and cons

The firmware of the scooter has several purposes, and not all of them are obvious to beginners.

• 🚀 Increase in maximum speed (from factory 25 km/h to 30-35 km/h depending on firmware).
• 🔋 Energy efficiency: Some firmwares adjust battery discharge algorithms to extend battery life.
• 📱 Advanced telemetry: output of additional data to the application (controller temperature, motor current, battery cell voltage).
• 🔓 Removal of regional restrictions (e.g. speed locks in EU countries).

But there is a downside: First, any unofficial firmware is unwarranted, because the manufacturer can easily detect software interference in the diagnosis; second, some overclocked versions increase the load on the motor and battery, which can lead to overheating or accelerated battery degradation; and finally, firmware errors (such as an interrupted process) often require hardware reset via a service cable.

If you want to just upgrade to the latest official version, just use the Mi Home app, but installing custom software will require deeper access to the system, which we will talk about later.

2.What firmware versions exist for Xiaomi S1

The Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter S1 There are three types of firmware available:

Official (from Xiaomi) – released through the Mi Home app and installed by air (OTA). The latest stable version for May 2026 is 1.5.6 (for the European region) and 1.6.2 (for Asia), which close vulnerabilities, improve stability, but often introduce additional restrictions (for example, forced speed reduction with low battery charge).

Castomium (from the community) - the most popular assemblies:

• 🔥 ScooterHacking Utility (SHU) — It allows you to fine-tune the parameters of the motor, disable restrictions and even emulate other models of scooters (for example, Pro 2).
• ⚡ Custom Firmware by Dr. Scooter – focused on maximum speed (up to 35 km / h) and energy optimization.
• 🛡️ DownG Firmware is a “safe” firmware with minimal changes, but with remote regional locks.

Hybrid software is a combination of official software with community patches, like firmware 1.5.6. + KERS-The mod adds a regenerative braking system (recovery of energy during braking), which is absent in the stock version.

Important: Not all firmware is compatible with different controller revisions. S1 There are at least 3 versions of the brain» (v1.0, v1.1 and v1.2), And if you install inappropriate software, you may lose communication with the scooter.

3. Firmware Preparation: Tools and Security

Before you start updating the software, make sure you have everything you need. Minimum firmware kit through Mi Home:

• 📱 Smartphone with Mi Home app installed (version no lower than 6.5.4).
• 🔌 Charger and full charge of the scooter battery (not less than 80%).
• 📶 Stable Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network) 4G+).

To install custom software additionally require:

• 💻 Windows computer 10/11 or macOS (for some utilities).
• 🔌 ST-Link programmer (e.g. ST-Link) V2) and service cable for connection to the controller.
• 🛠️ Torx screwdriver T20 Disassembly of the hull (if physical access to the board is required).
• 📁 Backup of the current firmware (created through ScooterHacking Utility).

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Warning: If you use an ST-Link, never connect it to a scooter when power is on. This can burn down the programmer port or controller. Always turn off the battery before running the board!

Also prepare the working space:

- Flat surface without static electricity.

Good lighting (when disassembling the body).

- Spare battery for scooter (in case of failure).

4. Step-by-step instructions: how to flash Xiaomi S1 via Mi Home

It is the easiest and safest way to upgrade to the latest official version, suitable for beginners and those who do not want to risk the warranty.

Step 1. Check the current version of the software

1. Turn on the scooter and connect to it via Mi Home.
2. Go to the Device Profile → Settings → About the Device.
3. Remember the current firmware version (e.g. 1.4.3).

Step 2: Search for updates

1. In the same section, click the Update Checker.
2. If a new version is available, the app will offer you to download it (approximately 10-15 MB).
3. Confirm the download and wait for the completion.

Step 3: Install the update

1. Make sure that the scooter is connected to the charger and the battery level is not lower than 60%.
2. Press Update and do not turn off Bluetooth during the process (it will take 3-5 minutes).
3. After the reboot, the scooter will be ready for use.

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Note: If an Update failed (Error 102) error appears during the update via Mi Home, it means that the Xiaomi server is temporarily unavailable. Retry in 10-15 minutes or change the region in the application settings (for example, to Singapore).

This method is suitable for 90% of users, but if you need advanced features, read on about custom firmware.

💡

Official updates via Mi Home do not remove the warranty and do not require disassembly of the scooter.

5. Installation of custom firmware: a detailed guide

Installing unofficial software will require physical access to the scooter controller, a process that is more complex and risky, but opens up wide-ranging customization options.

Step 1 - Disassembly of the hull

1. Turn off the scooter from power and turn it upside down.
2. Unscrew 4 Torx screws T20 on the bottom cover (under rubber plugs).
3. Carefully remove the plastic panel to access the controller (green board with connectors).

Step 2. Connect ST-Link

• 🔌 Connect the ST-Link to the connector SWD on the controller board (usually 4 contacts: GND, SWDIO, SWCLK, 3.3V).
• 💻 Install drivers for the programmer (you can download from the STMicroelectronics website).
• 🛠️ Check the connection via the ST-Link Utility utility (the device should be displayed). STM32F103C8).

Step 3: Loading the firmware

1. Download the desired version of the software (for example, DownG Firmware for your controller revision).
2. Open the program. STM32CubeProgrammer Select the firmware file (.bin or.hex).
3. Press Connect, then Start Programming.

It takes 1-2 minutes. Once complete, turn off the ST-Link, assemble the body, and turn on the scooter. If all goes well, new parameters (such as increased top speed) will be displayed in the Mi Home app.

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Attention: If the scooter does not turn on after firmware or flashes a red LED at intervals of 3 seconds, this means damage to the boot sector. JTAG-programmer.

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Before the first trip after firmware check the brakes at low speed - some custom firmware changes the sensitivity of the brake lever.

6. Common errors and their solution

Even with strict adherence to the instructions, there may be failures, and let's look at the typical problems and ways to fix them:

Table: Firmware errors and solutions

If the scooter after a failed firmware does not respond to the power button, try the following algorithm:

1. Shut the battery off for 10 minutes.
2. Connect the charger and hold the power button for 15 seconds.
3. If the indicator does not light up, you will need a hardware reset through a service cable.

To diagnose complex errors, use the ScooterHacking Utility utility in Diagnostic Mode, which will show the current state of the controller and possible malfunctions.

7. How to get back the stock firmware

If custom software is unstable or you decide to sell a scooter, you can return the original firmware in two ways:

Method 1. via Mi Home (if the scooter is switched on)

1. Open Mi Home and go to the scooter settings.
2. Select Restore Factory Settings.
3. Confirm the reset – the device will restart and install the latest official version.

Method 2. via ST-Link (if the scooter is not turned on)

1. Download stock firmware for your controller revision (e.g, MS1_1.0_stock.bin).
2. Connect the ST-Link and start it. STM32CubeProgrammer.
3. Select the Full chip erase option before recording.
4. Download the stock firmware and wait for completion.

Once the stockware is restored, the scooter will return to factory settings, including speed limits, but the mileage counter will reset — keep that in mind if you're tracking travel statistics.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)