Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets have long been one of the most popular wearables due to the combination of functionality and affordable price. However, even with such a simple gadget, users sometimes have difficulties β especially when it comes to the first turn on or reboot after discharging. If your Xiaomi Band bracelet does not turn on, do not panic: 90% of the time the problem is solved in a few minutes.
In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to activate the device, from a standard button activation to a forced reboot via the charger. We will separately discuss the nuances for different models (from Mi Band 1S to Mi Band 8 Pro), and also tell you what to do if the bracelet does not respond to clicks or hangs on the logo. All instructions are tested on current firmware in 2026 and take into account the features of the Mi Fitness application (former Mi Fit).
Preparation for the first turn on: what to check before activation
Before you try to turn on the Xiaomi Band, make sure that the basic conditions for the device to work properly are met.Neglecting these points is the main reason why the bracelet does not turn on the first time.
- π Battery level: New bracelets often come with minimal charge (10-20%). Connect the device to charge for 30 to 60 minutes before first turning on.
- π± Smartphone compatibility. Make sure your phone runs on Android 6.0+ iOS 12.0+. For Mi Band models 7/8 Pro requires Android 8.0+.
- π Update: Install the latest version of the Mi Fitness app (available on Google Play and App Store).
- π Use the original charging cable (especially important for the Mi Band) 6/7 The damaged wires can block the power supply.
If you bought a used bracelet, reset it to factory settings through the Mi Fitness app (Device Profile β Reset) which will remove the binding to the previous owner and allow you to activate the gadget again.
Method 1: Standard button activation (for all models)
The most obvious method is to mechanically press the touch button on the wristband, but even here, there are nuances that depend on the generation of the device:
- Place the bracelet on your hand or place it on a flat surface with the screen up.
- Find the touch button (usually located below the screen or on the side of the body). On Mi Band 1-5 models, it is a physical button, on Mi Band 6-8 Pro, it is a touch zone.
- Press and hold the button for 5-10 seconds until the Mi logo or vibration appears.
- After downloading, follow the instructions on the screen (choose language, connect to the phone).
If the bracelet does not respond to pressing:
- π Try short-term presses (1-2 seconds) at 3-second intervals β sometimes it works better than long-term hold.
- π§² Make sure the bracelet is not affected by a strong magnetic field (for example, from a phone case or wireless charging).
- π§ Check if the moisture is under the button (relevant after shower or pool.
βοΈ Checklist before switching on the button
β οΈ Note: On the Mi Band 7 Pro and Mi Band 8 Pro models, the touch button may not work if the screen is locked after falling. In this case, use the way you turn on via charging (see next section).
Method 2: Enable via charging connection
If the bracelet is completely discharged or does not respond to a button, it can be forced to activate by connecting it to a charger, which works for all models, including the Mi Band 1-8 Pro:
- Connect the bracelet to the original charging cable. For models with a magnetic connector (Mi Band 6-8), make sure the contacts fit tightly.
- Connect the cable to the power source (USB-computer port, adapter 5V/1A). Avoid fast charging (>2A) β They can damage the power controller.
- Wait 10-15 minutes. The charge indicator (battery icon or percentage) should appear on the screen.
- If the indicator doesn't appear, disconnect the cable, wait 30 seconds and reconnect. Repeat 2-3 times.
- After the charging indicator appears, click on the touch button - the bracelet should turn on.
For Mi Band 1-4 models with a physical button, you can use hardware reset:
- Connect the bracelet to the charger.
- Hold the physical button for 15-20 seconds until you feel a double vibration.
- Release the button and the device will restart.
What to do if the bracelet does not show charging?
| Model bracelet | Charging time before switching on | Type of connector | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 1β4 | 20-30 minutes | Micro-USB (built-in) | Requires physical press of the button after connecting |
| Mi Band 5 | 10-15 minutes | Magnetic (2 contacts) | It is automatically activated when 5% of the charge is reached. |
| Mi Band 6β7 | 5-10 minutes | Magnetic (4 contacts) | Supports fast charging (up to 50% in 30 minutes) |
| Mi Band 8 Pro | 15-20 minutes | Magnetic (6 contacts) | Requires original cable (incompatible with Mi Band 6/7) |
Method 3: Activate through the Mi Fitness app
If the bracelet is activated but not connected to the phone, or you see a message saying "Device not activated", use the binding via the app, which will also help if the bracelet was previously linked to another account.
Instructions for Mi Fitness (relevant to 5.6.0 and later):
- Open the Mi Fitness app and log in to your Xiaomi account (or create a new one).
- Click on the + icon (add device) in the upper right corner.
- Choose your bracelet model from the list (e.g. Mi Smart Band 7).
- Follow the instructions on the screen: π± Allow the app to access Bluetooth and notifications. π Click "Scan" and wait for the bracelet to be detected. π Confirm pairing on your phone and bracelet (the code will appear on the bracelet screen β compare it with the code in the application).
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Important: If the bracelet was previously linked to another account, reset via Settings β About Device β Reset to factory (on the bracelet itself) or contact Xiaomi to remove the anchor.
1. Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (Settings β Bluetooth β Off/On).
2. Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugated devices in the phone settings.
3. Use another phone for initial activation (sometimes changing the device helps).-->
Problem Solving: The bracelet is not switched on or hangs
If none of these things worked, the bracelet is likely in one of the critical states: deep discharge, software failure, or hardware failure, and let's take each case apart.
1.The bracelet does not respond to charging and button
Symptoms: No reaction to the charger connection, the screen remains black, no vibration.
- π Check the power supply: use the charger with the exit 5V/1A (fast-charging!).
- β‘ Try to βbreak throughβ the power controller: connect the bracelet to charging, hold the button for 30 seconds, then disconnect and connect again.
- π§ If the bracelet fell or got wet, the contacts of the battery may have gone away).
2.The bracelet hangs on the Mi logo
Symptoms: the screen turns on, shows the logo, but no further download.
- π Hard reset: Connect the bracelet to charge. Hold the button for 20 to 30 seconds until you feel the vibration. Release the button and wait for the reset.
Mi Fitness
Device profile β Software update
Mi Band 5β8
Mi Band Tools
3.The bracelet is switched on but immediately switched off
Symptoms: the device starts, shows the screen, but after 1-2 seconds it goes out.
- π It's probably a battery failure. Connect the bracelet to charge and observe that if the charge indicator flashes and goes out, the battery swells or loses capacity.
- π Try charging the bracelet from another source (e.g. power bank.
- π Check battery consumption in Mi Fitness (Battery Status section) If the charge drops from 100% to 0% in a few minutes, you need to replace the battery.
β οΈ Note: If the Xiaomi Band bracelet does not turn on after falling from a height or getting water (even if the model has 5 protection) ATM), Don't try to disassemble it yourself. Flexible screen plumes or control boards may be damaged inside. Contact an authorized service center, and it's cheaper to repair than buying a new device.
Features of inclusion for different models of Xiaomi Band
Despite the general logic of the work, each generation of bracelets has unique activation nuances, and below are the key differences that will help avoid errors.
| Model | Including | Frequent problems | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 1β4 | Long pressing of the physical button (10+ seconds) | The button sticks after getting wet | Dry with a hair dryer (cold air) or disassemble for cleaning |
| Mi Band 5 | Short press on touch button or connection to charging | Not activated after firmware update | Reset via Mi Fitness β Reset |
| Mi Band 6 | Automatically when charging or pressing the screen | The screen doesn't respond to touch. | Update the firmware or reset the settings |
| Mi Band 7 Pro | Only through charging (button locked until first activation) | Not connected to Mi Fitness | Use the original cable and the latest version of the application |
| Mi Band 8 Pro | Activation via NFC (attached to phone) or charging | Error "Device not supported" | Update Mi Fitness to version 6.0+ |
For the Mi Band 7 Pro and Mi Band 8 Pro models with GPS and NFC support, the first launch can take up to 5 minutes as the device calibrates the sensors.
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For NFC (Mi Band 7 Pro/8 Pro) bracelets, be sure to run the first one next to your phone, which will speed up the activation process of the contactless payment module.
Frequent User Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Most of the problems with the Xiaomi Band include are due to the non-obvious errors that users make during the setup phase, and here are the most common ones:
- π« Use of a non-original cable: cheap analogues may not provide the desired voltage, which causes the bracelet to not charge or turn on in emergency mode.
- π΅ Bluetooth disabled on your phone. Bluetooth 4.0 not on+ The bracelet will not be able to connect to the Mi Fitness, even if it is on.
- π Block permissions for the application.If Mi Fitness does not have access to geodata or notifications, synchronization will fail.
- π Interrupt firmware updates: If you disconnect the bracelet from your phone during the upgrade, it may stop turning on (reset via charging is required).
- π¦ Moisture entering the charging socket, even in waterproof models, the contacts can oxidize if they are not dried after the pool.