Why might Mi Band 3 require a reboot?
The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 fitness bracelet is one of the most popular wearables, but even it is not immune to crashes. Screen getting stuck, sync errors with the Mi Fit app, incorrect display of step or pulse data are all signals that you need to reboot. Unlike smartphones, the Mi Band 3 does not have a classic on/off button, so the process requires knowing hidden combinations or connecting to the charger.
Reboots can be soft (simple off/on) or hard (reset to factory settings). The first option helps with temporary glitches, the second option is if the bracelet has completely stopped responding to touch or does not sync with the smartphone. It is important to understand that hard reset removes all data from the bracelet, including the history of training and alarm settings, so it should be used only in extreme cases.
Method 1: Soft reboot via charger
The safest method that doesn't cause data loss is if the bracelet is getting stuck, but it's still responsive to the charging connection.
- 🔌 Connect the Mi Band 3 to the original charging cable (or magnetic contact compatible).
- ⏳ Wait for the charging indicator to appear on the screen (usually it takes 5-10 seconds).
- 🔄 Without disconnecting from charging, press and hold the touch button of the bracelet for 10-15 seconds.
- 📱 The Mi logo will appear on the screen, signaling a successful reboot.
If the bracelet doesn't respond to holding the button, try to unplug it from charging, wait 30 seconds, and repeat the procedure, which works in 80% of temporary failures.
Connect to charging | Wait for the indicator | Hold the button 10-15 seconds | Wait for the Mi--> logo
⚠️ Note: If the bracelet shows an error after restarting E1 or E2, This could indicate a battery problem, which would require a diagnosis at a service center.
Method 2: Hard reset via a combination of touches
If the soft reboot didn't work and the bracelet is still getting stuck or not syncing, try hard reset, which deletes all data, including the Mi Fit account binding, so only use it when absolutely necessary.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the Mi Fit app on your smartphone and untie the bracelet (if possible).
- 🔋 Make sure the bracelet charge is not below 50% (at low charge, the reset may be incorrect).
- 👆 On the bracelet itself, swipe your finger left-right-left-right-left on the touch button (as when unlocking a smartphone).
- 🔄 After a five-swipe, hold your finger on the button for 3-5 seconds until the vibration and the Mi logo appear.
The reset process will take about a minute, and once you reboot the bracelet will be like a new one, you'll need to re-link to the account and adjust the settings.
What to do if the combination does not work?
Method 3: Reboot via the Mi Fit app
If the bracelet is sensitive to touch but is unstable, try rebooting it software-based through the official app, which saves data but requires a connection to your smartphone.
Step-by-step:
- 📲 Open Mi Fit and go to the Profile section → Mi Smart Band 3.
- 🔍 Scroll down and select Additional Settings (or About Device, depending on the version of the app).
- 🔄 Find the item Reboot the device and confirm the action.
- ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed (the bracelet vibrates and reboots automatically).
If your Mi Fit version doesn’t have a reboot button, upgrade to the latest version of the app via Google Play or the App Store. Alternative path: Profile → Settings → Unplug the device (this will result in a reset, but will save the data to the cloud if sync is enabled).
Once a month for prevention | Only when there are failures |Never rebooted |I don't know how to do it-->
| Resetting method | Is the data preserved? | Does charging need to be done? | Implementation time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft reboot through charging | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | 10.30 sec. |
| Hard reset (swipes) | ❌ No. | ❌ No (but desirable charge) >50%) | 1-2 minutes |
| Reboot via Mi Fit | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | 20-40 sec. |
| Resetting through Mi Band Tools utility | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | 3-5 minutes |
Method 4: Alternative methods (for experienced users)
If standard methods don't work, you can try less obvious solutions, which require additional tools or knowledge, but sometimes save in desperate situations.
Reboot with Mi Band Tools
The Mi Band Tools app (available for Android) allows you to control the bracelet at a deeper level than the Mi Fit, which can be used to force the device to restart or even flash it again.
Instructions:
- 📥 Install Mi Band Tools from Google Play.
- 🔗 Connect the bracelet via Bluetooth (allow all access requests).
- 🛠️ Go to the Tools section → Reboot device.
- 🔄 Confirm the reboot and wait until it is completed.
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If Mi Band Tools doesn’t see the bracelet, try turning off Bluetooth in your smartphone settings for 10 seconds, then turn on again and reconnect.
Reset via ADB (for advanced users)
This method is suitable if the bracelet is connected to an Android smartphone with USB debugging enabled, you need a computer and knowledge of the command line.
Commands for reset:
adb devices
adb shell am start -n com.xiaomi.hm.health/com.xiaomi.hm.health.device.reboot.RebootActivity⚠️ Warning: Misuse of the right ADB This method is recommended only for those who have previously worked with debugging Android devices.
Frequent Errors and Solutions After Rebooting
Even after a successful reboot, the Mi Band 3 may not work properly, and let's look at the typical problems and ways to fix them.
The bracelet is not synchronized with the Mi Fit
- 📱 Update the application to the latest version.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes the problem lies in the phone’s Bluetooth module.
- 📡 Turn it off. VPN Proxies – they can block the connection to Xiaomi servers.
- 🔋 Charge the bracelet to 100% – at low charge, synchronization may not work.
The screen doesn't respond to touch.
If the sensor stops working after the reboot:
- 🧼 Wipe the bracelet screen with an alcohol napkin - dirt or sweat can interfere with the operation.
- 🔋 Connect to charging for 10-15 minutes – sometimes it restores sensitivity.
- 🔄 Perform a hard reset (mode 2) – if the firmware problem is, it can help.
⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet does not respond to touch after a hard reset, it may indicate a physical sensor failure, in which case the screen at the service center will need to be replaced.
When Rebooting Doesn't Help: Diagnosing Faults
If none of the methods have restored the Mi Band 3, the problem may be hardware.
- 🔋 The bracelet does not charge (even after cleaning the contacts).
- 💥 Artifacts appear on the screen (stripes, flickering, broken pixels).
- 🌡️ The bracelet overheats during charging or working.
- 📵 Complete lack of response to charging and resetting.
The average cost of repairing the Mi Band 3 in 2026:
- Battery replacement: 800–1,200 ₽.
- Screen/sensor replacement: 1,500–2,000 ₽.
- Repair of the fee (if moisture is ingested): 2000-3 500 ₽.
If the bracelet is warranty, do not try to disassemble it yourself - this will cancel the warranty obligations. mi.com/ru/service.
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Before visiting the service center, back up your data via Mi Fit (if the bracelet is still synchronized), and after repair, you will have to reconfigure all settings.