How to properly update the firmware on the Xiaomi smart bracelet: all ways and life hacks

Xiaomi smart bracelets are among the most popular wearables on the market due to their combination of functionality and affordable price. However, many users are faced with the need to update the firmware to fix bugs, add new features or improve stability. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to update Mi Band 3-8 models, including automatic and manual methods, and also explain how to avoid typical errors.

Updating the firmware is not just a recommendation, but a necessity. With each new version, Xiaomi optimizes power consumption, adds support for new smartphones and fixes security vulnerabilities. For example, in the Mi Band 7 Pro, after the update to version 1.0.6.54, support has been introduced. AOD (Always-On Display for extra dials. But how do you know if your bracelet needs an upgrade? And most importantly, how do you do it safely?

If you've never updated your firmware yourself, don't worry: it's as automated as possible. But there are nuances that Xiaomi doesn't mention in the official instructions, like why the bracelet might freeze during the boot phase or why Google Fit syncs disappear after the update. We've gathered all the critical information in one place, from device preparation to problem solving.

1. How to check the current firmware version on the bracelet

Before you update the bracelet, you need to know which firmware is on it, which will help you understand whether your version is up to date and whether you should risk the time to update, and you can do this in two ways: through the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) or directly on the device itself.

Through the Mi Fitness app:

1. Open the app and go to the Profile → My Devices tab.
2. Choose your bracelet from the list.
3. Scroll down to the device information block - there will be a firmware version string.

For example, for the Mi Band. 6 June-perfect 2026 year version 1.0.1.84, A for the Mi Band. 8 — 1.0.3.70. If your version is older than yours 2-3 revisions, updates are required.

Straight on the bracelet:

On models Mi Band 5 and later you can find out the firmware version without a smartphone:

1. Swipe up the bracelet screen to open the menu.
2. Select Settings → About the device.
3. Find the line version of the software.

On the Mi Band. 3/4 This method doesn’t work, you’ll have to use the app.

⚠️ Note: If the Mi Fitness app displays a firmware version and the bracelet displays another, this may indicate a sync failure. In this case, be sure to reconnect the device before upgrading (forget it in your smartphone's Bluetooth settings and add it again).

Preparing the bracelet for renewal: 5 mandatory steps

Unprepared updates can lead to the bracelet becoming a brick or data loss. To avoid this, follow the following steps:

Load the bracelet to at least 50% (optimally 80%+)

Make sure your smartphone is connected to stable Wi-Fi (not mobile internet!)

Close all background apps on your phone (especially instant messengers and games)

Disable VPN or proxy – they can block Xiaomi servers

Make a backup of the data in Mi Fitness (Settings) → The device → Backup)-->

Why it matters:

• 🔋 If the bracelet runs out during the upgrade, the firmware will damage and the device will stop turning on.Mi Band 7 and newer have protection against this, but it is not worth the risk.
• 📶 Stable connection. The upgrade weighs 10 to 50 MB, and if you break the connection, you'll have to start over.
• 📱 Free smartphone resources. Mi Fitness app can "fly" on weak phones (for example, with 2 GB of RAM).

Pay special attention to the backup item. After the update, alarm settings, step targets and custom dials are sometimes reset, and it will be impossible to restore them without a backup.

Only when critical bugs appear

Every time a new version is released

Never updated.

I don't know how to do that.-->

Method 1: Automatic update via Mi Fitness

This is the easiest and most recommended method. Xiaomi tests firmware before release, so the risk of errors is minimal.

Step-by-step guidance:

1. Open Mi Fitness and connect to the bracelet.
2. Go to Profile. → My devices. → [Your bracelet] → Settings of the device → Firmware update.
3. If a new version is available, an Update button will appear. Press it.
4. Confirm the start of the process and wait until the process is completed (usually 5-15 minutes).

What happens at each stage:

If the error “I failed to connect to the server” appears during the boot stage, try:

• 🌐 Switch from mobile to Wi-Fi (or vice versa).
• ⏳ Wait 10-15 minutes and try again (Xiaomi servers are sometimes overloaded).
• 📱 Reinstall the Mi Fitness app.

💡

Automatic updates via Mi Fitness are the safest way to do so, but require a stable network connection and a sufficient bracelet charge.

4. Method 2: Manual update via firmware file

If automatic updates fail (e.g., due to regional restrictions or an outdated smartphone model), you can install firmware manually, a method that is suitable for power users, as it requires strict adherence to instructions.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS or smartphone with a file manager.
• 🔗 Firmware file in.fw or.bin format (download only from official sources!).
• 📎 Mi Band Tools (for Android) or Gadgetbridge (for Android) iOS/Android).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the current firmware for your model from the site mi-band.ru/firmware or the official portal of Xiaomi.
2. Install the Mi Band Tools app and give it access to notifications and files.
3. Connect the bracelet to the app and select Firmware Update → Select file.
4. Select the downloaded firmware file and confirm the installation.
5. Wait until the bracelet is completed (rebooted several times).

⚠️ Note: Do not use firmware from third-party developers (for example, from forums) 4PDA) No signature checks, and in 2023, there were cases of malware spreading under the guise of "custom firmware" that stole data from a connected smartphone.

Advantages of manual updating:

• ⚡ The ability to install firmware before its official release in your region.
• 🔧 Reverse to the previous version if the new one is not working properly.
• 🌍 Support for unofficial interface languages (e.g. Ukrainian or Kazakh).

Disadvantages:

• 🚨 Risk of “bricking” in case of an error in the firmware file.
• ⚠️ Loss of warranty if update causes breakdown.
• 🔄 Need to manually check the compatibility of the file with the bracelet model.

5.Typical Update Errors and How to Fix Them

Even when you update automatically, you're going to have problems, and we've collected some of the most common bugs and ways to fix them.

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

Reasons:

• 📱 On the smartphone power saving mode is enabled, blocking Bluetooth.
• 🔄 The bracelet is connected to another device (for example, a tablet).
• 🔋 Bracelet battery charge below 20%.

Decision:

1. Turn off the power saving mode in the phone settings.
2. Reboot the Bluetooth module (turn it off/on in the settings).
3. Make sure the bracelet is not connected to other devices.

Error 2: “Update loaded at 0% and not moving”

Reasons:

• 📶 Slow or unstable Internet.
• 📁 Not enough space on your smartphone to download a file.
• 🔒 Blocking with antivirus (for example, Avast or Kaspersky).

Decision:

• 🌐 Connect to another Wi-Fi network or use mobile internet with a good signal.
• 📂 Clear the cache of the Mi Fitness app in your phone settings.
• 🛡️ Temporarily disable the antivirus while you download it.

Error 3: Google Fit syncs are missing after update

This is a well-known problem for the Mi Band. 6/7 firmware-up 1.0.1.XX And above:

1. Untie the bracelet from Mi Fitness (profile) → My devices. → Remove the device).
2. Reinstall the Mi Fitness app.
3. Connect the bracelet again and allow access to Google Fit in sync settings.

💡

If after the update, the bracelet began to discharge quickly, reset its settings to the factory. → About the device → Reset (on the bracelet itself).

6. How to roll back firmware to the previous version

Sometimes newer versions of firmware are worse than older ones — for example, in the Mi Band 8, after upgrading to 1.0.3.60, users complained about lags when scrolling through the menu, in which case you can return the previous version, but this requires caution.

What you need to know before pulling back:

• 🔙 Recoil is possible only through manual firmware (automatic method is not supported).
• 📉 It is impossible to return data (steps, pulse, sleep) after a rollback - they will reset.
• ⚠️ Xiaomi does not recommend rollback and may refuse warranty service.

Instructions for rollback:

1. Download the desired firmware version from a trusted source (for example, firmware archive).
2. Install Gadgetbridge (available on the official website).
3. Connect the bracelet to Gadgetbridge and select Install custom firmware.
4. Download the downloaded file and wait until it is completed.

⚠️ Note: A rollback to a version older than 2 revisions (e.g., 1.0.3.70 to 1.0.2.10) may result in incompatibility with the current version of the Mi Fitness app.

7. Update for specific models: Mi Band 3 vs. Mi Band 8

The upgrade process may vary depending on the bracelet model, and let’s look at the key features for the most popular devices.

Mi Band 3 and Mi Band 4:

• 📱 Requires a mandatory connection to Mi Fit (not Mi Fitness!).
• 🔄 Upgrade takes up to 20 minutes due to slow Bluetooth 4.0.
• 🔋 Minimum charge for the upgrade is 60% (otherwise the process will be interrupted).

Mi Band 5/6:

• 🎨 Support for animated dials appeared only after updating to 1.0.1.14+.

Mi Band 7 Pro and Mi Band 8:

Comparison of the update speed:

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)