Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is one of the most popular fitness bracelets, but even it sometimes crashes: data doesn’t sync, the screen freezes or stops responding to touch. In 90% of these cases, a complete reset to factory settings helps, but the wrong actions can lead to the loss of all accumulated data on training, sleep and pulse.
In this article, we will provide detailed instructions for resetting the Mi Band 3 through the Mi Fit app, hardware buttons and a hidden menu of engineering settings, and we will also discuss how to save important data before resetting, what to do if the bracelet does not respond to reset, and why synchronization with the phone may not work after the procedure.
Please note: the procedure for Mi Band 3 It is different from newer models (e.g. Mi Band). 5/6), So the instructions for the other versions are not going to work. NFC-Module (Mi Band) 3 NFC), No additional reset settings are required – the process is identical to the standard model.
When do I need to reset Mi Band 3 to factory settings?
Resetting the bracelet to factory settings should only be in extreme cases, and here are typical situations where it is really necessary:
- 🔄 The bracelet is stuck on the logo or cyclically rebooted after a firmware update.
- 📱 Not synced with Mi Fit or Zepp Life (formerly Mi Fit) despite reinstalling the program.
- 🔋 Battery discharges quickly (less than 2 days of operation) after a year of use, and calibration does not help.
- 🛠️ Errors after firmware (for example, a pulsemeter or pedometer does not work).
- 🔒 The bracelet is blocked after repeated incorrect input PIN-code (relevant to models with NFC).
- 📲 Not Bluetooth-defined, the phone doesn’t see the device in the list of available devices.
If the problem is temporary (for example, the bracelet did not sync once or slightly slows down), try to restart it first.
- Open the Mi Fit app.
- Go to the profile of the bracelet.
- Select Reboot the device.
If the reboot didn't work, start resetting completely, but first, make sure to save the data!
How to save data before resetting Mi Band 3?
The factory reset completely removes all the data from the bracelet, including training history, sleep data, and alarm settings, but if the bracelet is still synced to the phone, you can save the information to the Xiaomi cloud.
For this:
- Open the Mi Fit app and make sure the bracelet is connected.
- Go to the Profile section → Mi Band 3 → Synchronize data.
- Wait for the synchronization to be completed (the cloud icon should turn green).
- Check that all data is displayed in the Statistics section.
If the synchronization is not working:
- 📱 Try reinstalling the Mi Fit app.
- 🔄 Reboot the bracelet and smartphone.
- 🌐 Connect to another Wi-Fi network or use mobile internet.
If the bracelet is completely locked and not synchronized, you can't recover the data, and then you just have to reset it and reset it.
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Before resetting, take a picture of the bracelet screen with the current settings (alarm clocks, notifications, step targets) to help you recover your individual settings more quickly after resetting.
Method 1: Reset via Mi Fit (recommended)
This is the safest and easiest method if the bracelet is still responsive to commands from a smartphone, and it's suitable for most users.
Instructions:
- Open the Mi Fit app on your phone.
- Go to the Profile section → Mi Band 3.
- Scroll down and select Disable Device (or Delete Device in newer versions of the app).
- Confirm the action - the bracelet will be untied from the account.
- Now go back to the main Mi Fit menu and click Add Device.
- Select Mi Band 3 from the list and follow the setup instructions.
During the setup, the bracelet will automatically reset to factory settings, and then you can recover data from the cloud (if it was previously synchronized).
Make sure the bracelet is at least 50% charged
Connect your phone to a stable Wi-Fi network
Update the Mi Fit app to the latest version
Synchronize data with the cloud
Shut down. VPN (It can block the connection to Xiaomi servers)-->
⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet does not appear in the list of available devices for connection after unblocking, try restarting Bluetooth on your phone or completely turning off / on the bracelet (clip the touch button for 10 seconds).
Method 2: Hardware reset through the button of the bracelet
If the bracelet does not respond to commands from the application or you forgot the password from your Xiaomi account, you can reset directly on the device, this method works even when the system freezes.
Instructions:
- Remove the bracelet from your hand and place it on a flat surface.
- Find the touch button below the screen (which is also used to return to the menu).
- Hold it for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo and vibration appear on the screen.
- Release the button and the bracelet will begin the reset process.
- After the reboot (approximately 30-60 seconds), a welcome message will appear on the screen in Chinese or English.
Now the bracelet is completely reset and ready for a new setup. Connect it to your phone via Mi Fit, as you did when you first used it.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The bracelet does not respond to the button holding | Battery discharged (less than 5%) | Charge the device for at least 30 minutes |
| After reset, the screen flashes and goes out. | Firmware failure | Repeat reset or swipe the bracelet through Mi Fit |
| The bracelet is not detected by the phone after resetting | Conflict of Bluetooth connections | Remove all saved Mi Band devices in Bluetooth phone settings |
| On screen, Fail error | Bracelet memory damaged. | Contact the service center. |
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the reset process, even if the bracelet does not react for a long time. Premature shutdown can cause the bootloader to break, and the device will have to be carried for repair.
What if the bracelet is not turned on after resetting?
Method 3: Reset via engineering menu (for power users)
This is a good method if the standard methods don't work, or if you want to completely reflash the bracelet. Careful: wrong actions can bring the device down!
Instructions:
- Make sure the bracelet is 100% charged.
- Press the touch button for 5 seconds until you feel the vibration.
- Release the button and immediately tap the screen 5 times in a row (a screen with a firmware version should appear).
- Now press the button again for 3 seconds and you will be taken to the engineering menu.
- Swipe the menu up/down until you find Reset or Erase All.
- Choose it (touching) and confirm the action.
When the bracelet is reset, it will reset, and if the screen is black or there is an error, try:
- 🔌 Connect the bracelet to charging and repeat the procedure.
- 📱 Reinstall the Mi Fit app and update the firmware through it.
If the engineering menu doesn't open, your firmware version may block it, in which case only the hardware reset (Method 2) remains.
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The menu is designed for diagnostics and repairs, and don't change the other parameters unless you're sure they're there, which can cause permanent damage to the bracelet.
What to do after the Mi Band 3 is dropped?
After a successful reset, the bracelet will return to the "out of the box" state.
- Connect to the phone: Open Mi Fit → Add the device → Mi Band 3. Follow the instructions on the screen (scanning required) QR-code PIN bracelet).
- Data recovery: If you synced to the cloud before reset, the data will automatically be uploaded within 24 hours, and alarm clocks and step targets will have to be reconfigured.
Update firmware:
- Go to Bracelet Profile → Firmware Update.
- Install the latest version (this will fix possible bugs after reset).
If the bracelet is unstable after connecting (for example, the connection is lost or notifications are not shown), follow the following steps:
- 📱 In your phone settings, forget the Mi Band 3 device in the Bluetooth list.
- 🔄 Reboot your phone and bracelet.
- 🔗 Reconnect the bracelet via Mi Fit.
- 🛡️ Turn off battery optimization for the Mi Fit app on your phone (in Android settings).
If problems persist, try to reset the bracelet again or contact Xiaomi for support.
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
Even after a successful reset, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:
| Mistake. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The bracelet does not connect to the phone. | Bluetooth profile conflict | Remove all Mi Band devices in your phone’s Bluetooth settings and reboot both devices |
| After the discharge, the pulse meter does not work. | Sensor calibration failure | Remove the bracelet, wipe the sensor on the back with an alcohol napkin and recalibrate into Mi Fit |
| No notifications coming. | Permits for Mi Fit are disabled | Check notification settings in Android/iOS and in the Mi Fit app itself |
| The bracelet discharges quickly after resetting | Background sensor activity | Turn off constant heart rate monitoring in bracelet settings |
| Data history is not synchronized | Xiaomi's cloud problems | Check your internet connection and log in to Xiaomi account again |
If none of these things worked, maybe the problem is a hardware malfunction.
- 🔋 Bloated battery (bracelet does not hold charge, screen bulges).
- 💧 Moisture intrusion (contacts oxidized, bracelet not included).
- 🛠️ Screen plume damage (display strips, no reaction to touches).
In such cases, self-repair is not recommended – contact the Xiaomi service center or a proven master.