Fitness bracelets Xiaomi Mi Band have become an integral part of the daily lives of millions of users, but sometimes owners face an unpleasant situation - the device is blocked. PIN-code, binding to other people's Mi Account accounts after buying a used gadget, software failures or even hardware malfunctions. Unlike smartphones, where the unlock procedure is more or less standardized, Xiaomi smart bracelets often cause confusion due to the variety of models and firmware versions.
This article will help you understand how to unlock any Mi Band model from the old Mi Band. 1S Up to date, the Mi Smart Band 8 Pro. We will look at how official methods are through the Mi app. Fitness/Zepp Life and alternative solutions for complex cases where standard reset does not work, and we will focus on unlocking bracelets tied to other Xiaomi accounts, a problem faced by Xiaomi. 68% Buyers of used devices (data of electronics exchange services for 2023 year).
1. Reasons for blocking the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet
Before you start unlocking, itโs important to understand why your device stopped responding to your actions, and 90% of the time, one of five factors is the problem:
- ๐ Forgotten PIN-code โ the user entered the wrong password three times, and the bracelet was locked for 5 minutes (in old models โ forever before resetting).
- ๐ฑ Linking to someone else's Mi Account is a typical situation when buying a used bracelet, when the previous owner did not untie the device.
- ๐ Failure of firmware - after an unsuccessful update or "rollback" on the old version of the software, the bracelet can go into "eternal download" with the Mi logo.
- ๐ Hardware problems โ damage to charging contacts, battery discharge to critical level (below 3%), or physical damage to the screen.
- ๐ก๏ธ Activation of protection against theft โ new models (starting with the Mi Band 6) have a lock function when removed from the hand (requires input) PIN).
The most common reason is because of a link to someone elseโs account, and service centers say that 7 out of 10 Mi Band unlocks are related to this problem, because Xiaomi doesnโt provide a formal way to untie the device without access to the original Mi Account, which creates serious difficulties for new owners.
2. Official method: unlocking through Mi Fitness/Zepp Life
If the bracelet is blocked due to incorrect PIN-In the case of a code or software failure, the first step is to try the standard reset procedure through the official application. Since 2022, Xiaomi has replaced Mi Fit with two new applications: Mi Fitness (for older models) and Zepp Life (for new ones:
- Install the Mi Fitness app (for Mi Band) 1-5) or Zepp Life for the Mi Band 6 and newer) from Google Play or App Store.
- Sign in to your Mi Account (if the bracelet is linked to another account, this will not work โ see Section 4).
- Connect the bracelet to your phone via Bluetooth and select it from the list of devices.
- Go to the Device Profile โ Settings โ Data resetting.
- Confirm the reset - the bracelet will reset and be ready for a new setup.
Important: After resetting, all data (steps, pulse, sleep history) will be deleted from the wristband, and if you have synced with the Mi Account cloud, some of the information can be restored.
โ๏ธ Preparation for discharge through the annex
โ ๏ธ Note: On the Mi Band 7 Pro and Mi Smart Band 8 Pro, the application reset may not work if the bracelet has been locked through the โSteal Protectionโ function).
3 Hard Reset for all Mi Band models
If the bracelet is not responsive to the connection to the application or is stuck on the logo, a hardware reset will help. The method works on all models, but the process differs depending on the generation of the device.
| Model bracelet | Resetting method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 1/1S | Press and hold the touch button. 10-15 seconds until the vibrations appear. | After the reset, you will need to re-assign to the account. |
| Mi Band 2-4 | Connect the bracelet to charging, then press and hold the touch button for 20 seconds. | The screen should blink and show the Mi logo. |
| Mi Band 5/6 | Turn off the bracelet from charging, then simultaneously tap the sensor and plug the cable. Hold on for 15 seconds. | On Mi Band 6, a firmware update may be required after reset. |
| Mi Band 7/8, Smart Band 8 Pro | Press and hold the bracelet screen for 30 seconds (for 8 Pro โ 40 seconds). | On the 8 Pro, reset only works when connected to a charger. |
If the hardware reset didn't help, check:
- ๐ Charging cable โ use only original (Chinese copies often donโt transmit data for resetting).
- ๐ Charge level โ the bracelet must be charged at least 10%, otherwise the reset will not start.
- ๐ฑ Phone compatibility โ some Samsung and Huawei models require power saving to be turned off for Bluetooth.
๐ก
If the bracelet doesn't respond to holding the button, try holding it in the fridge for 10 minutes (not in the freezer!).
4 Unlocking a bracelet tied to someone else's Mi Account
The most difficult situation is when the bracelet is tied to the account of the previous owner, and you can not contact him. Xiaomi officially does not provide a way to untie the device without access to the original Mi Account, but there are several workarounds:
Method 1: Reset via Engineering Menu (for Mi Band) 3-6)
On some firmware, you can get into a hidden menu that allows you to reset the binding:
- Connect the bracelet to the charger.
- Press the touch button. 5 once in a row (on Mi Band) 5/6 โ scoop up and down 5 once).
- In the engineering menu, select Unbind or Reset (navigation - swipes up / down, the choice - touch).
- Confirm the reset - the bracelet will reset and be ready for a new binding.
Method 2: Use of alternative firmware
For Mi Band models 4-7 There are custom firmwares (e.g. AmazfitBipOS or MiBandMaster) that allow you to bypass the lock:
- ๐ฅ๏ธ Computer with drivers installed ADB and Fastboot.
- ๐ Original Firmware Cable (not all) USB-cables support data transmission).
- ๐ Firmware file from forums 4PDA or XDA Developers.
Detailed instructions on firmware can be found on thematic forums, but remember: this is a risky method that can turn the bracelet into a โbrickโ.
What happens if you run the bracelet with the wrong firmware?
Method 3: Appealing for Xiaomi
If the previous methods did not work, you can try the official way:
- Create a supportive message for Xiaomi through the website mi.com/service.
- Attach a photo of the check (if you bought a new bracelet) or proof of purchase of a used device.
- Indicate. IMEI bracelet (can be found on the box or under charging contacts).
In 40% of cases, support is met and untethered, but the process can take up to 2 weeks.
โ ๏ธ Attention: Forums often advise using programs like Mi Band Tools to bypass locks, but since 2023 Xiaomi has tightened protection. IMEI bracelet in the manufacturer's database, after which it will be impossible to unlock it.
5.Unlock after reset to factory settings
If you managed to reset the bracelet, but when you try to link to a new account, the error โThe device is already tiedโ appears, follow the following steps:
- Remove the bracelet from the list of devices in Mi Fitness/Zepp Life (even if it doesnโt show up there, try โupdate listing").
- Reinstall the application and log in to another Mi Account (you can create a new one).
- Connect the bracelet to your phone via Bluetooth before the application launches.
- In the app, select "Add device" and follow the instructions on the screen.
If the error is repeated, try:
- ๐ฑ Use a different smartphone (on iPhone, sometimes there are problems with synchronization).
- ๐ Change region in Mi Account settings to China (in some cases, this bypasses restrictions).
- ๐ Reflash the bracelet to an older version of the software (for example, from Mi Band 6 1.0.6.54 to 1.0.5.38).
๐ก
After a successful reset, first of all, turn off the โTheft Protectionโ function in the bracelet settings to avoid re-blocking.
6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
When unlocking Xiaomi Mi Band bracelets, users often make the same mistakes that make the process more difficult or impossible, and the most common ones are:
- ๐ Use of unoriginal cable โ 80% of failed resets are associated with cheap Chinese copies that do not transmit signals to unlock.
- ๐ต Interrupting the process โ if you turn off the bracelet from charging during reset, it can go into โeternal loading".
- ๐ Attempt to introduce PIN after 3 Failures at the Mi Band 7/8 This leads to a blockage on 24 hour.
- ๐ฑ Mi Band 4 will not work with the latest version of Zepp Life.
Another common problem is that the bracelet is defined by the phone as "Unknown device."
- Turn off Bluetooth on your phone and turn it back on.
- Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugate devices in the phone settings.
- Reboot both the phone and the bracelet.
- Try connecting from another smartphone.
If nothing works, check to see if your phone is powered up with Bluetooth Energy Saving (on Xiaomi, Samsung and Huawei, it often interferes with stable connectivity).
7. Alternative Unlocking Methods (for Power Users)
If standard methods don't work, you can try more sophisticated methods, which require technical skills and carry risks, but sometimes help in desperate situations.
Method 1: Firmware through ADB
For Mi Band models 4-7 can be used ADB (Android Debug Bridge for forced flashing:
adb devices
adb shell
am start -n com.xiaomi.hm.health/com.xiaomi.hm.health.view.DeviceResetActivityThis command runs a hidden reset menu. 4PDA.
Method 2: Flashing through the programmer
If the bracelet is fully bricked (not turning on, not responding to charging), you will need an ST-Link or J-Link programmer and soldering skills, a method used in service centers and includes:
- Unpacking the bracelet and connecting to the chip contacts.
- Read/write memory through Flash Tool.
- Restore the loader.
โ ๏ธ Attention: Self-flashing through the programmer without experience can lead to irreversible damage to the memory chip.
Method 3: Deception of the system through change IMEI
On some models (Mi Band) 5/6) change IMEI It's a bracelet with a special tool (e.g. MiBandIMEIChanger), which allows you to trick the system and tie the bracelet to a new account:
- The method does not work on all firmware.
- Requires root rights on the phone.
- This may result in the blocking of your Mi Account for suspicious activity.