Owners of popular fitness trackers from the Chinese corporation periodically face situations when the device ceases to respond correctly to commands or refuses to synchronize with a smartphone. Mi Bend 3, despite its reliability and popularity, is not immune to software failures that can occur after updating the firmware or due to conflicts in the operation of the Bluetooth module. It is in such cases that the user needs to perform a full reset to return the gadget to factory settings and performance.
Memory cleanup and return to baseline may be required not only in case of critical errors, but also when transferring the device to another owner or before sending it to a service center. It is important to understand that Hard Reset will completely delete all accumulated data about training and steps that were not synchronized with the cloud storage.
There are several proven methods of rebooting the tracker software, each with its own features and application scenarios. In some situations, a simple software reboot through the menu is enough, in others, you will need to force the power out. Below we will look in detail at all the available methods so that you can choose the most suitable for your case.
Preparation for the resetting procedure
Before you start taking active steps to restore the device, you need to perform a number of preparatory operations, which minimize the risk of data loss and prevent possible errors in the reset process. First of all, open the Mi Fit application on your smartphone and check the sync status.
Make sure that all your activity, heart rate and sleep data have been successfully transmitted to the server in the last few days. If you see an arrow cloud icon or a desynchronization warning, wait until the process is complete. It is also worth checking the battery level of the tracker: to conduct a safe reset, the charge must be at least 20-30%.
☑️ Checklist before reset
Another important step is to disable the device search function if it is active and break the current connection through Bluetooth settings on Android or iOS.This will avoid conflicts when the phone will try to automatically reconnect to the tracker at the time of its reboot.
The method of software reboot through the menu
The safest and most commonly used way to bring the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 back to life is to use the built-in functionality of the device itself.This method is suitable for situations where the touch screen responds to touch, and you can freely navigate the interface. First, unlock the tracker screen if the pin is installed, and scroll through the menu to the end to the right or left until you find the item "More".
Within this section, you need to find the System option or gear icon, depending on the version of the firmware installed. Clicking on this element will give you access to the system settings where the reboot button is located. In some versions, the path may look like More → System → Reboot, in others it will just look like Settings → Reboot.
⚠️ Warning: After pressing the reboot button, the tracker screen will go out, and the device will go into a deep sleep on the tracker. 10-15 Don't try to activate the screen or connect the bracelet to charge at this point, let the system complete the shutdown and turn on cycle by itself.
The advantage of this method is to save all user settings, such as the selected dial, steps and notifications. What happens is only the cleaning of RAM and restarting system processes, which often eliminates small glitches and interface lags. If the problem persists after the reboot, a more radical approach will be required.
Forced discharge through charger
If the touch screen is unresponsive or the menu is not available, the only option is to use a charger, a method often referred to as "hardware reset," although technically it is a forced power reset that initiates a controller reboot, and you'll need an original charging cable or a quality equivalent to it.
Connect. USB-The charging connector to the power source (phone adapter or computer port). Then carefully remove the tracker capsule from the silicone strap and set it in the charging pins. Make sure the contacts fit tightly together, and the lightning icon or charge indicator appears on the screen.
When power is on, some firmware versions automatically initiate a system reboot. If that doesn't happen, try holding the touch button (if it responds) when you set it up to charge, often causing the controller to step out of deep sleep or freeze.
| Action. | Device response | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Connecting to charging | The appearance of the battery icon | Start of charging or resetting |
| Disconnection from charging | The screen goes out in 5 seconds. | Return to standby |
| Retaining the sensor when charging | Vibration and logo | Forced restart of the system |
It is worth noting that this method does not delete user data, but only restarts the hardware. If the tracker was blocked by a software error, contact with the charger often acts as an external interrupt that resets the unit. Once the Mi logo appears, you can remove the bracelet from the charger and check its operation.
Unlock and delete data through the Mi Fit application
Often the problem lies not in the bracelet itself, but in the profile of the device stored in the smartphone, in which case you need to reset the communication and delete the profile through the Mi Fit application, this action will break pairing and clear the data cache associated with a specific tracker on the phone.
Open the app, go to the user profile and select your Mi Band 3 from the list of devices. In the control menu that opens, find the Unbind or Unbind button. Confirm the action, after which the bracelet will return to the search mode for a new phone, and all data on the phone associated with this device will be deleted.
- 📱 Open Mi Fit and go to profile.
- 🔗 Click on the name of your bracelet.
- 🗑️ Select the Unbind option at the bottom of the screen.
- 🔄 Confirm the deletion and wait for the device to disappear from the list.
Once you do this, the tracker will go into a standby mode, which is equivalent to a factory reset in terms of sync settings, but the steps and activity data already transferred to the cloud will remain in your account, and you will need to pair it again to reuse it, as with a new device.
What happens to the data when you uncouple?
Reset Bluetooth connection in the smartphone system
Sometimes the source of the problem lies in the smartphone operating system, where errors in the Bluetooth stack may have accumulated, in which case a complete cleanup of the list of conjugated devices in the Android or iOS settings helps. This action does not affect the data inside the Mi Fit application, but breaks the low-level connection.
Go to the phone settings, Bluetooth section, search Mi Band 3 list and click "Forget device" or "Unpair." After that, it is recommended to completely turn off Bluetooth on the phone, wait 10 seconds and turn it on again, this will clear the clipboard of the wireless module.
In parallel, you can clear the cache of the Mi Fit app itself. Go to Settings → Apps → Mi Fit → Memory → Clear the cache on Android. iOS will require removing and re-installing the application, which is a more radical but effective method.
⚠️ Warning: Clearing the app data (not just the cache, but the data) will result in the complete deletion of all activity history on the phone. Make sure the latest sync is successful before using the Clear Data feature in Android settings.
What to do if the bracelet does not respond
In rare cases, the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 can go into a state where the screen does not light up, there is no vibration, and the device does not respond to the installation in the charger. This state is often called "bricking", although most often it is a deep freeze of the power controller.
The first step in this situation is to try to rock the battery, leave the tracker on the charger for at least 30-40 minutes, even if the screen is black. Sometimes the charge controller blocks the screen from turning on at a deep discharge, but the current in the battery continues to flow.
If you don't have a reaction after a long charge, try the multiple-connection method. Fast and rhythmically install and remove the bracelet from charging 10-15 times in a row, which creates voltage surges that can take the microcontroller out of its stupor state and start the bootloader.
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If the bracelet screen shows the Mi logo and immediately goes out, try pressing the touch button quickly at that moment, which can interrupt the boot cycle and bring the device into recovery or normal on mode.
In the case where none of the software methods works, there is a possibility of a hardware malfunction of the battery or controller, in which case self-repair is difficult due to the monolithic construction of the housing, and the only way out is to contact the service center or replace the device.