The 2016 Xiaomi Mi Band 2 fitness bracelet is still popular with users due to its simplicity, reliability and budget price, but many owners are faced with the problem that the screen is too dim in sunny weather or blinds their eyes at night. Unlike modern models with automatic adjustment, brightness is manually adjusted – and it is not always clear how to do it correctly.
In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to change the brightness on the Mi Band 2, including settings through the official Mi Fit application, combinations of buttons on the bracelet itself, as well as alternative methods for cases where standard options do not work. Particular attention will be paid to battery saving - because the wrong level of lighting can reduce battery life from 20 to 5 days, you will also learn how to reset to factory settings if the screen has stopped responding to changes, and what errors users most often make when adjusting.
Why the brightness on the Mi Band 2 is important to adjust correctly
Xiaomi Mi Band 2 screen is equipped with OLED-It's a three-stage panel that's fine-tuned (low, medium, high) and it's a complex one, but it's not just the comfort of the user that's important:
- 🔋 At maximum brightness, the bracelet discharges 2-3 times faster, especially if you often check time or notifications.
- ☀️ Visibility in the sun: At the minimum level of backlight, the screen becomes almost unreadable in bright light.
- 🌙 Comfort at night. A display that's too bright can interfere with sleep if you wake up and decide to check the time.
- 🛠️ Screen wear and tear. OLED-matrixes lose brightness over time, and constant work at maximum will accelerate this process.
In addition, incorrect settings often cause false alarms of the backlight sensor, such as the bracelet can spontaneously turn on the screen in your pocket or bag, which leads to unnecessary charge consumption, and in the following sections we will show how to avoid these problems.
Method 1: Change the brightness through the Mi Fit app
The most reliable and obvious method is to use the official Mi Fit app (available for Android and iOS), but there are nuances: in new versions of the program, the bracelet settings menu may differ from the old instructions on the Internet.
- Open the Mi Fit app and make sure the bracelet is connected to your phone (the device icon must be active).
- Go to the Profile section → Mi Smart Band 2 (or Devices) → Your bracelet in new versions).
- Select the Settings screen or Display (depending on the version of the application).
- Find the slider or switch Screen Brightness. In Mi Band 2, there are 3 fixed levels available: Low, Medium, High.
- Choose the right option and synchronize the settings with the bracelet (usually synchronization is automatic).
If the screen brightness is not in the menu, check:
- 📱 Mi Fit version (upgrade to the latest in Google Play or App Store).
- 🔄 Bracelet connection status (sometimes helps reconnection).
- 🛠️ Account Region (in some countries, functionality may be limited).
Update the app to the latest version|
Make sure the bracelet is charged at least 20 times%|
Turn on Bluetooth on your phone |
Check that Mi Band 2 is connected to your account-->
⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet doesn't respond after changing the brightness in the app, try rebooting it. to do so, disconnect the Mi Band 2 from the phone in Bluetooth settings, then press and hold the button on the bracelet for 10 seconds until you feel the vibration. After restarting, repeat the synchronization.
Method 2: adjusting the brightness of the buttons on the bracelet
Many users don't know that the brightness on the Mi Band 2 can be changed directly from the device itself, without the phone, a method that is useful if you don't have access to the app or have connection problems.
- Wake up the bracelet screen by pressing the touch button under the display.
- Swipe the menu up/down until you find the icon. ⚙️ Settings (cogs).
- Select Brightness (Sun Icon or Lightbulb).
- Click on the button to cycle between levels: Low → Medium → High.
- Confirm your choice by waiting for the vibration or automatic return to the main menu.
If the Settings menu is not displayed, this may mean:
- 🔄 The bracelet is not synced to the phone (at least one successful connection is required to activate all functions).
- 🛠️ The device is in power saving mode (check in Mi Fit Battery item).
- 📱 The bracelet firmware is outdated (update through the app).
💡
If the Mi Band 2 screen is too dim even at maximum brightness, try to clean the display of fat and dust with a soft wipe. Sometimes the pollution creates a "matten" effect, which makes it seem that the backlight is weak.
Resetting brightness settings to factory
If the brightness is still unchanged or unpredictably lowered after all the manipulations (e.g., spontaneously), you may need to reset the bracelet to factory settings, which is also useful if you bought a used device and want to return all the parameters to their original state.
To reset, follow the following steps:
- Open the Mi Fit app and go to bracelet settings.
- Find Reset before factory settings (usually in the Additional or Device Management section).
- Confirm the action. The bracelet will reset and all settings (including brightness) will return to default values.
Alternatively (if the phone is not available):
- Disconnect the bracelet from your phone in Bluetooth settings.
- Press and hold the button on the Mi Band 2 for 15-20 seconds until the vibration and the Mi logo appear.
- After restarting, reconnect the bracelet via Mi Fit.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness does not change through the app | An outdated version of the Mi Fit | Update the app in the store |
| The screen is too dim even at maximum. | Display contamination or matrix wear | Clean the screen; if it doesn’t help, contact the service |
| The bracelet itself reduces the brightness | Power saving mode activated | Turn it off in Settings → Battery |
| No "Brightness" item on the bracelet menu | Initial adjustments have not been completed | Synchronize your bracelet with your phone at least once. |
⚠️ Warning: Resetting to factory settings will remove all data from the bracelet, including steps, sleep and alarms. Before the procedure, sync the data with the application so you do not lose your activity history.
Alternatives: If nothing helps
In rare cases, standard brightness adjustment methods fail, and this may be due to software failures, firmware damage, or hardware malfunctions.
1. Update of bracelet firmware
Outdated software often causes backlit glitches to update the firmware:
- Open Mi Fit and go to bracelet settings.
- Find the Firmware Update (may be called Software Update).
- If a new version is available, follow the instructions on the screen. Do not disconnect the bracelet from the phone during the upgrade - this can lead to "bricking" of the device.
2. Use of third-party applications
If the official software doesn't allow you to change the brightness, try alternative utilities like Notify & Fitness for Mi Band or Mi Bandage. They often offer advanced settings that are not available in Mi Fit.
- 🛡️ These applications require additional permissions (e.g., access to notifications).
- 🔄 They may conflict with official software, so disable Mi Fit before use.
What to do if the bracelet has stopped responding to the pressing?
3. Checking of hardware faults
If the screen remains dark at any brightness level or the backlight flickers, this may indicate:
- 🔌 Problems with battery contacts (for example, after falling or getting moisture).
- 💡 Malfunction OLED-Matrixes (characteristic of bracelets older than 3-4 years).
- 🔧 Oxidation of connectors (often found after sweating or bathing with a bracelet).
In such cases, self-repair rarely helps – it is better to contact the service center. The average cost of replacing the screen for the Mi Band 2 is 800-1500 rubles (2026).
💡
If the bracelet stopped responding to brightness settings after updating the firmware, try rolling back the software to the previous version through the Mi Fit application (if the downgrade option is available).
How to extend the life of the screen: tips for operation
So OLED-Mi Band 2 display lasted longer, follow these guidelines:
- 🌡️ Avoid overheating the bracelet (do not leave it in direct sunlight or near heat sources).
- 💧 Do not bathe or wash your hands with an bracelet unless it has official protection. IP67 (Mi Band 2 has limited water resistance – it can only withstand splashes).
- 🔋 Try not to discharge the battery "to zero" - this negatively affects the power controller, which is also responsible for backlighting.
- 🧼 Regularly clean the screen with a soft lilaless napkin dipped in an alcohol solution (do not use abrasive materials!).
It’s also worth turning off unnecessary features that make the screen turn on without the need to:
- 🔔 Vibration at notifications (unless they are critical).
- 🕒 Raise your hand to activate the screen (Rise to wake up in Mi Fit).
- 📊 Constant display of time (if it is in your firmware).
These measures will help not only save charge, but also reduce the wear of the backlight, prolonging the life of the bracelet for several years.
Frequent errors in brightness settings
Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that lead to screen problems, and here are the most common ones:
- Ignoring updates: Many people turn off automatic firmware updates to “waste no traffic,” but this can lead to backlit bugs, the latest stable version of the Mi Band 2 software is 1.0.6.12 (released in 2019).
- Use of informal firmware: Custom firmware (such as Amazfit) may offer more brightness levels, but often break standard features.
- Frequent change of lighting levels. OLED-The constant switching between minimum and maximum brightness accelerates their degradation.
- Brightness adjustment when the battery is discharged: If the charge is below 10%, the bracelet may not retain the changes or reset them after rebooting.
Another common problem is the confusion between screen brightness and backlight time, which regulates how many seconds the screen stays on after pressing (default 5 seconds). If you think the display goes out too quickly, check this setting in Settings → Display → Backlight time.