How to turn on Xiaomi Mi Band: full instruction with photos and tips for setting up

Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets have long been a symbol of affordable and functional health electronics. However, even such simple devices sometimes have problems with the first turn on - especially if you just unpacked the bracelet or it was lying idle for a long time. This article will help you understand how to correctly turn on the Mi Band of any model (from Mi Band 3 to Mi Band 8), what to do if the screen does not respond, and how to avoid typical activation errors.

We won’t just go with the basic “press the button” instruction, but here you’ll find a detailed breakdown of all the steps, from checking battery power to syncing with your smartphone via Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit). And if your bracelet refuses to turn on, there’s a troubleshooting section at the end of the article with rare but workable solutions.

Preparation for the first turn on: what to do before activation

Before you try to turn on the Mi Band, make sure that three key conditions are met: neglecting them is the cause of 80% of problems with the first launch.

Charging the bracelet is the most critical moment. Even if the indicator on the charger is on, it does not guarantee a sufficient charge level to turn on. New bracelets are often discharged to 0% after long storage in stock. The minimum threshold for turning on the Mi Band is 5% charge, but it requires at least 20% to work steadily.

• 🔋 Check out the charger: the original cable for the Mi Band 3/4/5 It has magnetic contacts, and for the Mi Band. 6/7/8 — USB-Type C (depending on version) Counterfeiting may not provide the required voltage.
• ⏳ Charging time: even if the indicator is on fire, hold the bracelet on charging 30-60 minutes before first activation.
• 📱 Install the application: download Mi Fitness (Android/iOS) In advance, without it, the bracelet is not fully activated.

If you take the bracelet out of the box and it doesn't show signs of life, don't panic. It's probably just dead to zero. Connect it to charging and wait 5-10 minutes, and the charging indicator (red or green LED) should appear.

Standard method of inclusion: instruction for all models

The Mi Band's inclusion process is virtually unchanged from the Mi Band 3, but there are nuances for new versions.

1. Charging before turning on: As mentioned earlier, connect the bracelet to the charger for 15-30 minutes. make sure the contacts are clean (wipe with alcohol if necessary).
2. Activation button: For Mi Band 3/4/5: press and hold the touch button under the screen for 3-5 seconds until the Mi logo appears. For Mi Band 6/7/8: tap the screen and swipe up or hold your finger on the screen for 2-3 seconds.

Choosing a language

Russian

English

Synchronization with a smartphone

Mi Fitness

"Add device"

Mi Band

If nothing happens after holding the button, check:

• 🔌 Charging: maybe the bracelet doesn't have time to store enough energy. Try holding it on a charge. 1-2 hour.
• 👆 Finger position: on Mi Band 6/7/8 The sensor may not work if you touch the edges of the screen. Try pressing closer to the center.
• 📵 Bluetooth: Make sure your phone is enabled with Bluetooth and geodata permission (required to pair).

3. Features of inclusion for different models

While the Mi Band is the same, each model has unique nuances, and the table below shows the key differences:

The Mi Band 7 Pro and Mi Band 8 Pro are identical to standard models, but these versions support offline GPS connectivity (without a phone), but the first activation will still require a smartphone with Mi Fitness.

Important for the Mi Band 6/7/8: If the screen doesn't respond to touch, try rebooting the wristband. To do this, plug it into charging and hold the screen for 10 seconds until the logo appears. This will reset the temporary sensor freezes.

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If your Mi Band 6/7/8 doesn't respond to touch, try removing the strap and gently wipe the contacts between the body and the screen with a dry wipe.

4. Phone sync: Why Mi Band doesn't connect

Turning on the bracelet is only half the battle, and without syncing with your smartphone, you won't be able to use most of the features.

Problem 1: Mi Band is not on the list of devices

• 📱 Update Mi Fitness: Older version of the app may not support new bracelet models.
• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth: Turn off and turn on Bluetooth on your phone, then restart Mi Fitness.
• 📡 Check Compatibility: Mi Band 8 Requires Android 6.0+ or iOS 12+. Older phones (such as iPhone 6) may have problems.

Problem 2: Connection is terminated during synchronization

• 🛡️ Turn it off. VPN/Firewall: Some applications block connection to Xiaomi servers.
• 📶 Check the Internet: Network access is required for activation (bracelet downloads the initial firmware).
• 🔋 Bracelet charge: If the charge level is below 15%, synchronization may be interrupted.

If nothing helps, try resetting the bracelet to factory settings:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Mi Band → Untie the device.
2. On the bracelet itself (for Mi Band 5/6/7/8) go to Settings → Reset (the icon with the wrench).
3. Confirm the reset and repeat the connection procedure.

5 Mi Band not included: Diagnostics and solutions

If the bracelet doesn't show signs of life even after a long charge, the reasons could be both software and hardware.

Charging check:

• 🔌 Try another cable/power supply: Xiaomi’s original charging is designed to 5V/0.5A. Powerful adapters (such as from the phone) may not work.
• 🔍 Check out the contacts: on the Mi Band 3/4/5 Magnetic contacts are often oxidized. Rub them with a swallow or alcohol.
• 🕒 Give time: if the bracelet is discharged to zero, it can "silence" the first 10-15 charge-minutes.

Hardware malfunctions:

• 💧 Moisture: Even if the bracelet has 5 protections ATM, salt water or steam can damage your contacts. Try drying it in rice for 24 hours.
• 🔋 Battery bloating: if the bracelet body is deformed, don't try to turn it on - it's dangerous.
• 🛠️ Falling from a height: after a strong impact, the plume of the screen can come off, in which case the bracelet vibrates, but the screen remains black.

Programmatic failures:

• 🔄 Hard reset: for the Mi Band 6/7/8 Connect to charging and hold the screen 20 It's a force to reset the device.
• 📥 Firmware update: If the bracelet is turned on but is glitchy, check for updates in Mi Fitness.

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If the Mi Band does not respond to charging and does not vibrate when connecting the cable, there is a 90% probability of a problem in the hardware (battery, power controller or plume).

Another thing about the Mi Band 5 NFC and later is that if the bracelet has been idle for a long time, it can get a date/time that doesn't turn on.

1. Connect to the 1 hour charge.
2. Hold the screen for 10 seconds to reset.
3. After turning on, sync with your phone right away – this will update your internal clock.

6. Frequent User Errors and How to Avoid Them

Many of the problems with Mi Band inclusion are due to non-obvious errors, and here are the most common ones:

⚠️ Please note: Never use Mi Band Power Bank or USB-higher-voltage computer ports 5V. This can disable the power controller of the bracelet. The original charger gives you a strict response. 5V/0.5A.

Mistake 1: Using unoriginal straps

Cheap AliExpress straps can put pressure on the body of the bracelet, which causes the sensor to stop working. If the Mi Band does not turn on after replacing the strap, return the original one and check the reaction to the touch.

Error 2: Resetting through the application without decoupling

If you reset the bracelet to factory settings through Mi Fitness without untieing it beforehand, there may be a conflict of profiles. Always press "Untie the device" first, and then reset.

Mistake 3: Ignoring updates

After the first activation, the Mi Band often requires a firmware update. If you miss this step, some functions (such as sleep monitoring or a pulse monitor) may not work properly.

Error 4: Charging at high/low temperature

Xiaomi bracelets are designed to work at 0-45 ° C. If you charge the Mi Band in the cold or in direct sunlight, the battery may damage, and the device will stop turning on.

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If you bought a used Mi Band, be sure to reset it through the previous owner’s app before the first switch on, otherwise the bracelet may be linked to another Xiaomi account and you won’t be able to activate it.

7. Rare cases: what to do if nothing helps

If you’ve tried all the standard methods but still don’t turn on, here are a few non-obvious solutions:

Method 1: “Wake up” the bracelet through vibration

Sometimes the power controller falls asleep after a deep discharge.

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
2. Carefully tap the body (not the screen!) with your finger or pencil.
3. If the bracelet vibrates, wait for the charging indicator to appear.

Method 2: Alternative firmware (for advanced)

If the bracelet is switched on but not synchronized, you can try hand-stitching it through Mi Band Tools, which is risky, but sometimes saves the bricks.

• 📱 Install Mi Band Tools and Notify & Fitness for Mi Band.
• 🔧 In the settings, enable "Experimental functions".
• 📥 Download the firmware for your model from the forum 4PDA.

⚠️ Warning: Handheld firmware will void warranty and may permanently disable the bracelet. Use this method only if the device is no longer working and you are willing to risk it.

Method 3: Checking through the Engineering Menu

The Mi Band 6/7/8 has a hidden engineering menu that helps diagnose hardware problems:

1. Turn on the bracelet (if it reacts in any way).
2. Go to Settings. → About the device.
3. Tap 5 times on the firmware number - the test menu will open.
4. Check the Battery and Touch points.

If the battery is in the engineering menu 0% Even after charging, it's likely that you need to replace the battery. 3/4/5 It's worth it. 500-800 ₽, new-model — 1000-1500 ₽.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions