How to set up the screen of Xiaomi fitness bracelet: from brightness to hidden gestures

Xiaomi fitness bracelets are some of the most popular wearables on the market, but not all users know how to fully unleash the potential of their screen. Even basic models like the Mi Band 6 hide dozens of display settings under the hood, and the flagship Smart Band Pro or Watch 2 Pro offer advanced options like adaptive brightness and gesture control.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways Xiaomi’s fitness bracelets adjust their screens, from basic brightness adjustments to hidden features like nighttime or turning off the backlight when notifying. We’ll focus on the differences between models (like the Mi Band 7 vs Smart Band 8) and typical errors that cause settings to reset. If your bracelet suddenly stops responding to touch or the screen becomes dim, here’s the solution.

1. Basic screen settings: brightness, timeout and backlight

To start with, even the budget-friendly Mi Band allows you to adjust screen brightness, time-out, and backlight behavior, which directly impacts autonomy: for example, the maximum brightness on the Smart Band 8 reduces the time of operation by 10-15%.

To change the settings:

1. Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for older models).
2. Select your bracelet at the top of the screen.
3. Go to Device Profile → Screen settings (the name may vary depending on the software version).
4. Here you will find the sliders for: 🌞 Screen brightness (recommended value: 3-4 divisions out of 5 for balance of visibility and autonomy). ⏱️ Time-out (time to automatic screen switching off; optimal: 8-10 seconds). 🔦 Lighting at notifications (you can turn off so as not to wake up at night).

In the models with AMOLED-The display (Mi Band 7 Pro, Smart Band 8) has an option called Adaptive Brightness, which automatically adjusts the backlight depending on the lighting, but it doesn't work perfectly: in sunny weather, the screen can be too dim, and in the dark it can blind. On Smart Band 8, adaptive brightness consumes 5–7% more charge than manual tuning.

⚠️ Warning: If the brightness has dropped to a minimum after the firmware update, try rebooting the bracelet. To do this, press the button (or touch area) for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.

2. Dials: how to set, change and create your own

Watch faces are not just aesthetics, but also functionality. For example, on the Smart Band 8, you can display your heart rate, weather or steps on the home screen without having to touch them. Xiaomi offers hundreds of free and paid dials, but not everyone knows how to set them properly.

Ways to change the dial:

• 📱 Through the app: Open Mi Fitness → Device profile → Dials. Select a category (Sports, Classics, Minimalism, etc.) Click on your favorite option and confirm the installation.

Right on the bracelet:

Loading of custom dials:

Notify & Fitness

AmazfitWatchFaces

Xiaomi

The Mi Band 7 Pro and the newer ones have animated dials, but they put the battery down more, for example, a dial with water or fire animation can reduce autonomy by 8-12 hours. If you want to work long hours, choose static options.

⚠️ Note: When you install dials from third-party sources (not from Mi Fitness), the bracelet may start to overheat or discharge quickly. Before installing, check for feedback on a particular dial on forums (for example, check the reviews of a particular dial on the forums, 4PDA).

Download the file only from trusted sources | Check compatibility with your bracelet model | Backup your current settings | Make sure the battery is at least 50% charged-->

3.Gestural and sensory control: hidden functions

Many users are unaware that the screen Xiaomi bracelets supports gestures and hidden combinations of touches, for example, on the Smart Band 8 you can turn on the display of the screen when raising your hand (as on a smart watch), and on the Mi Band 7 Pro – set up a double touch for quick switching of the dials.

How to set up gestures:

1. In the Mi Fitness app, go to Device Profile → Gestures and Buttons (or Screen Control on newer versions).
2. Activate options: 🙌 Raising your hand to turn on the screen (not working on all models; may be false when active movements). 👆 Scroll up/down to switch menus (Horse Scrolling is supported on the Watch 2 Pro). ⏹️ Double touch to return to the main screen.

The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro (and other models on Zepp OS) has advanced gestures available:

• 🤏 Fist clenching – quick opening of the latest app.
• 👋 Handswapping - Turning off the alarm clock.
• ✌️ Double touch of the back side - the inclusion of the flashlight (on models with LED).

If your gestures are not working properly, try calibrating the sensor:

1. Go to Settings → System → Sensor calibration.
2. Follow the instructions on the screen (usually touch certain points several times).

💡

If the bracelet does not respond to touch after updating, reset your gesture settings to factory. To do this, select Reset settings in Mi Fitness → Reset gestures only (does not affect other data).

4. Nighttime and vision protection

The constant glow of the screen at night not only interferes with sleep, but also reduces autonomy. Xiaomi offers several ways to solve this problem, from completely turning off the backlight to activating the night mode with a warm glow.

How to set up:

• 🌙 Night Mode: In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Regimes → Night mode. Set activation times (e.g. 23:00 to 7:00). Select behavior: 🔕 Turn off the screen completely (saves charge, but you won't see notifications). 🌓 Reduce brightness (the screen will be dim, but will turn on when lifting your hand). 🔴 Red filter (less irritating to the eyes, but not on all models).

Sleep mode:

Mi Fitness → Son → Sleep schedule

The Smart Band 8 and Watch 2 Pro have an optional adaptive night mode that analyzes your sleep habits and automatically adjusts the screen, but you need to allow access to sleep data in the app settings to work.

⚠️ Warning: If you use a sleep tracking bracelet, don't turn off the screen completely overnight, in which case the device won't be able to record sleep phases (deep, light, REM). Choose a mode with minimum brightness or a red filter.

5. The screen is always on (Always On Display)

Always On Display (AOD) allows you to see time and basic information (steps, pulse) without lifting your arm, but it is not available on all models and has a huge impact on autonomy. For example, on the Mi Band 7 Pro AOD, it reduces the time from 15 to 7-9 days.

How to turn on:

1. Make sure your model supports AOD (see table below).
2. In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Screen Settings → Always On Display.
3. Choose the display style (usually available 2-3 options: time, time + steps, time + pulse).
4. Set up a schedule (you can only turn on AOD during the day or at certain hours).

If the AOD is not turned on, check:

• 🔋 Battery level (on some models) AOD shuts down when the charge is below 20%).
• 📵 Telephone connection status (AOD It may not work without active synchronization).
• 🔄 Firmware version (update the bracelet via Mi Fitness) → Device profile → Update of the PO).

💡

On the Smart Band 8 and Watch 2 Pro, you can set up adaptive AOD, which will dim in the dark and bright during the day, saving up to 15% of charge compared to standard AOD.

6.Resolving screen problems: dimness, hangings, artifacts

Even the most reliable Xiaomi bracelets sometimes have problems with the screen, let’s look at the typical malfunctions and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The screen is dim or unevenly illuminated

• 🔦 Check the brightness settings in Mi Fitness (may have reset after the update).
• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (press the button for 10-15 seconds).
• 🛠️ If the backlight is uneven (for example, darker on the edges), it may be a hardware problem (often found on the Mi Band 6 after falls.

Problem 2: The screen does not respond to touch

• 🧼 Wipe the screen with a dry wipe (fat or moisture may interfere with the sensor).
• 🔧 Recalibrate the sensor (see the section on gestures).
• 📱 Check if the screen lock mode is enabled (on some models it is activated when swimming).

Problem 3: Artifacts or Screen Flickering

• 🔋 If the bracelet is discharged below 10%, connect it to charging - with a low charge, display failures are possible.
• 🔄 Update the firmware through Mi Fitness.
• ⚠️ If artifacts appear after a fall, it may indicate damage to the display plume.Self-repair is not recommended - contact the service.

Problem 4: The screen doesn’t turn on at all

• 🔌 Connect the bracelet to charge for 30-60 minutes (even if the indicator is not lit).
• 🔄 Try resetting to factory settings: Connect the bracelet to charging. Press the button (or touch area) for 20-30 seconds until the Mi logo appears. After reset, reset the bracelet via Mi Fitness.