How to reboot the Xiaomi M365 electric scooter: from soft reset to forced reset

Why Xiaomi M365 electric scooter may require a restart

The Xiaomi M365 is one of the most popular urban scooter devices, but even it's not immune to software failures. If your machine suddenly stops responding to the power button, gives an E:15 or E:02 error, or just behaves unstable, it's likely that you need to reboot. Unlike smartphones, where you just need to press the power button, scooters are more difficult because of the features of the firmware and hardware platform.

The main reasons why you may need a reset:

• 🔄 System freeze after a failed firmware update or controller failure.
• 🔋 Battery problems: improper display of charge level, sudden shutdowns.
• 🚦 Sensor errors: scooter does not respond to gas, brake or does not turn on backlight.
• 📱 Conflict with the Mi Home mobile app or M365 Tools.

It is important to understand that reboots are of two types: soft (similar to restarting a smartphone) and hard (full reset to factory settings). The first option is safe and recommended for starting a diagnosis, the second is an extreme measure that may require reconfiguration of the device.

Method 1: Soft reboot through the power button

The simplest and safest method is a software reset, which doesn't affect user settings and is suitable for fixing temporary crashes.

1. Make sure the scooter is off (the indicator on the power button is not on).
2. Press the power button for 10-15 seconds until you hear a short beep or see the LED blink.
3. Release the button and wait for 20-30 seconds – the device should restart automatically.

If the scooter does not turn on after that, check:

• 🔌 Battery charge: connect the charger for 5-10 minutes, even if the indicator is not on.
• 🔧 The state of the button: sometimes it sticks due to moisture or dust.

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If the scooter produces an E:04 error after a soft reboot, this may indicate an accelerometer problem. Try calibrating it using the M365 Tools app (Diagnostics → Calibrate).

Method 2: Forced reset via button combination

If the soft reboot didn't work, try the hardware reset, which resets the controller settings, but doesn't affect the firmware. Importantly, after that reset, you might need to re-associate the scooter to the Mi Home app.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the scooter (if it is on, press the power button for 5 seconds).
2. Press the power button and the brake button (on the handle) at the same time.
3. Hold them for 15-20 seconds until you hear a double beep.
4. Release the buttons - the scooter will reboot and return to the factory settings (except firmware).

Record the current settings (maximum speed, driving mode)

Disable the scooter from the Mi Home app (if possible)

Make sure the battery is at least 30% charged

Prepare the charger in case of failure

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⚠️ Warning: After a hardware reset, the scooter may temporarily lose communication with the Bluetooth module. If this happens, reconnect it manually through Settings → Bluetooth in the Mi Home app.

Method 3: Reboot via mobile application

If the scooter is switched on but is not running smoothly, you can try rebooting it through the official Mi Home app or third-party utilities like the M365 Tools, a method that is suitable for eliminating errors associated with data synchronization.

The following steps are taken for Mi Home:

1. Open the application and connect to the scooter (it should be enabled).
2. Go to the Device section → Settings (⚙️) → Firmware update.
3. If a new version of the software is available, install it. If not, click Reboot (an option may be called Restart).

For M365 Tools (extended settings):

• 📱 Connect to the scooter via Bluetooth.
• 🔧 Go to the Diagnostics section → Reboot.
• 🔄 Choose the type of reboot: Soft Reboot (soft) or Hard Reboot (hard).

⚠️ Note: If after rebooting through M365 Tools scooter makes a mistake E:30, This could mean that the firmware version and the application are not compatible.

Method 4: Updating the firmware as an alternative to restarting

Sometimes the cause of failure is outdated or damaged firmware, in which case the software update can solve the problem without manually restarting. Official firmware for the Xiaomi M365 is distributed through Mi Home, but there are alternative sources (for example, the Xiaomi Today forum).

How to update firmware:

1. Download the current version of the software from the official website or a trusted resource (for example, m365.firmware.xiaomi.com).
2. Connect the scooter to your PC via USB-C (use the original cable!).
3. Run a firmware utility (such as DownG or ST-Link Utility).
4. Follow the program instructions by selecting the downloaded firmware file (usually with the.bin extension).

Warnings:

• 🚨 Do not interrupt the firmware process – this can permanently incapacitate the controller.
• 🔌 Make sure the battery is at least 50% charged, otherwise the scooter will shut down during the upgrade.
• 🛠️ If the scooter does not turn on after firmware, try to return the old version of the software (rollback).

Method 5: Hardware reset through disassembly (for experienced)

If none of the above methods work, then you have to reset the controller directly through board manipulation, which requires disassembling the scooter and is only suitable for users with experience with electronics.

What you need:

• 🔧 Torx screwdriver T20 lid-off.
• 🔍 Tweezers or a thin screwdriver for closing contacts.
• 📸 Camera (to record the location of the wires before disconnecting).

Step-by-step process:

1. Turn off the scooter from power and remove the bottom cover (4 screws).
2. Find the controller (a board with an STM32 chip).
3. Find BOOT0 and GND contacts (usually signed on the board).
4. Close them with tweezers for 2-3 seconds, then connect the scooter to the charge.
5. If done correctly, the controller will go into firmware mode (the indicator will flash yellow).

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Hardware reset is a last resort, and if you're not sure about your skills, you should go to a service center, and if you don't close your contacts correctly, you can short-circuit and the board will fail.

Common errors after reboot and their solutions

Even after a successful reboot, the scooter may not behave properly, and here are the typical problems and ways to fix them:

If the scooter after restarting:

• 🔊 Squeaks when you press the gas. → Calibrate the throttle in M365 Tools (Diagnostics → Throttle Calibration).
• 🛑 Slowly brakes. → Check brake pads and regeneration setup in the app.
• 📵 Not connected to Bluetooth. → Remove the device from the list of conjugates in the phone and re-assign.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the reboot of the Xiaomi M365