How to completely or temporarily turn off the watch on Xiaomi Mi Band 4: 3 working methods

Why users want to hide the time on the screen of Mi Band 4 – and whether it is worth it

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet has become one of the most popular activity-tracking gadgets thanks to its combination of functionality and affordable price. However, not all users are comfortable with the time on the screen being displayed constantly, even at night or during sleep. The bright backlight of the display can interfere with falling asleep, draining the battery faster or simply distracting. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not provide a direct function to turn off the clock, but there are workarounds.

In this article, we’ll look at three proven ways to hide or disable time on the Mi Band 4: through screen settings, through the Mi Fit app, and alternative solutions for those willing to sacrifice some of the features for comfort. It’s important to understand that turning off the screen completely will prevent you from seeing not only the time, but also notifications, steps and pulse — so weigh the pros and cons before the changes.

If your goal is to save battery power, you should focus on optimizing other options (such as turning off your pulse or notifications).

Method 1: Disabling screen illumination through bracelet settings

The easiest way to reduce the visibility of time is to turn off the backlight manually, which won't completely hide the watch, but will make it almost invisible in the dark.

1. Swipe your finger left over the bracelet screen to open the menu.
2. Find the icon. ⚙️ Settings (cogs) and tap it.
3. Scroll down to Screen (or Display in English).
4. Select Brightness and move the slider to a minimum of 1-2 divisions.
5. Return back and activate the Lighting option only when you press it (if it is in your firmware).

After these actions, the screen will only turn on when touching or lifting your hand (if the Raise your wrist function is activated), the rest of the time the watch will remain on the display, but it will be difficult to see without direct light.

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If the screen is still too noticeable after the brightness decreases, try putting the bracelet with a display inside the wrist - this will help block the light at night.

⚠️ Attention: With minimal brightness in sunny weather, the dial will become almost unreadable.

Method 2: Using "mode movie" to turn off the screen

Mi Band 4 has a hidden feature called Theater Mode, which turns off the backlight and vibration for a given amount of time. It doesn't remove the watch physically, but it makes it invisible.

• 📱 Open the Mi Fit app on your smartphone.
• 🔗 Go to the Profile section → Mi Smart Band 4 → Additional settings.
• 🎬 Find the Movie Mode option and turn it on.
• ⏱️ Set a timer (maximum 12 hours).

Once activated, the screen will go out and the notifications will come without vibration. To return the display of time, just press the button of the bracelet or wait for the timer to end.

Important: Movie mode resets automatically after 12 hours or when you reset the bracelet, and if you want a permanent solution, this method won't work, you'll have to turn it on daily.

Method 3: Install an empty dial (for advanced users)

If you want to remove the watch completely from the screen, you can set an empty dial through third-party applications, which requires additional manipulation, but gives maximum effect.

Notify & Fitness for Mi Band|Turn off automatic face updates in Mi Fit|Make a backup of current settings|Charge the bracelet to 50% or more-->

1. Install the Notify & Fitness for Mi Band app (available for Android) on your smartphone.
2. Connect the bracelet to the application via Bluetooth.
3. Go to the Dials section and select Empty/Minimalist category.
4. Download a dial with a completely black background (e.g. Empty Black or Blank Screen).
5. Click Set and wait for synchronization.

Once installed, the bracelet screen will only display a black background with no time.

• ⚠️ Notifications and step data will still be coming, but they won't be visible on screen.
• 🔋 Energy consumption will not decrease – the bracelet will continue to work as usual.
• 🔄 When you reset settings or update the firmware, the dial will return to the standard.

What happens if you completely turn off the screen: pros and cons

Before you hide your watch on Mi Band 4, consider the implications. We've put together the key advantages and disadvantages of this solution in a table:

If you decide to return the standard time display, it is enough:

• 🔄 Reset the dial to factory in Mi Fit.
• 🔦 Increase the brightness of the screen in the bracelet settings.
• ⏳ Wait for the automatic exit from the movie mode.

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Turning off the screen does not affect the collection of data (steps, pulse, sleep) - the bracelet will continue to work in the background. All data will be available in the Mi Fit app after you connect.

Alternative solutions: if nothing has worked

If none of these methods work, consider alternative options:

• 🌙 Night mode in Mi Fit: Set up automatic shutdown of notifications for sleep time (in Profile) → Notification settings. This won't hide the clock, but it will reduce the number of flashes of light.
• 📦 Use a case: Buy a silicone case with a curtain for the Mi Band 4 – it will physically close the screen at unnecessary moments.

For users who want to change the way they think about it, the radical option is to turn off the bracelet overnight, so just put it on a charge or turn it off by:

Bracelet settings → System → Shut down

In the morning, the gadget will turn on automatically when connected to the charger.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to turn off the Mi Band 4, users often face typical problems.

⚠️ Warning: If after installing an empty dial, the bracelet stops syncing with Mi Fit, remove the third-party app (Notify & Fitness) and reconnect the device. In some cases, resetting the bracelet to factory settings helps (hold the 20 second button).

• 🔋 Bracelet discharges quickly: Check if the Constant pulse is activated in the settings. Turn it off if you do not use round-the-clock monitoring.
• 📵 Screen not responding to touch: Maybe movie mode is on or battery is dead. Connect the bracelet to charge for 10 minutes.
• ⏳ The dial is reset after the update: This is normal behavior. After the firmware update, you have to install the empty dial again.
• 🔄 Synchronization does not work: Make sure your phone is on Bluetooth and Location – without them, Mi Fit can’t connect to the bracelet.

If none of the methods worked, check the firmware version of your Mi Band 4. In older versions (below 1.0.9.54), some features may not be available.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions