The first inclusion of Xiaomi Mi Band 5: how to properly start and configure the bracelet

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet is one of the most popular wearables due to its combination of functionality, compactness and affordable price. However, beginners often have questions about how to turn on the bracelet for the first time, what to do if it does not respond to presses, and how to avoid typical setup errors. This article will help you understand everything from charging to syncing with your phone.

Unlike smartphones, smartwatches and fitness bracelets have their own unique features: for example, the Mi Band 5 is not switched on with a button – it must be charged first and then activated through the app. We will describe each step in detail, pay attention to possible problems (for example, if the bracelet is not detected by the phone), and give recommendations on the optimal settings for starting use.

If you’ve just unpacked the device or it’s been idle for a long time, follow this guide – it’s universal for all versions of the Mi Band 5 (including the one that you’ve never seen before). NFC-modification) and relevant for firmware 2026-2026.

Preparing for the first turn on: what to do before launch

Before you turn on the Xiaomi Mi Band 5, make sure you have everything you need, which will save you from unnecessary problems like suddenly discharging the bracelet or not having a compatible smartphone.

Here is the minimum set for a successful launch:

• 🔋 Charger kit (magnetic connector cable) using third-party chargers can damage contacts.
• 📱 Smartphone on Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+ Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit).
• ⚡ Power supply: power bank, power outlet or USB-port of a computer (laptop) with a current of at least 500 mA.
• ⏳ 15-20 minutes of free time – the bracelet charges quickly, but setting up can take time.

Pay special attention to the charging cable. The Mi Band 5 has a magnetic connector that should fit tightly to the contacts on the back of the case. If the cable is not original or damaged, the bracelet may not charge or be charged intermittently. When you first connect to power, the bracelet screen should immediately show the charging indicator (battery icon). If this does not happen, check the cable and contacts.

⚠️ Note: Do not use chargers from other Mi Band models (e.g. Mi Band 4 or 6) and, despite the similar connector, they may have different voltages, which will cause battery failures.

Charging the bracelet before first switching on

The new Xiaomi Mi Band 5 comes with a discharged battery – this is normal, as the manufacturer saves charge for long-term storage.

Charging instructions:

1. Remove the capsule of the bracelet from the strap, pulling it to the side (do not make excessive efforts not to break the latch).
2. Connect the magnetic connector of the charging cable to the contacts on the back of the capsule, and the correct connection is accompanied by a slight click.
3. Connect the other end of the cable to the power source. The charging animation (the battery icon with interest) should appear on the bracelet screen.
4. Charge the device to 100% (usually takes 1-1.5 hours) Do not interrupt the process, even if the bracelet shows 80-90%, this can lead to incorrect calibration of the battery.

If, after connecting to charging, the screen does not respond:

• 🔌 Check if the magnetic connector fits tightly, and sometimes it shifts, and the contacts don't close.
• 🔄 Try flipping the cable - it doesn't have a fixed polarity, but sometimes changing sides helps.
• 📱 Connect the cable to another power source (for example, to a computer instead of an outlet).
• 🔋 If the bracelet shows no signs of life for more than 10 minutes, it may be discharged to zero. Leave it on charge for 30 to 60 minutes, then try turning it on.

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If the bracelet does not charge for a long time, clean the contacts on the capsule and cable connector with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Oxidation or pollution can prevent normal charging.

Inserting the bracelet and checking performance

Once fully charged, the Mi Band 5 can be turned on. Unlike smartphones, there is no power button here - the device is activated automatically when connected to the phone or manually through the sensor.

How to turn on the bracelet:

1. Put the capsule back on the strap (if removed for charging).
2. Touch the touch button below the screen. If the bracelet is charged, it should vibrate and show a welcome message on the screen.
3. If the screen does not respond, try to hold your finger on the sensor for 3-5 seconds – this will force the device to unlock.

You'll see on the screen:

• 🔋 Battery icon with charge level.
• ⏰ Current time (if the bracelet has already been set up).
• 📱 Bluetooth badge if the bracelet is looking for a connection to the phone.

If the bracelet is on but the screen is not displaying the time or shows an error, don't worry. This is normal for the first run. All settings (time, date, notifications) will be synchronized after you connect to the phone.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet does not turn on after charging, even after a long press on the sensor, a software error may have occurred, in which case the reset will help: connect the bracelet to charging and hold the touch button for 10-15 seconds until you feel the vibration. Then try again to turn on the.

Bracelet charged to 100%|Mi Fitness app installed on phone|Bluetooth on your phone is on|The bracelet is located next to the phone (within a radius of 1 meter)-->

Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application

For full operation of Xiaomi Mi Band 5 you need the application Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), which is available for Android and iOS and allows you not only to customize the bracelet, but also to track activity, sleep, pulse and other indicators.

Step-by-step installation instructions:

1. Download Mi Fitness from the official store: 🤖 Google Play for Android). 🍎 App Store (for iOS).

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Bluetooth

Profile → Add the device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 5

If the app does not find the bracelet:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off and turn on again).
• 📱 Make sure there are no active phones on the phone. VPN Power saving modes that block Bluetooth.
• 🔋 Check if the bracelet is charged (the battery level must be at least 20%).
• 🔄 Reboot the bracelet by holding the touch button for 10 seconds.

Once the app is successfully connected, it will suggest updating the bracelet firmware, and we recommend you agree that this will fix any bugs and add new features. The update will take 2-5 minutes, do not turn off Bluetooth during the process.

Bracelet pairing with phone and basic setting

Once connected, the Mi Fitness app will open an initial setup menu, where you can configure the bracelet's basic settings, including displaying notifications, monitoring sleep and physical activity.

Key settings that should be set up immediately:

• ⏰ Time and date: sync automatically with the phone, but you can set a 24-hour format or 12-hour format.
• 🔔 Notifications: Select which apps will send alerts to the bracelet (calls, SMS, messengers).
• 💤 Sleep monitoring: enable automatic sleep phase tracking (recommended for accurate analysis).
• 🏃 Activity goals: Set a daily step rate (8000 steps default).
• 🔒 Unlocking the screen: if your Android phone, you can configure unlocking the smartphone using a bracelet.

Pay special attention to the notification settings. By default, the bracelet vibrates when incoming calls and SMS, But you can add alerts from WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber and other messengers:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Notifications.
2. Turn on the Display Notifications switch.
3. Select applications that must be duplicated on the bracelet.
4. Set up the display style (full text or only the app icon).

We also recommend that you activate the Raise your hand to turn on the screen, which will make it easier to interact with the bracelet. → Display.

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After the first pairing, the bracelet will automatically connect to the phone when Bluetooth is turned on. To save charge, turn off Bluetooth when you are not using the bracelet (for example, at night).

Updating firmware and checking functions

After the basic setup, Mi Fitness will offer a firmware update, which is an important step as new versions fix bugs, improve stability, and add features (such as new dials or workout modes).

How to update firmware:

1. In the Mi Fitness app, go to the Device Profile → Firmware update.
2. If a new version is available, click Update.
3. Wait until the process is complete (the bracelet will reboot automatically).
4. Don’t turn off Bluetooth or keep your bracelet away from your phone during the upgrade.

After the update, check the performance of the main functions:

• 📊 Stepper: walk 10-20 steps – the counter must be updated.
• ❤️ Pulsemeter: run pulse measurement through the bracelet menu (hold the touch button, select Pulse).
• 💤 Sleep monitoring: Lie down and check if the bracelet captures the sleep phase (data will appear in the morning in the app).
• 🔔 Notifications: Ask someone to send you a message – the bracelet should vibrate.

If the bracelet is unstable after updating (for example, does not respond to touch or discharges quickly), reset the settings:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to the Device Profile → Settings → Reset.
2. Confirm the action - the bracelet will return to factory settings.
3. Re-pair it with the phone.

Typical errors and their solutions

Even if you do all the steps right, users sometimes have problems, and let's look at some of the most common mistakes and how to fix them.

If the bracelet is plugged in but the data isn’t synced (e.g. steps or sleep aren’t displayed in the app), try:

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (hold the sensor for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi Fitness app.
• 🔋 Check the charge level of the bracelet (when <10% Synchronization may not work).
• 🌐 Make sure your phone is connected to the Internet (data synced via the Xiaomi cloud).

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet becomes worse after updating the firmware (for example, the screen dims or the sensor does not respond well), roll back to the previous version. → Back to the previous version. This option is not available in all regions.

Additional settings for comfortable use

Once you have set up the bracelet, you can optimize it for your needs, and here are some useful features that you should set up:

1. Dials

You can have custom dials in Mi Band 5.

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Dials.
2. Choose your favorite version from the collection (there are animated, sports, minimalistic).
3. Some dials support displaying weather, steps, pulse and charge level.

2. Alarm clocks

The bracelet can vibrate to wake you up without disturbing others.

1. In Mi Fitness, select the Device Profile → Alarm clocks.
2. Add a new alarm clock, specify the time and days of the week.
3. Turn on the option to Repeat if you need to wake up daily.

3. Training regimes

The Mi Band 5 supports 11 sports modes (running, cycling, swimming, etc.) to add them to the bracelet:

1. In the application go to the Device Profile → Training regimens.
2. Select the sports you want to display in the bracelet menu.
3. During exercise, the bracelet will track pulse, calorie consumption and duration.

4. Phone search

If you lose your smartphone frequently, activate the phone search function:

1. In the bracelet menu, find the phone icon (hold the sensor, flip down).
2. Click on it – the phone will emit an audible signal (even if it is in silent mode).

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To extend the life of the battery, turn off the constant measurement of the pulse and reduce the brightness of the screen, it is also useful to turn off notifications from unnecessary applications (for example, games or social networks).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the first inclusion of Xiaomi Mi Band 5