How to reset Xiaomi Mi Band 3 to factory settings without a phone: 3 working methods

The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 fitness bracelet remains popular even years after its release — its reliability and functionality are not inferior to many modern models. But what if the bracelet started to glit, does not sync with the phone or you forgot the password from the Mi Fit account? In such cases, resetting to factory settings helps, but you do not always have a smartphone for this procedure at hand.

In this article, we will explore all the possible ways to reset the Mi Band 3 without using a phone, from standard button combinations to hidden engineering techniques. You will learn how to bypass locking, what to do when you make mistakes and how to avoid data loss. The instructions are relevant for firmware in 2026 and work even on bracelets with informal firmware.

Why You Might Need to Reset Without a Phone

Situations when you want to return Mi Band 3 to factory settings without connecting to a smartphone are more common than it seems:

• 🔒 Forgot the password from the account Mi Fit – bracelet is tied to the old mail, access to which is lost.
• 🐛 Software failures: constant reboots, incorrect time display, synchronization errors.

In most cases, the Mi Band 3 can be dropped directly from the bracelet, but there are nuances. PIN-code-in DFU (For firmware, standard methods won't work. Next, we'll look at solutions for each of these situations.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting to factory settings removes all the data from the bracelet: activity history, alarm settings, stored notifications. You can't restore them after reset - sync important information in advance if you can.

Method 1: Standard reset via bracelet menu

This is the easiest way to do this, which works on 90% of devices, provided the bracelet is not locked and is touch-sensitive.The instructions are suitable for the Mi Band 3 with any firmware version (including Chinese and global).

Algorithm of action:

1. Swipe your finger left-right across the bracelet screen to open the main menu.
2. Find the icon. ⚙️ Settings (usually the last one on the list) and tap it.
3. Scroll down to Reset (or Reset on English firmware).
4. Confirm the action by selecting Yes. The bracelet vibrates and reboots.

It takes 10 to 15 seconds, and when you reboot, you'll see a welcome message in Chinese or English, which means you've reset successfully, and now you're ready to re-tether it through Mi Fit or Zepp Life.

Turn off Bluetooth on your phone before binding | Make sure the bracelet has enough charge (minimum 20%) |Use the original Mi Fit app (not clones) |Update the bracelet firmware to the latest version-->

If you don't have Reset, you're running out of date firmware (up to 1.0.9.54), in which case you can try updating your bracelet with Mi Fit or using alternative methods in the following sections.

Method 2: Hardware button reset (if the screen is unresponsive)

If the sensor is not working, the screen is frozen, or the device is in DFU mode, you can perform a hard reset with a physical button, which works 80 percent of the time, even if the bracelet is not turning on.

Instructions:

• 🔌 Charge the bracelet to at least 30% - with a low charge, the reset can be interrupted.
• 📍 Find the reset button: it is located under the bracelet capsule (near the charging contacts).
• 🔘 Press and hold the button for 10-15 seconds until you feel vibration.
• 🔄 Release the button – the bracelet will reboot and return to factory settings.

If the button doesn't respond, try using a paper clip or toothpick to press more accurately. Be careful - don't damage the contacts!

⚠️ Note: Some Mi Band 3 batches (released in 2019-2020) may not have a reset button. In this case, use the Firmware 3 Method ADB.

Method 3: Reset via DFU mode (for advanced users)

If the first two methods fail, the firmware remains manually running through DFU, which requires a computer and special tools, but is guaranteed to reset the bracelet even in the most severe cases (for example, after a failed update).

What you need:

• 💻 Windows computer 7/10/11 macOS.
• 🔌 Mi Band 3 charging cable (original or compatible).
• 📦 Archive with utility: mi-band-3-tools (Download the latest version).
• 🔧 Drivers for CP2102 (If Windows does not recognize the device).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the bracelet to your computer through a charging cable. Make sure it's defined as COM-port.
2. Unpack the archive with utilities and launch the file mi3_dfu_tool.exe (for Windows or python3 mi3_dfu.py (for macOS/Linux).
3. Enter the reset command: mi3_dfu_tool.exe --erase This will remove all data from the bracelet, including firmware.
4. Sweep through the factory firmware: mi3_dfu_tool.exe --flash firmware.bin (file firmware.bin should be in the same file).
5. Wait for the completion (5-7 minutes) and turn off the bracelet.

Once you've been firmwareed through the DFU, the bracelet will be like new, unaccounted and factory-setting, the only method that works when locked by IMEI or after a failed experiment with custom firmware.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems. TOP-5 mistakes and their solutions:

• 🔋 "The bracelet is turned off during resetting" → Charge it to at least 50% before the procedure.
• 🔄 "After reset, the screen flashes and does not turn on" → It means damage to the firmware. DFU (see Method 3).
• 🔒 "The bracelet requires PIN-post-reset" → PIN It's only installed through the application. If it's not, it's not finished.
• 📱 "I can't tie my bracelet to my new phone" → Remove Mi Band 3 from the device list in Mi Fit on your old phone (if you have access).
• ⚡ "The bracelet warms up during reset" → It’s normal, but if it gets hot, interrupt the process and let it cool for 10 minutes.

If none of the methods worked, there may be a hardware problem (e.g., damaged bracelet memory) in which case, contact Xiaomi’s service center or consider buying a new device – repairs can cost more.

How to tie a bracelet after resetting

After a successful reset, Mi Band 3 should be re-associated with your account, and here is a step-by-step guide for the Mi Fit app (current for the 2026 version):

1. Install Mi Fit from Google Play or App Store.
2. Sign up or log in to your Xiaomi account (if you forgot your password, restore it via email).
3. Click + Add device → Select Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 3.
4. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and wait until the bracelet appears on the list.
5. Confirm the binding on the bracelet (stamp the tick on the screen).
6. Update the firmware if the app offers.

If the bracelet is not present, try:

• 📱 Delete the cache of the Mi Fit application (in the phone settings).
• 🔋 Charge the bracelet to 100% – at low charge it may not appear in the list of devices.

⚠️ Note: If the bracelet was previously linked to another Xiaomi account and you don’t know the login details, contact Xiaomi support to unlock the device. IMEI. It is impossible to bypass this block on your own - proof of ownership will be required.

Alternative ways to control a bracelet without a phone

If you don’t have a smartphone but need to configure the Mi Band 3 after resetting, you can use alternative methods:

• 💻 Web version of Mi Fit (limited functionality) – go through the browser at account.xiaomi.com.
• 🖥️ Android Emulator (e.g. BlueStacks) – Install Mi Fit on a virtual device.
• 🔧 Utilities for PC (for example, Mi Band Master) – allow you to sew and configure the bracelet without a phone.

Please note that without a phone you can not:

• 📊 Receive notifications (SMS, Calls, messengers).
• 🔄 Synchronize data on steps, sleep and pulse.
• ⏰ Set alarms and reminders.

However, the basic functions (time, pedometer, sleep monitoring) will work autonomously.

💡

Resetting the Mi Band 3 without a phone is possible, but for full use of the bracelet binding to the Mi Fit is still necessary.

FAQ: Frequent questions about resetting Xiaomi Mi Band 3