Mi Band 5 Sports Modes & Watch Faces

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 supports 11 professional sports modes and over 100 watch faces. You can track activities like running, cycling, swimming, and rowing, and customize the band’s display with a wide selection of watch faces through the Mi Fit app.

Sports Modes Overview

The Mi Band 5 offers a total of 11 sports modes, a significant upgrade from the Mi Band 4’s 6 modes. These include:

Outdoor Running
Treadmill
Walking
Outdoor Cycling
Exercise (free training)
Pool Swimming
Rowing Machine
Jump Rope
Yoga
Indoor Cycling
Elliptical

Each mode records relevant metrics such as heart rate, calories burned, and duration. For outdoor activities, the band uses its built-in GPS (via connected phone) to track distance and pace.

Watch Faces: Customization Options

The Mi Band 5 features a 1.1-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 126×294 pixels, which allows for more detailed and colorful watch faces. Users can choose from a library of over 100 watch faces in the Mi Fit app. These range from minimalist analog designs to data-rich digital faces showing steps, heart rate, and weather.

Customization goes beyond just picking a pre-made face. The Mi Fit app lets you:

Set any photo from your gallery as the watch face background.
Adjust the position and size of the photo.
Choose which data widgets (e.g., step count, heart rate, battery) appear on the face.
Reorder the widgets to your preference.

Additionally, some third-party apps and communities offer unofficial watch face tools, but these require manual installation and may not be officially supported.

How to Change Sports Modes

To start a workout on the Mi Band 5:

Press the side button or swipe left to access the app list.
Tap the “Exercise” icon (a running figure).
Swipe through the list of sports modes and tap the one you want.
The band will begin tracking immediately; you can pause or end the workout by tapping the screen.

You can also set a target for distance, time, or calories before starting, and the band will vibrate when you reach it.

How to Change Watch Faces

Changing the watch face is done through the Mi Fit app (now called Zepp Life in some regions):

Open the app and ensure your Mi Band 5 is connected.
Tap on your device (Mi Band 5).
Select “Watch Face Settings” or “Band Display”.
Browse the available faces and tap “Set” to apply one.
For a custom photo face, choose the “Custom” tab and select an image from your phone.

Note: The watch face library is updated periodically, but the exact selection varies by region and app version.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Some users report that certain sports modes (like jump rope) do not appear on their device. This is often due to a regional firmware or app version. To resolve:

Update the Mi Fit app to the latest version.
Update the band’s firmware via the app.
Check if the mode is available in your region; some modes may be rolled out gradually.

Another common issue is watch faces not syncing. If this happens, try:

Restarting the band.
Clearing the app’s cache.
Re-pairing the band with the app.

If the custom watch face appears blurry, ensure the photo is at least 240×294 pixels (the display’s native resolution) for best clarity.

Comparison with Other Models

Compared to the Mi Band 4, the Mi Band 5 adds 5 new sports modes (jump rope, yoga, rowing, indoor cycling, elliptical) and a larger, higher-resolution display. The Mi Band 6, released later, offers 30 sports modes and a larger 1.56-inch screen, but the Mi Band 5 remains a solid budget option.

Unlike the Mi Band 5, the Mi Band 6 also includes a SpO2 sensor, but the Mi Band 5 has a slightly longer battery life (14 days vs. 12 days) under typical use.

Battery and Performance Considerations

Using sports modes with continuous heart rate monitoring and GPS (via connected phone) will drain the battery faster than normal use. On average, a 1-hour workout with GPS reduces battery life by about 5-10%. The band’s 125mAh battery typically lasts 14 days with normal use, but this can drop to 5-6 days if you use GPS tracking daily.

To extend battery life:

Disable continuous heart rate monitoring when not needed.
Use the “Band Display” brightness set to a lower level.
Turn off notifications for apps you don’t need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Mi Band 5 have built-in GPS?

No, the Mi Band 5 does not have a built-in GPS. It relies on your phone’s GPS when you start an outdoor workout. If you leave your phone behind, distance and pace will be estimated using the accelerometer, which is less accurate.

Can I add more sports modes to the Mi Band 5?

No, the sports modes are fixed in the firmware. You cannot add new modes via the app. However, you can use the “Exercise” (free training) mode to manually track any activity, but it will only record duration, heart rate, and calories.

How do I set a custom watch face from my own photo?

In the Mi Fit app, go to your device settings, select “Watch Face Settings”, then choose the “Custom” tab. Pick a photo from your gallery, adjust the crop and position, and set it. The band will sync the image via Bluetooth.

Why is my watch face not updating?

This usually happens when the app and band are not syncing properly. Try restarting both the app and the band, ensure Bluetooth is on, and check that the band is charged. If the issue persists, unpair and re-pair the device in the app.

Does the Mi Band 5 support watch faces from third-party apps?

There are unofficial tools and communities that create custom watch faces for the Mi Band 5, but they require manual installation via a modified app or a separate tool. These are not officially supported and may risk bricking the device if done incorrectly.

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