How to turn on Xiaomi Smart Band 10: 5 ways to activate + problem solving

Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is one of the most popular fitness trackers of 2026, but even with such a simple device, users have questions: how to turn it on correctly, what to do if the screen does not respond, and why the bracelet does not sync with the smartphone.

Unlike previous models (Mi Band 7 or Smart Band 8), the tenth version has an updated interface, a more sensitive touch screen and a modified logic of inclusion. For example, now for the first activation, you must connect to the Mi Fitness application – without this, the bracelet will not go out of sleep mode. We will look at all official and alternative methods, as well as typical errors that prevent users from starting to work with the device.

If you have just unpacked the bracelet or it has been lying unused for a long time, do not panic: in 90% of cases, the problem is solved in 2-3 simple steps.

1. Standard way of turning on: button + charging

The most obvious method is to use a physical button on the bracelet body. In Xiaomi Smart Band 10, it is located on the bottom of the device (under the display) and performs several functions at once: turn on, turn off, return to the menu. Here is how to use it correctly:

1. Connect the bracelet to charge. Even if the battery is not completely discharged, the device will be in standby mode for the first 10-15 seconds after connecting to the cable. This is normal, as the Smart Band 10 checks for current.
2. Press the button for 5-7 seconds. The download animation (the Xiaomi logo or progress indicator) should appear on the screen. If nothing happens, try holding the button for 10-12 seconds.
3. Wait for the vibration. One short signal means successful switching on, two long signals means an error (e.g. low battery power).

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet doesn't respond to the button, don't try to press it repeatedly in a row. This can cause the sensor to fail:

• 🔌 Is the charging cable connected correctly (magnetic contacts should fit tightly).
• 🔋 Battery level (if the screen flashes red, charge at least 10-15 minutes).
• 📱 Smartphone compatibility (bracelet only works with Android 6.0)+ or iOS 12+).

Is the charging cable connected to the power source (USB 5V/1A)|

Is the bracelet charged (the indicator on the screen should flash)|

Press the button for 5+ seconds |

Is the Mi Fitness app installed on your smartphone?-->

If the bracelet never turned on after this, move on to the next method, perhaps the problem lies in a software failure or incorrect firmware.

2. Activation through the Mi Fitness app

Xiaomi Smart Band 10 has a protection against accidental switching on: without a smartphone binding, the bracelet will not go out of factory mode. This is done for the security of user data. So if you are trying to turn on the device for the first time, you can not do without the Mi Fitness application (formerly Zepp Life).

Download the application from official sources:

• 🤖 Google Play for Android
• 🍎 App Store for iOS

Follow the instructions:

1. Open Mi Fitness and sign up (or sign in to Xiaomi account).
2. Click Profile → Add Device → Bracelet → Smart Band 10.
3. Allow the application to access Bluetooth, Notifications, and Geolocation (without this, sync will not end).
4. Bring the bracelet to the phone at a distance of less than 10 cm and wait for an automatic connection.

⚠️ Note: If the app doesn't see the bracelet, try it:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your smartphone (turn off / turn on in the settings).
• 📱 Remove the Mi Fitness app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Memory. → Clear the cache).
• 🔋 Charge the bracelet to a minimum of 20% (with a low charge, the Smart Band 10 does not appear in the list of available devices).

Through the button on the bracelet |

Through the Mi Fitness| app

I had to reset my settings.|

Another way.|

3. Reset to factory settings (if the bracelet is not turned on)

If the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 doesn’t respond to either the button or the connection to the app, there may have been a software freeze, in which case hard reset will help, which erases all data from the bracelet, including settings and statistics, but returns it to a working state.

Resetting instructions:

1. Connect the bracelet to charge and wait for the charge indicator to appear (even if it flashes red).
2. Press the physical button for 15-20 seconds until you feel three vibrational signals in a row.
3. Release the button. The screen should show the words "Reset" or the logo of Xiaomi with a progress bar.
4. After restarting (about 30 to 60 seconds), try turning on the bracelet in the standard way.

⚠️ Note: Resetting will not help if a problem in the hardware (for example, a board or battery is damaged).In this case, contact the service center. Also do not reset more than 1 time per hour - this can damage the memory of the device.

After a successful reset, the bracelet will be like a new one – it must be tied back to the Mi Fitness app (see Section 2).

4. Checking of charging and battery

One of the most common reasons why the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 doesn't turn on is power issues. Even if you plug the bracelet into charging, it doesn't guarantee that the battery is charging. Here's how to diagnose a problem:

🔋 Useful tip: If the bracelet was long without use, the battery could go into "deep discharge." In this case, standard charging will not help - you will need to supply increased current (for example, through a power bank with an output). 2A). Connect the bracelet for 1-2 hours, then try to turn on.

Also check:

• 🔌 Whether you use the original cable (non-original cables often don't provide the required voltage).
• 📊 The Mi Fitness app shows whether the charge level is displayed (if so, the problem is in the power button).
• 🔋 Is the battery swelling (if the body of the bracelet is deformed, do not try to charge it!).

5. firmware update (if the bracelet is turned on, but does not work correctly)

Sometimes the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 turns on, but it's weird, like it spontaneously shuts down, doesn't sync with the phone, or shows bugs, and 80 percent of the time, it's solved by updating the firmware. Here's how to do it:

1. Make sure the bracelet is 50%+ charged and connected to the Mi Fitness.
2. Open the application section Profile → Smart Band 10 → Update firmware.
3. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off Bluetooth!).
4. After the upgrade, the bracelet will reboot automatically.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the upgrade process – this can lead to the bracelet “bricking” (complete loss of functionality).If the firmware is stuck during the boot phase, wait 10 minutes, then reset (section 3).

If there is no update button in the app, check:

• 🌐 Internet connection (updates are downloaded via Mi Fitness).
• 📱 App version (update it to Google Play or App Store).
• 📅 Account region (some firmware first comes out in China, then in Europe).

💡

Updating the firmware is a must if the bracelet is buggy after purchase. the manufacturer regularly releases patches to fix bugs, especially in the first months after the release of the model.

6. Alternative ways of inclusion (for experienced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can try less obvious options, and these are very careful and only work if you're confident in what you're doing.

Method 1: Connecting to another smartphone

Sometimes the bracelet doesn't turn on because of a conflict with the phone's firmware. Try connecting it to another device (preferably on Android, since there may be restrictions on iOS). If the bracelet is working, the problem is with the settings of your main smartphone.

Method 2: Using the Developer Mode

Mi Fitness has hidden settings for testing, to activate them:

1. Open the application and go to the Profile → About the program.
2. Click 5 times on the app version until the "Developer Mode is enabled" notification appears.
3. Return to the main menu and select Settings → Developer Mode → Reboot the device.

Method 3: Hardware diagnostics

If the bracelet does not respond to anything, check:

• 🔍 Screen plume integrity (when falling, contact could move away).
• 🔋 Battery voltage (using a multimeter if you have experience).
• 📡 Bluetooth antenna operation (please hold the bracelet to another device – should be defined as "MI Band 10").

⚠️ Warning: Disassembling the bracelet is not warranty.If you are not sure about your skills, contact the Xiaomi service center.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Many of the issues with the inclusion of Xiaomi Smart Band 10 are due to unobvious user errors.

💡 Useful tip: If you buy a used bracelet, make sure to reset before using (Section 3).The previous owner could have linked the device to his account, and without a reset you will not be able to activate it.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions