Android Watch Ebook Reader

Tested on Xiaomi Watch 5 (China model)

Save TXT books and Markdown notes to your Android watch and read offline. Install the reader from your phone without a computer.

Get the phone app

Android 11+ watch · Wireless debugging
WristTale TXT reading screen on Xiaomi Watch 5, showing the actual Chinese interface
Xiaomi Watch 5 · Chinese interface

Read TXT books and Markdown offline on your Android watch

Browse books and chapters, adjust text size and themes, and turn pages automatically. Your reading position is saved on the watch.

WristTale library on Xiaomi Watch 5 listing saved books, with Chinese interface text
Library: saved books stay on the watch, ready to open.
WristTale chapter list on an Android watch, showing Chinese chapter titles
Chapters: choose what to send, then navigate from the watch.
Larger text in WristTale on Xiaomi Watch 5, with Chinese book content
Text size: adjust the display to your screen and reading preference.
WristTale warm reading theme on an Android watch, with Chinese interface text
Themes: choose a different background and text color.

Phone and watch compatibility

ItemCurrent support and requirements
Tested watchXiaomi Watch 5, China model M2501W1. For other models, check the system requirements and the phone app's compatibility guidance before installation.
Watch installationRequires an Android 11 or later watch with system wireless debugging. Follow the phone app's compatibility checks.
Android phoneUse a WristTale version with Android watch support. Local Bluetooth or Wi-Fi book transfer requires Android 12 or later.
iPhoneInstallation and transfer are supported in compatible versions with the Android watch feature. Update the app and check its device entry and compatibility guidance.
Book formatsImport TXT or Markdown on the phone and preview chapters before sending. Export EPUB or PDF to readable text first.
Setup and readingInstallation requires the same trusted Wi-Fi network and wireless debugging. You can turn debugging off afterward and read saved books offline.

Check that the watch supports third-party Android applications and system wireless debugging. Xiaomi Watch 5, REDMI Watch 5, and Xiaomi Watch S models are different devices; compatibility does not carry over between them.

Install the Android watch reader from your phone

  1. Get the phone app. Download WristTale for Android or iPhone, then open its Android watch installation flow.
  2. Prepare the watch and network. Connect the phone and watch to the same trusted Wi-Fi network. Enable developer options and wireless debugging on the watch, then open the system wireless pairing screen.
  3. Pair in the phone app. Enter the IP address, pairing port, and six-digit system code from the watch's pairing screen. After pairing, return to the wireless debugging main screen and enter its connection port when the app asks. The pairing and connection ports are different.
  4. Let the phone download and install. WristTale downloads the appropriate watch APK over the network and installs it through wireless ADB. You do not need a computer, or to find, download, or manually install a package on the watch.
  5. Open the reader and turn debugging off. After confirming WristTale opens on the watch, you can disable wireless debugging and developer options. Daily book transfer and offline reading do not require them to remain enabled.

Install the reader through the phone app for now. The Google Play Wear OS watch channel is not yet available.

Send books to your Android watch

  1. Import a .txt or .md file in WristTale on your phone and preview its content and chapter list. For garbled text, see the app guide or use the TXT encoding converter.
  2. Open the watch reader's receive-books screen and choose that Android watch on your phone. Enter its four-digit receiver code when prompted during initial setup. This differs from the six-digit system ADB pairing code used for installation.
  3. Select chapters and follow the app's Bluetooth BLE or local Wi-Fi transfer flow. Keep both apps in the foreground until the watch confirms the book is saved. A completed phone progress bar alone is not confirmation of watch storage.
  4. Open the book from the watch library. Once saved, its content, chapters, and local reading progress stay on the watch, and reading does not require your phone nearby.
WristTale receive-books screen on Xiaomi Watch 5, showing Chinese interface text
Keep the receive screen open during transfer and wait for the watch to confirm saving.

Common questions

Can Xiaomi Watch 5 read TXT books?

Yes. WristTale has been tested on Xiaomi Watch 5. Import TXT on your phone, send selected chapters, and wait for the watch to confirm saving. You can then read offline, adjust text size and themes, or use automatic page turning.

Do I need my phone or Wi-Fi to read offline?

No. Once the watch confirms saving, open the book from its library. Content, chapters, and reading progress stay on the watch. Installation needs an internet connection to download the reader; use your phone again when adding new books.

Do I need developer mode every time I send a book?

No. Wireless debugging is used to install the reader. You can disable it and developer options after installation. Daily transfer uses the reader's Bluetooth or Wi-Fi receiving flow.

Why is the watch missing, or why has my book not appeared?

Check phone system and app compatibility, grant the requested permissions, and keep the watch's receive screen open. For Wi-Fi transfer, both devices must be able to reach each other on the local network. If the phone finishes sending without a watch save confirmation, check the receiver status before retrying. The app guide covers the workflow.

Are installation and book transfers free?

The phone app and watch reader are free to download. Book transfer includes an initial sync trial; further syncing requires WristTale Pro. Check the phone app for current pricing and trial availability.

Get the phone app, follow its Android watch installation flow, and start reading on your wrist.