Buy Xiaomi Mi Band 5? Step-by-step guide to setup and use

You just got the lucky owner of the Xiaomi Mi Band 5, one of the most popular fitness bracelets on the market. But what to do next? How to connect it to a smartphone, set up notifications and use all the hidden features? In this article, we will take a detailed look at every step from unpacking to advanced features that many people do not even know about.

Don't be in a hurry to put on the bracelet! First you need to prepare it properly to avoid typical mistakes. We’ll show you how to sync Mi Band 5 with Mi Fit, set up time display, activate sleep monitoring, and even teach you how to use contactless payment (if your version supports it). NFC). And yet – we will reveal the secrets of extending the battery life and give tips for caring for the device.

Ready to turn your new gadget into a full-fledged health and productivity assistant?

1. Unpacking and primary preparation of the bracelet

Before the first switch on, carefully inspect the equipment. In the box with the Mi Band 5 should be:

• 📦 The fitness bracelet itself in a protective film
• 🔋 Charging cable with magnetic connector (without power supply!)
• 📄 Short instructions in several languages (Russian included)
• 🔄 Spare strap (in some configurations)

Take the screen and back cover off the screen, which can interfere with sensors. Notice the serial number on the back of the module (under the strap), which you will need if you want to activate the warranty or contact Xiaomi support.

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Don't throw away the box! It's all about the specifications of your model, including support. NFC (If you have one, it'll be useful when you're selling or exchanging a device.

Now charge the bracelet. Connect the magnetic cable to the USB-port (5V/1A). The screen will light up, and you'll see the charging indicator. The full cycle takes about 1.5–2 Watches, Mi Band. 5 No fast charging function – do not try to use adapters with higher power 5W, This can reduce the battery life.

2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fit application

Without the official Mi Fit app (or Zepp alternative), your bracelet becomes a regular watch.

• 📱 Android (Google Play)
• 🍎 iOS (App Store)

After installation:

1. Register or log in through your account Xiaomi/Mi Account (required!)
2. Click "Add device» → Choose "Breasure» → Mi Smart Band 5
3. Allow all requests for notifications, geolocation, and physical activity
4. Follow the instructions on the screen for pairing over Bluetooth

If the bracelet is not present, check:

• 🔄 Bluetooth is enabled on your phone and visible to other devices
• 📶 The distance between the phone and the bracelet is not more than 1 meter
• 🔋 Bracelet charged at least 20 times%
• 📱 There are no restrictions on Mi Fit settings (e.g. battery optimization)

3. Personalization of screen and interface

The Mi Band 5 supports interchangeable dials, but their installation has nuances.

1. Go to the section "Profile» → «Mi Smart Band 5»
2. Select "Dials"
3. View the available options (free and paid)
4. Click "Sync" to apply the selected dial

Please note:

• 🎨 Some dials show additional metrics (pulse, weather, steps)
• 💰 Paid dials are purchased through Mi Fit and linked to the account
• ⚡ Animated dials discharge the battery faster

To install custom dials (not from the official store) you will need:

1. Download the.bin file from trusted sources (e.g., AmazfitWatchFaces)
2. Use apps like Notify & Fitness for Mi Band or Mi Band Master
3. Sync through these apps (risk of blocking official features!)

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Official dials from Mi Fit are guaranteed to be compatible and do not disrupt the bracelet. Third-party solutions can lead to failures or loss of warranty.

4. Set up notifications and calls

By default, the Mi Band 5 vibrates when incoming calls and messages, but you can fine-tune this functionality.

1. Go to "Device Profile» → «Notifications»
2. Turn on the “Call Notifications” and “Message Notifications” switch
3. Select the applications you want to receive notifications from (WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS etc.)
4. Set up the "Do Not Disturb" mode according to the schedule

Features of the notifications:

• 📞 When an incoming call is made, the bracelet will show the name of the subscriber (if the contact is saved in the phone)
• 💬 Messages are partially displayed (up to 120 characters)
• ❌ No response to messages from the bracelet (only viewing)
• 🔕 In iOS, notification functionality is limited by Apple policies

If notifications do not arrive:

1. Reboot your phone and bracelet
2. In the phone settings, check if the system optimizes the Mi Fit (on Android: Settings» → «Annexes» → «Mi Fit» → «Battery» → «No restrictions»)
3. Turn off the power saving mode on the bracelet (in the Mi Fit settings)

5. Health monitoring: pulse, sleep, activity

Mi Band 5 can track heart rate, sleep quality, blood oxygen levels (SpO₂) But for the data to be accurate, you have to fine-tune those functions.

Setting up automatic pulse measurement:

1. In Mi Fit go to "Profile» → «Mi Smart Band 5» → «Monitoring of heart rate»
2. Select the measurement interval (every 1, 5, 10 or 30 minutes) or turn off the automatic mode.
3. Enable the “High pulse warning” option (threshold is configured)

Sleep tracking: The bracelet automatically detects sleep phases (deep, light, REM), but:

• 🛌 Wear a bracelet on a non-working arm (usually the left arm)
• 📵 Turn off notifications overnight or activate the “Do Not Disturb” mode»
• 🔋 Charge the bracelet before bedtime (if the charge is below 30%, the tracking may be interrupted)

Measurement SpO₂ (oxygenation: this function is not available in all regions:

1. In Mi Fit, select "Profile» → «Mi Smart Band 5» → «Oxygen saturation of the blood»
2. Follow the instructions on the screen for calibration
3. Measure the indicator at rest (sitting or lying down)

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For the most accurate measurement of the pulse and SpO₂ Wear a bracelet 2-3 fingers above the wrist bone and ensure that the sensor fits tightly to the skin.

Health data is synced to Mi Fit and can be exported to Google Fit or Apple Health to enable synchronization:

1. In Mi Fit go to "Profile» → «Settings» → «Synchronization of data»
2. Select the right platform and log in.
3. Set up the synchronization frequency (recommended “Automatically”)

Contactless payment (NFC) and other hidden functions

If you have a Mi Band 5, you can NFC (Check the box or settings, you can tie your bank card to pay directly from the bracelet:

1. In Mi Fit, select "Profile» → «Mi Smart Band 5» → «Contactless payments»
2. Click on Add Card and follow your bank’s instructions
3. Confirm the binding through SMS push-notification
4. After successful binding, the card can be selected for payment directly on the bracelet (swipe down on the main screen). → card-mark)

Supported banks in Russia (at the time of 2026):

• 🏦 Sberbank
• 💳 Tinkoff
• 💰 Alfa-Bank
• 💸 VTB

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You don’t need to unlock your phone to pay with the bracelet – just bring the Mi Band 5 to the terminal and confirm the action on the screen.

Other useful features that many people don’t know about:

• 🎵 Music Management: Swipe down on the main screen → You can pause/play tracks from your phone.
• 🔦 Flashlight: swipe up → flashlight icon, the screen will light up with white light (useful in the dark)
• 🏃 Exercise mode: supports 11 activities, including swimming (waterproof bracelet up to 50 meters)
• 🔋 Charge savings: in settings, you can turn off the constant screen lighting to extend autonomy

To activate the training regime:

1. On the bracelet swipe to the right to the section "Training"
2. Choose the type of activity (running, cycling, swimming, etc.)
3. Press Start – the bracelet will start tracking your pulse, distance and calories
4. At the end of the press “Finish” – the data is automatically synchronized with Mi Fit

7. Advanced settings and problem solving

If the bracelet has started to glittle or you want to return it to factory settings, reset:

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings (swipe up). → gear-plate)
2. Scroll to Reset (last on the list)
3. Confirm the action by pressing the screen
4. After restarting, re-synchronize the bracelet with Mi Fit

Frequent problems and their solutions:

To extend the battery life:

• 🔋 Turn off the constant screen lighting (in bracelet settings)
• ⏱ Set the interval of measuring the pulse no more than once every 30 minutes
• 📵 Disable notifications from unnecessary applications
• 🌙 Use dark dials (AMOLED-screen uses less energy)

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If the bracelet is not in use for a long time, store it with a charge of 40-60%. Full discharge or 100% charge for a long time shorten the battery life.

8.Bracelet care and accessories

To make the Mi Band 5 last longer, follow the following simple rules:

• 🚿 Water resistance 5 ATM allows you to swim with a bracelet, but it is not recommended to use it in hot water (bath, sauna) or under a strong stream (shower)
• 🧼 Use soft cloth soaked in soapy solution to clean. Do not use alcohol or abrasives!
• ☀️ Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight (may damage the screen)
• 🔋 Do not use unoriginal charging cables – they can damage contacts.

Official and compatible accessories:

• 🔗 Straps: silicone (included), leather, metal (check compatibility with Mi Band 5)
• 🛡 Protective glass: thin screen films (does not impair sensitivity)
• 🔋 Portable charging docks: convenient for travel

To replace the strap:

1. Turn over the bracelet and find a small latch on the back of the strap.
2. Carefully press it with a screwdriver or nail, while pulling out the strap
3. Install a new strap before you click (make sure it will wear to the point)

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When buying straps from third-party manufacturers, pay attention to the width - 18 mm wide straps are suitable for the Mi Band 5.

If the bracelet is caught in the rain or in the water:

1. Wipe it with a dry cloth
2. Do not connect to the charging immediately - let dry 1-2 hours
3. If the screen starts to glit, reset the settings.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to disassemble the bracelet module yourself - this will void the warranty and can damage water resistance.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Mi Band 5