How to update the firmware on Xiaomi Mi Band 4: official and alternative methods

Xiaomi Mi Band 4

In this article, we will discuss all the official and alternative ways to update the firmware for the Mi Band 4, including manual installation via Mi Fit and Zepp Life, as well as solving typical problems. We will focus on preparing the device to avoid โ€œbrickโ€ (turning the bracelet into a โ€œbrickโ€). If your gadget has not received updates for a long time or is unstable, this instruction will help bring it back to life.

Now, let's just say, the firmware for the Mi Band 4 doesn't update via a PC, it's only through a mobile app, but there are some nuances: for example, in some regions, new versions of the software come later, and for manual updates, you'll need a firmware file from a proven source, and we'll tell you where to get it and how to install it without risking damage to the device.

It is important to note that your bracelet is made for the Chinese market (version with the Chinese version). NFC or not, but with markings "CN"), The update process may vary, as these devices often require a region change in the application profile.

1.Preparation for the update: what to do before the start

Before you start the upgrade, make sure your Mi Band 4 and smartphone are ready for the procedure.Neglecting these steps can cause crashes, data loss, or even bracelet breakdown.

First, check the battery power, which should be at least 50%, and if the bracelet runs out during the upgrade, it is almost guaranteed to cause a software failure, and also make sure that the smartphone has enough free space (at least 100 MB) and a stable Internet connection (preferably via Wi-Fi).

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Bracelet charge: โ‰ฅ50% (optimum 80%+)
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Free space on the phone: โ‰ฅ100MB
  • ๐ŸŒ Internet: stable Wi-Fi or mobile network with good signal
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Application version: Mi Fit 4.6.0+ Zepp Life 5.0+
  • ๐Ÿ“ก Bluetooth: On, bracelet connected to phone

If you're updating for the first time, back up your data in the app, and then go to your bracelet profile and find the Export or Sync option, which will save your activity history, alarm settings, and other personal information.

โš ๏ธ Note: After updating the firmware, the Mi Band 4 may reset user settings (such as screen order or dial style).Write down or take a picture of the current settings to quickly restore them later.

๐Ÿ“Š What kind of firmware do you prefer to install?
Official (via Mi) Fit/Zepp)
Custom (from third-party developers)
I'm not updating at all.
I don't know what it is.

2. Method 1: Automatically Update with Mi Fit or Zepp Life

The easiest and safest method is to use the official app. Xiaomi regularly releases updates for the Mi Band 4, but their distribution depends on the region and version of the application.

1. Open the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app (depending on which one you use).

2. Go to the Profile section โ†’ Mi Smart Band 4.

3. Scroll down and find the Firmware Update (in Zepp Life it may be called Device Update).

4. If a new version is available, click Update and confirm the action.

It takes 5 to 15 minutes. The bracelet will reboot several times -- don't turn off Bluetooth or close the app until it's done. The Progress-bar on the bracelet screen will show you how you're going.

Check the bracelet's charge (โ‰ฅ50%)

Connect the bracelet to your phone via Bluetooth

Open Mi. Fit/Zepp Life and go to the profile of the device

Find the section "Firmware Update"

Confirm installation and wait for completion-->

If the update button is inactive or missing, try the following:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Reconnect the bracelet to your phone (forget the device in Bluetooth settings and connect again).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Update the Mi app itself Fit/Zepp Life to the latest version.
  • ๐ŸŒ Change the region in your application profile to Russia or India (sometimes updates appear there earlier).
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Connect to another Wi-Fi network or use mobile internet.

โš ๏ธ Note: if the Mi Band 4 bracelet was purchased in China (version with the silk) NFC or "CN"), Automatic updates can be blocked, and you will need to manually install the firmware โ€” see next section.

Method 2: Manual firmware update (for power users)

If the automatic update doesn't work, or if you want to install a specific version of the firmware (for example, with support for additional languages), you can do it manually. This method requires more action, but gives you control over the process.

For manual updates you will need:

  • ๐Ÿ“„ Firmware file in.fw or.bin format (download at mi-band-updates.quanhuye.com or amazon-miband.ru).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Mi Fit or Zepp Life (version no lower than 4.6.0).
  • ๐Ÿ”— Stable Internet connection for file download.

Installation instructions:

  1. Download the firmware file for your model (Mi Band 4 standard or NFC). Note the version, such as 1.0.9.54 or later.
  2. Place the file in the root folder of the phoneโ€™s internal memory (not in the Download or Documents folder).
  3. Open Mi Fit, go to the bracelet profile and find the Firmware Update section.
  4. Click on the icon. โ‹ฎ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Local Update.
  5. Select the downloaded file and confirm the installation.

The manual update process is identical to the automatic one, but it may take longer. Once completed, the bracelet will reboot and you will see the new version of the software in the device information.

How to check the firmware version after updating?
To find out the current firmware version on Mi Band 4, do this: Open Mi Fit or Zepp Life. Go to the bracelet profile. Scroll down to the Device Information section. Find the firmware version bar, which will show a number like 1.0.9.54. If the version hasn't changed after the upgrade, try reconnecting the bracelet or repeating the procedure.

Firmware versionMajor changesRelease date
1.0.9.54Synchronization errors fixed, Ukrainian language addedMarch 2023
1.0.8.48Improved pedometer accuracy, optimized energy consumptionNovember 2022
1.0.7.36Added support for new dials, corrected bugs with notificationsJuly 2022
1.0.6.28Optimized work with Zepp Life, fixed connection errorsApril 2022

If the bracelet is not working correctly after manual updating (for example, data is not synchronized or communication is lost), try resetting it to factory settings.

  1. In the app, go to Profile โ†’ Mi Band 4 โ†’ Untie the device.
  2. On the bracelet itself, reset: press the touch button for 10 seconds until vibration appears.
  3. Reconnect the bracelet and repeat the update.

4. Solving Common Update Errors

Even when following the instructions, users often encounter problems, and let's look at the most common mistakes and how to fix them.

Error 1: "I couldn't connect to the bracelet"

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Reset the bracelet (press the button for 5 seconds before vibration).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Turn Bluetooth on/off on your phone.
  • ๐Ÿšซ Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugate devices in the phone settings and connect again.
  • ๐Ÿ”ง In Mi Fit go to Profile โ†’ Mi Band 4 โ†’ Untie the device and repeat the bundle.

Error 2: โ€œUpdate is 0% or 100%โ€

If the progress bar does not move for more than 20 minutes:

  1. Close the Mi app. Fit/Zepp Life through Task Manager.
  2. Reboot your phone and bracelet.
  3. Repeat the update attempt.
  4. If it doesnโ€™t work, download the firmware manually (see Method 2) and install it locally.

Error 3: After updating, the bracelet does not turn on or sync

This may indicate firmware incompatibility (for example, if you installed a version for Mi Band 4). NFC The conventional model. Solutions:

  • ๐Ÿ”™ Reverse to the previous firmware version (download the old version and install it manually).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Reset the bracelet to factory settings (see the instructions in the previous section).
  • ๐Ÿ“ž Contact Xiaomi with the bracelet model and firmware version.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the bracelet starts to run out quickly after the upgrade, try calibrating the battery: completely discharge it before turning it off, then charge it to 100% without interruptions.

โš ๏ธ Note: If the Mi Band 4 has stopped responding to charging after a failed update (the indicator does not burn, there is no vibration), this may indicate a hardware failure. Self-recovery efforts can exacerbate the problem.

5. Alternative firmware: should you install custom versions?

In addition to the official firmware from Xiaomi, there are custom (custom) builds that add new features, for example:

  • ๐ŸŒ Support for additional languages (including rare ones).
  • ๐ŸŽจ New dials and animations.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Optimization of energy consumption.
  • ๐Ÿ”” Advanced notification settings.

However, custom firmware has serious disadvantages:

  • โš ๏ธ Risk of "bricking" of the bracelet (complete loss of performance).
  • ๐Ÿšซ Loss of warranty (if the device is still warranty).
  • ๐Ÿ› Possible bugs and unstable operation of sensors.
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Problems with data synchronization in Mi Fit/Zepp Life.

If you still decide to try custom firmware, follow these rules:

  1. Use only verified sources (e.g. forum) 4PDA or XDA Developers).
  2. Download firmware only for your model (Mi Band 4 standard or NFC).
  3. Make a backup copy of the official firmware (if possible).
  4. Use special firmware utilities like Mi Band 4 Tools (available on GitHub).

๐Ÿ’ก

Installation of custom firmware deprives you of official support Xiaomi. In case of failure, you can restore the bracelet only through the service center (for a fee).

Example of popular custom firmware for Mi Band 4:

Name of firmwareFeaturesReference to source
Mi Band 4 Custom Firmware by AlexSupport 20+ languages, new dials, battery optimization4PDA
N&F Mi Band 4 ModAdvanced notifications, modified animations, support NFCXDA
Mi Band 4 Lite FirmwareSimplified firmware with a minimum set of functions to save chargeGitHub

6. How to roll back firmware to the previous version

If the Mi Band 4 gets worse after the update (e.g., it discharges quickly, doesnโ€™t sync data or the sensor gets bugged), you can return the previous firmware version.

Step-by-step:

  1. Download the desired firmware version (e.g., 1.0.8.48) from a reliable source (see manual update section).
  2. Place the file in the root folder of the phone.
  3. Open Mi Fit, go to the bracelet profile and select Local Update.
  4. Select the downloaded file and confirm the installation.
  5. Wait until the process is complete (the bracelet will reboot several times).

If the application does not allow you to roll back, try the following methods:

  • ๐Ÿ”ง Reset the bracelet to factory settings before rollback.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Use another app (for example, if you upgraded through Zepp Life, try Mi Fit).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Rename the firmware file to mi_band_4.fw (Sometimes it helps to get around the restrictions).

โš ๏ธ Attention: rollback to older version 1.0.7.36 This can lead to synchronization problems in new versions of Mi applications. Fit/Zepp In this case, you will need to use the old version of the application (for example, Mi Fit). 4.5.0).

7. Frequent questions after update

Even if the update is successful, users often have questions about how to continue working with the bracelet.

Question 1: Why did some of the features disappear after the update?

Some firmware shuts down rarely used functions (such as sleep control or inactivity reminders) to save energy.

  1. Open Mi Fit. โ†’ Profile โ†’ Mi Band 4 โ†’ Notification settings.
  2. Check if the necessary options are included.
  3. If the feature is not in the list, update the application or roll back to the previous firmware.

Question 2: The bracelet is running out faster. What do you do?

After the firmware update, the power consumption may increase due to the new background processes.

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Disable unnecessary notifications (e.g. from social media).
  • ๐ŸŒ™ Reduce the brightness of the screen in the bracelet settings.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Calibrate the battery (discharge to 0%, then charge to 100%).
  • ๐Ÿ“ด Install firmware with optimized power consumption (for example, Mi Band 4 Lite Firmware).

Question 3: How do you check if the update is successful?

To make sure the firmware has been updated:

  1. Open Mi Fit. โ†’ Profile โ†’ Mi Band 4 โ†’ Device information.
  2. Find the firmware version line โ€“ it must match the number of the installed version.
  3. Check the operation of the main functions: pedometer, pulsemeter, notifications.
Can I upgrade Mi Band 4 without a smartphone (via PC)?
No, Xiaomi doesnโ€™t officially provide any way to update the firmware via your computer, all updates are installed only through Mi Fit or Zepp Life mobile apps, but there are some informal utilities (such as Mi Band 4 Tools) that allow you to flash the bracelet through your PC, but this is risky and can lead to a loss of warranty.
What if the bracelet shows a Disconnected error after the update?
This error usually occurs due to a synchronization failure.Try: Reset the bracelet (press the button for 5 seconds).In the Mi Fit app, go to Profile โ†’ Mi Band 4 โ†’ Untie the device, then reconnect. Remove the bracelet from the list of Bluetooth devices on the phone and re-pair. If it doesn't work, reset the bracelet to factory settings (press the button 10 seconds before vibration).
How often do you get updates for Mi Band 4?
Xiaomi releases updates for the Mi Band 4 approximately 1-2 times a year. The last significant updates were released in 2022-2023, but they are more technical in nature (bug fix, optimization). There are no new features in the latest firmware versions - the main changes were in 2020-2021 (addition of languages, new faces). If your bracelet is stable, you do not need to update "for the sake of updating." But if there are problems with synchronization or autonomy, installing the latest version can help.
Can I use Mi Band 4 to flash the firmware from Mi Band 5?
Absolutely not! The firmware for different bracelet models is incompatible. If you install the firmware from Mi Band 5 on Mi Band 4, you will break the device ("brick"), and you will only be able to restore it through the service center with special equipment.
Where to download the official firmware for Mi Band 4?
Official firmware can be downloaded from the following verified sources: mi-band-updates.quanhuye.com - firmware archive for all versions of Mi Band. amazon-miband.ru - Russian-language resource with instructions. 4PDA โ€” Don't download firmware from dubious sites, because they may contain viruses or incorrect files that will damage the bracelet.