Owning a modern wearable gadget from Xiaomi opens up access to health monitoring and notifications, but sometimes it becomes necessary to restore its energy balance. If you first took up the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 or found that the device stopped responding, it is important to know the right sequence of actions to connect to the power source.
Unlike many modern smartphones, this tracker does not have a built-in USB-A plug that requires a special accessory, and many users make the mistake of trying to find a hidden port in the case, even though the solution is in the package. Proper handling of the charger and understanding the indication will help to extend the battery life and avoid unnecessary trips to the service center.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the mechanics of the connection, decipher the lights and answer the questions that arise during operation, explain why the bracelet may not charge and how to properly remove the capsule from the strap so as not to damage the fragile elements of the structure.
Charger design and preparation
The main element for energy recovery is a special dock that comes with the bracelet, and this small device has an oval shape with a recess in the middle where the main module of the tracker is installed, and it is in this recess that two contact pins are located, which should coincide with the feedback contacts on the back of the Mi Band 4 capsule.
It's important to understand that the tracker itself doesn't have its own cable connector. All the electronics, including the lithium polymer battery, are inside the sealed oval unit. To charge, this unit must be removed from the silicone strap, and this must be done carefully by pressing your finger on the convex part of the capsule on the back side to push it out of the socket.
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Use a thumbnail or flat blunt object to squeeze the tracker out of the strap so as not to damage the silicone with sharp edges.
Once you remove the module, look at the back of it, and you'll see two little golden patches, and these are the contacts that transmit current, and on the charger, they're two pins, and the contacts should be completely dry and clean, because moisture or dirt can create resistance to charging, and if you've worn the bracelet in the pool or shower, be sure to wipe it dry before you put it in the dock.
- 🔌 The charger cable has a standard connector USB-A on one hand and a specific connector with two pins on the other.
- 🧼 Before connecting, make sure that there is no pile, dust or oxides on the bracelet and charging contacts.
- 🔋 The standard battery capacity is 135 mAh, which ensures long operation without frequent recharging.
Step-by-step instructions for connecting to the network
The process of connecting to the power source is easy if you follow the right sequence of actions. USB-cable connector to the power adapter or USB-Adapters with a current of less than 1A are recommended, although modern power controllers usually regulate this process themselves. After the cable is connected to the network, the indicator will light up on the charging dock (if it is in your version of the accessory) or simply be ready to work.
Then we take the extracted tracker and we put it in the charging dock. The key here is orientation. The convex side of the screen should look up, and the concave side with contacts should look down, to the pins. The capsule should come in tightly and with a slight click. If you did everything right, the battery icon will light up on the tracker screen, and the vibrator can emit a short signal.
☑️ Connection check
The full charge time of Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is usually about 2 hours. You should not leave the device on charge for a day, although the battery management system (BMS) should cut the current when you reach 110% of the capacity. The optimal way to remove the bracelet immediately after the full charge indicator lights up or the corresponding message appears on the display. Regular charging up to 100% helps calibrate the battery controller.
⚠️ Warning: Never try to charge the bracelet without taking it out of the silicone strap.Silicon is a dielectric and can prevent tight contact, as well as accumulating static electricity or moisture, which is dangerous for electronics.
Decoding of the indication and battery status
The Mi Band 4 interface is minimalistic but informative. When you connect to the charger, you see a large battery icon on the screen, and if the battery is completely discharged, the screen may not catch fire immediately, but after a few seconds or even minutes, which is normal behavior for deep-discharge lithium batteries.
When you charge, you can see the current battery load, and you can also see the time that has elapsed since the start of the process, and if the bracelet vibrates when you put it in the dock, it means that the contacts have been successfully connected, and the failure to react can indicate that the cable has been in poor contact or malfunctioning.
| Screen indication | Status of device | User action |
|---|---|---|
| Battery badge is empty | Deep discharge. | Leave on charging for 10-15 minutes |
| Interest rates are rising | Normal charging. | Expectation of completion of the process |
| 100% and lightning | Full charge. | Shut off the network. |
| No reaction. | Contact error | Check the cleanliness and density of the landing |
It is worth noting that the charge indicator in the Mi Fit (or Zepp Life) app can be updated with a delay. Real status is better assessed from the screen of the device itself. If the percentages on the screen and in the application are very different, try rebooting the bracelet through the settings menu or waiting for a full discharge and charging again to 100%.
Why is the battery flashing?
Typical problems and methods of their elimination
The most common problem that owners face is that the bracelet doesn't see charging, the screen stays black, and there's no vibration. 90% of the time, the reason is because the contacts are oxidized, because the device is worn on the wrist, it gets sweat, cosmetics and moisture, and over time, the gold patches form a film of oxide that doesn't conduct current.
To solve this problem, take a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or a special contact cleaner, and thoroughly wipe the back of the tracker. Also clean the pins on the charger itself. Once the alcohol is dry, repeat the connection procedure. Often this instantly brings the device back to life.
- 🧽 Wash the contacts with a dry soft cloth after each removal of the water treatment bracelet.
- 🔌 Try connecting the cable to another USB-port of the computer or replace the power supply.
- 🔄 If the bracelet is frozen, try rebooting it by holding the button (if it is on the menu) or plugging it into charging.
Another cause may be physical damage to the cable, the wire at the dock connection is often broken, carefully inspect the cable for clogs, if the cable is damaged, it must be replaced, as using damaged wiring can short circuit and failure of the power controller of the bracelet.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use aggressive chemicals such as acetone or gasoline to clean your contacts, as they can damage the plastic case and screen adhesive.
Features of operation and battery care
The durability of the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is directly dependent on how you handle its battery. Lithium-polymer batteries installed in these devices do not like extremes. Deep discharge "to zero" when the device lies off for months leads to degradation of battery chemistry and loss of capacity. Similarly, constant recharging and heating are also harmful.
Try to keep the bracelet from running completely, and it's best to charge when the energy level drops to 15-20%, and this will help you maintain maximum battery capacity for several years of use, and if you plan to keep the bracelet out of use for a long time, charge it to about 60 percent and turn it off.
Temperature is also important: Do not leave the bracelet on charge in direct sunlight or in the cold. The optimal temperature for charging and storing is room temperature, in the range of 10 to 25 degrees Celsius. Overheating can cause the battery to bloat, which will lead to mechanical damage to the case and screen.
Choosing compatible charging accessories
The original charger is the best choice, but sometimes it gets lost or broken. There are many analogues on the market, but they need to be approached carefully. Cheap copies often have poorly centered pins, which leads to poor contact and sparking. This can melt the contacts on the most expensive element, the tracker.
When buying a third-party cable, pay attention to the quality of the plastic and the stiffness of the pins. They must be elastic and not bend with light pressing. Also important is the length of the cable: too short a wire creates tension, which increases the risk of falling the bracelet and damage to the USB connector in the power supply.
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The use of low-quality analogues of chargers can lead to unstable charge current, which will reduce the battery life of the Xiaomi Mi Band 4.
There are also docking stations that allow you to charge the bracelet without being removed from the strap, and these devices have special protrusions that push the silicone apart and reach the contacts, which is convenient, but less reliable than direct connection, because the risk of poor contact is higher. Use such docks only in extreme cases.