How to restart the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 5: all ways to reset and restore

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet is one of the most popular wearables, but even it sometimes crashes: it freezes, does not sync with your smartphone or stops responding to touch. In 90% of cases, the correct restart is solved, from a simple reboot to a full reset to factory settings. In this article, we will analyze all available methods, including hidden functions and nuances that are not written in the official instructions.

It's important to understand that restarting and resetting are different procedures, the first one just reboots the device, saving all the data, and the second one erases it completely, we'll show you when to use it, how to avoid data loss, and what to do if the bracelet doesn't respond to buttons at all, and you'll learn how to restore the Mi Band 5 after a failed firmware update or sensor malfunction.

This article will be useful for both beginners and experienced users. We have collected all the current methods for 2026, including solutions for rare errors that are not described even in the forums. If your bracelet stopped vibrating after upgrading to firmware version 1.0.9.14 or does not sync with the Mi Fit application on Android 14, here you will find the answer.

1.When do I need to restart the Xiaomi Mi Band 5?

The Mi Band 5 is a reliable device, but it's not immune to software failures, and here are the typical situations where you need to restart:

• 🔄 The bracelet is frozen and does not respond to touching the screen or button.
• 📱 Not synced with Mi Fit or Zepp Life (formerly Mi Fit).
• 🔋 The battery is discharged quickly (for example, it drops from 100% to 20 per night%).
• 📊 Incorrectly displays data: steps, pulse, blood oxygen level (SpO2).
• 🔄 After updating the firmware, glitches appeared (screen flickering, spontaneous vibrations).
• 🚫 The bracelet gives an error called "Disconnected" or "Sync failed".

If the problem is hardware-related (e.g., a cracked screen, a faulty battery, or a swell of moisture), restarting won't help -- it'll need repairs. But 80 percent of the time, the software is to blame, and resetting solves the problem, and the key is to choose the right method.

⚠️ Warning: If the Mi Band 5 bracelet doesn't turn on after it's completely discharged, first charge it for 30-60 minutes. Sometimes the device doesn't respond to the button due to a deep battery discharge.

2.Soft reboot: the safest way

If the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 bracelet is just a prick, but it still reacts to touch, start with a soft reboot. This method does not delete data or require a connection to a smartphone.

• 📱 The app doesn't see the bracelet, although Bluetooth is enabled.
• 🔄 The screen slows down or does not respond to swipes.
• 📊 Steps or sleep data not updated.

Instructions for soft reboot:

1. Open the menu on the bracelet by swiping up the screen.
2. Go to the settings → About the device (icon with an exclamation mark).
3. Scroll down and select Reboot.
4. Confirm the action by clicking the tick.

The bracelet will turn off and re-engineer in 10 to 15 seconds. After you restart, check if the problem has been solved. If not, move on to the next method.

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If the bracelet doesn't respond to swipes, try pressing the button below the screen (touch area) and holding it for 3-5 seconds, sometimes unlocking the screen.

3 Hard Reset: When a soft reset doesn't help

If the Mi Band 5 is completely frozen, does not respond to touches or buttons, a hard reset is required. This method forcibly restarts the device, but does not erase user data (steps, alarm settings, etc.).

• 🔄 Full screen freeze (black screen, endless loading).
• 🚫 Mistakes after a failed firmware update.
• 📵 Lack of response to connection to charging.

How to make a hard reset:

1. Remove the bracelet from your hand and place it on a flat surface.
2. Find the touch button (under the screen) on the case.
3. Press and hold it for 10-15 seconds until the bracelet vibrates and reboots.
4. If the screen does not respond, try connecting the bracelet to charging and repeat the procedure.

After a hard reset, the bracelet should turn on normally. If this does not happen, proceed to a full reset.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse hard reset with hardware reset (more on this below). The first just resets the device, the second just erases all data. If the bracelet doesn't turn on after a hard reset, don't panic: maybe the battery just ran out. Wait 1-2 hours on charging.

4.Full reset to factory settings: when nothing helps

If the soft and hard reboot fails, you get a full Factory Reset, which removes all the data from the bracelet, including:

• 📊 Activity statistics (steps, sleep, exercise).
• ⏰ Settings of alarm clocks and notifications.
• 🔒 Paired devices (you will have to reconnect to the smartphone).
• 🎨 Custom dials.

Before resetting, try synchronizing your data with the Mi Fit/Zepp Life app so you don't lose your history. If the bracelet doesn't sync, resetting it can still bring it back to life.

How to reset Mi Band 5 to factory settings:

1. Connect the bracelet to charging (recommended, but not required).
2. Go to the menu: swipe up → Settings → About the device.
3. Scroll down and select Reset.
4. Confirm the action by clicking the tick.

If the bracelet does not respond to touch, use an alternative method:

1. Remove the bracelet capsule from the strap.
2. Find charging contacts on the back (5 metal dots).
3. Carefully touch the third and fourth contacts (counting from left to right) with a metal object (for example, a paper clip) for 3-5 seconds.
4. The bracelet vibrates and is dropped.

Once reset, the bracelet will turn on as a new one, and you will need to reconnect it to your smartphone via the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app.

5.Recovery after a failed firmware update

One of the most common problems is that the bracelet stopped working after the firmware update, and this can happen because:

• 📱 Interrupted update process (for example, the smartphone sat down or Bluetooth turned off).
• 🔌 Unstable Internet connection.
• 📦 Incompatibility of the firmware version with your bracelet model (for example, firmware for Mi Band 5) NFC installed on the regular version).

If after the update the bracelet:

• 🔄 Hangs on the Mi logo.
• 📵 Not turned on or constantly restarted.
• 🚫 The error is "Update failed".

Try the following steps:

Method 1: Forced resetting

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
2. Hold the touch button for 20 to 30 seconds until you feel the vibration.
3. Release the button and wait for the switch to turn on.

Method 2: Reverse the firmware through Mi Fit

1. Open the Mi Fit app on your smartphone.
2. Go to the profile of the bracelet → Update the firmware.
3. If an earlier version is available, click Rollback.

Method 3: Manual firmware through Mi Band Tools (for advanced)

If standard methods do not help, you can try to sew the bracelet manually using third-party software.

1. Download the Mi Band Tools utility (available for Android).
2. Download the official firmware for Mi Band 5 from Xiaomi’s website (support section).
3. Connect the bracelet to your smartphone and follow the instructions in the app.

⚠️ Note: Hand firmware can lead to complete loss of warranty and irreversible damage to the bracelet if the wrong version of the software is selected. Use this method only if other methods have not worked.

6. Solving specific problems after restart

Sometimes, when you reset or reset the bracelet doesn't behave properly, here are the solutions to some of the most common problems.

If after all the manipulations the problem remains, check the bracelet for hardware malfunctions:

• 🔋 Bloated battery (seen by deformation of the body).
• 💧 Corrosion marks on contacts (if the bracelet has been in contact with water).
• 📱 Damaged screen (cracks, broken pixels).

In such cases, self-repair is not recommended – contact the Xiaomi service center.

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If the Mi Band 5 bracelet does not turn on after reset, check the charging first. Hold the button for 30+ seconds - sometimes the device "wakes up" only after prolonged retention.

7.How can we avoid problems in the future?

To ensure that Xiaomi Mi Band 5 works consistently, follow these guidelines:

• 📱 Regularly update your firmware through Mi Fit (but not at low charge bracelet!).
• 🔋 Do not allow full discharge of the battery (charge at 20-30%).
• 🚿 Avoid prolonged contact with water (despite 5 claims) ATM, Salt and chlorine can damage your contacts).
• 📵 Do not hold the bracelet near sources of strong electromagnetic fields (microwaves, powerful speakers).
• 🔄 Once a month, do a soft reboot to clean the cache.

Also useful:

• 📊 Periodically sync the data with the application so as not to lose statistics.
• 🔒 Use original straps – cheap analogs can damage contacts.
• 📱 Do not install third-party firmware unless you are sure of their compatibility.

If you're a sleep and heart rate monitor, look at the energy saving mode in your wristband settings, which extends your time, but can reduce the accuracy of your sensors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)