Owners of popular activity trackers from a Chinese manufacturer often face a situation where the device stops responding to touch or refuses to sync with the smartphone. In such cases, the standard and most effective solution is to force the device to restart the system of the gadget, which allows you to reset temporary software errors and restore normal operation of all sensors.
Many users mistakenly believe that it requires complex hardware or a connection to a computer, but most models are as simple as possible. Xiaomi Mi Band is designed with ease of use, so you can return them to working condition in just a few seconds.
In this article, we will take a look at all the existing restart methods, from the standard buttons to the full battery discharge, you will learn how soft reset differs from a complete reset, and understand which method is safer to use in your case.
Staff Reboot Method Through Settings Menu
The safest and most recommended way to restore the device is to use an embedded software interface, which does not pose any risk to your activity or health data, since it is similar to the usual switching off of your smartphone. To take advantage of this method, you need to wake the bracelet screen with a light lifting of your wrist or touching a touch button.
Once you activate the display, you'll need to find the menu item that handles system operations. Depending on the firmware version and the tracker model, this section may be called differently. Usually the path is: Settings → System → Reboot or More → System → Reboot.
It is important to understand that once confirmed, the screen of the gadget will go out and the device will start the restart process. At this point, the Mi brand logo or download animation may appear on the screen. Do not try to charge the tracker or press buttons at this time, as this may interrupt the initialization process of the system.
⚠️ Warning: If the screen went out after selecting Reset, but the device didn’t turn back on after 30 seconds, try connecting it to the charger.
This method is ideal for solving small software failures, such as pedometer sticking or time displaying incorrectly, and it also helps if the bracelet stops vibrating when alerted. Using a regular menu ensures that all your personal data stays in the device’s memory.
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Before performing a reboot, make sure the bracelet is not in Do Not Disturb mode, or you may miss important notifications while it is turned on.
Hardware discharge via charger
In situations where the touch screen is no longer responsive to touch, the standard menu becomes unavailable, and this is when a method that uses a physical connection to a power source comes to the rescue, often referred to as "hardware" or "hard" reset, although technically it is a simulation of a charging connection.
To implement this method, you will need an original charging cable or docking station. Remove the tracker from the strap (if the design provides a removable module) and connect it to the main port. USB-The computer port or power adapter, in most cases, the system automatically recognizes the connection and initiates a reboot.
If a simple connection didn't work, try the following sequence: While the device is connected to charging, press the touch button (if it's physically present) or tap the screen several times in a row, which sends an interrupt signal to the power controller, causing the system to rescan the state of the inputs.
- 🔌 Connect the tracker to the power source and wait for the battery icon to appear.
- 🖐️ Touch the sensory area. 3-5 fast and short.
- ⏳ If the screen is on fire but freezes, turn off and reconnect charging.
- 🔄 In some models, simultaneous pressing on the sensor and holding in the charger for 10 seconds helps.
This method is particularly effective when the software is stuck in a waiting loop, charging the controller changes the state, forcing the system to get out of sleep or freeze, but it is worth remembering that frequent use of this method is not recommended.
☑️ Checking before hardware reset
Method of complete battery discharge
There's a method that doesn't require any active action on the part of the user, but it's the longest one: If your fitness bracelet is stuck and doesn't respond to any commands, you can wait until the battery runs out of life, and that's guaranteed to turn the device off.
The principle is simple: when the battery voltage drops below the critical threshold, the power controller forcibly shuts down the system, and then, by connecting the device to the charge, you start it from scratch, as you would when you first turned it on, and the good thing is that it eliminates any software conflicts.
But it has a significant drawback: time, depending on the battery capacity and the degree of freeze, the device can die from hours to days, and the deep discharge of lithium polymer batteries is not good for their long-term health.
⚠️ Warning: Do not leave a fully discharged device without charging for long periods (weeks or months) and this can cause permanent damage to the battery and it will stop holding charge.
Use this method only as a last resort, when other methods do not work, and there is no time to wait for recovery. If you do resort to this method, immediately after the logo appears when charging, put the device on a full charge to 100%.
Resets via Mi Fit or Zepp Life app
Often the problem lies not in the bracelet itself, but in the violation of the communication between it and the smartphone. In this case, rebooting the tracker itself may not help if the error lies in the synchronization profile. The Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit) or Mi Fitness allows you to remotely reset pairing settings.
To do this, open the app on your smartphone, go to the device profile and find the item "Untie" or "Unbind." After the connection breaks, the tracker will return to the search mode for a new phone, which is actually a form of rebooting its communication module. Then you can re-pair.
Some versions of the apps have Factory Reset, which clears all data from the device, a more radical measure than simply restarting, which removes activity history, stored dials, and alarm settings.
The table below will help you choose the right method depending on the symptoms of the malfunction:
| Symptom of the problem | Recommended method | Risk of data loss | Implementation time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor's not responding | Charger | No. | 1-2 minutes |
| Not synchronizing. | Zepp Life Appendix | No (story in the cloud) | 3-5 minutes |
| Interface errors | Settings menu | No. | 30 seconds |
| Complete system frieze | Complete discharge. | No. | 12-48 hours |
Using an app to control a device gives you more control over its state, so you can check the firmware version and update it if necessary, which often solves stability problems.
What to do if the bracelet is not visible in the application?
Differences between reboot and reset to factory settings
Users often confuse reboot and reset. Reboot is simply turning off and on the device, similar to how you restart your computer. All your data, steps, alarm clock settings and dials are stored.
Resetting to factory settings is a complete cleanup of the tracker's internal memory, and after that, the device becomes what it was when it left the assembly line, and all personal data is deleted without recovery if it was not previously synced to the cloud.
When should you apply a full reset? Only if you plan to sell the bracelet, transfer it to another person, or if software errors are critical and are not eliminated by a normal reboot.
The procedure for a complete reset is usually done through the settings menu of the bracelet itself ("Factory Reset") or through the application. Beware: confirming this action often requires holding the button for a few seconds to avoid accidentally pressing.
- 🔄 Reboot saves all user data.
- 🗑️ Reset removes all information from the device.
- ⚙️ Reboot solves 90% of temporary software errors.
- 🛡️ Reset is only needed when selling or critical failures.
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Always start your diagnosis with a simple reset, and a complete reset is the last resort you use when other methods are exhausted.
Frequent problems after reboot and their solution
Sometimes, after a successful reboot, users are faced with new questions, such as the wristband may request repairing or reset time, which is normal behavior, since the real-time module may lose sync.
If you have lost Russian or changed your font after you turn on, check your language settings in the application. Sometimes a firmware update or crash will result in the default regional settings returning. Just select the desired language from the Profile → Mi Band Settings → Language menu.
In rare cases, the device can enter Bootloop mode, restarting endlessly, indicating that the firmware files are damaged, in which case only flashing through special utilities or contacting the service center, if the warranty is still valid, will help.
⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet heats up strongly in the sensor area after rebooting, immediately disconnect it from charging.This may indicate a malfunction of the battery or charge controller.
Timely software updates through the official app minimize the risk of errors requiring a reboot. Developers regularly release patches that improve the stability of the Xiaomi Mi Band.