The Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets are some of the most popular wearables on the market due to their combination of functionality and affordable price. However, even they are not immune to failure: the bracelet can freeze, stop syncing with the smartphone or refuse to turn on at all. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by restarting or resetting the settings correctly - but how to do this without risking damage to the device?
In this article, we will discuss all ways to reboot Mi Band models. 5/6/7/8, This includes software and hardware resets, and critical error recovery, and you'll learn when a simple reboot is enough and when a full hard reset is required, how to avoid data loss, and what to do if the bracelet doesn't respond to buttons. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances of firmware and synchronization with the Mi application Fitness/Zepp Life.
When you need to restart the fitness bracelet Xiaomi
Not all "glutty" behavior of the bracelet requires radical measures. Before resetting, check whether your problem is temporary failures that are eliminated by a simple reboot:
- 🔄 The bracelet is getting stuck on the Mi logo or does not respond to touch.
- 📵 Not synced with the application (Errors 5001, 5002 or Device not found»)
- 🔋 The battery is discharged quickly (for example, from 100% to 20% per hour)
- ⏱️ Incorrectly displays time, footsteps, or pulse (sensors go crazy»)
- 🔊 Does not vibrate at notifications or alarm clocks
If the bracelet does not turn on at all (black screen, no reaction to charging) - this may indicate a hardware malfunction (battery discharge up to 0%, damage to the plume or power controller). In such cases, restarting will not help - diagnostics are required at the service center.
⚠️ Note: Frequent crashes after a firmware update (e.g. on Mi Band 7 Pro) may be due to incompatibility between the software version and regional firmware. → Device profile → Firmware update.
Methods of rebooting the bracelet without data reset
If the bracelet responds to touch but is unstable, start with a software reboot, which saves all settings and data (steps, training, notifications).
Method 1: Reboot through the bracelet menu
Suitable for Mi Band 5/6/7/8 models with touch screen:
- Swipe your finger left over the bracelet screen to open the menu.
- Find the Settings item (Icon) ⚙️) and tap him.
- Scroll down to Reboot (or Restart in English firmware).
- Confirm the action – the bracelet will turn off and turn on again (it will take ~ 10 seconds).
Method 2: Forced button reboot
If the sensor does not respond, but the bracelet is activated:
- Connect the bracelet to charge (even if the battery is not discharged).
- Press the touch button (the area under the screen) for 10-15 seconds.
- Release after vibration - the bracelet will reset.
On the Mi Band 4 and older models, instead of a touch button, a physical key is used on the body. The algorithm is the same: pinch for 10-15 seconds.
☑️ Preparations for reset
Hard Reset – When and How to Do It
Hard reset returns the bracelet to factory settings, removing all the data: steps, training, notifications and paired devices.
- 🔄 Software reboot didn't help;
- 📱 Bracelet does not sync with the smartphone despite repeated attempts;
- 🔧 You need to sell/transfer the bracelet to another user.
Instructions for Mi Band 5/6/7/8:
- Turn off the bracelet from charging.
- Press the touch button for 20-30 seconds before the Mi logo and vibrations appear.
- Release the button and the bracelet will reset (the process will take ~1 minute).
- After the reboot, connect the bracelet to the Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app as a new device.
On Mi Band 4 and older: Press the physical button for 15-20 seconds before resetting.
⚠️ Warning: After a hard reset, the bracelet may require a firmware update. If a notification of an update appears in Mi Fitness, do not delay it, otherwise synchronization errors may occur.
What happens if you interrupt the discharge?
Recovery of the bracelet after a firmware failure
If the bracelet stopped turning on after the software update (for example, the “brick” on the Mi Band 7 due to an interrupted update), forced firmware will be required via the PC.
You'll need:
- 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS;
- 🔌 Cable for connecting the bracelet (usually included);
- 📥 Firmware for your model (download only from official sources, for example, Mi Community).
Algorithm of action:
- Install drivers for the bracelet (e.g. MiBand Drivers for Windows).
- Connect the bracelet to the PC via cable (some models require you to press the button when connecting).
- Run a firmware utility (such as MiBandTool or Gadgetbridge).
- Select a firmware file (.fw or.bin) and wait for the process to complete.
| Model bracelet | Firmware version (2026) | Download link | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 5 | 1.0.3.86 | Mi Community | Requires FTDI driver |
| Mi Band 6 | 1.0.6.58 | Mi Community | Supports firmware via Bluetooth |
| Mi Band 7 | 1.15.0.14 | Mi Community | Risk of a brick when interrupted |
| Mi Band 8 | 1.20.8.19 | Mi Community | Requires authorization in Mi Account |
If the bracelet does not turn on after firmware, check:
- 🔌 Quality of cable connection (try another one) USB-port);
- 📋 Compatibility of the firmware version with the bracelet region;
- 🔋 Charge level (minimum 50% for firmware).
💡
Before the firmware, disable the antivirus – it can block utilities like MiBandTool as suspicious software.
Synchronization of the bracelet after restart
After any reset, the bracelet must be reconnected to the smartphone.
- Open the app and go to Profile → Add the device.
- Select the bracelet model from the list.
- Allow access to notifications, contacts and geodata (required for correct operation!).
- Wait for the data to sync (it can take up to 5 minutes).
If the bracelet is not present:
- 📱 Reboot your smartphone;
- 🔄 Turn Bluetooth on/off;
- 📲 Remove the bracelet from the list of devices in Bluetooth settings and reconnect.
⚠️ Attention: On Mi Band 8 with NFC After reset, you may need to re-assign your bank cards in the Mi Pay app. Do not remove the cards from the app before reconnecting the bracelet!
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
Even after restarting, the bracelet may not work properly, and consider the typical problems and ways to fix them:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The bracelet doesn't vibrate. | Notifications in the app disabled | Go to Mi Fitness → Device Profile → Notifications and turn on vibration |
| Error 5001 in synchronization | An outdated version of the app | Update Mi Fitness to Google Play/App Store |
| Bracelet discharges quickly | Background sensor activity | Turn off constant pulse monitoring in bracelet settings |
| Wrong time. | Failure to sync with the phone | Reboot the bracelet and smartphone, then sync again |
If the bracelet after reset does not determine the steps or pulse, check:
- 👟 Density of the wrist (sensors should touch the skin);
- 📱 Permissions for Mi Fitness in phone settings (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Permits);
- 🔄 Update of the bracelet firmware (in the Device Profile) → Update of the PO).
💡
If the bracelet does not turn on after reset, connect it to charging for 1-2 hours - it is possible that the battery has discharged to a critical level.
Failure prevention: how to avoid problems in the future
To minimize the risk of errors and errors:
- 📲 Regularly update the firmware of the bracelet (but not via mobile Internet – only via Wi-Fi!);
- 🔋 Do not allow the battery to be completely discharged (charge at 20-30%);
- 🚫 Do not install unofficial firmware (risk of "bricking" the device);
- 📵 Avoid strong magnetic fields (can knock down sensors);
- 💦 Do not wet the bracelet in hot water (even if it is waterproof).
On models with NFC (Mi Band 7 Pro, Mi Band 8) after updating the firmware, the bank card binding may be reset.
- Before updating, check the card backup in Mi Pay.
- Do not interrupt the update process (even if it takes >10 minutes).
- After the update, restart the bracelet and smartphone.