That little buzz on your wrist that keeps you connected? Gone. Your Xiaomi smartwatch has stopped responding, leaving you stuck without the features you use every single day. Maybe the display won’t light up, or perhaps it powers on but acts like your phone doesn’t exist.
These situations are more common than you might think. Smartwatches deal with software updates, battery cycles, and constant connectivity demands that can lead to occasional failures. This guide helps you figure out exactly what went wrong with your device and how to fix it yourself. You’ll find straightforward solutions that work across different Xiaomi smartwatch models, saving you time and frustration.
What It Means When Your Xiaomi Smartwatch Stops Working
A smartwatch that isn’t working properly can show several different symptoms. You might see a completely dead screen with no response to button presses or taps. Sometimes the device turns on but gets stuck on the loading screen or the Xiaomi logo. Other times, it powers up fine but won’t connect to your phone anymore.
Each of these situations points to different underlying issues. A dead screen often means power problems or software crashes. Connection failures usually stem from Bluetooth issues or app glitches. Frozen screens typically indicate software conflicts or memory overload.
The good news is that most Xiaomi smartwatch problems have straightforward fixes you can try at home. Hardware failures do happen, but they’re less common than software glitches or simple connectivity hiccups. Most issues resolve within minutes once you identify what’s causing them.
Ignoring a malfunctioning smartwatch might seem harmless at first. You’ll miss notifications, lose fitness tracking data, and can’t use features you’ve grown accustomed to. But if the problem stems from battery issues or water damage, waiting too long might make the situation worse. Early intervention often prevents permanent damage.
Xiaomi Smartwatch Not Working: Common Causes
Understanding why your smartwatch stopped working helps you fix it faster. Let’s look at the most frequent culprits behind these frustrating malfunctions.
1. Dead or Faulty Battery
Your smartwatch needs power to function, and battery problems rank among the top reasons for device failures. Batteries naturally degrade over time, especially if you’ve owned your watch for more than two years. Each charge cycle slightly reduces the battery’s capacity to hold power.
Sometimes the battery isn’t actually dead but appears that way. A complete drain can put the watch into a protective state that requires a longer charging period before it shows any signs of life. Your device might need 15 to 20 minutes on the charger before the screen lights up again.
Extreme temperatures also affect battery performance. If you’ve left your watch in a hot car or worn it during intense cold weather, the battery might temporarily stop functioning properly. The cells inside lithium batteries work within specific temperature ranges, and going outside those limits triggers safety shutdowns.
2. Software Glitches and Crashes
Software runs everything on your smartwatch, from displaying the time to tracking your steps. When that software encounters errors or conflicts, your watch can freeze, restart repeatedly, or refuse to turn on. These glitches often happen after system updates that don’t install correctly.
Apps running in the background can also cause crashes. If you’ve recently installed a third-party watch face or fitness app, it might conflict with the system software. Memory leaks from poorly coded apps can gradually slow down your watch until it becomes unresponsive.
3. Bluetooth Connection Problems
Your Xiaomi smartwatch depends on Bluetooth to communicate with your phone. When that connection breaks down, the watch might seem like it’s not working even though the device itself is fine. You’ll notice missing notifications, failed data syncing, or an inability to control phone features from your wrist.
Bluetooth interference from other devices can disrupt the connection. WiFi routers, wireless headphones, and even microwave ovens emit signals on similar frequencies. When multiple devices compete for bandwidth in the same space, your smartwatch connection suffers.
Distance plays a role too. Bluetooth has a limited range, typically around 10 meters for most smartwatches. Walls, metal objects, and your own body can reduce that range further. If your phone is in another room or buried in a bag, your watch might lose its connection.
4. Charging Port or Cable Issues
A faulty charging connection prevents your watch from powering up properly. Dust, lint, and sweat can accumulate in the charging port over time, blocking the electrical contacts. You might think your watch is charging when it’s actually not making proper contact.
The magnetic charging cable itself can develop problems. The magnets might weaken, causing the cable to disconnect easily. Internal wire damage from repeated bending can interrupt power flow even when the cable looks fine externally.
5. Water Damage or Physical Impact
Most Xiaomi smartwatches have water resistance ratings, but they’re not completely waterproof. Extended submersion, hot showers, or high-pressure water jets can breach the seals and damage internal components. Even water-resistant watches can fail if the seals have worn down over time.
Drops and impacts can crack internal circuits or dislodge components even when the screen looks intact. The delicate electronics inside don’t always show visible damage, but a hard knock can break connections on the circuit board. You might not see external signs of damage, yet the watch stops functioning properly.
Xiaomi Smartwatch Not Working: DIY Fixes
Ready to get your smartwatch working again? Try these practical solutions in order, starting with the simplest fixes first.
1. Force Restart Your Watch
A force restart clears temporary software glitches and gives your watch a fresh start. This fix works for frozen screens, unresponsive buttons, and random crashes.
Press and hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds. Don’t release it even if the screen goes black initially. Keep holding until you see the Xiaomi logo appear. The watch will shut down completely and reboot itself.
For some models like the Mi Watch Lite, you might need to press both the power button and the home button simultaneously. Check your specific model’s manual if the single button method doesn’t work. After the restart, give your watch a minute to fully boot up before trying to use it.
2. Charge Your Watch Properly
What seems like a dead watch might just need a good charge. Clean the charging contacts on both your watch and the cable using a dry cotton swab or soft cloth. Remove any visible dirt or residue blocking the connection.
Place your watch on the charger and make sure the magnets snap together firmly. You should feel a slight pull when the watch gets close to the charging base. Look for a charging indicator on the screen, usually a battery icon or lightning bolt symbol.
Leave it connected for at least 30 minutes, even if nothing appears on the screen at first. A completely drained battery needs time to accept enough charge before it can power the display. Try a different USB power source if you don’t see any charging signs after this time. Wall adapters often provide more reliable power than computer USB ports.
3. Reconnect to Your Phone
Connection problems between your watch and phone can make features stop working. Start by opening the Xiaomi Wear app (or Mi Fit app for older models) on your phone. Go into the device settings and select the option to unpair or forget your watch.
Next, turn off Bluetooth on your phone completely. Wait about 20 seconds, then turn it back on. This clears the Bluetooth cache and refreshes the connection capabilities. On your watch, go to settings and select the option to restore factory settings or forget all paired devices.
After both devices are reset, open the Xiaomi app again and go through the pairing process from scratch. Keep your watch within a few feet of your phone during this process. Make sure your phone’s Bluetooth is actively searching for devices. The watch should appear in the available devices list within a minute. Select it and follow the on-screen prompts to complete pairing.
4. Update or Reinstall the Companion App
Outdated apps can cause compatibility issues with your smartwatch. Open your phone’s app store and check for updates to the Xiaomi Wear or Mi Fit app. Install any available updates and restart both your phone and watch afterward.
If updates don’t help, try uninstalling the app completely. This removes any corrupted files or settings that might be causing problems. Before uninstalling, note that you might lose some unsynced fitness data, so try syncing one more time if possible.
After uninstalling, restart your phone to clear any remaining app data from memory. Then download a fresh copy of the app from the official app store. Avoid third-party sources, as modified versions can cause compatibility problems.
5. Factory Reset Your Smartwatch
A factory reset wipes all data and settings from your watch, returning it to the state it was in when you first bought it. This fix resolves persistent software issues that other methods can’t touch.
On most Xiaomi smartwatches, swipe down from the top of the screen to access quick settings. Look for the settings icon, usually a gear symbol. Scroll through the settings menu until you find “System” or “About.” Inside that menu, you’ll see options like “Factory Reset” or “Restore Factory Settings.”
Select the reset option and confirm your choice. The watch will display a warning that all data will be erased. Your fitness history, custom watch faces, and app settings will disappear. Proceed only if you’re okay losing this information. The reset process takes a few minutes. Your watch will restart automatically when finished, showing the initial setup screen just like when it was new.
6. Check for System Updates
Manufacturers release firmware updates to fix bugs and improve performance. Your watch might not be working because it’s running outdated software with known issues. Connect your watch to its charger to ensure it has enough power for the update process.
Open the Xiaomi Wear app on your phone and make sure your watch is connected. Go to the device settings or profile section. Look for an option labeled “Firmware Update” or “System Update.” If an update is available, you’ll see the version number and file size. Tap to download and install it. Keep your watch close to your phone and don’t interrupt the process. Updates typically take 10 to 20 minutes depending on the file size and your connection speed.
7. Contact Xiaomi Support or Visit a Service Center
Sometimes the problem goes beyond simple troubleshooting. If none of these fixes work, your watch might have hardware damage that needs professional repair. Physical defects, water damage that reached internal components, or battery failures often require replacement parts.
Reach out to Xiaomi’s official support through their website or customer service hotline. Describe the problem and mention which troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried. They might offer additional solutions specific to your model or arrange a warranty repair if your watch is still covered.
Visit an authorized Xiaomi service center if you prefer in-person help. Bring your watch, charging cable, and proof of purchase. Technicians can run diagnostic tests to identify hardware issues that aren’t visible from the outside. Repair costs vary depending on what needs fixing, but get a quote before authorizing any work.
Wrapping Up
Getting your Xiaomi smartwatch back in action usually takes just a few simple steps. Most problems trace back to software hiccups, connection troubles, or battery issues rather than serious hardware failures. Try the basic fixes first, like restarting and proper charging, before moving to more involved solutions like factory resets.
Your watch serves as more than just a timepiece. It tracks your health, keeps you connected, and simplifies daily tasks. Taking a few minutes to troubleshoot beats the frustration of a non-working device any day. If your fixes don’t stick and problems keep returning, that’s your signal to seek professional help before a small issue becomes a bigger headache.