Users often face a situation where a new or defunct fitness tracker does not respond to clicks immediately after being removed from the box or long-term storage. Xiaomi Mi Band 5 does not have a physical on button on the case, which is puzzling for those who take up the device of this brand for the first time.
It should be understood that the device is delivered from the plant in deep energy saving mode, which is necessary to preserve the lithium polymer battery during storage and transportation. To get the gadget out of sleep, you need to perform a number of sequential actions, which we will describe in detail in this material.
Most of the time, the problem is solved by simply installing Bluetooth, but there are nuances associated with blocking regional versions. If you purchased a device designed for the Chinese market, standard methods may not work without first preparing the software on the phone. Let's go through all the steps in detail.
Primary charging before launch
The first thing you need to do is connect the tracker to the power source, and even if the lights don't light up instantly, the charging process could start. The cable has a specific design: the connector is removed from the main body and then inserted into the main body. USB-The contact areas should be closely adjacent to the back contacts of the bracelet.
⚠️ Note: If the screen does not catch fire during the first 5-10 Deep discharge takes time to "swell" the battery. 30 minute.
When connecting to the network, you should carefully examine the screen, it may appear on the zipper icon or the Mi logo. This indicates that the power controller has received energy and the system is ready for further action.
Use only certified power supplies with currents no greater than 1 Ampere. Connecting to powerful chargers from flagship fast-charging smartphones can damage the tracker's battery management circuitry. USB-Computer port or standard 5V adapter.
Visually check the cleanliness of the contact areas, which should be free of dust, pile or traces of sweat if the device has already been used, and ideal for cleaning is a dry lilaless wipe or cotton swab lightly moistened with isopropyl alcohol.
Installation and configuration of the Mi Fit application
The main management tool is the mobile application. Two main programs are relevant for Russian users: Mi Fit (now renamed Zepp Life) and Xiaomi Wear (Mi Fitness).
- 📱 Download the official app from Google Play or App Store, avoiding third-party resources.
- 🔐 Register your Mi Account by specifying the correct region of residence.
- 📶 Turn on Bluetooth and geolocation on your smartphone before you start the program.
Once installed, you need to log in. It's important to choose the right region when registering: for global versions of the bracelets, Russia or Europe is the right one, for Chinese versions, China is the right one. An error at this stage will result in the app simply not seeing the device when scanning.
In your profile settings, you can put real-life data like height, weight, age, which are critical to calorie counting and sleep phase analysis algorithms, and the accelerometer and optical pulse sensor use that data to calibrate.
If you use Android, the system may need advanced permissions. Don't ignore requests for access to notifications, contacts, and background work. Without these permissions, the tracker won't be able to display incoming calls or messages, and data synchronization will be intermittent.
The process of pairing with the telephone
To turn on the screen and activate the interface, you need to initiate a search for the device. In the application, go to the Profile section and select Add Device. The system will prompt you to select the type of gadget - click on the Mi Band 5 icon.
At this point, a pairing request (vibration and Bluetooth icon) may appear on the tracker screen. If the screen is out, touch it or shake your wrist to wake it up. Confirmation of communication occurs by clicking on the tick icon on the bracelet screen.
Sometimes the search process is delayed. In this case, try rebooting Bluetooth on your phone: turn it off and turn it back on. Also make sure that the list of Bluetooth devices on your smartphone does not contain old records of previous connections of this tracker. If you have them, delete them.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to connect the bracelet through the standard Bluetooth menu settings Android or iOS.Pairing is possible only through the interface of the application Mi Fit or Xiaomi Wear.
Successful connectivity will be marked by vibration and the appearance of the main dial over time, from now on, the device is considered on and ready to go, all further configurations of the interface, activity goals and notifications are made through the smartphone.
Solving problems with regional versions
The most common problem is the mismatch between the region of the bracelet and the account. The Chinese version of the Mi Band 5 is not defined in the application with the region “Russia”, for such devices there are two ways to solve: change the region in the application or use modified software.
The first way requires you to change the region of your Mi Account to China, and then the tracker will be determined, but the interface of the application and the language of the bracelet can become Chinese, partly by installing the Russian language package through third-party utilities, but this is a difficult path for a beginner.
The second option is to use the Notify for Mi Band app, which is a third-party tool that can bypass regional restrictions, and it allows you to reflash the Chinese version to the global version by changing the device ID (MAC-address).
| Parameter | Global version (CN/Global) | Chinese version (CN) | Modified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Type | Type | Type |
| Region of the account | Russia / Europe | China | Anybody. |
| Language | Russian (out of the box) | Chinese/English | Russian (after the patch) |
| Stability | Tall. | Tall. | Medium |
| Guarantee | Official. | Absent. | Absent. |
The flashing process requires care. MAC-Address listed on the back cover of the tracker or in the Mi Fit app (if it sees the device but doesn't let you connect) A single digit error will result in failure.
If you're not sure about your abilities, you'd better buy a global version of the device, and the global version has a sticker with multilingual information, including Russian, and the "Mi Smart Band 5" logo instead of Chinese characters.
What to do if MAC-address is not readable?
Resetting and restarting the device
If the bracelet is on but is not working properly (hangs, does not respond to touch), a forced reboot may be required. Since there is no physical button, a software method or a method of discharging is used.
In the Mi Fit app, in the device settings, find the "Sever a pair" or "Unlink" option. This will not turn off the tracker, but will break the connection. To fully reboot the system, find the Settings section (cogs) in the menu of the bracelet itself → System → Reboot. If the menu is not available due to hanging, you only have to wait for the battery to discharge.
- 🔄 Leave the bracelet uncharged for a few days until completely switched off.
- 🔋 After turning it off, put it on charge - it will turn on automatically.
- 📲 Try resetting through the application if the system is still responsive.
There is a method of "cold reboot" through the Notify for Mi Band app. There's a reboot feature in the Tools section that sends a special signal to the device, causing it to restart the operating system without completely discharging.
It's important to distinguish between reboot and factory reset. Reboot just turns off and on the device. Factory Reset deletes all data, settings and tears the pair. To perform reset via the bracelet menu: More → System → Factory Reset.
☑️ Diagnosis of a broken bracelet
Configure the main functions after inclusion
Once activated successfully, it is recommended to immediately adjust key settings for comfortable use. First of all, calibrate the brightness of the screen. Automated mode saves charge, but indoors the screen may be too bright.
Pay attention to the wrist lift settings. If the screen lights up too often or does not respond to movement, change the sensitivity in the app, and you can also set time intervals when this feature is active (for example, only during the day).
⚠️ Attention: Constant operation of the pulse sensor in mode 24/7 It significantly reduces battery life. It is recommended to set the measurement interval in the 10 or 30 minute.
Remember to set up notifications. Only select the apps that are really important (messaging, calling, SMS) and the excess notifications will vibrate and interfere, and quickly land the battery.
Android users can benefit from the music and camera management functionality, including these options in the profile menu to use the tracker as a remote shutter or remote for a music player, which turns a fitness bracelet into a full-fledged smartphone accessory.
💡
Set a third-party dial first. Standard dials get boring quickly, and the Mi Fit store has thousands of free options that change not only the picture, but also the location of the data on the screen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does Mi Band 5 not turn on after charging?
Can I use a bracelet without a phone?
How do you know if the bracelet is charging?
Does Bluetooth enabled affect the discharge of the phone?
💡
The key to activation is patience and the right region in the app, and most problems are solved by changing the country in the Mi Account profile to China or installing global firmware.