Why You Should Refuse Mi Band 3 and When You Need It
The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 fitness bracelet, released in 2018, is still popular with users due to its reliability and functionality. However, over time, official updates from Xiaomi stop coming out, and bugs accumulate in the firmware: from accidental reboots to problems with synchronizing steps.
The main reasons for updating the firmware:
- 🔄 Recovery after failure or "bricking" of the bracelet.
- 🚀 Improved performance: Eliminating lags when synchronized with Mi Fit or Zepp Life.
- 🔓 Unlock hidden features, such as displaying notifications from third-party apps.
- 🛡️ Fixing vulnerabilities if you use an unofficial app bracelet.
But before you start, it's important to understand that flashing is not always safe. Wrong actions can turn the Mi Band 3 into a brick that won't even turn on. In this article, we'll look at all the current ways (official and alternative), and give recommendations for choosing firmware and recovering from unsuccessful manipulations.
Preparation for firmware: what to do before the start
The first step is to save all the data from the wristband, and when you flash it, it's erased, including activity history, alarm settings, and sleep data, and sync it with the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app, and back it up in the cloud.
Next, check:
- 📱 Firmware version: Open Profile → Mi Band 3 → Firmware version in the annex.
- 🔋 Battery charge: must be at least 50%. At low charge, the bracelet may turn off during the process.
- 🖥️ Computer (if you are flashing through a PC): Windows 7/10/11 macOS with Administrator Rights.
- 🔌 Bluetooth adapter: for a stable connection, it is better to use Bluetooth 4.0+.
Also, prepare your firmware files. The official versions can be downloaded from Xiaomi's website or from the 4PDA forum topics. For custom firmware (such as Mi Band 3 Custom Firmware), check compatibility with your version of the bracelet - they come for CN (Chinese) and Global (international) models.
Synchronize data with Mi Fit|Check the battery charge (minimum 50%)|Download the firmware for your version of the bracelet|Disable antivirus (can block utilities)|Prepare. USB-cable for PC connection (if necessary)-->
Method 1: Officially Update with Mi Fit
The safest method is to upgrade through the branded Mi Fit app.It is suitable if you want to install the latest stable version from Xiaomi without the risk of damaging the bracelet.
Instructions:
- Open the Mi Fit and connect to the bracelet.
- Go to Profile → Mi Band 3 → Update firmware.
- If a new version is available, click Update.
- Wait until the process is complete (the bracelet will reboot several times).
⚠️ Warning: If the update is suspended during the Prepare for Update phase, do not disconnect the bracelet from your phone:
- 🔄 Re-launch the Mi Fit app.
- 📱 Reconnect the bracelet in Bluetooth settings.
- 🔋 Put the bracelet on the charge and try again.
What if Mi Fit doesn’t see an update?
Advantages of the official method:
- ✅ Minimum risk of “bricking".
- ✅ Preservation of the guarantee (if it is still valid).
- ✅ Automatic compatibility check.
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The official update via Mi Fit is the best choice for beginners, as it does not require technical skills and guarantees the stability of the bracelet.
Method 2: Firmware through ADB (for power users)
If the official update is not available or you want to install custom firmware, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer and basic command line knowledge.
Step-by-step:
- Download and install Android Platform Tools (includes adb and fastboot).
- Connect the bracelet to your computer via a special cable (you need an adapter to connect to the USB).
- Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS) and check the connection: Adb devices should appear with a serial number.
- Download the firmware file (.fw or.bin) and place it in the adb folder.
- Enter the command for firmware: adb push name file.fw /sdcard/firmware.bin adb shell am broadcast -a com.xiaomi.hm.health.UPDATE_FIRMWARE
⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware can disable official updates via Mi Fit. If you plan to return to the stock version, keep the original firmware (stock_firmware.bin) before experimentation.
| Type of firmware | Advantages | Deficiencies | The risk of a brick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official (via Mi Fit) | Stability, support for Xiaomi | Limited functionality | Low. |
| Castomy (via ADB) | New functions, fixing bugs | It may contain errors. | Medium. |
| Reverse to the old version | Recovery after a failed update | Loss of new features | High (if the process is interrupted) |
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If the bracelet doesn't turn on after running through ADB, try resetting it to factory settings. To do this, press and hold the touch button for 15 seconds until vibration appears.
Method 3: Firmware through third-party utilities (Mi Bandage, Gadgetbridge)
For users who do not want to work with the command line, there are alternative utilities:
- 🛠️ Mi Bandage – an application for Android, which allows you to install custom firmware and modify the interface of the bracelet.
- 🔗 Gadgetbridge – Open source software for managing wearable devices, including Mi Band 3.
Instructions for Mi Bandage:
- Download and install Mi Bandage from 4PDA.
- Connect the bracelet via Mi Fit, then open the Mi Bandage.
- Select Firmware Operations → Install custom firmware.
- Specify the path to the firmware file (.fw) and wait until it is completed.
⚠️ Note: When using Gadgetbridge, you may need to untie the bracelet from Mi Fit, as two apps will not work at the same time. To return sync with Mi Fit, reset the bracelet through Settings → Reset.
The advantages of third-party utilities:
- 🎛️ Flexibility of settings (you can change fonts, icons, animations).
- 🔄 Possibility of rollback to previous versions of firmware.
- 📊 Support for informal features (for example, weather display without synchronization).
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems.
1. The bracelet shall not be switched on after firmware ("brick")
Reasons:
- 🔌 Update interrupted (cable or phone disabled).
- 📁 Incorrect firmware file (for example, Mi Band 4 instead of Mi Band 3).
Solution: Try the emergency firmware via ADB with the touch button pressed or contact the service center.
2.The bracelet is constantly vibrating and not synchronizing.
This means that the firmware is installed, but there was a malfunction in the Bluetooth module.
- 🔄 Reset the bracelet to factory settings (Settings) → Reset).
- 📱 Reinstall Mi Fit and reconnect the device.
3. Update failed error in Mi Fit
Most often it occurs due to:
- 🌐 Unstable Internet connection (switch to Wi-Fi).
- 📵 Conflict with VPN Firewall (turn off while you update them).
How to recognize “soft” and “hard” bricks?
Recovery of the bracelet after a failed firmware
If Mi Band 3 has stopped responding to actions, don't panic. In most cases, it can be brought back to life.
Step 1: Checking the charging response
Connect the bracelet to the charger. If it vibrates or the indicator lights up, it's a soft brick, and the chances of recovery are high.
Step 2: Emergency Firmware through ADB
If the bracelet is defined by the computer as Mi Band 3 in DFU mode, follow the commands:
adb push recovery.fw /sdcard/firmware.bin
adb shell am broadcast -a com.xiaomi.hm.health.UPDATE_FIRMWARE --es force trueWhere recovery.fw is a special file for recovery (can be found on 4PDA).
Step 3: Contact the Service Center
If the bracelet does not respond to charging and is not detected by the computer, the memory chip is likely damaged, in which case only flashing through a programmer (for example, ST-Link), which requires special equipment, will help.
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In 90% of cases, the brick is repairable at home after a failed firmware, and the main thing is not to try to re-stitch the bracelet if it does not show signs of life, so as not to aggravate the problem.