How to untie the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 fitness bracelet from a phone without a smartphone: the full guide

Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is one of the most popular fitness bracelets, but even it sometimes requires a forced reset of communication with the phone. The situations are different: you sell a device, lost access to your Mi Account account, or the bracelet simply stopped syncing. The main problem is how to untie it without a phone if you do not have the original smartphone or the Mi Fit app at hand.

In this article, we'll look at all the working ways of resetting, including hardware resets, third-party applications, and even computer-assisted methods. Importantly, some actions can lead to data loss (steps, pulse, sleep history), so prepare for this. If the bracelet is getting stuck or does not respond to pressing, don't panic, there are solutions for this, too.

Why the bracelet is not untied through the application

The main reason is that the Mi Band 3 is linked to a Xiaomi account, and even if you remove the device from the Mi Fit list, it can remain linked to the profile on the company's servers, which is designed to protect against theft, but creates problems when you resell or change your phone.

Other common causes:

• 📱 Mi Fit app removed – without it it it is impossible to manage communication via Bluetooth.
• 📴 Broken Bluetooth module on your phone or bracelet.

If you're in one of these situations, the standard way to unblock Settings → Delete the device in Mi Fit won't work. You'll have to use alternative methods.

Method 1: Hardware reset through the button of the bracelet

The most reliable method is hard reset directly on the device, which deletes all data and returns the bracelet to factory settings, including breaking communication with the phone.

Instructions:

1. Remove the bracelet capsule from the strap.
2. Find the touch button on the back (under the Mi logo).
3. Connect the bracelet to the charger (required!).
4. Press the button for 10-15 seconds until the vibration and the Mi logo appear.
5. Release the button - the bracelet will reset and reset the settings.

After resetting, the bracelet will be ready for a new binding. If the button does not respond, try repeating the procedure 2-3 times or check the charge (the battery should be charged at least 20%).

Method 2: Reset via third-party applications (Android)

If you have access to any Android smartphone (not necessarily the one that the bracelet is attached to), you can use alternative Mi Band management apps to bypass Mi Fit restrictions and force the device to unplug.

The best applications for this task:

• 📲 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band – Supports reset and firmware.
• 🔧 Mi Bandage - utility for deep bracelet customization.
• 🛠️ Tools & Mi Band – allows you to reset the binding without a Xiaomi account.

Instructions for Notify & Fitness:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Connect the bracelet via Bluetooth.
3. Go to Settings → Device → Reset to factory.
4. Confirm the action - the bracelet will reset and unload.

⚠️ Note: Some apps require root rights on your phone. If your smartphone is not rooted, select a utility marked "No Root" in the description.

Method 3: Uncoupling through a computer (Windows/macOS)

Few people know, but you can untie the Mi Band 3 from your phone with your computer.

• 🖥️ PC with Bluetooth adapter 4.0+ (or USB Bluetoothdongle).
• 📂 The nRF Connect program (for the Windows/macOS).
• 🔌 Bracelet charger.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install nRF Connect.
2. Turn on Bluetooth on your PC and connect the bracelet to charging.
3. Run nRF Connect and find the MI Band 3 device in the list.
4. Connect to it and go to the Unknown Service tab.
5. Find the DFU Control Point command and send a value of 01 00 (this initiates a reset).

If done correctly, the bracelet vibrates and reboots, a technique that works even if the original phone is lost.

Method 4: Reset via engineering menu (hidden function)

Xiaomi Mi Band 3 has a hidden engineering menu that allows you to reset your settings without your phone.This method requires precise action, since the menu is not documented.

How to open the engineering menu:

1. Charge the bracelet to 100%.
2. Remove the capsule from the strap.
3. Press the touch button 5 times in a row (with an interval of ~1 second).
4. After pressing the 5th press, hold the button for 10 seconds until vibration appears.
5. The bracelet will go into diagnostic mode - now press the button 3 more times to reset.

If the menu doesn't open, try repeating the steps with a different tap interval, which doesn't work on all firmware, but often helps when other methods don't work.

💡

If the bracelet does not respond to pressing, try holding it under a bright lamp - sometimes the light sensor blocks the sensor.

Method 5: Physically disabling the Bluetooth module (extreme case)

If the software methods don't work, you have a mechanical reset, which is a temporary power outage of the Bluetooth module, which is a risky way to do that, but it's guaranteed to break the connection to the phone.

What you need:

• 🔧 Plastic blade (to open the body).
• 🔋 Tweezers (careful!).
• 📸 Camera (to capture the location of the parts).

Instructions:

1. Carefully put the back cover of the bracelet with a spatula (start with the corners!).
2. Disconnect the battery for 10-15 seconds – it will reset all settings.
3. Put the bracelet back together, making sure all contacts are in place.

⚠️ Attention: Opening the case will void the warranty! If you're not sure about your skills, you better contact the service center.

What to do if nothing works

If all of these methods do not help, there are two options:

1. You can go to Xiaomi's service center, and they can drop the peg through special equipment, and you'll need a check or a bracelet box.
2. Buy a new Bluetooth module – if the problem is hardware malfunction, replacement parts (~500–800 ₽) maybe enough.

In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by a hardware reset or through nRF Connect. If the bracelet does not turn on after reset, try charging it with another cable (sometimes the problem is in the contacts).

💡

Before selling the bracelet, make sure to reset – the new owner will not be able to tie it to his phone while the device is linked to your Mi Account.

Frequently asked questions