Mi Band 5 doesn’t show the name of the caller: all the reasons and ways to fix it

You get an incoming call, your smartphone vibrates in your pocket, and the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 screen only shows the number — no contact name. It's annoying, isn't it? Especially when the bracelet was supposed to show this information by default. The problem is common to many users, and there can be several reasons for it: from banal synchronization errors to hidden Android settings.

In this article, we will not just list the possible reasons, but give step-by-step instructions with illustrations (where this is critical), analyze the nuances of working with different versions of firmware and even show how to circumvent the limitations of MIUI. Importantly, some solutions require access to hidden smartphone settings, so prepare for a little technical manipulation.

If you've tried resetting your bracelet or rebooting your phone, don't despair. 80 percent of the time, the problem is solved without a factory reset, and let's start with the simplest and gradually get to the most advanced methods.

1. Check the basic settings of contact synchronization

The first thing to do is make sure that the Mi Band 5 has access to your phone book at all, and users often skip this step, believing that since the bracelet is connected to the Mi Fit (or Zepp Life) app, all permissions are automatic. It's not.

Open the Mi Fit app and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Call notifications. The Contact Names Switch should be on here. If it's not there, your version of the app is outdated (more on this below).

• 📱 Application permissions: Go to Android settings → Annexes → Mi Fit → Permissions and make sure that Contacts and Call Log are included.
• 🔄 Contact Sync: In the same section of Call Notifications, there may be a button to Sync Contacts (in newer versions it is hidden – see next section).
• 📞 Number format: Bracelet does not recognize names if numbers are stored in a non-standard format (for example, with spaces or symbols). +7 (999) 123-45-67). Try editing the problem contact, leaving only numbers.

⚠️ Note: If you are using duality SIM-The Mi Band 5 can only show names for calls to the main card. SIM. To fix this, go to your phone settings. → SIM-map → Call by default and select the one SIM, caller.

2. Update of the bracelet firmware and the application

Mi Band 5 with firmware below version 1.0.3.54 does not support correct display of contact names in Russian due to an encoding error, which was fixed in the 2021 updates, but many users still use outdated versions of the software.

To update the firmware:

1. Open Mi Fit or Zepp Life.
2. Go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Update firmware.
3. If the upgrade is available, plug the bracelet into charging (charge should be ≥50%) and wait for the process to be completed.

Also update the Mi Fit app to the latest version via Google Play or the App Store. In the old versions (up to 4.6.0) there is no contact synchronization option for Russian users.

Synchronize data with Mi Cloud|Charge the bracelet to 60%|Connect to Wi-Fi (non-mobile data)|Don't turn off Bluetooth.-->

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If the update is 0% down, try restarting your smartphone and restarting the process, sometimes by turning off your VPN or power saving mode.

3. Hidden MIUI settings: why contacts aren't synced

On Xiaomi smartphones (especially those with MIUI 12-14 firmware) there is a hidden restriction on app access to contacts. Even if you have given all Mi Fit permissions, the system can block data transfer in the background.

To fix this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Fit.
2. Select Additional → Autostart Permissions and turn on the switch.
3. Go back and tip the battery. → No restrictions.
4. Go to Settings → Privacy → Special Access → Access to the call log and turn on Mi Fit.

If you have a Redmi or POCO with global firmware, an additional step may be required:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (Type 7 times to turn on Developer Mode)


Settings → Additional → For developers → Disable "Optimization MIUI"

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) after upgrading to MIUI 13 Mi Fit attachment loses access to contacts, in which case only a complete reinstallation of the cache-cleaning app will help.

4. Problems with cache and application data

Accumulated cache in Mi Fit or Zepp Life can cause sync failures, especially if you haven't updated your app in a long time or changed your smartphone, to clear the cache:

1. Open the Settings → Applications → Mi Fit.
2. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
3. If it doesn’t help, choose Clear Data (this will delete all bracelet settings, you will have to connect it again!).

After data clearing:

• 🔗 Reconnect the bracelet via Bluetooth.
• 📥 In the Mi Fit app, allow contact access again (a request will appear).
• 🔄 Go to Profile. → Mi Band 5 → Call notifications and manually run contact sync (button can only appear after cleaning).

5. Alternative methods: third-party applications and launchers

If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities that not only solve the problem with contact names, but also add additional features (for example, answering a call from a bracelet).

Best options:

• 📲 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band – supports all Mi Band models, allows you to manually select contacts for synchronization and fix coding errors.
• 🔧 Mi Band Master - an advanced utility with the ability to edit the firmware of the bracelet (requires root rights on some devices).
• 🌐 Tools & Mi Band – specializes in fixing bugs with notifications and contacts.

Instructions for Notify & Fitness:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Turn off notifications in the standard Mi Fit (to avoid conflicts).
3. At Notify & Fitness, go to Settings → Notifications → Calls and turn on the option to Show Contact Names.
4. Run manual synchronization in the Contacts section.

⚠️ Warning: Some third-party applications require that you disable battery optimization for Mi Fit. Otherwise, they won't be able to intercept call notifications. → Annexes → Mi Fit → Battery → No restrictions.

6. Hardware restrictions: when nothing helps

If you’ve tried all the ways, but Mi Band 5 stubbornly doesn’t show the names of the callers, the problem may be with the bracelet itself:

• 🔋 Faulty memory: In rare cases, the memory chip of the bracelet is damaged and it cannot store synchronized contacts).
• 📡 Bad Bluetooth: If the connection is constantly interrupted, the bracelet does not have time to get contact data.
• 🛠️ Fall/Bay Damage: Physical damage can disrupt the display or processor, and only a replacement will help.

To diagnose a hardware malfunction:

1. Reset the bracelet to factory settings (Settings → Reset).
2. Connect it to another phone (preferably on pure Android, not MIUI).
3. If the problem persists, contact the service center. Xiaomi does not officially fix the Mi Band, but some workshops are taking on a replacement board.

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If the bracelet stopped showing names after falling or contacting water, don't try to stitch it yourself.

7. Frequent User Errors (and How to Avoid Them)

Many of the problems with the Mi Band 5 are caused by the unobvious actions of users, and this is not something you can do if you want your contacts to be displayed correctly.

• 🚫 Turn off background activity for Mi Fit in battery settings.This interrupts synchronization.
• 🔄 Change. SIM-cards without reconnecting the bracelet. SIM has its own call log.
• 📵 Use Do Not Disturb or Energy Saving modes during calls.
• 🔧 Install custom firmware on the bracelet without a backup.

Also check:

• 📱 Android Version: On Android 11 devices+ You may need additional permission for Display over other apps for Mi Fit.
• 🌍 Mi Account Region: If your Xiaomi account is registered in China, some features may be limited. Change region to Russia in your account settings.

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If you use two phones (for example, a work phone and a personal phone), connect the bracelet to only one.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions