How to reboot Xiaomi Mi Band 4 via phone: official and alternative ways

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet has become one of the most popular activity-tracking gadgets due to its availability and functionality. However, like any electronic device, it sometimes requires a reboot — whether to fix minor glitches, after a firmware update or if you suspect a hangover. Many users don’t know that you can restart the bracelet not only physically (through a button), but also remotely — directly from your smartphone.

In this article, we will discuss all the official and hidden ways to reboot the Mi Band 4 via your phone, including using the Mi Fit app, alternative utilities like Notify & Fitness or Tools & Mi Band, as well as manual methods through Bluetooth commands.

Important: The procedure for the Mi Band 4 is different from newer models (e.g. Mi Band 5/6/7), so instructions for other versions may not work.If your bracelet is released later than 2019, check the relevance of the method for your model.

Why you might need to reboot the Mi Band 4

Rebooting the wristband is not just about turning it off and on, it helps solve a number of software problems that arise from the way the firmware works.

• 🔄 Screen freeze: The bracelet does not respond to touch, shows a “frozen” image, or displays incorrect data (for example, pulse 0 or endless charging).
• 📱 Synchronization problems: Step, sleep or pulse data is not updated in the Mi Fit app despite stable Bluetooth connectivity.
• 🔋 Failures after the update: if the bracelet firmware is updated with errors, functions (such as notifications or alarm clocks) may disappear).
• 🚫 Sensor malfunction: The bracelet vibrates for no reason, counts steps incorrectly, or shows absurd values (e.g. 10,000 steps in 5 minutes).
• 🔌 Charging problems: Charge indicator does not change, bracelet discharges quickly or does not turn on after connecting to the charger.

In most cases, rebooting helps to return the bracelet to working condition without resetting to factory settings, however, if the problem is repeated regularly, this may indicate a hardware defect (for example, damage to the battery or charging contacts) in which case repair will be required.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Band 4 bracelet does not turn on after the reboot or shows a white screen, do not try to repeat the procedure repeatedly. This may indicate a critical firmware error.

Official way: reboot via Mi Fit app

The safest and recommended by the manufacturer method is the use of the proprietary application Mi Fit. This method does not require additional programs and works on all smartphones (Android/iOS). Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Mi Fit app on your phone and make sure the bracelet is plugged in (the Mi Band 4 icon with percentage charge should be displayed at the top of the screen).

The entire process takes about 20-30 seconds. After rebooting, the bracelet automatically connects to the phone, and all settings (notifications, alarms, clocks) will be saved. If the Reboot item is not on the menu, update the Mi Fit app to the latest version.

Make sure the bracelet is charged at least 20 times%|

Check the stability of Bluetooth connection |

Close background applications that may interfere with synchronization |

Turn off the power saving mode on the phone (if enabled)-->

If the bracelet does not connect to the phone after restarting, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone (sometimes the problem lies in the Bluetooth stack of the phone).
• 📱 Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugate devices in the Bluetooth settings of the phone and connect it again via Mi Fit.
• 🔋 Put the bracelet on charge for 10-15 minutes – sometimes a low charge blocks the connection.

Alternative ways to reboot without Mi Fit

If your branded app doesn't work (for example, because of a synchronization error) or you use custom firmware on your wristband, alternative methods can be used. They require more action, but often help in difficult situations.

Method 1: Notify & Fitness for Mi Band

Notify & Fitness is a popular Mi Fit alternative with advanced features, which supports rebooting the Mi Band 4 even if the original app can't see the device.

1. Download and install Notify & Fitness from Google Play (this app is not available for iOS).
2. Open the app and connect the bracelet through Add Device → Mi Band 4.
3. Go to the bracelet menu (slip on its icon) and select Device Management → Reboot.
4. Confirm the action. The bracelet will reset, and the app will show the status of the process.

The advantage of this method is the ability to reboot the bracelet even if it is not synced with the Mi Fit. However, note that Notify & Fitness can reset some settings (such as the order of the screens) if they were changed through the original app.

Method 2: Tools & Mi Band App

Another utility for advanced users is the Tools & Mi Band, which allows you to send low-level commands to the bracelet, including forced reboot, which is suitable if the bracelet is getting stuck and does not respond to touch.

1. Install Tools & Mi Band (Android only)
2. Connect the bracelet through the app (you will need to provide access to Bluetooth and notifications).
3. Go to the Advanced Tools section → Reboot.
4. Select the type of reboot: Soft Reboot is a soft reboot (saves all data). Hard Reboot is a hard reboot (can reset some settings).

Confirm action. The bracelet will reset within 10 to 20 seconds.

⚠️ Warning: Hard Reboot can cause user settings (such as background images or menu order) to reset. Use it only if a soft reboot doesn't help.

Reboot through the Engineering Menu (for experienced users)

If standard methods fail, you can try reloading the bracelet through a hidden engineering menu, which requires carefulness, because incorrect actions can lead to firmware failure.

1. Open the Mi Fit app and make sure the bracelet is connected.
2. On the main screen of the application, tap 5 times on the bracelet icon (quickly, with an interval of ~1 second).
3. After the 5th tap, a hidden menu with technical information will appear. Select Reboot.
4. Confirm the reset. The bracelet will start the process and in 20 to 30 seconds it will re-engineer.

If the engineering menu doesn’t open, try another way:

1. In Mi Fit, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → About the program.
2. Stick 10 times on the line with the bracelet firmware version, and then the developer menu will open.
3. Select Reboot Device and confirm the action.

Important: the engineering menu may not be available in some versions of the Mi Band 4 firmware (especially in Chinese versions).If nothing happens after 10 taps, this method is not suitable for your bracelet.

What to do if the bracelet is not reloaded

If none of the methods worked and the Mi Band 4 still doesn’t respond, try the following steps:

• 🔌 Check charging: connect the bracelet to the charger for 30 to 60 minutes. Sometimes low charge blocks any commands. If the charge indicator is not on, try another cable or adapter.
• 📱 Reset Bluetooth Settings: On your phone go to Settings → Bluetooth. Find Mi Band 4 on the device list and forget it. Reboot your phone. Reconnect the bracelet via Mi Fit.
• 🔄 Update your firmware manually: In Mi Fit, check for bracelet updates (Profile) → Mi Smart Band 4 → If the update is available, install it. Sometimes it solves the freeze problem.

Reset to factory settings

1. Place the bracelet in the charger.
2. Hold the bracelet button for 20-30 seconds until the vibration and Mi logo appear.
3. After resetting the bracelet will be as new - you will need to re-configure through Mi Fit.

If the bracelet starts to malfunction after a fall or mechanical impact, there is a high probability of damage to the internal components, in which case the reset will help temporarily, but the problem will recur, the optimal solution is to replace the bracelet or repair the service center.

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Regularly restarting (once every 1-2 weeks) helps prevent the bracelet from accumulating errors, especially if you are actively using notifications and sleep tracking.

Resetting the Mi Band 4 to factory settings: when it’s needed

Rebooting and resetting to factory settings are different procedures. Rebooting simply restarts the system, and reset deletes all user data (screen settings, alarm clocks, sleep data), resorting to resets is only necessary in extreme cases:

• 🔧 The bracelet is constantly reloading on its own.
• 📵 Bluetooth connection is not working, and no methods help.
• 🔋 The battery will run out in a few hours for no apparent reason.
• 🚫 Artifacts appear on the screen (stripes, flickering, incorrect symbols).

If the reset didn't work, there might be a hardware problem, such as a bloated battery that can cause spontaneous reboots, which would cost more than the cost of a new bracelet, so it's better to consider buying a Mi Band 5/6/7.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)