How to Turn Off Xiaomi Smart Band 8: 5 Ways to Work and Hidden Features

Why Turn Off Your Fitness Bracelet and When You Really Need It

The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 fitness bracelet is designed to be around-the-clock: it tracks sleep, steps, pulse, and even stress levels. But there are situations where the device needs to be completely turned off — for example, before long-term storage, in preparation for repair, or if the bracelet starts to “glue” after a firmware update. Unlike smartphones, there is no usual power button, and the logic of energy management is hidden in the Mi Fitness interface and gestures.

It's important to understand the difference between fully shutting down and restarting. The first completely shuts down the device (the equivalent of battery extraction), the second simply restarts the system, saving the settings. Also, the Smart Band 8 has a charge saving mode that many people confuse with turning off, and we'll take all the options, including hidden features that are not mentioned in the official instructions.

Another nuance: if you plan to reset the bracelet to factory settings, turning it off before this procedure is not necessary, but it will help to avoid errors when synchronizing with the phone. But when you update the firmware through Mi Fitness, you can not turn off the device categorically - this will lead to "bricking".

Method 1: Completely switch off through the bracelet menu

This is the most reliable method that works on any version of the Smart Band 8 firmware. You don't need a smartphone, it's done on the bracelet screen.

1. Wake up the bracelet screen by touching it or pressing a physical button.
2. Scroll down to the Settings section (cog icon).
3. Select the System item → Turn it off.
4. Confirm the action by touching the tick.

The bracelet vibrates and goes off, which is a signal that it is completely off-grid. To turn it on again, plug it into the charger or press the physical button for 5-7 seconds.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet does not respond to touch after pressing Turn it off, do not panic. Wait for vibrations - the device can "hang" for 10-15 seconds before turning off.

Method 2: Forced button shutdown (emergency method)

If the bracelet screen is not responding and the reboot is not helping, you can use a hardware button, which works even when the system freezes, but has risks:

• 🔋 The file system may be damaged if the shutdown occurs during data recording (e.g., when synchronized with a phone).
• ⚡ The bracelet can turn on itself in a few hours due to low charge (emergency activation function in firmware).
• 📱 After such a disconnect, you may need to re-attach to the phone via Mi Fitness.

Instructions:

1. Press the physical button on the bracelet body.
2. Hold it for 10-12 seconds until you feel a double vibration.
3. Release the button and the screen goes out.

If the bracelet does not turn off, try to repeat the action by detaching it from the phone (turn off Bluetooth in the smartphone settings).

Method 3: Turn off via Mi Fitness app

The official Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) allows you to control the bracelet remotely, including turning it off, a method that is convenient if you don't have physical access to the device (for example, it's in another room) or the screen is damaged.

1. Open Mi Fitness on your smartphone.
2. Select your Smart Band 8 from the list of devices.
3. Go to the Device Settings → Additionally.
4. Find the item Turn off the bracelet and confirm the action.

It takes up to 20 seconds. The bracelet should vibrate and go out. If the option to turn off the bracelet is not on the menu, update the Mi Fitness app to the latest version or check your Internet connection - some features require authorization in Mi Account.

Method 4: Automatic timer shutdown (hidden function)

The Smart Band 8 firmware has a delayed shutdown option, but it's not documented in the official instructions, which is useful if you want the bracelet to turn off at night (for example, to save charge) or a certain time after charging starts, activated via the development menu:

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → System → About the device.
2. 5 times quickly tap the firmware version item - the menu for developers will open.
3. Select Auto-Switch Off and set a time (from 1 to 12 hours).
4. Confirm the setup.

Once activated, the bracelet will turn off at a set interval, even if you are using it. To cancel the timer, repeat the steps and select Cancel. Note that this feature is reset after the firmware update.

💡

If you use an automatic shutdown to save charge, combine it with the Battery Saving mode in the basic settings. This will extend the bracelet’s life to 20 days instead of the standard 16.

Method 5: Discharge to complete shutdown (extreme case)

If the bracelet is completely frozen and does not respond to either the button or the application, the only option is to discharge the battery to zero, which takes 6 to 12 hours, depending on the current charge level.

• 🔌 Do not connect the bracelet to charging during discharge – this can cause the power controller to fail.
• ⏳ You can speed up the process by turning on the maximum brightness of the screen and activating the permanent pulsemeter in the settings.
• 🔄 After full discharge, charge the bracelet to 100% before turning on – this will help calibrate the battery.

When the charge reaches 0%, the bracelet vibrates and turns off.

1. Connect it to the original charger.
2. Wait for the charging indicator (red light bulb) to appear.
3. After 10-15 minutes, press the button to turn on.

⚠️ Attention: Frequent discharge to 0% reduces the life of a lithium polymer battery. Use this method only in extreme cases when other methods do not work.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Users often encounter problems when trying to turn off Smart Band 8, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

• 📵 The bracelet does not turn off via the menu: Check if the Do Not Disturb or Training mode is active.
• 🔄 When you turn off the bracelet, it immediately turns on: This is because of the Quick Start function. Turn it off in Settings. → System system → Quick launch.
• 🔋 Forced button shutdown doesn't work: Maybe the button is contaminated or damaged. Try cleaning it with an alcohol wipe.
• 📱 Mi Fitness doesn't see the bracelet after shutting down: Reboot Bluetooth on your phone or reinstall the app.

If the bracelet after turning off stopped synchronizing with the phone, reset the connection:

1. In Mi Fitness, remove the device from the list.
2. On the bracelet, reset the settings through Settings → System → Reset.
3. Re-attach the bracelet to the phone.

💡

Before any bracelet shutdown (other than emergency) synchronize data with Mi Fitness, which will prevent you from losing your daily statistics.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions