Smart Watches screen Xiaomi Mi Band 2 Are you barely looking at time in the sun or in a brightly lit room? The problem is familiar to many owners of this budget fitness tracker. OLED-resolution-screen 72×20 You can adjust the brightness of the screen, and you should, but it's not that simple: the manufacturer has hidden some of the settings deep in the menu, and some of the features are only available through the Mi Fit app.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can brighten up on the Xiaomi Mi Band 2, from the obvious to the little-known, learn how to adjust automatically to the lighting, manually set the maximum level, update the firmware to improve the display, and even reset the settings if the screen suddenly dimmed, and also explain why sometimes the brightness “resets” on its own and how to fix it.
If you have just bought a watch or have a problem after an update, don’t rush to bring it to the service. 90% of the time, the problem is solved software-free without disassembling and soldering irons, the main thing is to follow the instructions and not miss important nuances (for example, synchronization with the Mi Fit application).
⚠️ Note: Mi Band 2 models with firmware below 1.0.1.14 may not have manual brightness control options. In this case, update the software first (instructions in the section below).
1. Basic brightness setting through the clock menu
The easiest way is to use the built-in menu of Xiaomi Mi Band 2. Despite the minimalist interface, there are hidden options here.
1. Activate the screen with a short press on the touch button below the display.
2. scroll down the menu, quickly touching the button until you see the icon ⚙️ «Settings (usually 4-5 swipe).
3.In the settings menu, find the item "Brightness" (the icon of the sun). ☀️) and select it with another tap.
You can now choose from 3 preset levels:
- 🌑 Low – saves charge, but text is barely visible in daylight.
- 🌓 Average – optimal balance for premises.
- ☀️ High – maximum brightness for the street (consumes the battery faster).
⚠️ Warning: If the brightness hasn't changed after selecting the level, check if the Power Saving mode is on in the Mi Fit app.
Some firmware has 5-position sliders instead of 3 levels, and if you have one, move it to the right.
2. Automatic brightness control: pros and cons
Xiaomi Mi Band 2 supports adaptive brightness that adjusts to ambient light. It's useful, but it doesn't work perfectly: it often stays too dim during the day or blinds at night. Here's how to adjust it or turn it off:
1. Open the Mi Fit app on your smartphone.
2. Go to Profile → Mi Band 2 → Display settings.
3. Find the option "Autolightness" and move the switch.
If the function is enabled but does not work well:
- 🌡️ Check the sensor on the watch, it's on the right of the screen, and if it's contaminated or closed with the wristband, automatic adjustment won't work.
⚠️ Note: Some versions of the Mi Fit (especially older than 4.6.0) may not have autobrightness option.
| Brightness mode | Pluses | Cons | Battery consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual (maximum) | Clear visibility in all lighting | Fast discharge, blinding in the dark | High-pitched |
| Automatic. | Adapts to the conditions, saves charge | Sometimes it doesn't work properly. | Medium. |
| Manual (minimum) | Maximum autonomy | Poor readability by day | Low. |
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If the screen flashes or dims spontaneously after activating the avtobrightness, try calibrating the sensor. To do this, turn off the clock, then turn on and leave for 10 minutes under a bright light (for example, under a lamp).
3. Update firmware to improve brightness
Often, a dim screen is a consequence of outdated firmware, and in newer versions of the software, Xiaomi has optimized the backlight control algorithms and added additional brightness levels.
1. Make sure that the latest version of Mi Fit is installed on the smartphone (download it to Google Play or App Store).
2. Connect the watch to your phone via Bluetooth and open the app.
3. Go to Profile → Mi Band 2 → Firmware Update.
4. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off Bluetooth!).
⚠️ Note: If you see an error during the update “I failed to connect”, try it:
After the update, check if new brightness options have appeared in the watch menu. In firmware 1.0.1.20+, a 4th level (Turbo) has been added, which is 20% brighter than the standard maximum.
Turn off the energy saving mode on the watch |
Charge the bracelet to at least 50% |
Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network|
Close background applications on a smartphone-->
4. Resetting: if the screen suddenly faded
Sometimes the brightness is reset after synchronization with Mi Fit, Bluetooth failure or failed update, in which case a full reset to factory settings will help. All data (steps, pulse, alarm clocks) will be deleted!
Instructions:
- On the clock, go to "Settings» → «Additionally» → «Reset" (icon) 🔄).
If the brightness has not recovered after the reset:
- 🔋 Check the battery power – at a level below 10%, the watch automatically dims.
- 🛠️ Clean the contacts on the bracelet (wipe with alcohol).
- 📲 Reinstall Mi Fit – sometimes the problem lies in the app cache.
Critical information: Some Mi Band 2 batches (released before 2018) will lose the manual brightness control option after reset, a hardware bug that can only be fixed by flashing through ADB (instructions for power users below).
How to play Mi Band 2 through ADB?
5. Alternative methods: if nothing helps
If the standard methods didn’t work, try these non-obvious solutions:
1. Use the "Night Mode" during the day
Mi Fit has a Night Mode option that inverts the screen colors, and paradoxically, on some watches, white text on a black background is better than standard backlighting.
Profile → Mi Band 2 → Screen settings → Night mode
2.Tune backlight time
The longer the screen burns when you press it, the easier it is to see the information.
Mi Fit → Profile → Mi Band 2 → Display settings → Backlighting time
Maximum 10 seconds.
3. Change the dial
Some Mi Band 2 themes (like "Digital Bold" or "Neon") have more contrasting fonts that are better read at low brightness.
Mi Fit → Profile → Mi Band 2 → Dials
4. Turn off battery saving
There's a hidden option in Mi Fit called "Ultra-Energy Saving Mode," which forcefully dims the screen to turn it off:
- Open Mi Fit and go to the clock settings.
- 5 times quickly tap the firmware version (bottom of the screen).
- The developer menu will appear – disable Ultra Battery Saver.
💡
If after all the manipulations the screen remains dim, the problem may be a hardware malfunction of the backlight, in which case only a replacement of the display (cost) will help. ~500–800 ₽ service-centre).
6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Many users make common mistakes that make the brightness settings fail. Here's what you can't do:
❌ Ignore updates
The firmware below 1.0.1.14 does not support manual brightness adjustment.
❌ Wearing your watch too tight
The light sensor on the Mi Band 2 is on the right of the screen, and if the bracelet covers it, the autobrightness won't work.
❌ Use of informal applications
Programs like Notify & Fitness or Tools & Mi Band can conflict with Mi Fit and knock down screen settings.
❌ Charge the clock with "left" charging
Non-original cables sometimes cause display failures. Use only Xiaomi's proprietary adapter (5V/0.5A).
❌ Reset settings without linking to the account
Once reset, the watch requires re-synchronization. If you don't remember the Mi Account password, restore it in advance!
⚠️ Warning: If the screen becomes dim after connecting to a new smartphone, check the Mi Fit permissions. the application needs geolocation and auto-start rights, otherwise the brightness settings will not synchronize.