The Xiaomi Mi Band 8 fitness bracelet has become one of the most popular gadgets for monitoring activity, but even such an advanced device has situations when it needs to be temporarily or completely turned off. You may want to save charge before long-term storage, fix a software failure, sell a bracelet or just disconnect from notifications for a while. Unlike smartphones, where turning off is intuitive, Xiaomi smart bracelets have their own nuances – especially if it is a complete binding to your Mi Account.
In this article, we’ll look at all the possible scenarios for the Mi Band 8 to be turned off, from a simple screen shutdown to a full reset to a factory setting with a profile uncoupled, how to avoid common mistakes (such as accidentally locking after a reset), which buttons are responsible for what, and what to do if the bracelet doesn’t respond to commands, and also compare which method is right for your situation: temporary shutdown, reboot, or complete deletion of data.
1. How to temporarily turn off the screen Mi Band 8 (without power out)
If you just need to turn off the display to save charge or avoid accidental taps, you don't have to turn off the bracelet completely.The Mi Band 8 has an automatic screen shutdown feature that you can customize to your needs.
By default, the screen goes out after 5 seconds of inactivity, but this time can be changed:
- 📱 Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for firmware after 2023).
- 🔧 Go to Profile. → Mi Smart Band 8 → Screen settings.
- ⏱️ Select the automatic shutdown interval: 5 to 30 seconds.
- 🔄 To instantly turn off the screen, simply cover it with your palm for 2 seconds (the "hide the screen" function should be enabled in the settings).
Important: Even in sleep mode, the bracelet continues to track steps, pulse, and notifications, and if the goal is to completely disable all functions, move to the next section.
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If the screen does not go out after covering with the palm, check if the cover or dirt interferes with the proximity sensor (a small hole to the left of the screen).
2.Switching off the bracelet completely: when necessary
The Mi Band 8 does not have a physical switch-off button, instead using a combination of touch gestures, and a complete power outage is required in rare cases:
- 🔋 Long-term storage (more than 2 weeks without use).
- 🔄 Removing freezes or errors (for example, if the bracelet is not synchronized).
- ✈️ Flight in an airplane (although the device already works in the "airplane" mode").
- 🛠️ Replacement of the strap or repair (to avoid accidental pressing).
To turn off Mi Band 8:
- Swipe your finger from the top edge of the screen down to open the control panel.
- Find the “Switch Off” icon (stylized power button) and tap it.
- Confirm the action by holding your finger on the screen for 3 seconds – the bracelet vibrates and goes out.
After switching off, the bracelet discharges at a rate of ~1% per day (tested on firmware 1.16.8.14).It takes about 3 months to fully discharge the battery.
3.Reboot Mi Band 8: soft and hard reset
If the bracelet has started to slow down, does not sync with the phone or gives out errors, the first thing to do is to try a reboot. Unlike turning off, it clears RAM, but saves all data (steps, settings, profile).
Soft reboot (via menu):
- Open Settings → System → Reboot.
- Confirm the action - the bracelet will reboot in 10-15 seconds.
Hard reset (if the screen does not respond):
- Connect the bracelet to the charger.
- Hold the touch button (circle below the screen) for 20 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
- Release the button and the reboot will begin.
What to do if the bracelet is stuck on the Mi logo?
⚠️ Warning: Hard reset does not delete data, but may reset some settings (e.g., the order of screens in the menu).
4. Full reset to factory settings: when and how to do
Resetting to factory settings erases all data from the bracelet, including:
- 📊 Activity statistics (steps, sleep, exercise).
- ⚙️ Personal settings (dials, notifications, alarm clocks).
- 🔗 Reference to Mi Account (re-authorization required).
This procedure should be performed only in extreme cases:
- 🔄 Before selling or transferring the bracelet to another user.
- 🐞 To eliminate critical errors (for example, if the bracelet does not connect to the phone).
- 🔒 After changing the Mi Account.
Resetting instructions:
Synchronize data with the application|Remember the current one. PIN-code (if installed)|Connect the bracelet to charge (minimum 20% charge)|Untie the bracelet from your Mi Fitness account (optional)
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- On the bracelet, go to Settings → System → Data Reset.
- Enter. PIN-code (if installed).
- Confirm the action by holding your finger on the screen for 5 seconds.
- After the reboot, the bracelet will be as new as new – you will need to re-tuning through Mi Fitness.
| Action. | Is the data preserved? | Is re-binding required? |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary screen switching off | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. |
| Total power outage | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. |
| Soft reset | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. |
| Hard reset (20 seconds) | ✅ Yes (but you can reset your settings) | ❌ No. |
| Reset to factory settings | ❌ No (all removed) | ✅ Yes. |
5. Untie Mi Band 8 from Mi Account
If you sell the bracelet or transfer it to another person, it is not enough to simply reset the settings, you need to untie the device from your account, otherwise the new owner will not be able to link the Mi Band 8 to his profile.
Decoupling methods:
- 📱 Through the Mi Fitness app: Open a profile → Mi Smart Band 8 → Untie the device. Confirm the action on SMS or a password from Mi Account.
Mi Account
- Go to account.xiaomi.com.
- In the Devices section, find the Mi Band 8 and remove it.
Problem 3: You can’t untie the bracelet from your account.
- 📧 Check if the Mi Band 8 is linked to a different profile (e.g. if you have multiple accounts).
- 🔄 Try untie via the web version of Mi Account, not through the app.
- 📞 Contact Xiaomi with proof of purchase (if the bracelet is yours, but the system does not allow you to untie).
7 How to Prepare Mi Band 8 for Long Term Storage
If you don't plan to use the bracelet for a few months, it's important to keep it properly so that the battery doesn't degrade and the electronics don't get damaged.
Turn off the bracelet (Section 2)| Charge the battery to 40-60% |Remove the strap and clean the case |Put in a dry place (away from direct sunlight) |Storage in an antistatic bag or original packaging
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⚠️ Warning: Do not keep the bracelet with a fully discharged or 100% battery charged, the optimal charge level for long-term storage is 40-60.
Also avoid:
- 🌡️ Extreme temperatures (below) -10°C or higher +45°C).
- 💦 High humidity (can cause corrosion of contacts).
- 🧲 Strong magnetic fields (e.g., near speakers or microwaves).