How to turn on Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet after a complete reset: a detailed guide

Why the bracelet does not turn on after reset and what to do about it

You reset your Xiaomi Mi Band 4, but now the device doesn't respond to taps, doesn't vibrate, or connect to your phone? This problem is familiar to many smart bracelet owners -- especially if the reset was done through a forced reboot or after a long period of no charge. In 90% of cases, the bracelet didn't break: it just went into activation standby mode, which requires the right sequence of action.

The main reasons why the Mi Band 4 does not turn on after reset are: (1) Diminished battery (even if the indicator showed a charge before reset), (2) Incorrect completion of the reset procedure (for example, an interrupted firmware update), (3) Lack of synchronization with the Mi Fit or Zepp Life application, 4) Mechanical damage to the charging contacts or buttons.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for all scenarios, from basic activation to bracelet recovery after a brick (when the screen does not respond at all), and we will also discuss the unique method of forced activation through the engineering menu, which is not written about in the official manuals.

Preparation for inclusion: what to check before the start

Before you try to turn on the bracelet, make sure that all the prerequisites are met, which will save you time and nerves:

• 🔋 Charge the bracelet. Connect the Mi Band 4 to the charger for at least 30 minutes, even if the indicator is not on. Use the original cable - cheap analogues may not provide the desired voltage.
• 📱 Updated app. Install the latest version of Mi Fit (for the first time) Android/iOS) or Zepp Life (alternative to new firmware) Older versions may not support activation after reset.
• 🔄 Reboot phone. Sometimes Bluetooth conflicts interfere with connection.Reset smartphone before trying to sync.
• 🛡️ App permissions. Check that Mi Fit has access to Bluetooth, Notifications, and Locations (required for some features).

If the bracelet shows no signs of charging (the indicator does not flash), try the following steps:

⚠️ Warning: Do not use alcohol or acetone to clean your contacts, they destroy the protective coating. Take a cotton swab dipped in distilled water and gently wipe the metal contacts on the bracelet and charger.

Method 1: Standard activation after reset

If the Mi Band 4 bracelet is not fully discharged and reacts to charging (flashing indicator), follow this instruction:

1. Charge the bracelet to 100%. Wait until the battery icon that says 100% appears on the screen. If the screen does not turn on, hold the bracelet for 2-3 hours.
2. Press the button. Press the touch button under the screen once, and wake the bracelet up. If you don't react, press the button for 5 to 10 seconds until you feel the vibration.
3. Connect to your phone. Open Mi Fit, go to Profile → Add Device → Bracelet and select Mi Smart Band 4.
4. Follow the setup wizard. The app will prompt you to confirm the connection on the bracelet (click the button) and update the firmware if a new version is available.

If the error "Can not find the device" occurs during the connection step, follow the following steps:

Make sure Bluetooth is on on your phone |

Re-launch the Mi Fit| app

Remove the bracelet from the list of associated devices in Bluetooth | settings

Try connecting from another phone (for diagnostics)-->

If the bracelet is turned on but not synced with the app, the problem may be in the Bluetooth cache. On Android, clear the cache in the Mi Fit app settings (Settings → Applications → Mi Fit → Memory → Clear cache). On the iPhone, just reboot the device.

Method 2: Forced activation via engineering menu

If the standard on and off switch didn't work and the bracelet responds to charging (the indicator flashes), you can try the hidden recovery mode, which works even if the screen doesn't turn on after resetting.

Instructions:

1. Connect the bracelet to charge. Make sure the indicator flashes (meaning charging).
2. Hold the button for 15 to 20 seconds. Don't let go, even if the bracelet vibrates. In 20 seconds, the screen should turn on with the Xiaomi logo.
3. Release the button and press it back for 5 seconds, which will open the Engineering Mode.
4. Select Reboot. Use up/down swipes to navigate, click a button to select.

After the reboot, the bracelet should return to standard mode and be ready to connect via Mi Fit.

⚠️ Note: Do not select Format or Erase items in the engineering menu - this will lead to complete data loss and may require flashing through the service. PC.

Method 3: Recovery via PC (if the bracelet does not respond at all)

If the Mi Band 4 doesn't turn on, charge, or respond to the button, the last option is to flash it over the computer.

• 💻 Windows computer 7/10/11 (MacOS method does not work).
• 🔌 Original cable for charging the bracelet.
• 📁 The Mi Band Tool (you can download it from the XDA Developers).
• 📂 Firmware for Mi Band 4 (version must match bracelet region).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the bracelet to a PC. Use a charging cable, but plug it into the PC. USB-port of the computer (not to charge!).
2. Start the Mi Band Tool. The program should define the bracelet as an Unknown device.
3. Turn off the bracelet. Once you've successfully firmwareed, the bracelet will reset and be ready to be tuned.

If the firmware was successful, but the bracelet still does not turn on, check:

• 🔌 Quality of charging cable contacts (possibly oxidation).
• 🔋 Battery status (if the bracelet does not hold charge, replacement is required).
• 🛠️ Integrity of the button plume (in case of mechanical damage).

💡

If the bracelet is turned on after firmware but not synchronized with the phone, reset it again through the Mi Fit application (Device Profile → Untie the device).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make the same mistakes when trying to turn on the Mi Band 4 after reset.

1. Use of non-original cable: Cheap analogues may not provide stable voltage, which causes the bracelet to not charge or reset during firmware.
2. Interrupt the update process. If you have started updating your firmware through Mi Fit, don’t unplug the bracelet from your phone until you see the message “Update complete.”
3. Ignoring low charge notifications: If the bracelet is down to 0%, it may not turn on even after you connect to the charge, in which case you need a long charge (4+ hours).
4. Trying to flash the bracelet with the wrong firmware, for example, the firmware for the Mi Band 4 NFC will not work for the regular version. Check the model in the settings (About the bracelet → Model).

If you encounter an error called “Can’t connect to the bracelet” in Mi Fit, try the following:

Turn off and turn on Bluetooth again on your phone |

Remove the bracelet from the list of devices in Mi Fit and add again |

Reinstall the Mi Fit| app

Try to connect through another app (e.g. Zepp Life)-->

Another common problem is that the bracelet turns on, but it doesn't vibrate or react to touch, and it can be related to:

• 🔊 Disabled vibration in settings (Profile) → Bracelet settings → Vibration).
• 🛠️ Vibrator damage (check if the vibration is working when charging).
• 📱 Conflict with another connected device (e.g. headphones).

How to recover data after resetting

Resetting the settings on Mi Band 4 removes all local data: steps, pulse, sleep patterns and notifications, but some of the information can be recovered if it was synchronized with the Mi Fit cloud.

To get the data back:

1. Connect the bracelet to the application. After successful synchronization, Mi Fit will offer to restore the latest data from the cloud.
2. Check the history in the app. Go to Profile → Statistics and select the desired period. Data from the last 30 days is usually stored.
3. Export data manually. Mi Fit allows you to upload your history in CSV format (Settings → Export data).

If the data is not restored, try the following methods:

If you used Google Fit or Apple Health to sync, the data could have been saved there.Check out those apps and import the data back to Mi Fit if necessary.

💡

Synchronize the bracelet with the application at least once every 2-3 days to avoid data loss during reset.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions