Personalization of wearables has long ceased to be the prerogative of only expensive smart watches. Owners of the affordable fitness tracker Mi Band 4 also got the opportunity to change the static image on the front screen, turning the gadget into a unique accessory. The process of replacing a standard dial with your own photo seems difficult only at first glance, but requires compliance with certain technical nuances.
The main difficulty is that there is no direct download of arbitrary images through the standard menu of the bracelet itself. All the magic takes place on the connecting link - a smartphone that has the official Zepp Life app (formerly known as Mi Fit) or Mi Fitness, which is the software that acts as an intermediary, processing the image before sending to the device.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to choose a suitable photo, how to prepare it and what settings should be changed so that the new background pleases the eye and does not reduce the autonomy of the gadget.
Image requirements and file preparation
Before you start syncing, you need to understand that the screen Xiaomi Mi Band 4 has a specific resolution and elongated shape. A typical photo from the camera of a smartphone, which has an aspect ratio of 16:9 or 4:3, when automatically compressed, can look distorted or cropped in the most inappropriate places.
To achieve the ideal result, it is recommended to pre-fracture the image on the computer or in the phone editor to proportions close to 240x100 pixels, although the application does cropping automatically.
⚠️ Note: Do not use images with very small details or thin lines, as OLED-In the screen of the bracelet, they can merge into one spot, making time unreadable.
The optimal file format is JPEG or PNG with minimal compression to avoid artifacts. If you plan to create a whole collection of backgrounds, it makes sense to prepare them in advance in a separate folder so you don’t waste time searching the gallery during setup.
- 📸 Use horizontal photos for better composition on the extended screen.
- 🎨 Choose contrasting images so that the time digits are read effortlessly.
- 💾 Save the original photos in high resolution before uploading to the application.
The quality of the original file directly affects how the image will look after the software processing of the Mi Band algorithms. Avoid "noisy" pictures taken in poor light, as they may appear grainy on the tracker display.
Installation of the dial through the Zepp Life app
The installation process starts with the launch of the Zepp Life app on your smartphone, and make sure the bracelet is connected and in the Bluetooth signal receiving zone, as the image transfer requires a stable communication channel and can take from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
In the bottom menu, select the Profile tab, and then search the device list for your Mi Band 4. Go to the Dial Settings section. Here you will see the standard dial store, but we are interested in the "+" button or "Add yours" option, which allows you to download a custom image.
☑️ Pre-installing check
Once you select a photo from the gallery, the app will suggest editing the display area, and as you move the frame, you can choose which part of the photo will be visible on the screen, and you can also choose the style of displaying the time: large numbers, small numbers, with or without a date.
Press the "Install" button and wait until the process is over. The download animation will appear on the tracker screen. It is strongly advised not to interrupt this process, as this may cause a failure in the display of the interface.
- 📲 Open the Zepp Life app and go to your device profile.
- 🖼️ Click on the icon"+" in the dials section for selecting photos.
- ⏳ Wait for full load without turning off the smartphone screen.
It is worth noting that the user’s dial consumes a little more energy than the standard black background, due to the peculiarities of the work. OLED-But for the Mi Band 4 with its capacious battery, this effect is minimal.
Use of third-party applications for advanced functions
The official functionality is sometimes limited, and enthusiasts often turn to third-party development. Apps like Notify for Mi Band or ToolBox offer much more flexible settings, allowing you to create complex dials with a stopwatch, pedometer and even weather in the background of your photo.
These applications require advanced permissions, including access to notifications and location, to work, and the interface of these apps may seem overloaded, but it gives you full control over every pixel on your screen.
Security of Third Party Applications
In these applications, the process is like this: you pick a template, upload your image, adjust the position of the items (time, date, steps), and send a packet of data to the wristband. It takes longer, but the result is worth it.
⚠️ Warning: When using third-party software, the smartphone battery can discharge faster due to constant background Bluetooth activity and data processing.
Some advanced utilities allow you to create animated dials, although the Mi Band 4 has support limitations. GIF-It's a very static, but very informative, face.
Setting up the display of time and date
Once the wallpaper is installed, it is critical to properly adjust the time display so that it does not overlap important details of the photo. The dial setting menu in the Zepp Life app offers several font and clock layout options.
If you have bright spots in the center of your photo, you should choose a time-out option to the top or bottom of the screen, and you can also change the font size to make it more compact or, conversely, large for better readability.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Time format | 12 hours or 24 hours | 24 hours to save space |
| Seconds. | Second mapping | Turn it off to save charge |
| Date. | Day and month | Enable if the background allows |
| Language | Russian/English | Depends on the language of the system. |
Pay attention to the color of the numbers. Some custom dials have a fixed font color (usually white), so make sure it contrasts with the wallpaper you choose. If the background is light, the time may not be visible well.
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If time merges with the background, try darkening the photo in any editor before uploading by adding a black, translucent layer over the image.
Synchronization and elimination of transmission problems
The most common problem with installation is that the process freezes during the data transfer stage, which can be due to unstable Bluetooth connections or background processes blocking the application.
If the download is 99% stuck or there is a timeout, try this: completely close the Zepp Life app, turn off and turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone, and then try again. VPN or antivirus.
It is also worth checking the firmware version of the bracelet itself, which may not work properly with new versions of the app, and the firmware update occurs in the same section of the device profile.
- 🔄 Reboot the bracelet through the app menu if it freezes.
- 📶 Get closer to your smartphone to boost your Bluetooth signal.
- 🗑️ Remove old unused dials to free up memory.
In rare cases, the problem lies in the app's cache. Clearing the cache in Android settings (Applications section -> Zepp Life -> Memory) often solves the problem with hanging downloads.
The impact of wallpaper on autonomy of work
Use of coloured wallpaper on OLED-The Mi Band 4 has its own power consumption features. LCD-And in the screens, each pixel is self-luminous, and the black color on those screens is actually off and doesn't consume energy, whereas the bright color pixels consume energy.
If you set a bright, white or colorful photo on the full screen, the battery will be consumed faster than a standard black dial, the difference can be anywhere from 10% to 20% depending on the brightness of the image and the frequency of the wrist lift.
⚠️ Attention: Constantly activating the screen when raising your hand with bright wallpaper significantly reduces the time of operation.If autonomy is critical, use dark tones.
For maximum energy savings, it is recommended to choose images with a predominance of dark colors or use the function "Wrist Raising" only when necessary, not constantly.
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The dark wallpaper on OLED-The Mi Band 4 not only looks stylish, but also significantly extends the battery life compared to light images.