Xiaomi Mi Band 5 setup: from connectivity to hidden features

Why you should install Mi Band 5 and what it does

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular gadgets for tracking activity despite the release of new models, its main advantages are affordable price, long battery life (up to 14 days), and a wide range of functionality from sleep monitoring to music control on a smartphone.

Many users are limited to basic features, without even knowing that the Mi Band 5 can show notifications from instant messengers, control breathing, run 11 sports modes and even work as a remote for presentations. In this article, we will analyze step-by-step settings with nuances that are not always obvious.

Important: the instructions are relevant for firmware 2023-2026, if your bracelet has not been updated for a long time, some menu items may differ, you can update the software directly through the application, we will talk about this in one section.

Preparation for the setup: what will be needed

Before you start setting up, make sure you have everything you need:

• 📱 Smartphone on Android 6.0+ or iOS 10.0+ (iPhone will require an app version from the App Store).
• 🔋 Charged Mi Band 5 (minimum 20% battery, otherwise synchronization may be interrupted).
• 📲 Installed Mi Fitness app (you can download the official link or through Google) Play/App Store).
• 🔌 Bluetooth 4.2 or later (older phones may have connection issues).

If you are upgrading with the Mi Band 4, note: the Mi Band 5 has a different charging connector (magnetic, no capsule) and the old model charger won’t work! The new version also features a contactless NFH chip (only works with supported banks in China and some European countries).

⚠️ Note: If you use an iPhone, turn off the “Tracking Limit” function in your privacy settings before setting up (Settings) → Confidentiality → Geolocation services → System services, otherwise the bracelet will not be able to track location accurately while jogging.

Step 1: Connecting Mi Band 5 to a Smartphone

The connection process takes no more than 5 minutes if you follow the instructions:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone and launch the Mi Fitness app.
2. Click Profile (the human icon in the lower right corner) → Add Device.
3. Select from the Mi Smart Band 5 list (if not, update the app).
4. Click "Connect" and confirm pairing in the Bluetooth system window.
5. Wait for firmware updates (if available). Don't interrupt the process - this can cause step sensors to fail!

If the bracelet is not present, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Mi Band 5 (press the touch button for 10 seconds).
• 📵 Turn off/enable Bluetooth on your phone.
• 🗑️ Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugate devices in Bluetooth settings and reconnect.

⚠️ Warning: On the iPhone, you may be asked to access Notifications and Motion & Fitness once you're connected, so allow both, otherwise the bracelet won't vibrate when you call and won't be able to count your steps accurately.

Step 2: Basic settings in the Mi Fitness app

Once connected, open the Device Profile tab in the app, and here you can find all the basic settings:

Pay special attention to the "Notifications" section, and you can:

• 📱 Select applications that will duplicate notifications on the bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber).
• 🔔 Set up vibration: short/long, repeat or no.
• 📵 Disable notifications for a specific time (e.g. at night).

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If notifications don’t come, check your phone’s power saving settings. On Xiaomi/Redmi, add Mi Fitness to the “No Limits” list (Settings → Battery → App Selection).

Step 3: Configure the dials and screens

Mi Band 5 supports removable dials, but their installation has nuances.Standard dials are divided into:

• 🎨 Standard (pre-installed in the annex).
• 🖼️ Custom (downloaded from Stores, such as Amazfit Watch Faces).
• 📲 Dynamic (with animation, consume more energy).

To change the dial:

1. Open the "Device Profile" section in Mi Fitness → "Digitals".
2. Select your favorite option and click "Install".
3. Wait for synchronization (the bracelet should be near the phone).

For the installation of custom dials:

1. Download the dial file (.bin format) from a trusted source (e.g. amazfitwatchfaces.com).
2. Place the file in the MiFit/WatchFace folder on your phone.
3. In the Mi Fitness app, update the dial list (pull the screen down).

⚠️ Note: Some custom dials may contain malicious code. Install only files from trusted sources (e.g., official Telegram groups or forums) XDA Developers).

Step 4: Monitoring Health and Sports

Mi Band 5 can track the following:

• 🏃‍♂️ Activity: steps, distance, calories burned.
• ❤️ Heartbeat: Constant monitoring or on request.
• 😴 Sleep: deep/light sleep, awakenings.
• 🧘 Stress: level of tension (requires inclusion in settings).
• 🩺 SpO₂: oxygen saturation of the blood (measured manually).

To set up tracking:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Heart Monitor.
2. Select a mode: 🔄 "Auto: Measurement every 30 minutes. 🛑 "Manual – only upon request from the bracelet. 📊 "Intensive – every 5 minutes (heavy battery drains).

Sleep monitoring

Stress level

For accurate measurement SpO₂ (blood-oxygenation):

1. Sit still, put your hand on the table.
2. On the bracelet, go to the menu "SpO₂" (Fly the screen to the right).
3. Click on the icon and don’t move for 30 to 60 seconds.

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For the most accurate heart rate, wear a bracelet 2-3 fingers above your wrist and tighten the strap so that the sensor fits tightly to the skin, but does not pass the hand.

Step 5: Hidden functions and life hacks

Many people don’t know that the Mi Band 5 is capable of:

• 🎵 Manage music: play/pause, next track (works with Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music).
• 🔍 Find the phone: if the smartphone is lost, click on the bracelet "Search for the phone" - it will start to ring.
• 📸 Remote photography: in the bracelet menu there is a button "Camera" - press it to take a picture on your smartphone (you must first allow access to the camera in Mi Fitness).
• 💳 Contactless Payment: Works with AliPay (Chinese version only).
• 🔋 Battery savings: Turn off constant heart monitoring and notifications from unnecessary apps.

Another useful trick is to quickly switch the dials right on the bracelet:

1. Touch the screen and hold for 2 seconds.
2. Scroll left/right to select the dial.
3. Touch the screen for confirmation.

If you lack standard features, you can install informal firmware (e.g. Notify & Fitness for Mi Band).

• 📊 Expanded training statistics.
• 🔔 Castom vibrations for different notifications.
• 🎨 More dials.

⚠️ Warning: Unofficial firmware can disrupt sensors or cause warranty loss, only install them if you are confident in your actions and ready for possible bugs.

Step 6: Solving Typical Problems

Even a device as robust as the Mi Band 5 sometimes fails.

If the bracelet has stopped responding to touch:

1. Connect it to charging for 10-15 minutes (even if the battery is not discharged).
2. Press the touch button for 10-15 seconds for a forced reboot.
3. If it doesn’t help, reset your settings via Mi Fitness (Device Profile → Untie the Device).

If after updating the firmware bracelet began to work worse (for example, does not show notifications or incorrectly counts steps), you can roll back to the previous version of the software.

1. Remove the bracelet from Mi Fitness.
2. Install the old version of the app (e.g. Mi Fit 4.6.0).
3. Reconnect the bracelet – it will offer to roll back the firmware.

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Before resetting your settings or rolling back your firmware, back up your data to Mi Fitness (Profile) → Settings → Backups. This will preserve the history of exercise and sleep.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions