Many smart tracker owners are wondering how to turn off the Xiaomi 3 fitness bracelet when it is no longer needed or required for sale.This popular gadget, also known as the Mi Band 3, has become the standard in the wearable electronics world due to its accessibility and functionality.However, unlike smartphones or tablets, there is no familiar “off” button in the menu interface, which often leaves users baffled.
Understanding the deactivation process is not only necessary to save battery life during long-term storage, but also to properly untie the device from your account. If you plan to transfer the tracker to another person, simply removing it from your wrist is not enough. A complete reset or software shutdown ensures that your personal health and activity data does not fall into the wrong hands.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available ways to deactivate a device, from software methods through the app to the physical discharge of the battery. You will learn why the standard touch button is not designed to turn off, and what steps you need to take to safely “sleep” the gadget for a long time.
Features of the design and the absence of a switching button
The first thing that users encounter when they try to find the shutdown feature is that it's not on the standard menu. Xiaomi engineers designed the Mi Band 3 to run 24/7, constantly monitoring the metrics. The touch button below the display is designed solely to navigate the menu, switch modes and activate the screen, but not to control power.
This architectural feature is driven by a desire for minimalism and energy efficiency, and it has a deep sleep mode that activates automatically when the tracker is not in use for a certain time or when it is disconnected from the smartphone, which is why you won’t find “Switch off” on the touch-controlled options list.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to pinch the touch button for a long time (more than that). 10-15 In the hope of forcibly turning off the device, unlike smartphones, in the firmware of the Mi Band. 3 This gesture is not programmed as a Hard Reset command or shutdown, and you will only waste battery power.
Software techniques are used to interact with the device's power system via a paired smartphone, which means that most of the operations to manage the tracker state will require a working phone with the Mi Fit app installed (or its analogues), without which the direct management of energy saving is limited.
Why isn't there a physical button?
Unlocking the device through the Mi Fit application
The most appropriate way to disable a tracker before transferring it to another user or selling it is to unbundle it, a process that not only breaks the Bluetooth connection, but also initiates a data cleanup on the device itself, returning it to factory settings. First, open the Mi Fit app on your smartphone and go to profile.
From the list of connected devices, select your Mi Band 3. You need to find the Unbind button, which is usually located at the bottom of the screen or in the settings menu of a particular device. Once confirmed, the tracker will reset all accumulated data and stop syncing with your account.
The detachment process is critical to security, and as long as the device is tied to your account, it can transmit location data (if used with your phone) and biometrics, and once successfully untie the bracelet goes into a waiting mode to find a new host.
☑️ Offsetting procedure
It is worth noting that after detachment, the device does not turn off completely in the sense of “black screen forever”, but goes into a state when it is ready for a new (pairing), the screen will go out after a while of inactivity, and the tracker will go into a minimum power consumption mode.
Resetting to factory settings as a deactivation method
If your goal is to completely clean the device, factory reset is the most effective software method, which deletes all user data, alarm settings, step targets, and activity history stored in the tracker's memory, effectively returning the gadget to the state it was in right after it left the assembly line.
There are two ways to reset, one is through the in-app detachment menu already mentioned, which is a standard scenario. The second way that can come in handy if the app is not available is to look for the reset option in the bracelet settings itself, if the firmware version allows it, although in Mi Band 3 this feature is often hidden or only available when untie.
After the reset is performed, the tracker will restart, at which point the system is initialized and the device is ready for a new setup. For a user who wants to turn off the bracelet, this means that it no longer contains his personal information and can be safely put aside.
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Factory reset is the only software way to ensure that personal data is completely deleted before you put the device away for storage or sell it.
It is important to understand the difference between a reboot and a reset. A reboot simply turns off and on the system, storing data. A reset erases the user's memory partition. A reset is recommended for long-term shutdown, since it minimizes background processes that theoretically can consume energy.
Physical shutdown: battery discharge
Since software is not fully powered on Xiaomi Mi Band 3, the only way to achieve a state of “complete shutdown” is to physically discharge the battery.
The easiest way is to leave the tracker on with the screen activated or in the device search mode until the battery runs out completely. However, the faster method is to use features intensively, such as constantly measuring the pulse or turning on the backlight, if this option was available manually continuously. In reality, just leave the wristband to lie apart from the phone for a few weeks.
When the charge drops to a critical minimum, the device will turn off automatically. In this state, the chemical processes in the battery slow down, but do not stop completely. For long-term storage (more than 6 months), it is recommended to periodically, every six months, recharge the device to 50-60% to avoid a deep discharge that can irreversibly damage the battery.
| Method of disconnection | Data retention | Implementation time | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex decoupling | Data is deleted | 1-2 minutes | Sale, transfer to another person |
| Waiting for discharge | Data is retained | 2-4 weeks | Long-term storage without use |
| Standby regime | Data is retained | Instantly. | Short interruption of use |
| Reset (Reset) | Data is deleted | 1-2 minutes | Removing software errors, cleaning |
There's a myth that putting a device in a freezer helps you drain a battery faster or can it be stored, and it's a misconception that low temperatures can temporarily reduce your current output, but condensation when you go back to room temperature is guaranteed to knock out your electronics. Never use extreme temperatures to control your power.
Energy saving and optimization
While you can't completely turn off the Mi Band 3 with a button, you can significantly reduce its power consumption by putting it into maximum saving mode, which is true if you want the device to live to the point where you get a charge, or if you wear it rarely. The main energy consumption item is the screen and the Bluetooth module.
To minimize your energy consumption, use the Mi Fit app to turn off the wrist lift to turn on the screen, set a minimum lighting time (5 seconds), and turn off notifications from apps, and it is also recommended to reduce the pulse rate to a minimum or turn it off altogether.
Another important parameter is the distance to the phone. If the bracelet is out of range of Bluetooth, it starts to actively search for the network, which consumes the charge. If you leave the tracker at home and take the phone away, it is better to break the connection in advance in the Bluetooth settings of the smartphone, so that the bracelet stops trying to connect.
⚠️ Warning: Constant network search or frequent notifications can drain a fully charged Mi Band 3 whole 3-4 day instead of the day. 15-20 workday.
What to do if the bracelet does not respond
Sometimes users try to turn off the device because it has got stuck or stopped responding to commands. In the case of Xiaomi Mi Band 3, freeze is rare, but it is possible because of a firmware failure. If the sensor does not respond to touch, and the screen is lit or turned off and does not turn on, a forced reboot procedure is necessary.
Put the tracker on the charger. Connecting to the power source often causes the charge controller to reset hardware, which can resuscitate the device. If that doesn't work, try leaving it on charge for 30-60 minutes, even if the indicator doesn't light up right away. Deep discharge takes time to "swing" the battery.
If that doesn't work, then maybe the problem is oxidation of the contacts, wipe the contacts on the capsule and on the charger with an alcohol wipe, and often the oxide film prevents the current from passing, creating the illusion of a breakage or a complete discharge.
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Use a soft toothbrush and isopropyl alcohol to clean the gold contacts on the back of the tracker capsule carefully, which restores contact in 80% of cases of “unchargeable”.