Forgotten PIN- code, accidental activation of protection against children or locking after resetting settings - these problems are faced by one in five owners of Xiaomi Mi Band. Unlike smartphones, where unlocking often requires complex firmware manipulations, fitness bracelets can be restored without losing data in 80% of cases.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to unlock for models from Mi Band 3 to Mi Band 8, including bypassing the password through the Mi Fitness application, hardware reset and even restoring access when linking to a lost Xiaomi account.
Important: the methods vary depending on the firmware version and the regional binding of the device. If your bracelet is locked after the software update, first check the firmware compatibility with your model in the official support center of Xiaomi.
1. Reasons for blocking the Xiaomi Mi fitness bracelet
Before you start unlocking, you need to understand what caused the lock, and the choice of recovery method depends on this:
- 🔒 Forgotten PIN- code is the most common case, and the bracelet is blocked after 5 failed attempts (some models have 3).
- 👶 Child Protection Mode -- activated randomly or through an app, and the lock icon is displayed on the screen.
- 🔄 Resettings – After resetting via Settings → Resetting the bracelet may require re-attachment to the account.
- 📱 Mi Account issues – if the device is linked to a deleted or blocked Xiaomi account.
- 🔧 Firmware failure – after a failed update, the bracelet may hang on the logo or require unlocking.
On the Mi Band 6/7/8 models, the “Block When Unplug” feature is added – if you remove the bracelet and do not enter the PIN within 5 minutes, it will automatically lock. This feature is disabled in the Settings → Security menu.
⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet is locked after a handheld purchase and requires a link to someone else’s account, it could be a stolen device, in which case unlocking is only possible through a support letter to Xiaomi with proof of purchase.
2 Unlocking through PIN- Code: Standard Method
If you just forgot the PIN- code, but the bracelet is not reset to factory settings, try the standard recovery method:
- On the locked screen of the bracelet, tap the Unlock button (or Forgot PIN? on English firmware).
- Connect the bracelet to your smartphone via Bluetooth.
- Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new models).
- Go to Profile → My Devices → [Your Bracelet] → Unlock.
- Follow the instructions on the screen – the system will prompt you to enter a password from your Xiaomi account or send a confirmation code to the attached email.
On Mi Band 5/6/7, after 3 failed PIN attempts, the Forgot PIN option appears - it leads directly to the reset menu through the application. On Mi Band 3/4, this option is not available, so you will have to use a hardware reset (described in the next section).
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If the "Forgot PIN?" option doesn't appear, try rebooting the bracelet: press the touch button 10-15 seconds before vibration. After rebooting the unlock menu may appear.
If the bracelet is linked to your Xiaomi account, but you don’t remember the login details:
- 📧 Try to restore access through the recovery page.
- 📱 If your account is linked to a phone number, request a SMS- code.
- 🔑 Two-factor authentication accounts will require a backup code (if saved).
3 Hard Reset for all Mi Band models
If standard unlocking doesn't work or the bracelet is stuck on the logo, a full factory reset will help, which will delete all data from the device, but return control.
| Model bracelet | Resetting method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 3/4 | Turn off the bracelet from charging. Press the touch button for 20-30 seconds before the Mi logo and vibrations appear. | After the reset, you will need to re-assign to the account. |
| Mi Band 5/6 | Connect to charging. Press the button for 10 seconds → release → again press for 10 seconds before reset. | On some firmware you need to repeat 3 times. |
| Mi Band 7/8 | Go to Settings → System → Reset. If the screen is locked, use the combination: plug in to charge and press the button for 15 seconds. | On the Mi Band 8, resetting through the button only works when connected to the original cable. |
After the hardware reset, the bracelet will return to factory settings, and you will need:
- Install Mi Fitness (or Zepp Life for Mi Band 7/8).
- Create a new Xiaomi account or log in to an existing one.
- Tie the bracelet through Add the device in the application.
⚠️ Warning: On Chinese firmware bracelets (CN ROM), you may need to link to a Chinese Xiaomi account after a reset. If you have a global version (Global ROM), this method will work without restrictions.
Charge the bracelet at least 50%|Disconnect it from your smartphone in Bluetooth settings|Prepare the original charging cable|Make sure the latest version of Mi Fitness is installed on your smartphone-->
4. Unlock through Developer Mode (for advanced users)
If standard methods don't work and the bracelet isn't reset to factory settings, you can try unlocking it through the hidden developer menu, which is suitable for the Mi Band 5/6/7 and requires a PC connection.
You'll need:
- 🖥️ Windows computer 10/11 macOS.
- 🔌 Bracelet charging cable (preferably original).
- 🛠️ Gadgetbridge utility (for alternative connectivity).
- 📱 Smartphone with debugging mode ADB (optional).
Step-by-step:
- Connect the bracelet to your PC via a charging cable (use the USB-Hab if the cable does not fit into the PC port).
- Install Gadgetbridge and run it.
- Select Mi Band 5/6/7 Tools → Unlock Device.
- Follow the instructions of the program – it will try to send an unlock command via Bluetooth.
- If the bracelet has responded, enter a new PIN- code in the Mi Fitness app.
For the Mi Band 8, this method is unstable due to the changed communication protocol. Alternatively, using ADB on a smartphone:
adb shell am start -n com.xiaomi.hm.health/com.xiaomi.hm.health.device.DeviceResetActivityThis command runs a hidden reset menu on some firmware.
What if Gadgetbridge can’t see the bracelet?
5 Unlocking a bracelet tied to another account
If you bought a handheld bracelet and it's tied to someone else's Xiaomi account, standard methods won't work.
Official method (recommended):
- Reach out to the previous owner and ask them to untie the device via Mi Fitness → Profile → My devices → [Breasure] → Delete.
- If you cannot contact us, collect proof of purchase (check, screenshot of correspondence, announcement) and contact Xiaomi with a request to unlock.
- Attach a photo of the box, serial number (located on the back of the bracelet) and a check.
Informal way (risky):
If the bracelet is not valuable to the previous owner, you can try flashing it with alternative firmware through Gadgetbridge or Notify & Fitness.
- ⚠️ The guarantee will be cancelled.
- ⚠️ There is a risk of "bricking" (breaking) the bracelet.
- ⚠️ Some features (e.g., Xiaomi Pay) will stop working.
For firmware:
- Connect the bracelet to your PC via Gadgetbridge.
⚠️ Warning: Firmwareing the Mi Band 7/8 bracelets with custom firmware can result in IMEI locking (on these models it is tied to the chip) and can only be restored at Xiaomi's service center.
6. Data recovery after unlocking
If you managed to unlock the bracelet, but the data on training, steps and sleep disappeared, you can try to restore it.
If synchronization has been activated:
- Open Mi Fitness and check the Profile → My Data section.
- If there is data, tie the bracelet again - the statistics will be adjusted automatically.
- To export data to Google Fit or Apple Health, use the option Settings → Sync with other services.
If the synchronization has been disabled:
- 📊 Try to restore data through a backup to Mi Cloud (if it was created).
- 🔄 On Android, check the /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.xiaomi.hm.health/files/ folder — sometimes temporary data files are saved there.
- 💾 Use utilities like Mi Band Tools (requires root on your smartphone) to extract logs from your bracelet.
On the Mi Band 8, data is stored in encrypted form, and it is almost impossible to recover it without linking to the original account. If the bracelet was reset, the statistics for previous periods will be lost.
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The only reliable way to save data is to enable automatic synchronization in Mi Fitness (Settings → Data Sync → Cloud).
7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
When unlocking the Xiaomi Mi Band, users often make mistakes that complicate the process or lead to data loss.
| Mistake. | Effects of consequences | How to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Use of non-original cable for discharge | The bracelet does not respond to the pressing of the button or is not completely reset. | Use only the original Xiaomi cable or a certified analogue. |
| Interrupting the firmware process | The bracelet "bricks" (does not turn on, does not respond to charging). | Do not disconnect the bracelet from the PC until the firmware is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes). |
| Attempt to unlock through third-party apps without backup | Loss of data or account blocking due to suspicious activity | Try the official methods first (via Mi Fitness). |
| Entering PIN- code at random | The bracelet is locked for 30 minutes after 5 wrong attempts. | If you forget your PIN, use the Forgot the code option right away. |
Another common problem is that the bracelet is not detected by the app after the reset.
- 📱 Reinstall Mi Fitness and clear the app cache.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and bracelet.
- 📡 Enable Bluetooth and Geolocation (necessary for device search).
- 🔋 Make sure the bracelet is charged (on a discharged Bluetooth device, it may not work).