Bluetooth on Xiaomi Mi Band 5: how to turn on, connect and troubleshoot

Why you can’t turn Bluetooth on Mi Band 5 and what to do about it

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular gadgets for tracking activity, but many users face a problem: Bluetooth does not turn on or the device does not see the phone, most often due to a breakdown, but to improper settings or missed steps on the first connection.

Unlike smartphones, where Bluetooth is activated at a single tap, the Mi Band 5 process is a little more complicated. The bracelet does not have a separate button to turn on the module - it activates automatically when paired with the phone via the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit). If you try to turn on Bluetooth manually through the wristband menu, you will find that this option simply does not exist. This is normal: Xiaomi developers have hidden connection control in the mobile application.

In this article, we will examine not only the standard way of connecting, but also alternative methods (for example, through third-party applications), and also consider the typical errors that make the bracelet not see the phone or vice versa. If your Mi Band 5 was already paired before, but suddenly stopped connecting, check the list of possible reasons at the end of the article.

Preparing for Connection: What to Do Before Turning On Bluetooth

Before you try to turn on Bluetooth on the bracelet, make sure that all the prerequisites are met. Without them, pairing may not work even with a working gadget.

• 📱 Install the Mi Fitness app. Download it from Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iOS). Older versions of Mi Fit may not support Mi Band 5.

Important: If you have previously used the Mi Band 4 or other model, remove it from the list of devices in Mi Fitness before connecting the Mi Band 5.

Step-by-step: how to turn Bluetooth on Xiaomi Mi Band 5

Unlike smartphones, where Bluetooth is manually controlled, in Mi Band 5, the module is activated automatically when paired, and your task is to correctly conduct the connection process through the application.

1. Open the Mi Fitness app and log in (if you haven't already). Use the same Xiaomi account as you did on your phone.

If the process is stuck in the device search phase, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the bracelet (press the button for 10 seconds until the Mi logo appears).
• 📱 Restart Bluetooth on your phone (disable and turn on again).
• 🗑️ Remove the Mi Fitness app cache (Phone settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Memory. → Clear the cache).

Installed application Mi Fitness| Bracelet charged (>20%) |Bluetooth on phone enabled |Mi Band 5 unlocked (screen active) | Removed old devices from Mi Fitness-->

What to do if Bluetooth on Mi Band 5 is not turned on

If the bracelet does not respond to pairing attempts or Bluetooth shuts down immediately after you connect, the reasons can be both software and hardware.

1. The bracelet is not visible in the device list

If the phone doesn't find the Mi Band 5,

• 📵 Make sure the bracelet is not connected to another device, and it can only be paired to one phone at a time.
• 🔋 Check the battery power. At below 5%, Bluetooth shuts down.
• 📡 Try connecting elsewhere – it is possible that interference from other wireless devices (Wi-Fi routers, microwaves) block the signal.

2. Bluetooth is turned on but immediately switched off

This is a typical problem with:

• 🔄 Update your bracelet and Mi Fitness app to the latest versions.
• 📱 Power-saving phone mode. On Android, add Mi Fitness to the exception list (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
• 🚫 Lock the connection with antivirus. temporarily disable the protection and try to connect again.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet was previously connected to another Xiaomi account, it must first be untie, so the owner of the old account must go to Mi Fitness, find the device in the list and select Delete.

Alternative ways to turn on Bluetooth (if standard doesn’t work)

If the automatic Mi Fitness connection doesn't work, you can try alternative methods, which are less reliable, but sometimes help in unusual situations.

Method 1: Connect via phone settings (Android)

On some Android firmware (such as MIUI or ColorOS), the bracelet can be defined as a normal Bluetooth device:

1. Open the phone settings → Bluetooth.
2. Turn on the search for new devices.
3. In the list, find a device called Mi Band. 5_XXXX (where XXXX — unique).
4. Connect to him if you need to. PIN-code, try 0000 or 1234.

After that, open Mi Fitness – the application should “see” the bracelet and complete the setup.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Applications

If the official Mi Fitness app doesn’t work, try:

• 📲 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band – supports Mi Band 5 and allows manual Bluetooth connection management.

Download these apps only from official stores (Google Play or App Store) to avoid viruses.

💡

If the bracelet is plugged in but permanently breaks the connection, try turning off the Auto Reconnect function in your phone's Bluetooth settings, which sometimes conflicts with the Mi Band 5 algorithms.

Table: Frequent errors and their solutions

How to check that Bluetooth on Mi Band 5 is working correctly

Once you've successfully connected, make sure that the connection is stable.

1. Check the synchronization. Open Mi Fitness and update the homepage (swipe down). If the steps, pulse, and sleep data are updated, Bluetooth works.
2. Send a test notification. Have someone call you or send yourself a message. If the bracelet vibrates, the connection is active.
3. Run a search for the bracelet. In Mi Fitness, select Find the device. If the bracelet makes sound or vibrates, Bluetooth is on.

If at least one of the points does not work, repeat the pairing process or contact Xiaomi in support.

💡

If the bracelet is connected but the data is not synchronized, the problem may be in the phone settings. On Android 10+, check whether Mi Fitness is allowed geolocation access (required for Bluetooth LE to work correctly).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Bluetooth Questions in Mi Band 5