How to control the camera with Mi Band 5 Xiaomi: a complete guide

Owners of popular fitness trackers often wonder about expanding the functionality of their gadgets, and controlling the camera of a smartphone is one of the most popular features. Xiaomi Mi Band 5 bracelet allows you to use the wrist as a convenient remote control to create group shots or selfies without having to touch the phone screen. This is especially true in situations where the hands can be dirty, wet or just busy with a tripod.

This feature is possible through integration with the Mi Fit mobile app (or Zepp, depending on the firmware version and region). The synchronization process takes only a few minutes, but requires attention to the details of the access rights setting in the smartphone operating system. Without the correct permission configuration, the bracelet will not be able to send commands to the camera shutter, which is often puzzling for beginners.

There is a common misconception that the bracelet itself takes a photo, but in fact it acts as a trigger for the camera application on the phone.

For stable operation, it is necessary that the Bluetooth connection is active, and the companion application itself works in the background without energy saving restrictions.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of the setting, possible errors and ways to eliminate them so that you can fully use your gadget.

Preparation of device and software

Before you start setting up the remote shutter, make sure your Mi Band 5 is paired with a smartphone and has an up-to-date firmware version.

Manufacturers regularly release updates that fix connection bugs and add support for new features, so you should not ignore this step.

Check out the Mi Fit or Zepp version of the app in the Google Play or App Store, as older versions may not work properly with newer versions of Android and iOS operating systems.

It is also critical to make sure that the Bluetooth on the phone is on and the device is visible to other gadgets.

If the bracelet appears as “Not Connected” in the list of devices, the camera function will not work, even if all the settings inside the application are set correctly.

Sometimes it helps to reboot the Bluetooth module on the smartphone or completely reconnect the bracelet through the phone settings menu.

• 📱 Make sure that the bracelet charge is at least 15-20% for stable operation of the Bluetooth module.
• 🔄 Update the companion app to the latest available version through the official store.
• 🔗 Check the connection status in the main menu of the application – the active connection icon should burn.

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Before setting up features, remove old, unused apps from the list of connected devices in Bluetooth settings to avoid addressing conflicts.

Setup the Remote Camera Function in the Application

The main activation process takes place directly inside the Mi Fit or Zepp application interface, where all bracelet management options are located.

You need to go to the device profile, select the item "Device settings" and find the option responsible for controlling the camera or remote shutter.

In some versions of the interface, this feature may be called Camera or Remote Camera, and the switch must be activated.

After the slider is turned on, the system will request confirmation of the action, and the corresponding camera icon may appear on the bracelet screen.

It is important to understand that activating this option automatically opens the bracelet to the camera of the smartphone, which requires additional permissions.

Without these rights, the operating system will block the camera from attempting to run on command from an external device for security purposes.

It is worth noting that the interface may differ slightly depending on the version of the smartphone operating system and the regional version of the application.

If you can’t find the item you want, try updating the app or check if it’s hidden in the optional notification settings menu.

Sometimes you need to manually add the Camera app to the list of applications that are notified on the bracelet.

Required permissions and accesses in Android and iOS

The most common reason for the inoperability of the function are the restrictions imposed by the smartphone operating system on background processes.

For proper operation, the Mi Band 5 must have permission to launch in the background and access to Bluetooth services at all times.

In Android, you often need to disable energy savings for the Mi Fit application, otherwise the system will “sleep” the process and communication with the bracelet will be interrupted.

On iOS devices, you need to make sure that the application is allowed to use Bluetooth and local area network in the privacy settings.

Also check notification settings: If the system is not allowed to show notifications from a companion app, the shutter command may simply not pass.

Some Android shells (such as MIUI or EMUI) require you to additionally pin the application to memory or add it to the autoboot.

⚠️ Attention: On smartphones Xiaomi with a shell MIUI Auto-start must be allowed manually for the Mi application Fit/Zepp in the battery settings, otherwise the function will stop working after the phone restarts.

Don’t ignore pop-up permission requests when you first start, as re-accessing them can sometimes be difficult.

If you accidentally refused access, you will have to go to the application settings, find Mi Fit and manually turn on all the necessary switches.

Particular attention should be paid to the resolution for “Mastering over other windows”, which is often required for the operation of control widgets.

Use of camera widget on bracelet

After successful settings on the dial or in the menu of additional functions, the camera icon will appear, which is the control panel.

To use it is enough to click on this icon, after which the camera app will open on the smartphone screen and the shooting mode will be activated.

Pressing the bracelet screen at this point simulates pressing the shutter button, allowing you to take a picture without touching the phone.

The functionality can vary depending on the smartphone model and the default version of the camera app.

Some smartphone manufacturers block third-party access to camera control, which can lead to the opening of only a standard interface without additional features.

It is important to keep your phone still or use a tripod, as the bracelet does not have image stabilization.

• 📸 Single tap on the bracelet screen takes one shot in standard mode.
• ⏱ Long-term pressing can activate the mode of serial shooting or video recording (depending on the phone software).
• 🔄 Repeated pressing after a while allows you to take the next frame without leaving the camera mode.

The convenience of using is the ability to take a photo when the phone is at arm’s length or fixed above the head.

This is the ideal scenario for group photos, where the photographer needs to get into the frame, or for shooting in difficult conditions.

However, it is worth remembering about the delay of the signal, which can be from 0.5 to 2 seconds depending on the quality of the Bluetooth connection.

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The function works as a simple remote shutter and does not allow you to change exposure settings, zoom or filters directly from the bracelet screen.

Solving common connection problems and errors

Despite the ease of customization, users often encounter a situation where the bracelet vibrates, but the camera does not open.

First of all, you need to check whether another application using the camera is running, since the Android system does not allow simultaneous access to the module.

The problem may also be in the overflowing cache of the Mi Fit app, which is recommended to be cleaned periodically through the phone's settings.

If communication is lost all the time, try “forgetting” the device in Bluetooth settings and pairing again from scratch.

Sometimes, antivirus programs or memory cleaners conflict, which aggressively end the background processes of the companion application.

In rare cases, it helps to reset network settings on a smartphone or completely reset the bracelet to factory parameters.

⚠️ Warning: If the feature stopped working after the phone’s operating system update, check the permissions log – newer versions of Android often reset the access rights for older apps.

Problems can arise due to the peculiarities of the operation of a particular camera application installed on a smartphone.

Try installing the standard Camera app from Google or the phone manufacturer as the default primary.

Third-party cameras from the app store may not have the necessary system libraries to correctly respond to external commands.

Alternative methods and compatible applications

The Mi Band 5’s regular functionality is limited to basic controls, but enthusiasts have found ways to extend the capabilities through third-party apps.

There are special utilities in Google Play, such as Camera Button for Mi Band or analogues that intercept the signal of the bracelet.

Such applications allow you to add a timer, serial shooting or even video recording management that does not support standard software.

Using third-party software requires caution, as you are giving unknown developers access to your camera and Bluetooth.

However, for many users, this is the only way to get the desired functionality on older versions of Android.

It’s also worth mentioning that some smartphone models have built-in smart bracelet features in their shell that can conflict with the Mi Fit.

When choosing a management method, it is worth considering your security needs and the necessary set of functions.

For most users, the standard features provided by the Mi Band 5 and Mi Fit bundle are quite enough.

However, if you are a professional mobile photographer, experiments with third-party software can yield interesting results.