Xiaomi Mi Band 5: how to turn on the bracelet - full instructions with nuances

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular activity tracking gadgets even in 2026 — despite the release of new models. It is appreciated for its sensor accuracy, long battery life and ease of use. But what if the bracelet does not turn on after buying, discharging or resetting? Many users face confusion: where the on button, how to properly charge the device before first launch, and what flashing indicators mean.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for activating the Mi Band 5, including nuances for different versions of the firmware, tips for correcting typical errors and answers to frequent questions. We will learn how to distinguish a discharged bracelet from a faulty one, what to do if the screen does not respond to touch, and how to tie the gadget to a smartphone without unnecessary problems.

If you've just unpacked the bracelet or pulled it out after a long break, don't panic. 90% of the time, it's solved in 5 minutes with simple steps. The key is to follow the instructions and not miss important steps like checking your charge or resetting to factory settings. The Mi Band 5 doesn't have a physical on button in the usual sense, so many users get lost trying to activate it. Next, we'll go into detail all the launch methods, including hardware reset, if the bracelet freezes or stops responding.

Preparation for the first turn on: what to do before launch

Before you turn on the Xiaomi Mi Band 5, make sure all the prerequisites are met.Never mindful of these steps often leads to activation or sync problems with your smartphone.

First, check the battery level. The bracelet comes with a factory charge, but if it's been in storage for a few months, the battery could run out. Connect the gadget to the charger for 10 to 15 minutes -- even if the indicator isn't on. Sometimes it takes a few minutes for the charging icon to appear.

Second, prepare your smartphone:

• 📱 Install the official Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) from Google Play or the App Store. Version should be at least 5.6.0 (check in the app settings).
• 🔄 Turn on Bluetooth and allow the application to access geodata (this is necessary for correct synchronization).
• 📋 Create or log in to an account Xiaomi/Mi Account – without it, bracelet binding is impossible.

A critical mistake many users make is to try to turn on the bracelet without charging beforehand. If the indicator on the charger doesn't light up for 5 minutes, check the cable and USB port - perhaps the problem is in them, not the bracelet.

⚠️ Note: Do not use chargers from other Mi Band models (e.g. Mi Band 4 or 6) and may not match the contacts, causing damage to the connector.

2. Standard inclusion: step-by-step instruction

If the Mi Band 5 is fully discharged or new, it will be activated automatically when connected to a charger, but there are nuances that are not mentioned in the official documentation.

Follow this algorithm:

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger. Right position -- the contacts on the back of the bracelet should fit tightly into the contacts on the clip, and you'll hear a slight click.
2. Wait for the charging indicator (red or green LED) to appear. If the indicator is not on, try turning the bracelet over or clearing the contacts of dust.
3. After 3-5 minutes, the Mi logo will appear on the screen, which is a sign that the bracelet is turned on. If the logo does not appear more than 10 minutes, go to the section "What to do if the bracelet does not turn on."
4. After downloading, the screen will display a welcome message in English or Chinese (depending on the region).Click on the touch button below the screen to continue.

If the bracelet is already in use and just discharged, it will turn on immediately after connecting to charging, without additional actions, in which case the screen will light up in 1-2 seconds, and you will see the current level of charge.

Original charging cable connected|Bracelet contacts and clips clean|Charging indicator lights up or flashes|The bracelet is on a flat surface (not on soft tissue)-->

Once successfully activated, the bracelet will automatically go to standby mode. To wake the screen, tap the touch button or raise your hand (if the Rise to Wake up function is activated in the settings).

3. Activation through the Mi Fitness app: binding to a smartphone

Turning on Mi Band 5 is only half the battle. Without smartphone binding, you won't be able to use most of the features: sleep tracking, notifications, dial settings. The synchronization process takes no more than 3 minutes if you follow the instructions.

How to tie a bracelet:

• 📲 Open the Mi Fitness app and sign in to your Xiaomi account.
• 🔍 Click on the icon. + (add the device) in upper right corner.
• 📌 Select from the Mi Smart Band 5 list (if not, update the app).
• 🔄 Allow the application to access notifications, contacts and geodata (this is necessary for proper operation).
• 🔗 Wait until the bracelet appears in the list of available devices, and click Connect.

If the bracelet does not appear in the list, check:

- Is Bluetooth on your smartphone?

Is the bracelet within 10 meters of the phone (walls and partitions can block the signal)

Is it connected to another device (such as a tablet)?

Once successfully linked, the app will offer to update the bracelet firmware, and we recommend that you agree that new versions fix errors and add features (for example, support for additional languages or gestures).

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If the Mi Fitness app doesn't find the bracelet, try restarting your smartphone and disabling the VPN (if you use it), and battery-saving software that blocks Bluetooth background work can sometimes get in the way.

4.What to do if Xiaomi Mi Band 5 is not turned on: diagnosis of problems

If the bracelet doesn't respond to charging or shows no signs of life, don't rush to bring it to the service. In most cases, the problem is solved independently. Let's look at typical situations and how to fix them.

If neither of these methods worked, check the bracelet on another smartphone. Sometimes the problem lies in the phone settings (for example, limitations on background processes). Also make sure you use the original cable - non-original accessories may not provide enough current to charge.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet fell into water or was subjected to severe mechanical stresses (shocks, compression), do not try to turn it on yourself. In this case, a diagnosis is required at the service center, as the battery or board may have been damaged.

5. Reset to factory settings: when and how to do

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 hardware reset is an extreme measure that helps in cases where the bracelet is getting stuck, not synchronizing, or is not working correctly.This procedure removes all data from the device (steps, settings, dials), so use it only if other methods have not worked.

How to perform the reset:

1. Turn off the bracelet from the charger (if it is connected).
2. Find a touch button on the back of the bracelet (under the screen).
3. Press and hold it for 10-15 seconds until the Reset label appears on the screen or the Mi logo flashes 3 times.
4. Release the button. The bracelet will reset and return to factory settings.

After resetting, you will need to re-attach the bracelet to your smartphone via Mi Fitness. All previous data (steps, sleep, workouts) will be lost if they were not synchronized with the application before the reset.

Resetting is also useful if you transfer the bracelet to another person and want to delete your account, in which case, after the procedure, the new owner will be able to link the device to your Xiaomi account.

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Resetting to factory settings does not fix hardware problems (for example, a faulty battery or a damaged screen). If the bracelet does not turn on even after reset, contact the service.

6. Additional settings after turning on: what is worth configuring immediately

After successfully turning on and linking the Mi Band 5 to a smartphone, we recommend setting up key settings immediately to avoid problems in the future. Many users miss this step, and then wonder why notifications do not arrive or the battery goes down quickly.

Open the Mi Fitness app and go to the bracelet settings (Profile → Mi Smart Band 5).

• 🔔 Notifications: Enable alerts for calls, messages and apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) Make sure that the Mi Fitness smartphone settings allow notifications to be accessed.
• 🌙 Sleep monitoring: Activate the Smart Alarm function if you want the bracelet to analyze the sleep phases and wake up at the optimal time.
• 🏃 Activity tracking: Set your goals by steps, calories and activity time. The bracelet will vibrate as you reach your goals.
• 🔋 Battery savings: Turn off unnecessary features such as waking up lift (if not using) or a constant pulse (if not exercising).

We also recommend updating the bracelet firmware to the latest version. To do this, go to Device Profile → Firmware Update. New versions add gesture support, fix synchronization errors, and improve sensor accuracy.

If you are exercising, go to the Training section and set up the metrics (pulse, distance, calories) directly on the bracelet screen, eliminating the need to take out your phone while jogging or cycling.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even after successful inclusion, Xiaomi Mi Band 5 users face typical, easily preventable problems, and these are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

Mistake 1: The bracelet discharges quickly.

• 🔋 Reason: Constantly on pulse monitoring or GPS (new-fixed).
• 🛠 Solution: Turn off continuous pulse measurement in settings (Heart Monitoring) → Frequency of measurements → Manually. GPS only during training.

Mistake 2: Notifications are not received.

• 📵 Reason: Smartphone power saving restrictions or Mi Fitness’s lack of permissions.
• 🛠 Solution: Add the app to the battery optimization exceptions (on Android: Settings) → Battery. → Optimizing the battery).

Mistake 3: The bracelet does not count steps or shows incorrect data.

• 👟 Cause: Wrong position on the arm or calibration failure.
• 🛠 Solution: Wear the bracelet on a non-dominant hand (for right-handers, on the left) and fasten the strap tightly. Calibrate the steps in the application settings.

Error 4: The screen does not respond to touch.

• 🖥 Cause: Sensor contamination or firmware failure.
• 🛠 Solution: Wipe the screen with a dry wipe. If it doesn't work, reset (section 5).

If you’re facing another problem, check out Xiaomi’s official support site or forums (like 4PDA) where users share solutions for out-of-the-box situations.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions