How to Update Your COLMI Smart Watch Firmware

Firmware is the software running inside your watch itself, separate from the companion app on your phone, and it is easy to forget it exists until something starts behaving oddly and an update turns out to be the fix. Unlike the app, which updates itself automatically from the App Store or Google Play, watch firmware generally needs to be triggered manually and downloaded over Bluetooth, which makes it a step that is simple to overlook for months at a time.

This guide covers how to update your COLMI smart watch firmware properly, what to do if an update gets stuck or fails partway through, and why it is worth doing sooner rather than later when one becomes available. Exact menu wording differs between models and firmware versions, so this guide describes the general process rather than specific button labels or exact version numbers, which change between devices and over time.

What Firmware Actually Is, and Why It's Different From an App Update

Your watch runs its own small operating system, stored in its internal memory. This firmware controls everything from how sensors take readings to how the Bluetooth connection behaves and how the watch face renders. When a manufacturer improves this system — fixing a bug, improving battery efficiency, or adding a feature — that improvement ships as a firmware update, and it needs to be transferred to the watch itself, not just downloaded to your phone.

This is why a firmware update and an app update are two separate things. Updating the companion app on your phone brings new features to the app's interface and connects to newer backend services, but it does not automatically update what is running inside the watch. Both need to be kept current for the best experience, and a mismatch between an old firmware version and a newer app version is a common cause of odd behaviour.

Before You Start: Two Things That Matter More Than the Steps Themselves

Charge the watch first. Most manufacturers recommend a minimum charge level, often around 50%, before starting a firmware update. An update that runs out of power partway through is one of the few things that can genuinely leave a watch in a difficult state to recover from.

Set aside uninterrupted time. A typical firmware update takes somewhere between two and ten minutes depending on the size of the update and your Bluetooth connection quality. During that window, the watch and phone need to stay close together and the app needs to stay open and on screen.

Skipping either of these is the most common reason updates fail or get stuck.

Step-by-Step: How to Update Your Watch Firmware

1. Charge the watch to at least 50%, ideally higher if you have the time.
2. Open the companion app on your phone and let it fully connect to the watch. Confirm the device shows as connected before continuing.
3. Navigate to the device or settings section within the app. The exact wording varies by app and version, but look for something along the lines of device settings, system, or about device.
4. Look for a firmware or system update option. If an update is available, the app will typically indicate this, sometimes automatically checking when you open the device section.
5. Start the update from within the app, not from the watch itself. Firmware downloads to the watch through the phone's Bluetooth connection.
6. Keep the watch and phone close together, ideally within arm's reach, for the entire duration of the update.
7. Keep the app open and on screen. Do not switch to another app, lock your phone, or let your phone's screen time out if you can help it.
8. Do not remove the watch from range or turn off Bluetooth at any point during the transfer.
9. Wait for confirmation that the update has completed. The watch will typically restart on its own once the new firmware has been installed.
10. Allow the watch to reconnect after it restarts. This can take up to a minute, and it is normal for the connection to briefly drop during this process.

What to Expect Once It's Done

After a successful firmware update, most watches will:

• Restart automatically and briefly show a boot screen or logo.
• Reconnect to the companion app within a minute or two once restarted.
• Occasionally reset certain settings to their defaults, which is why it is worth checking your watch face, alarms, and notification preferences afterwards.
• Sometimes report an improved battery estimate or newly available feature, depending on what the specific update addressed.

It is good practice to do a quick settings check after any firmware update, since manufacturers occasionally reset preferences as part of a larger update.

When a Firmware Update Fails or Gets Stuck

Failed updates are uncommon but not unheard of, and they are almost always caused by one of the interruptions described above rather than a fault with the watch itself.

The update seems to hang partway through

Give it longer than feels comfortable — a large update can genuinely take several minutes and may appear to pause at certain percentages. If it has clearly stopped progressing for more than fifteen minutes with no change, move to the next step.

The watch or app has frozen during the update

1. Do not disconnect Bluetooth or force-close the app if you can avoid it, since this risks corrupting a partial transfer.
2. If nothing changes after a reasonable wait, close the companion app fully and reopen it.
3. If the watch screen is unresponsive, a soft restart is usually safe once you are confident the transfer itself has stopped rather than simply being slow. Hold the side button for around ten to fifteen seconds to force a restart.
4. Reconnect the app to the watch and check the firmware version shown in the device settings to see whether the update completed, partially applied, or did not take effect at all.

The update failed and now the watch behaves oddly

1. Ensure the watch has a reasonable charge level.
2. Try the update again from the beginning, keeping watch and phone close together throughout.
3. If repeated attempts fail, unbind the watch from the app and pair it again fresh, then attempt the firmware update once more from a clean connection.
4. If none of that resolves it, a full factory reset followed by a fresh pairing and update attempt is the next step. This clears any partially applied update state, though it also clears any unsynced data and settings, so sync anything you can beforehand if the watch is functioning well enough to do so.

If a watch becomes completely unresponsive after a firmware update and none of the above restores it, this is worth raising directly with the retailer you purchased from, since a bricked device following an official update is a legitimate warranty matter rather than user error.

Why It's Worth Keeping Firmware Current

Firmware updates are not just cosmetic. They commonly address:

• Connection stability — many sync and pairing bugs reported by users are fixed in later firmware rather than requiring any change on the phone side.
• Battery efficiency — power management improvements are a common inclusion in firmware releases, sometimes noticeably extending runtime between charges.
• Sensor accuracy — calibration improvements to heart rate and other sensors are periodically included, though these are general wellness improvements rather than medical-grade recalibrations.
• New features — occasionally a firmware update unlocks a feature the hardware already supported but which was not yet enabled in software.

A watch that has never had a firmware update applied, particularly one that has been in a drawer for a while before first use, is worth updating before you rely on it heavily, since the improvement between factory firmware and the current release can be substantial.

How Often Should You Check for Updates?

There is no fixed schedule manufacturers universally follow for firmware releases, so rather than waiting for a notification that may or may not appear prominently, it is worth building a periodic check into your own routine.

Once a month is a reasonable habit for most people — open the companion app, navigate to the device settings section, and see whether an update is offered. This is a low-effort check that takes under a minute.

After any period of not using the watch, such as returning to it after weeks or months in a drawer, always check for an update before relying on the watch heavily again, since a device on very old firmware may have accumulated several releases' worth of improvements.

When you notice a specific problem, such as unexpected disconnects, faster battery drain than usual, or sensor readings that seem inconsistent, checking for a firmware update is a sensible early step before more involved troubleshooting, since a fix may already exist in a release you have not yet installed.

Reading What an Update Actually Changes

Where the companion app provides release notes or a changelog alongside an available update, it is worth a quick read before installing. This is not essential — updates are generally safe to install regardless — but it helps set expectations. An update described as addressing connection stability suggests you may notice fewer drop-outs afterwards. One described as adding a new watch face or feature explains why your device suddenly has an extra option in its settings that was not there before. Not every update includes detailed notes, and that is normal too — the update is still worth installing on the general principle that manufacturers do not typically ship changes without reason.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my watch needs a firmware update?

Open the companion app, connect to your watch, and check the device or system settings section, which typically shows the current firmware version and will indicate if an update is available. Checking periodically, particularly after not using the watch for a while, is good practice.

Does updating firmware delete my data or settings?

Usually not, though it is possible for certain settings to reset to their defaults as part of a larger update. It is sensible to sync your data beforehand as routine good practice, and to check your settings afterwards.

How long does a firmware update usually take?

Typically between two and ten minutes, depending on the size of the update and the quality of your Bluetooth connection. Larger updates that include significant changes can take longer.

What happens if my phone loses connection to the watch mid-update?

This is the main cause of a stuck or failed update. If it happens, wait to see if the connection recovers on its own, and if not, follow the recovery steps above rather than immediately assuming the watch is broken.

Can I update firmware without the companion app?

No. Firmware is transferred to the watch through the companion app over Bluetooth, so the app needs to be installed, connected, and open on screen for the duration of the update.

Keep It Current, Keep It Reliable

A watch running old firmware is not broken, but it is often running with known bugs already fixed in a newer release. Checking for a firmware update every few months, and always applying one when it becomes available, is one of the simplest habits that keeps a COLMI smart watch running reliably.

If you are shopping for a new watch and want one with strong ongoing software support, models such as the COLMI P85 Smart Watch and the COLMI V73 Smart Watch are part of our actively supported current range — check each product page for current specifications and pricing. If your update is failing repeatedly despite following the steps above, get in touch with us and we will help you work out whether it is a connection issue or something that needs a warranty look.