Xiaomi’s new fitness tracker is always a joy to have the latest technology, but the first launch often raises questions among users. Many Mi Band 5 owners are faced with the fact that the device does not respond to presses or display battery power immediately after being removed from the box.
Turning on the gadget does not require complex manipulations or special tools, but there is a clear algorithm of actions that must be performed to successfully activate. If you just put the bracelet on your hand, it may not work, since the pulse sensor is not activated without pairing. It is important to understand that the initial setting is carried out exclusively through the smartphone, and not through the tracker itself.
In this article, we’ll go through all the steps from physical charging activation to in-app notification settings. You’ll learn why the device may not turn on right away and how to properly calibrate the pedometer. Following these instructions, you can quickly start the Mi Smart Band 5 and start tracking your activity.
Physical activation and charging of the device
The first thing to do after unpacking is to make sure that the battery has enough charge. Even if the displays on the screen don't burn, it doesn't mean that the battery could have run out of power during long storage, and to activate the tracker, you need to remove the capsule from the silicone strap and connect it to the charger.
The Mi Band 5 design involves using magnetic charging, which comes with a specific shape with two contacts that should exactly match the response parts on the underside of the tracker. If the contacts do not touch, the charging process will not begin and the screen will remain black.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to charge the bracelet without removing it from the strap. Attempts to push the charger through silicone can cause material to rupture or damage to the capsule body.
After connecting to the power source (USB-The computer port or smartphone adapter should show a picture of a battery with lightning on the screen, which is a signal that the power controller has received power and started charging the cell. If the screen does not catch fire within 30 seconds, check the density of the contacts and try to slightly shift the capsule to the left or right.
In some cases, if the bracelet has been in storage for more than a year, it may need to "rock"; leave the device on charge for 15-20 minutes, even if the screen goes out. After a while, the lithium-ion battery will gain the minimum charge necessary to turn on the display and work Bluetooth module.
Installation and configuration of the Zepp Life app
The Mi Band 5 itself does not have a full-fledged operating system that allows you to independently adjust the time or goals of activity. The whole logic of the work is tied to the smartphone through a special application. Previously, Mi Fit was used, but now the current platform is Zepp Life (formerly known as Mi Fit in some regions).
To get started, you need to download the official application from the Google Play Market or Apple App Store. Search should be conducted on the request "Zepp Life", paying attention to the developer - it must be Anhui Huami Information Technology. Installing third-party modified versions can lead to unstable work or inability to log in.
Once you install the app, you need to create an account or log in through an existing profile (Google, Facebook, WeChat, Apple ID), registration is mandatory, since all health and statistics data are linked to the cloud storage of your profile. Without authorization, access to the bracelet settings will be limited.
An important step is to provide all the necessary permissions to the application. To properly operate notifications and sleep tracking, the system needs access to geolocation, Bluetooth, contacts and background work of the application. In the phone settings, make sure that Zepp Life has removed power saving restrictions, otherwise the operating system can force the connection to close.
The process of pairing the bracelet with a smartphone
Once the app is installed and the account is created, you can move to direct pairing. Unlike a regular Bluetooth headset, connecting the Mi Band 5 through the standard Bluetooth menu in Android or iOS settings is unnecessary or even harmful. If you are already trying to connect it there, remove the device from the list and forget it.
The pairing is done exclusively within the Zepp Life interface, and go to Profile, then select Add Device, and press Bracelet, and the app will start scanning the surrounding space for compatible gadgets.
When you search the bracelet screen, you may see a vibration or a flashing Mi logo. If the tracker has not been previously tied to anything, it will automatically go into detection mode. ID.
☑️ Checklist of successful pairing
Once you select the device, the confirmation codes will appear on the smartphone screen and on the bracelet itself. You must click the tick on the tracker (dashed button) to confirm (pairing), from which point the time and date synchronization will automatically occur, and the tracker begins to transmit data.
The main functions and interface of the tracker
After successful connection, the user is able to access the full functionality of the device. The interface of the Mi Smart Band 5 is built on the basis of touch. OLED-The navigation is done by swipes: up, weather, down, notifications, left-right, dial switching.
One of the key features is health monitoring, the tracker can measure pulse, blood oxygen (SpO2) and analyze sleep phases, and to activate the measurement, you need to select the appropriate item on the menu or set up an automatic measurement in the application.
| Function | Description | Where to look. |
|---|---|---|
| Stepper | Counting steps and calories traveled | Main screen / Appendix / Appendix |
| pulsemeter | Real-time heart rate measurement | Pulse menu |
| Notifications | SMS, calls, messages from social networks | Swipe down. |
| Sport | Tracking specific activities (running, walking) | Sports menu |
| PAI | Personal activity index for the week | Main screen / Appendix / Appendix |
You can customize the way widgets are displayed, for example, if you're looking at the weather rather than the pressure, you can change the sequence of the cards through the app, which makes the interface more user-friendly and personalized to the needs of the individual.
💡
Set up Do Not Disturb Mode in the app so that the bracelet doesn't vibrate at night, which will save battery power and won't disrupt your sleep.
Customization: dials and alarm clocks
One of the favorite features of Mi Band 5 owners is the ability to change dials. The built-in gallery offers dozens of options, from strict analog watches to vivid animated images. New dials are downloaded via a smartphone's Wi-Fi connection.
To install a new design, go to the device profile in the app, select "Dial settings" and browse directory. The selected design will automatically download to the bracelet. Also available is the function of creating your own dial from the photo in the phone gallery.
The alarm clocks are set exclusively through the app. On the bracelet itself, you can only turn off the vibration or watch the time. In the Zepp Life app, you can set up up to 10 alarm clocks, set them up for the day of the week and choose the type of vibration (quiet, intense, pulsation).
⚠️ Warning: When setting alarms, keep in mind that the vibration of the bracelet may be weaker than the sound of the phone. If you are sound asleep, it is better to leave the alarm on your smartphone.
This section also sets up a sedentary reminder, which means that if you don't move for a long time, the tracker will vibrate to get up and stretch, which is a useful feature for office workers, but you can turn it off if it gets in the way.
Solution: if the bracelet is not turned on
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where even after charging the Mi Band 5 does not respond. 90% of the time the problem lies in oxidized contacts on the charging cable or tracker itself.
Another common cause is a software failure: If the bracelet is stuck on the logo or does not respond to touch, it can be rebooted. From the device menu (swipe to the right end), find the option "More" (three dots) and select "Reset" or "Reset".
What to do if the bracelet is not visible in the application?
If nothing works, the battery or the charge controller may have failed, and you should contact the service center or the seller, especially if you have a warranty, and it is extremely difficult to repair the capsule yourself because of its monolithic design.
💡
Most of the problems with inclusion are solved by careful cleaning of charging contacts and long (more than 30 minutes) charging from a powerful current source.