Mi Band Custom Watch Faces: How to Add Them
To add a custom watch face to a Mi Band, you use the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for older models) to transfer a downloaded watch face file to the band. This article explains the exact steps, the file formats involved, and how to troubleshoot the common problems people run into.
How Mi Band Watch Faces Work
Unlike smartwatches with full operating systems, Mi Bands run a lightweight firmware that displays watch faces as pre-rendered image files. Each face is a package containing a background image, a clock font, and small graphics for battery, date, and heart rate. The band does not render the face from code; it simply displays the images you transfer. This is why almost all custom faces are distributed as .bin files—they are compiled packages that the band’s firmware can read directly.
The Mi Fitness app (for Mi Band 6 and newer) and the Zepp Life app (for Mi Band 4 and 5) both have a built-in watch face store. However, the store only offers a limited selection. To use a face not in the store, you must sideload it. The process varies slightly depending on which app you use, but the core idea is the same: you replace the face file in the app’s internal storage with one you downloaded from a third-party source.
Before You Start: Check Your Band and App
Not every Mi Band supports custom faces the same way. The Mi Band 3 and earlier models have very limited customization—you can only pick from a handful of built-in faces. Custom faces are fully supported on the Mi Band 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, but the transfer method changed with the switch from Zepp Life to Mi Fitness.
- Mi Band 4 and 5: Use the Zepp Life app (formerly Mi Fit). Custom faces are transferred by replacing the
watch_facefile in the app’s Android data folder. - Mi Band 6 and newer: Use the Mi Fitness app. The process is more restrictive, and on iOS it is nearly impossible without a third-party app.
- Mi Band 7, 8, and 9: These have a higher-resolution display and use a different file format (often
.binwith a larger size). They also support animated faces, which are simply a sequence of images.
Step-by-Step: Adding a Custom Face (Android, Mi Fitness)
This is the most common method for Mi Band 6 and newer on Android. It requires a file manager app.
- Download a custom watch face
.binfile from a trusted source. Popular communities include the Mi Band subreddit and the “Amazfit Watch Faces� website (which hosts Mi Band faces as well). - Open the Mi Fitness app and go to Profile > My Devices > select your Mi Band.
- Tap Watch Face and then Store. Choose any free face and apply it to your band. This step creates a folder on your phone with the face files.
- Using a file manager, navigate to
Android/data/com.mi.health/files/watch_face/(or a similar path). You will see a folder with the face you just applied. - Rename your downloaded
.binfile to exactly match the file name of the face you applied in the store. For example, if the folder containsface_123.bin, rename your file toface_123.bin. - Replace the original file with your renamed file. Delete the original, then move your file into that folder.
- Go back to the Mi Fitness app, open the Watch Face section, and tap the same face you applied earlier. The app will sync the face to your band—but now it will sync your custom file.
If the face does not appear, force-close the Mi Fitness app and reopen it. Sometimes the app caches the old face, and a restart forces it to re-read the file.
Step-by-Step: Adding a Custom Face (Zepp Life, Mi Band 4/5)
For older bands, the process is simpler because Zepp Life is less restrictive.
- Download a custom face for your specific model (Mi Band 4 faces are not compatible with Mi Band 5).
- Open Zepp Life, go to Profile > My Devices > select your band.
- Tap Watch Face > More and apply any face from the store.
- Using a file manager, go to
Android/data/com.xiaomi.hm.health/files/watch_face/. - You will see a folder named after the face you applied. Replace the
.binfile inside with your downloaded file, keeping the same name. - Return to Zepp Life, tap the same face, and it will sync your custom file.
How to Choose a Safe Custom Watch Face
Custom faces are not officially reviewed, so you should be careful about where you download them. A malicious face could theoretically contain code that tries to access your phone via Bluetooth, though no widespread attacks have been documented. Stick to well-known communities and check the file size—a legitimate face for a Mi Band 6 is usually between 300 KB and 1 MB. If a file is suspiciously small (under 100 KB) or unusually large (over 5 MB), it may be corrupted or mislabeled.
Also, ensure the face is designed for your exact band model. A Mi Band 7 face will not work on a Mi Band 6 because the screen resolution differs. Most download sites list the compatible models. If the face does not display correctly (e.g., the clock is cut off), you likely downloaded the wrong version.
Common Problems and Fixes
- Face does not appear after syncing: The file name did not match exactly, or the file was corrupted. Re-download and try again.
- App crashes when applying: The face file is for a different band model. Delete the file and try a different one.
- Face displays but clock is wrong: The face uses a 12-hour format but your band is set to 24-hour, or vice versa. Change the time format in the band settings.
- Cannot find the
Android/datafolder: On Android 11 and later, this folder is hidden. Use a file manager that can access it (like “Files by Google� with “Show internal storage� enabled), or connect your phone to a PC and browse via USB. - iOS users: The Mi Fitness app on iOS does not expose the file system. The only practical way is to use a third-party app like “Amazfit Watch Faces� (which has a built-in transfer feature) or to borrow an Android phone temporarily.
Risks and Limitations
Adding custom faces is not officially supported, and there are a few risks. First, a badly formatted face can crash the band’s firmware, requiring a factory reset (which is done through the app). Second, the process may void your warranty, though in practice this is rarely enforced. Third, animated faces drain the battery faster because they update the screen more frequently. Finally, when a firmware update is released, it may change the file format, making your custom face incompatible until the community updates it.
If you want a custom face without the hassle, the official store has a “DIY� section (on Mi Band 7 and newer) that lets you set a photo as the background. This is the only fully supported way to personalize your band without sideloading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a custom watch face to a Mi Band without a PC?
Yes, on Android you can do everything directly on your phone using a file manager. On iOS, you cannot access the app’s internal files, so you would need a third-party app or a PC with a tool like “Mi Band Masterâ€� (which is not officially supported).
Why does my custom face show the wrong time?
This usually happens when the face is designed for a different time format (12-hour vs 24-hour) or when the face’s clock font is missing a digit. Check the face’s description and your band’s time settings.
Will a custom face work on Mi Band 6 and Mi Band 7?
No. Each band model has a different screen resolution and firmware, so faces are model-specific. Always download a face that explicitly lists your band model.
Is it safe to use custom watch faces?
In general, yes, if you download from reputable communities. The files are just images and fonts, not executable programs. However, there is a small risk of a corrupted file causing the band to freeze, which you can fix by resetting the band.
Can I create my own watch face?
Yes, but it requires a tool like “Mi Band Watch Face Editorâ€� or “Amazfit Watch Facesâ€� (for newer models). You need to create a background image at the exact resolution (e.g., 192×490 for Mi Band 6) and compile it into a .bin file.
Why is my custom face not showing in the app after I replaced the file?
The app may cache the old face. Force-close the app, clear its cache (in Android settings), and reopen it. If that fails, the file name might not match exactly, or the file is for a different model.
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