Smart activity trackers often have to shut down their device temporarily or completely, whether it's replacing a smartphone, reselling a gadget, or just wanting to give electronics a break, the question of how to turn off the Xiaomi 5 bracelet is quite common. Unlike a mechanical watch, it's not enough to just remove the device from your hand, as it continues to search for communication and consume charge.
The process of correctly disabling Xiaomi Mi Band 5 requires a series of sequential actions in the mobile application and on the tracker itself. Incorrectly disabling can lead to the fact that the device will continue to transmit data or, conversely, will be blocked for a new user.
It's important to understand that there's a difference between a temporary disconnect and a complete reset. A disconnect is useful for saving energy, whereas a reset is necessary before transferring the device to another person, and we'll look at both options so you can choose the one that suits your situation.
Main reasons for tracker shutdown
There are many scenarios where the user is forced to break the connection between the smartphone and the wearable gadget, most often due to technical problems or a change of owner, understanding the reason helps to choose the right method of disconnection.
One of the common reasons is to change your smartphone, and if you buy a new phone, you have to untie the old tracker from the previous device, otherwise the new phone won't see the bracelet, and this is also true when you sell or donate a gadget so that the new owner can register it for himself.
⚠️ Warning: Before selling or transferring the bracelet, make sure to reset completely. Otherwise, the new user will not be able to link the device to his account, as it will “hang” on your profile.
Another common cause is synchronization problems, where sometimes an application stops receiving pulse or step data and a simple restart doesn't help, and in such cases, a full shutdown and reconnect cycle often solves the problem of software errors.
- 🔄 Change the main smartphone or operating system (iOS to Android or vice versa).
- 🛒 Selling, donating or transferring the device to another person.
- 🐛 Elimination of synchronization errors and interface freezes.
- 🔋 Long-term storage of the device without use.
Preparation for the unsetting procedure
Before you start taking action to disable the Mi Smart Band 5, make sure all important data is saved.While Xiaomi cloud services usually keep history, it doesn't hurt to be safe, especially if you're planning a reset.
Make sure your smartphone and bracelet are close by. A stable Bluetooth connection is required to correctly execute the deactivation command via the app. If the bracelet is out of reach, the command may not execute the first time.
☑️ Preparation for uncoupling
Also worth checking is the version of the Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit) or Mi Fitness.Outdated versions of the software may not display the device management menu correctly, which will lead to errors when you try to unblock.Update the app through the Play Market store or App Store.
Disconnection via Zepp Life (Mi Fit)
This is the most common and correct way to disable, which ensures that all background processes are completed correctly.The Zepp Life app is the main control tool for the fifth model of the bracelet.
To start, open the app on your smartphone and go to the Profile tab. In my list of devices, find the Mi Smart Band 5. By clicking on the device name, you will be taken to the settings menu.
Scroll down the options list, and you'll find the Unbind button, and the system will warn you that all data will be deleted from the device but will remain in the cloud. Confirm the action.
Once confirmed, the bracelet vibrates and the Xiaomi logo appears on the screen, signaling a return to factory settings. From now on, the device is ready for new (patch) or storage.
- 📱 Open the Zepp Life app and go to profile.
- ⌚ Select your bracelet from the list of devices.
- 📉 Scroll down and press the "Untie" button».
- ✅ Confirm the action in the pop-up window.
Disconnection through the Mi Fitness app
Some users prefer to use the newer Mi Fitness app, which is gradually replacing Zepp Life for new devices, but supports older models as well. The interface here is slightly different, but the logic of the actions is similar.
In the app's main menu, go to the Device tab, which shows your current connection status and battery charge, and to turn off, you need to find the control menu, which is usually hidden in additional settings or a swipe.
Find the option to "Disable" or "Delete Device." The system can request a re-confirmation, as this action is irreversible without re-pairing.
What to do if the button is not active?
It is important to note that after disconnecting the application, the activity history on the bracelet itself will be erased, however, all data that was synchronized before the moment of disconnection will remain in your Xiaomi account.
Forced resetting of settings on the bracelet
In situations where the app is unavailable, the smartphone is lost or there is a critical software failure, you can use the built-in reset function on the tracker itself.
Wake up the bracelet screen with a swipe or tap on the touch button. Flick the menu left or swipe up (depending on the theme you have set) until you find the Settings item (the gear icon).
In the settings menu, find System or Reset, and when you click on that, the device will request confirmation, as this action will delete all user data.
| Parameter | Before dumping. | After discharge |
|---|---|---|
| Activity data | Save. | Removed. |
| Dial settings | Personalized. | Factory |
| Account binding | Active. | Remote. |
| Bluetooth | Included | Search mode |
⚠️ Attention: Forced reset via the bracelet menu does not always completely untie the device from the account in the cloud.
After the reset process is complete, the Mi Band 5 will restart and go to the connection standby mode, displaying the reset. QR-This means that the device is completely cleaned and ready for a new setup.
Removing from the Bluetooth list on a smartphone
Many users make the mistake of trying to disable the bracelet solely through the Bluetooth settings in the phone, which is not a complete shutdown, but only breaks the current connection.
If you simply forget the device in the Bluetooth settings, the bracelet will continue to try to reconnect at the earliest opportunity, and in addition, in the application it can appear as “not on the network”, but formally remain tied to the account.
To remove correctly, go to your smartphone’s Bluetooth settings, search the Mi Band 5 list, and click “Forget” or “Cancel pairing.” This action is recommended only after detachment in the app.
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If the bracelet doesn’t disappear from the Bluetooth list even after resetting, try clearing the Bluetooth app cache in Android settings (Settings → Apps → Bluetooth → Memory → Clear the cache).
Ignoring this step can lead to conflicts when trying to connect the bracelet to another phone.The phone will see the device, but the app will refuse to register it, claiming that the bracelet is busy.
Decision (Frequently Asked Questions)
The process of disabling Xiaomi Mi Band 5 usually goes smoothly, but users often face typical problems. Below are answers to the most popular questions that will help avoid errors.
One of the common questions is about data security, and many worry that when you untie your personal health records, they will be lost forever, but Xiaomi's cloud architecture is about storing your history on servers.
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Untie the device in the app is the only way to ensure that the bracelet can be connected to the new phone without errors.
And users are also wondering if you can use the wristband without your phone after you shut it down, and yes, it's going to work like a normal watch and a fitness tracker, and it's going to write data into internal memory, but it's not going to be synchronized until you pair it again.