How to turn on the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5: all ways

The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 fitness bracelet has become one of the most popular activity tracking gadgets, but even such a simple device sometimes raises questions among users. One of the most common problems is that the bracelet does not turn on after discharging, updating the firmware or long-term storage. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn on the Mi Band 5, and also tell you what to do if the screen remains black despite all the manipulations.

It's important to understand that the reasons for not turning on can vary from simple battery discharge to software failures. We'll look at both standard methods (charging, rebooting) and hidden features that not everyone knows about, and if your bracelet stopped responding to touches after updating the firmware through Mi Fit, here you will find a solution.

This article will be useful for both new and experienced Xiaomi users, and we will not only give step-by-step instructions, but also explain why these or those actions work, and also warn against common errors that can aggravate the problem.

1. Battery charge check - the first step

The most obvious reason why the Mi Smart Band 5 doesn’t turn on is a dead battery. Even if you’re sure you’ve recently charged the bracelet, it’s worth checking it again. The 125mAh battery in this device can run out in 1-2 weeks of active use, and when stored without recharging, it can run out in a few months.

To make sure that the problem is in the battery:

• 🔌 Connect the bracelet to a charger (original or magnetic contact compatible) Make sure the contacts on the bracelet and charging are clean - dust or oxidation may interfere with charging.
• ⏳ Leave the device on charge at least for 30-40 The charging indicator (red or green LED) should light up during the first few minutes. 5-10 If there's no indicator, it could be the cable or the bracelet itself.
• 🔋 Try using another charger or USB-Sometimes the fault is in the power supply, not the bracelet.

If after 30-40 minutes of charging the bracelet still shows no signs of life, move to the next section. If the charging indicator lights up, but the screen does not turn on, wait another 1-2 hours: sometimes a deeply discharged battery takes time to recover.

2. Forced reset of the bracelet

If the Mi Band 5 doesn't respond to charging or the screen stays black despite the battery being charged, there may have been a software failure, in which case a forced reset (called "hard reset") helps, a method that is safe and doesn't cause data loss if done correctly.

Reloading instructions:

1. Remove the bracelet from your hand and place it on a flat surface with the screen up.
2. Find a small hole on the case that says Reset (located next to the charging contacts) and complete with the bracelet comes a special paper clip for resetting - if not, use an unbended stationery clip or toothpick.
3. Carefully press and hold the reset button for 10-15 seconds. You will feel a slight click.
4. Release the button and wait. 20-30 The bracelet should vibrate and turn on.

If the bracelet is switched on after reset, but is unstable (for example, it does not sync with the phone), follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app on your smartphone.
• 🔄 Go to Profile. → Mi Smart Band 5 → Disable the device.
• 🔗 Reconnect the bracelet via Bluetooth.

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If the reset button doesn’t press, try to heat the bracelet slightly (for example, holding 5 minutes in your hands) – sometimes this helps with the oxidation of contacts.

3. Checking contacts and physical damage

If neither charging nor resetting helped, it is worth inspecting the bracelet for physical damage, often the problem lies in oxidized or contaminated contacts, especially if the device was operated in wet conditions (for example, in a pool or in the rain).

What to check:

• 🔍 Charging contacts: inspect the metal pads on the back of the bracelet, clean, free of green plaque (oxidation) or scratches, clean them carefully with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol if necessary.
• 💧 Moisture inside the body: If the bracelet has been in water, it may have accumulated condensation under the screen, in which case leave it in a dry place for 24 hours (for example, next to a bag of silica gel).
• 🔋 Charging cable: try charging the bracelet from another USB-port or other cable: Non-original chargers may not provide sufficient current.
• 🛠️ Body and screen: check if there are cracks on the screen or dents on the body. Physical damage can lead to the breakage of plumes inside the device.

If you find contact oxidation but cleaning didn’t help, you can try the following method:

⚠️ Warning: Do not use abrasive materials (paper sandpaper, metal brushes) or aggressive liquids (vinegar, acetone) to clean contacts, which can damage the protective coating and exacerbate the problem.

4. Update firmware through Mi Fit

If the bracelet is turned on but is not working correctly (hangs, spontaneous reboots, time is not displayed), the problem may be outdated or damaged firmware, and software updates often solve such problems.

How to update firmware:

1. Make sure your phone has the latest version of the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app (available on Google Play and the App Store).
2. Connect the bracelet to your phone via Bluetooth.
3. Open the app and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Firmware Update.
4. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until the process is complete. Don't unplug the bracelet from your phone or leave the app during the update!

The upgrade process takes 5 to 15 minutes, and when it is completed, the bracelet will reboot automatically.

• 📵 Turn off Bluetooth on your phone for 10 seconds, then turn it on again.
• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (as described in Section 2).
• 📥 Try updating your firmware through another smartphone (sometimes changing your device helps).

5. Reset to factory settings

If all previous methods have failed, the last option is a complete reset, which will remove all data from the bracelet (steps, training, settings), but often helps with serious software failures, and the reset can be done in two ways: through the wristband menu or by force.

Method 1: Through the bracelet menu (if the screen is running):

1. Scroll the screen to the right to the point More (or More).
2. Select Settings → Resetting settings.
3. Confirm the action by clicking the tick.

Method 2: Forced reset (if the screen is unresponsive):

Connect the bracelet to charge |Hold the reset button for 20 seconds |Wait for double vibration |Switch off charging and wait 1 minute-->

Once reset, the bracelet will return to factory settings, and you will need to reconnect it to your phone via Mi Fit and reconfigure it.

⚠️ Note: If the bracelet does not turn on again after reset, this may indicate a hardware malfunction (for example, a failure of the battery or power controller.

Alternative ways of inclusion

If standard methods have not worked, less obvious solutions may be tried, and these are suitable for advanced users or in cases where the bracelet is partially responsive to actions.

Method 1: Connecting to another phone

Sometimes the bracelet doesn't turn on because of a conflict with the Bluetooth profile on the main phone.

• 📱 Connect Mi Band 5 to another smartphone (preferably with a clean Mi Fit installation).
• 🔄 Perform data synchronization.
• 🔋 If the bracelet is turned on, return it to the main phone and reconnect.

Method 2: Using a Charging from Another Device

Some users note that the bracelet starts charging and only turns on when using a charger from other Xiaomi models (for example, from the Mi Band 4 or Mi Band 6), this is due to differences in the current output of different charges.

Method 3: “Wake up” bracelet through notifications

If the bracelet is connected to the phone but the screen is not activated, try:

• 📩 Send it to the phone. SMS or push notification (e.g. from Viber or WhatsApp).
• 🔔 The bracelet must vibrate when notified - sometimes it "wakes" it.

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If the bracelet responds to notifications but the screen doesn't turn on, the problem is probably the backlight or the display plume, in which case only repairs will help.

7. When to contact the service center

If none of these methods worked, chances are your Mi Smart Band 5 has a hardware malfunction.

• 🔋 Bracelet does not charge despite clean contacts and good cable.
• 💥 After a fall or impact, it stopped turning on.
• 🌡️ Overheats during charging.
• 🔄 Cyclically rebooted (on and off immediately).
• 📵 Not detected by the phone even after the reset.

Official service centers Xiaomi in Russia and CIS countries can be found on the website mi.com. the Average cost of diagnosis — from 500 to 1000 rubles.

If your bracelet is warranty-free (usually 12 months from the date of purchase), repairs will be free, provided the malfunction is not caused by mechanical damage or self-repair.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Smart Band 5