Personalizing wearables has long since ceased to be just pampering and has become a standard procedure for every gadget owner. When you pick up a new fitness bracelet, the first wish is to make it unique by matching the dial to your clothing style or mood. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this process is made as simple as possible thanks to the developed software and a huge community of developers.
However, many users still confuse the concepts, believing that you can install any photo from the gallery on the tracker screen, as if on a smartphone. In fact, there is a clear separation between static dials, dynamic animations and special “live” wallpapers, available only for certain models. The installation procedure depends not only on the firmware version, but also on the mobile application used.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the nuances of background replacement, explain the difference between formats, and help you avoid typical synchronization errors. You will learn how to manage a style library and understand why some images may not display correctly on the screen. AMOLED-matrix of your device.
Differences between dials and wallpaper in Xiaomi ecosystem
Before you start to act, you need to understand the technical difference between the terms, because they often coexist in the application menu, but function differently. The dial (or Watch Face) is a comprehensive interface that includes the location of the clock, dates, pedometer, pulsemeter and, in fact, the background image, which can be replaced completely by downloading the finished data package.
Wallpaper in Xiaomi’s context is often the background image that sits beneath the widgets. In older models like the Mi Band 4 or Mi Band 5, the concept of “live wallpaper” (Always On Display with animation) worked as a separate type of dial that consumed the battery quickly. In new models, starting with the Mi Band 6 and Mi Band 7, the architecture changed: the background became part of the customizable dial, and animation of the appearance when raising the hand became the standard.
⚠️ Warning: Trying to set a low-resolution or unsupported image format may cause the bracelet to display a black screen or standard screensaver before restarting.
Importantly, the concept has changed radically for the Mi Band 8 and newer models: the device now supports third-party APK installation and has a more flexible file system that allows you to upload photos directly from the phone gallery without having to search for a ready-made template in the store.
Preparation of the device and mobile application
Successful installation of new styles depends on the correctness of the smartphone-bracelet bundle. First of all, make sure that your phone has an actual application. For older models, this was Mi Fit, but now all new devices and updates require Mi Fitness (formerly Zepp Life for some regions).
The second critical point is the battery level. The process of loading graphics resources, especially if it is an animated dial with a high bitrate, requires stable power supply. If the charge falls below 20% during data transfer, the synchronization may be interrupted, and the device will remain with the black screen until completely recharged.
☑️ Pre-installing check
It is also worth freeing up space in the memory of the bracelet. Although modern models have sufficient volume, a crowded cache can slow down the interface. Go to the profile settings in the application and select Settings → Reset (only if you are ready to reset statistics) or simply delete unused dials through the control menu.
Instructions: Install static wallpaper through Mi Fitness
The most common and safe way to personalize is to use the official library. Open the Mi Fitness app on your smartphone and make sure the bracelet is connected. In the bottom menu, select the Device tab, and then find the Dial section (or Dial Market).
Here's a huge catalog, divided into categories: Recommended, Popular, Sports, Anime, and more. You can use filters to search by color or style. If you find a suitable option, click on it to view the preview, and select the Set button. The download process will take 10 to 40 seconds depending on the weight of the file.
The Mi Band 6, 7, 8 has Local Dials, which allows you to create your own style by selecting a photo from the phone gallery. Click the plus in the dials section, select Local, upload the image and adjust the clock position. After saving, click Send to the device.
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Use photos with a contrasting background for dials, as on the AMOLED-screens black color is not illuminated, which saves energy and improves readability.
Once the data is transmitted successfully, the bracelet screen will blink and the new style will be applied automatically. If this does not happen, try unlocking the bracelet screen or shaking the wrist to activate the display.
Working with live wallpaper and animation
Mi Band 5 and newer owners are familiar with the Live Wallpaper feature, which is technically a video dial that plays short animations when the screen is activated, and to find them, you need to look at the camera icon or the Dynamic label in the dial store.
Installing such styles requires more time and traffic.The weight of one animated dial can reach 2-5 MB, whereas a static one weighs about 100-300 KB. When downloading via mobile network (3G/4G), make sure you have a supply of traffic, although modern apps usually warn about this.
| Model bracelet | Support for video | Max. Duration. | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 4 | No (only GIF-like) | N/D | Low. |
| Mi Band 5/6 | Yes (up to 5 seconds) | 5 seconds | Average. |
| Mi Band 7/8 | Yes (AOD + Animation) | 10 seconds. | High. |
Keep in mind that playing animations with each hand raise significantly reduces battery life. If you want autonomy in 10-14 days, it is better to refrain from using heavy live wallpaper and choose a static AMOLED Black style.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to convert long videos to a bracelet format yourself through third-party converters without knowing the exact codecs – the device simply won’t be able to decode the file.
Use of third-party applications and tools
The official store offers thousands of options, but sometimes you want something unique, and there are third-party tools like Notify for Mi Band or Tools & Mi Band that allow you to create custom dials, download your own personalized faces. GIF-Animations and even change system fonts.
The process of installing through third-party software is different. You need to download the design application, upload an image or a gif, configure data zones (steps, time) and generate a firmware file on the dial. Then, via Bluetooth, this file is transmitted to the bracelet, which requires more technical knowledge, but gives you complete freedom of creativity.
Risks of using third-party software
Apps that allow you to put photos of children, pets or partners in the background are especially popular, and these programs have a "slide show" feature that changes wallpaper on a schedule or when charging, turning a fitness tracker into a mini photo.
Typical problems and ways to solve them
Despite the simplicity of the process, users often encounter errors. The most common problem is that the dial does not set or freezes by 99%. This usually involves an unstable Bluetooth connection. Solution: close the application completely, turn off and turn on Bluetooth, then try again.
Another common situation is that the image is cropped or looks stretched, which occurs if the proportions of the picture do not match the aspect ratio of the bracelet screen (for example, 192x480 for the Mi Band 6).
If the bracelet starts to discharge or warm up quickly after installing a new background, immediately return the standard dial.Perhaps the downloaded file contains a program error or malicious code (rarely, but it happens in files from unverified sources).
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In 90% of cases, installation problems are solved by restarting the bracelet itself through the settings menu or completely discharging before turning it off.
Also remember that after resetting the bracelet to factory settings, all downloaded third-party dials will be deleted and re-synchronization through the app will be required.