Creating a custom dial for Xiaomi Mi Band 5: from idea to installation

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet has become a hit with smart electronics fans thanks to its combination of functionality and affordable price, but even such an advanced device can be made even more personalized by replacing the standard dial with your own design. The ability to create custom dials opens up limitless options for self-expression, from minimalist fonts to animated backgrounds with favorite characters.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to create a unique dial for the Mi Band 5 – from using the official Mi Fit application to working with third-party services like Amazfit Watch Faces or Notify & Fitness. You'll learn what tools you'll need, how to avoid typical boot errors, and what to do if the bracelet refuses to display a new dial. And for those who want to go further, we'll reveal the secrets of manually editing dial files through the use of the device. JSON and PNG.

It is important to understand that the process of creating a dial for the Mi Band 5 It is different from similar actions for newer models (e.g. Mi Band). 6/7). There are some nuances in screen resolution (126×294 There are pixels, there are limits on the number of elements, and even the file format. But don't worry, we'll go into detail at each step so that even a beginner can get the job done.

Why you should create your own dial for Mi Band 5

The standard dials offered in the Mi Fit app, while varied, often do not reflect the individuality of the user, and creating your own design has several key advantages:

• 🎨 Unique: Your bracelet will look like no one else’s – with your favorite colors, fonts, or even a photo.
• ⚡ Optimizing information: You can put on the screen exactly the data that is important to you personally (for example, steps, pulse, weather or notifications).
• 🔧 Flexibility of settings: unlike standard options, custom dials allow you to fine-tune the location of elements, their size and even animation.
• 💡 Creative implementation: The process of creating a design can be a fascinating hobby, especially if you’re into graphics or programming.

In addition, the Mi Band 5 supports the download of dials through third-party applications, which greatly expands the capabilities compared to earlier models of the series. For example, in the Mi Band 4, this required a workaround through a firmware change, whereas in the fifth generation everything is implemented at the official software level (albeit with some restrictions).

But there is a downside: not all users know that an improperly designed dial can cause malfunctions in the bracelet, from small interface glitches to the complete inability to sync with the phone, so before you start to work, it is important to understand the technical limitations of the device.

Preparation: what will be needed to create a dial

Before you start designing, make sure you have everything you need. Here's a complete list of tools and software:

Special attention should be paid to the resolution of the screen Mi Band 5: is 126×294 pixels, and the color palette is limited 24-bit RGB. This means that your design must be tailored to these settings, otherwise elements may not be displayed correctly or even fit on the screen. Also, keep in mind that the bracelet only supports certain font and animation formats, which we will discuss later.

⚠️ Attention: If you plan to use the photo as the background of the dial, make sure that it does not contain small details. Due to the low resolution of the screen, they will simply merge into a single spot.

For those who want to create a face from scratch, you also need to understand the structure of the configuration file. JSON-A file that describes the location of items (time, date, steps, etc.) and their style. If you're not familiar with programming, you can use ready-made templates from the community, which are easy to find on forums like this. 4PDA ordredit.

Install the latest version of Mi Fit|Check the bracelet charge (at least) 50%)|Prepare a resolution image 126×294|Download the image editor (GIMP/Figma)|Sign up for Amazfit Watch Faces (if you plan to download through it)-->

Method 1: Creating a dial through the official Mi Fit application

The easiest way to change the dial is to use the built-in Mi Fit tools. Although there is no way to create a completely unique design, you can choose from hundreds of ready-made options and adjust them a little.

Step instructions:

1. Open the Mi Fit app and connect to the bracelet.
2. Go to the Profile section → Mi Smart Band 5 → Dials.
3. Scroll through the list of available dials. Some of them support color scheme settings, click on the brush icon in the upper right corner.
4. Choose your favorite option and click Set. Synchronization will take a few seconds.

Unfortunately, Mi Fit doesn’t have the tools to create a face from scratch, only preloaded templates, but you can get around this limitation by downloading the face from a third-party source (such as the Amazfit Watch Faces website) and downloading it through Mi Fit.

1. Download the dial file in.bin or.wfz format.
2. In Mi Fit, select Add a dial → Import from the file.
3. Specify the path to the downloaded file and wait for the installation to be completed.

⚠️ Note: Not all third-party dials work correctly with the Mi Band 5. If the bracelet starts to glitches after installation (for example, does not show time or discharges quickly), remove the dial and return the standard one.

If you want more freedom in setting up, move on to the next way – using specialized services.

💡

Before installing a new dial, back up your current bracelet settings in Mi Fit. This will help quickly restore the device in the event of a failure.

Method 2: Use of third-party services (Amazfit Watch Faces, Notify & Fitness)

For those who want to create a truly unique dial, third-party platforms are suitable, the most popular of which are Amazfit Watch Faces and Notify & Fitness for Mi Band, which allow you not only to download ready-made designs, but also edit them or create your own from scratch.

Let’s look at the Amazfit Watch Faces:

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. Register (email required) and connect the bracelet via Mi Fit.
3. In the Create section, select the New Watch Face and select the Mi Band 5 model.
4. Upload the background image (size) 126×294) and add elements (time, date, steps, etc.) by dragging and dropping.
5. Adjust the style of the fonts, colors and arrangement of elements. Use the built-in editor for animation.
6. Save the project and export it to the.bin file.
7. Upload the file to the bracelet via Mi Fit (as described in the previous method).

Notify & Fitness is a little different:

• 📱 Install the application and provide all necessary permissions (access to notifications, location, etc.).
• 🎨 Go to Watchfaces and select Create New.
• 🖼️ Download the background and add widgets (e.g. Digital Time, Steps, Battery).
• 🔄 Set up data updates (for example, weather update frequency).
• 💾 Save the dial and sync it with the bracelet.

The main advantage of these services is that they have a visual editor that doesn't require code knowledge, but they also have limitations.

• ❌ Not all elements can be placed arbitrarily (for example, weather animation can only work in certain areas of the screen).
• ❌ Some features (such as displaying notifications) require premium subscriptions.
• ❌ Dials created in these apps may conflict with official Mi Fit updates.

If you want more control over the design, you'll have to dive into manually editing the dial files, and that's in the next section.

Method 3: Manually create a dial through JSON and PNG

For advanced users who are ready to work with code and graphics, it is possible to create a face completely manually, which takes longer, but gives full control over the final result.

The Mi Band 5 dial consists of two main components:

1. Graphic part: background image (background.png) and additional elements (icons, arrows, etc.) in format PNG.
2. Configuration file: watchface.json, Describes the layout and style of all elements.

Here's the basic structure of the file. watchface.json:

{


"version": 1,




"type": "digital",




"background": {




"image": "background.png",




"position": [0, 0]




},




"elements": [




{




"type": "time",




"format": "H:i",




"font": "roboto_bold.ttf",




"size": 24,




"color": "#FFFFFF",




"position": [63, 50],




"alignment": "center"




},




{




"type": "steps",




"font": "roboto_regular.ttf",




"size": 16,




"color": "#A0A0A0",




"position": [63, 100],




"alignment": "center"




}




]




}

Where:

• Version: The version of the format (usually 1).
• Type: The type of dial (digital or analog).
• background parameters (path to the image and its position).
• elements – an array of elements (time, steps, battery, etc.) with their styles and positions.

It is recommended to use the schedule for GIMP or Photoshop with settings:

• 📏 Size of canvas: 126×294 pixel.
• 🎨 Color profile: RGB (alpha-free).
• 🖌️ Resolution: 72 dpi (no more required).

Once the files are ready, they must be packed into a.zip archive and converted to.bin format using special tools, such as the Mi Band 5 Watch Face Tool (available on GitHub), the finished file is downloaded to the bracelet via Mi Fit or Notify & Fitness.

⚠️ Note: With manual editing JSON It's easy to make a syntax error (e.g. forgetting a comma or a quotation mark) and it will cause the dial to fail. Always check the file through a validator, such as JSONLint.

If you do not want to mess with the code, but still want a unique design, you can download the ready-made template. JSON And many enthusiasts put their work on forums, and you just need to change the paths to the images and adjust the coordinates of the elements.

💡

Manually creating a dial is the most flexible method, but requires knowledge of the basics JSON If you're new, start with simple editors like Amazfit Watch Faces.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems when creating or installing custom dials, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

Another common problem is color mismatch, and the Mi Band 5 screen has a limited color gamut, and some shades may be displayed differently than on your monitor, to avoid this:

• 🎨 Use contrasting colors (for example, white text on a black background).
• 🔍 Check how the dial looks on the bracelet, not just in the editor.
• 🛠️ For accurate color reproduction, use a palette optimized for AMOLED-screen.

If the bracelet starts to brake or doesn't respond to touch after setting the dial, it's probably a problem with a schedule that's too heavy.

1. Reduce the number of layers in PNG-picture.
2. Remove animation or reduce its frame rate.
3. Use simpler fonts (without serifs and shadows).

In extreme cases, you can always return the standard dial through Mi Fit. → Mi Band 5 → Dials and select any of the proposed options.

Where to download the ready dials for Mi Band 5

If you don't want to create a face from scratch, you can use ready-made solutions from other users.

• 🌐 Amazfit Watch Faces is the official website with thousands of designs.
• 💬 4PDA — It's a Russian-language forum with a large section dedicated to the Mi Band, where you often put up unique dials that are not on Western sites.
• 📱 Telegram channels, for example, @mibandfaces, Where new designs are regularly introduced.
• 🛠️ GitHub -- you can find the source dials for manual editing here.
• 🎨 Reddit - Community r/miband share his experiences.

When downloading dials, pay attention to:

• ✅ Mi Band 5 Compatible (not all Mi Band 6 or Amazfit dials are suitable).
• ✅ Reviews of other users (if many have problems with installation, it is better to look for another option).
• ✅ License (some designs are prohibited from being modified or distributed).

Many dials are distributed in.bin format, but sometimes you will find archives with source files (.zip or.rar), in the latter case you will have to compile the file for the bracelet yourself, as described in the previous section.

If you find a dial you like, but it doesn't fit your needs, you can make it better, like changing the background image or changing the font.

1. Download the archive with the source (if any).
2. Edit background.png and watchface.json graphical.
3. Compile a new.bin file and upload it to the bracelet.

Don’t forget to share your experience with the community – it helps other users and encourages developers to create new customization tools.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions