The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet is one of the most popular wearables due to its combination of functionality and affordable price. However, even such reliable equipment sometimes requires a complete reset: after a malfunction, before selling or when transferring to another user. Unlike smartphones, where the reset is done through menus, smart wristbands have their own nuances.
In this article, you will find three official ways to bring the Mi Band 5 back to factory settings — through the Mi Fit/Zepp Life app, the combination of buttons on the body, and an alternative method for locked devices. We will also look at why resetting the "Factory settings" in the wristband menu doesn't always work and how to avoid losing training data. If your wristband stops syncing, shows incorrect time or doesn't respond to touch, this instruction will help bring it back to life.
When you need to reset Mi Band 5 to factory settings
Resetting is not a panacea for all problems, but in some cases it is the only way to get the bracelet back to working condition.
- 🔄 Bracelet not synced with Mi Fit or Zepp Life app despite Bluetooth reconnection.
- 🕒 Incorrect display of time or date that is not corrected through settings.
- 🚫 Interface freeze: bracelet does not respond to touch, but vibrates when notified.
- 🔒 Reset before sale or transfer to another user to delete personal data.
- 📱 Conflict after firmware update when the bracelet stopped displaying notifications correctly.
It is important to distinguish software failures from hardware malfunctions, if the bracelet is not switched on, charged or determined by the computer as USB-This is not a good thing, but it's a bad thing to have a battery or a power controller diagnosed.
⚠️ Warning: After the reset, all data on the bracelet, including training history, alarm settings and activity profiles, will be deleted. If the sync with the application worked correctly, the data can be restored after reconnecting. Otherwise, it will be lost forever.
Method 1: Reset via Mi Fit or Zepp Life
This is the safest and most recommended method, as it ensures that the bracelet is completely deleted and that the Xiaomi account is untied correctly, and is suitable for most users who still have the bracelet determined by their phone.
The instructions are valid for both official applications, Mi Fit (old) and Zepp Life (new), and the interface may differ slightly, but the procedure remains the same:
- Open the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app on your smartphone.
- Go to the Profile section → Mi Smart Band 5 or your device).
- Scroll down and select Untie the device.
- Confirm the action – the bracelet will be disconnected from the account.
- Return to the main menu of the application and click Add device.
- Select Mi Band 5 from the list and follow the instructions for connecting as a new device.
During the reconnection, the app will prompt you to restore data from the backup (if it was created earlier).If you reset the bracelet before selling, refuse to restore so that the new owner can configure the device from scratch.
Make sure the bracelet is at least 50 times charged%|
Open Bluetooth on your phone |
Close all background applications that may interfere with synchronization |
Take screenshots of important data (if synchronization is not working)-->
Method 2: Hardware reset through a button on the bracelet
If the bracelet is not detected by the phone or the app does not see the device, you can perform a hard reset directly to the Mi Band 5.
Algorithm of action:
- Remove the bracelet from your hand and place it on a flat surface with the screen up.
- Find the touch button under the display (it is indicated by a dot).
- Press and hold the button for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears on the screen.
- Release the button and the bracelet will start the reset process, which will take about 30 seconds.
- After restarting, connect the bracelet to the app as a new device.
This method does not remove the binding to the Xiaomi account, so if you are preparing the bracelet for sale, after a hardware reset, be sure to uncoup through the application (see Method 1).
⚠️ Note: On some firmware Mi Band 5 long-term hold button can turn on mode DFU (If after 15 seconds, the screen reads DFU, Release the button and try again, holding it for exactly 10 seconds.
What if the bracelet does not respond to the button holding?
Method 3: Reset via engineering menu (for power users)
This method is suitable if the standard methods have not worked, and the bracelet is defined as USB-You will need the Mi Band Tool or Notify & Fitness for Mi Band utility (for Android).
The following is a guide for Notify & Fitness:
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Connect the bracelet via Bluetooth in the app.
- Go to Settings → Device → Additional → Reset to factory settings.
- Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
For PC, you can use the Mi Band 5 Tool utility (ADB is required):
adb shell am start -n com.xiaomi.hm.health/com.xiaomi.hm.health.device.reset.ResetDeviceActivityThis method is not recommended for beginners, as incorrect commands can lead to a complete loss of functionality of the bracelet. Use it only if other methods have not worked.
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If the bracelet doesn't turn on after reset, try to keep it charging for 1-2 hours. Sometimes after a hard reset, the power controller takes time to initialize the battery.
Mi Band 5 Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even when following the instructions, users often encounter problems, and the table below shows common errors and ways to solve them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The bracelet does not drop through the button. | Too short/long retention | Hold exactly 10-12 seconds until vibration. |
| After discharge, no activation | Battery discharged | Put on charging for 1-2 hours |
| App doesn't see bracelet after reset | Residual link to the account | Remove the device from your phone's Bluetooth settings |
| Training data is missing. | No synchronization was enabled. | Check the history in your Mi Fit account |
One of the most obscure issues is conflict with other Bluetooth devices: If you have a headphone, smartwatch, or speaker connected, turn them off before resetting the Mi Band 5, as some phones limit the number of devices connected at the same time.
What to do after resetting: setup Mi Band 5 from scratch
Once successfully reset, the bracelet will be in a box-like state, and to return it to work, follow the following steps:
- Charge to 100% – make sure the battery is charged before setting up.
- Connection to the annex: 📱 Open Mi. Fit/Zepp Life and select Add Device. 🔍 Press the Mi Smart Band 5 list. 🔗 Confirm the pairing on the phone and bracelet.
- Basic setting: ⏰ Set the correct time and format for display (12/24 hour). 🔔 Set up notifications (select apps that need alerts for you). 🏃♂️ Activate footstep tracking, sleep and heart rate.
Data recovery
- 📊 If synchronization was enabled before reset, the application will offer to restore the history.
- 🚫 When transferring the bracelet to another user, refuse to restore.
If the bracelet shows an incorrect language after you connect, go to Settings → Language on the device and select the desired one. In Mi Band 5, Russian, English, Chinese and about 10 more languages are available.
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Once reset, the bracelet automatically updates to the latest firmware, and if you've used custom firmware, you'll have to re-install it.
Alternative Resetting Methods (If Nothing Helps)
In rare cases, standard methods fail because of damaged firmware or hardware malfunctions.
- 🔌 Reset via charger: Connect the bracelet to charge. Hold the button for 10 seconds, then turn it off and re-connect the charger. Repeat holding the button - sometimes this works when the controller sticks.
Firmware through PC
You will need a firmware cable (such as the Mi Band 5 Clip) and the Mi Band Tool. Instructions are available on the 4PDA or XDA-Developers forums, but this method is risky - if you make a mistake, the bracelet can turn into a "brick".
Contacting the service center
If the bracelet doesn't respond to any manipulation, there may be a problem with the memory controller or the battery, in which case only repairs will help.
Before using alternative methods, make sure that the problem is not in the software conflict. For example, some users experience glitches after updating the firmware through Mi Fit. In this case, a rollback to the previous version (if it is saved in a backup copy) will help.