How to turn on the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 smart watch: all ways

The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 fitness bracelet remains a popular gadget even years after its release, thanks to its reliability, long run time and wide functionality. However, new users often wonder how to turn on the device if it does not respond to presses? Unlike smartphones, the Mi Band 3 does not have a traditional power button, and the activation logic depends on the state of the battery and previous settings.

In this article, we will look at all possible scenarios, from the first activation after purchase to the recovery of the bracelet after deep discharge, you will learn how to distinguish between screen freeze and full discharge, what combinations of buttons help to reboot the device, and what to do if the Mi Band 3 does not turn on even after charging, and pay special attention to the typical errors that cause users to mistakenly believe the bracelet is broken.

Preparation for first inclusion

Before you try to turn on the Xiaomi Mi Band 3, make sure that the basic conditions are met.

• 🔋 Charging the bracelet. Even if it's new, it could have run out of battery during storage. Connect the bracelet to the charger for 30 to 60 minutes.
• 📱 Install the app. It requires Mi Fit or Zepp Life to work properly. Download it from Google Play or the App Store.
• 🔄 Smartphone compatibility. Bracelet works with Android 4.4+ or iOS 9.0+. Check the OS version in the phone settings.

If the bracelet was left unused for longer than 3-6 months, its battery could go into deep discharge mode, in which case standard charging may not help - forced activation will be required (we will discuss this below).

Method 1: Standard activation after charging

The easiest way to turn on the Mi Band 3 is to wait for it to charge. Here's a step-by-step algorithm:

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger. Use the original cable or certified analogue. Contacts should fit tightly to the connector on the back of the case.
2. Wait for the charge indicator (battery icon) to appear on the screen. If the indicator does not appear within 5-10 minutes, try to clean the contacts with an alcohol wipe.
3. Charge the bracelet to 100%. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Don't interrupt the process, it can cause the power controller to fail.
4. After fully charging, press the touch button below the screen. The bracelet should vibrate and turn on.

If the screen is black, but the indicator appears when you connect to the charge, then the problem is a software failure, in which case a forced reboot will help (see the next section).

Method 2: Forced reset (hard reset)

If the Mi Band 3 doesn’t respond to taps or freezes on the logo, perform a hardware reset.This procedure is safe and does not delete user data (steps, pulse, etc.), but resets the current connection settings.

Instructions:

1. Disconnect the bracelet from the charger.
2. Find a physical button on the back of the case (it is hidden under the strap, next to the charging connector).
3. Press and hold it for 10-15 seconds until you feel the vibration.
4. Release the button. The bracelet will reset and switch on automatically.

If the button doesn’t respond, try an alternative method:

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.


2. Hold the touch button under the screen for 20-30 seconds.




3. Wait for the double vibration is a signal of a successful reset.

💡

If the bracelet does not vibrate when holding the button, check if water or dirt has hit the body. Gently wipe the device with a dry cloth and try again.

Method 3: Recovery after deep discharge

If the Mi Band 3 does not turn on and does not show a charging indicator for more than 30 minutes, its battery could completely discharge to a critical level (below 2.8V).

To “resuscitate” the bracelet, follow the following steps:

• 🔌 Connect the bracelet to charging and leave on 12–24 Use the original cable and the output adapter. 5V/1And.
• ⏱ After 6-8 hours, check if the case is heating up. If so, turn off the charger for 30 minutes, then plug it back in.
• 🔋 If the charging indicator never appeared, try to “push” the battery with a short-term connection to a power source with a voltage of 5.2-5.3V (for example, through a power bank with a fast charging function).

In 90% of cases, the bracelet is restored after prolonged charging, and if not, the problem may be a malfunction of the power controller and repairs will be required.

Connecting to a smartphone and setting up

Once the Mi Band 3 is successfully enabled, you need to link it to your smartphone, and without that, many functions (notifications, data synchronization) will not work.

Step-by-step:

1. Install the Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit) and sign up.
2. Turn on Bluetooth and geolocation (required for Android).
3. In the application, click Profile → Add device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 3.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen. When the bracelet vibrates, confirm the pairing by pressing its touch button.

If the bracelet is not on the list of available devices:

• 📵 Reboot Bluetooth on your smartphone (turn off/on in settings).
• 🔄 Reboot the Mi Band 3 (hold the touch button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Make sure there are no active phones on the phone. VPN or firewalls blocking the connection.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users experience the same problems when turning on Mi Band 3, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

⚠️ Warning: Never use adapters with an output current greater than 1A or a voltage greater than 5.3V to charge the bracelet. This can cause the battery to bloat and the device to fail.

• ❌ Using unoriginal cables, cheap analogues may not provide stable voltage, which causes the bracelet to fail to charge or to be switched on with errors.
• ❌ Interrupt charging. If you turn off the bracelet from power to full charge, the power controller can reset the settings and the device will not turn on.
• ❌ Ignoring updates. Outdated firmware often leads to freezes. Check for updates in Zepp Life every 1-2 months.

Another common problem is that the bracelet turns on, but the screen doesn't respond to touch.

• 💦 Moisture falling under the screen (even if the bracelet is waterproof, condensate can disrupt the sensor’s operation).
• 🧴 Screen contamination with creams or potassium traces.
• 🔧 Software failure after update.

In the first two cases, cleaning the screen with an alcohol napkin will help. If the problem is in the firmware, reset to the factory settings (see the next section).

💡

If the bracelet has stopped responding to touches after bathing or showering, place it in a dry warm place for 12 to 24 hours.Do not use a hair dryer or heaters - this can damage the display!

Reset to factory settings

If none of these methods work, perform a hard reset, which will remove all data from the bracelet, including:

• 📊 Statistics of steps, sleep and training.
• ⚙ Settings of alarm clocks and notifications.
• 🔒 Data pairing with a smartphone.

Resetting instructions:

1. Open the menu on the bracelet by swiping up the screen.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Reset.
3. Confirm the action by pressing the touch button, the bracelet vibrates and reboots.

If the screen does not respond to swipes, use an alternative method:

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.


2 Hold the touch button for 30 seconds until the Mi logo appears.




3. Release the button and wait for the reset to be completed (2-3 vibrations).

⚠️ Warning: Once reset, the bracelet will return to the factory firmware, if you have previously updated the software, it will have to be re-installed via Zepp Life. Don't interrupt the upgrade process, this can lead to the "bricking" of the device.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions