How to reboot Xiaomi Mi Band 3: everything from soft reboot to hard reset

Xiaomi Mi Band 3

5 proven ways to reboot

We'll take a look at not only the standard restart through the menu, but also the forced methods for brick-and-brick devices, and explain why the bracelet can freeze after a firmware update. If your Mi Band 3 has turned into a brick, don't rush to bring it into service: in most cases, the device can be brought back to life on its own.

At the end of the article, you'll find the FAQ for frequent errors (such as why step settings are reset after a reboot) and a method compatibility table for different firmware versions. And if the bracelet doesn't show any signs of life, check out our Disaster Recovery section.

1.When do I need to reboot the Mi Band 3?

The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 bracelet is powered by proprietary firmware, and like any electronic device, it is not immune to failures.

📵 Bracelet not synced with Mi Fit or Zepp Life app despite stable Bluetooth connection.
⏳ The screen hovers on the Mi logo or displays artifacts (strips, flickering).
🔋 Incorrectly shows battery power (for example, 100% immediately drops to 1%).
🚫 Does not respond to touch or button (vibration works, but menus do not open).
🔄 After the firmware update, lags appeared or functions disappeared (for example, sleep monitoring).

It's important to distinguish between a freeze and a hardware breakdown, if the bracelet doesn't vibrate, charge, or be determined by a computer as USB-device - the problem may be in the battery or the controller, in which case the reboot will not help, and you will need a diagnosis of iron.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet stops turning on after falling or getting moisture, don't try to reset it.This can aggravate the short circuit. First, dry the device in rice or silica gel for at least 24 hours.

The safest method that doesn't reset is if the bracelet screen responds to touch and the button under the screen functions.

Instructions:

On the main screen of the bracelet, swipe your finger up to open the menu.
Flick down to the Settings (cog icon) and click on it.
In the settings menu, find Reboot (usually the last item) and confirm the selection by pressing a button.
The bracelet vibrates and turns off, and in 5-10 seconds it automatically turns on again.

If Reboot is not on the menu, you have an outdated firmware version. Update it through the Mi Fit app (Device Profile → Firmware Update).

Disable the bracelet from the Mi Fit app|Make sure the battery is charged > 20%|Close all background apps on your smartphone|Check that Bluetooth is on.-->

Method 2: Forced button reboot

If the screen doesn't respond to touch, but the bracelet vibrates when you press a button, try a hard restart, which simulates battery extraction and resets temporary data in RAM.

How to do this:

Remove the bracelet from your hand and place it on a flat surface.
Press the physical button under the screen for 10 to 15 seconds, and you will feel three vibrations in a row, which is a signal that the reboot is beginning.
Release the button. The bracelet will turn off, and in a few seconds it will turn on again with the Mi logo.

If the bracelet still doesn’t work, try repeating the procedure, but hold the button for 20 to 25 seconds, which will trigger an emergency recovery mode that can help with serious firmware failures.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t confuse forced reset with factory reset (which is discussed in the next section) and if you restart hard, your data (steps, pulse, alarm settings) will be saved, but unsaved changes (such as the last 10 minutes of activity) may be reset).

Screen getting stuck|Problems with synchronization|Incorrect battery charge|Glitches after update|Other-->

Method 3: Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

If the bracelet is unstable even after a reboot (for example, constantly loses communication with the smartphone or shows incorrect data), a complete reset may be required.This procedure removes all user settings, but often solves software problems.

How to make a Hard Reset:

Open the bracelet menu by swiping up the screen.
Go to Settings → Additional → Resetting settings.
Confirm the action by pressing the button below the screen. The bracelet vibrates and reboots.

After the reset, you will have to reset:

🔄 Synchronize the bracelet with the Mi app Fit/Zepp Life.
⏰ Set up alarms and notifications.
🏃 Enter personal data (weight, height, goal by step).

If the bracelet menu is not available, reset through the application:

Open Mi Fit, go to the profile of the bracelet.
Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Untie the device.
Confirm the junction, the bracelet will automatically reset to factory settings.

What if the bracelet is not turned on after resetting?

If the screen is black after Hard Reset and there is no vibration: 1. Connect the bracelet to charge for 30 minutes (even if the indicator is not on). 2. Try a forced reboot (hold the button for 20 seconds). 3. If it does not help, there is a problem in the hardware (power controller or battery).

5. Method 4: Reboot via charger

If the bracelet is completely discharged or does not react to anything, sometimes the charging cycle helps, this method is especially relevant if the Mi Band 3 has been lying unused for a long time and the battery is deeply drained.

Step-by-step:

Connect the bracelet to the original charger (use) USB-port 5V/1A).
Leave to charge for 1-2 hours, even if the indicator does not burn.
30 minutes after charging start, hold the button for 10-15 seconds, sometimes the power controller will wake up.
If the charge indicator appears on the screen, wait for at least 10% of the charge, then perform a soft reboot (method 1).

If the bracelet shows no signs of charging (no vibration, no LED lights), check:

🔌 Cable and adapter – try another charger.
🧲 Contacts on the bracelet and charging - clean them with alcohol from oxidation.
🔋 Battery – if the bracelet is swelled or deformed, it can not be charged!

💡

If the bracelet is not charged, try connecting it to the USB-Check with Windows to see if it is defined as Mi Band 3. If so, the problem is in the firmware, if not, in the hardware.

Method 5: Emergency recovery via PC (for experienced)

If all previous methods have failed and the bracelet is identified by the computer as an unknown device, you can try hand-stitching it, which requires technical skills and is only suitable for devices with bricked firmware.

What you need:

🖥️ Windows computer 7/10/11 (on Mac/Linux may not work).
🔗 Firmware cable (usually complete with bracelet).
📁 Firmware for Mi Band 3 (download from the official Xiaomi website or forum) 4PDA).
🛠️ Utility. MiBand3Tools or flashtool.

Instructions:

Connect the bracelet to the PC via a charging cable.
Run MiBand3Tools and select the firmware file (.fw).
Press Start Flash and wait until the process is complete (the bracelet must vibrate).
Turn off the device and perform a soft reboot.

⚠️ Warning: The wrong firmware can permanently incapacitate the bracelet. If you are not sure of your actions, contact the service center. Also make sure that the downloaded firmware matches the version of your bracelet (check on the box or in the application settings).

After successful firmware bracelet will return to factory settings, and it will need to synchronize with the smartphone.

Table: Compatibility of reboot methods with problems

Problem.	Soft reset	Forced restart	Hard Reset	Recovery via PC
The bracelet is not synchronized.	✅	✅	✅	❌
The screen is stuck on the logo.	❌	✅	✅	✅
He doesn't respond to touch.	❌	✅	✅	⚠️ (if it doesn't help)
Not activated after discharge	❌	⚠️ (post-load)	❌	✅
Glitches after update	✅	✅	✅	⚠️ (if the dumping didn't help)

If your problem is not listed in the table, describe it in the comments - we will help you find a solution.

💡

Before any reboot, check the battery power. If it is below 10%, the bracelet may turn off in the process and damage the firmware.

8. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even a simple reboot can go wrong, if you don't take into account the nuances. Here are 5 common user mistakes and how to prevent them:

🔌 Restart during firmware updates – interrupting the update process through Mi Fit can “brick” the bracelet.
💦 Moisture on the contacts – if the bracelet is wet, dry it with a hair dryer (cold air) before rebooting or put it in rice for 12 hours.
🔋 Discharge during restart - if the battery goes below 5% in the process, the bracelet may not turn on. Charge it to at least 20% before any manipulation.
📱 Incompatible App – if you use unofficial versions of Mi Fit (like APKMirror), they may conflict with the firmware.Install the original app from Google Play or the App Store.
🔄 Frequent reboots – if the bracelet is buggy once a day, the problem is not the software, but the hardware (for example, the screen plume departs.

If the bracelet is unstable after rebooting (e.g., discharges quickly or does not count steps), check the firmware version in the settings. Outdated versions often conflict with new smartphones. Update the firmware through Mi Fit → Device Profile → Software Update.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

❓ Why my steps and sleep data dropped after the reboot?

In a soft reboot (method 1), the data should not be reset – it syncs with the Mi Fit application. However, if you have done Hard Reset (method 3), all unsynchronized data (in the last day) will be lost. To avoid this, open the application before reset and wait for full synchronization (the cloud icon in the bracelet profile should disappear).

❓ The bracelet vibrates, but the screen doesn't turn on?

This is a typical sign of a problem with the backlight or the plume. Try: Hold the bracelet to a bright light source - perhaps there is an image, but you can't see it because there is no backlight. Perform a forced reboot (method 2). If it doesn't work, contact the service. Self-repair can damage the screen.

❓ Can I reboot the bracelet without a button (if it breaks)?

Yes, but it's harder. Connect the bracelet to charge, and immediately after the charge indicator appears, tap the screen 10 times in a row (in some firmware, this triggers a reboot). If it doesn't work, only the firmware through the PC (mode 5) remains.

❓ After the reset, the bracelet shows the wrong time?

Time on Mi Band 3 syncs with your smartphone. If it's lost: Open Mi Fit and update the data (pull the screen down). Go to the bracelet settings and choose Sync Time. If it doesn't work, untie and reconnect the bracelet in the app. If time is lost constantly, check the date and time settings on your smartphone (automatic network sync should be enabled).

❓ How often should you restart Mi Band 3 for prevention?

Under normal conditions, the bracelet does not require regular reboots, but if you notice: Slowing down the response to touch, incorrect counting of steps, frequent breaks in communication with a smartphone, it is recommended to do a soft reboot every 1-2 weeks, this clears the cache and temporary files, improving the stability of the work.