How to Customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 – 2021 Guide

Last update: 04/10/2024
Customize WatchFace Mi Band 4

would you like to know how customize WatchFace Mi Band 4? Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is a popular fitness tracker that is available in the market at a very competitive price. It is the best smart band in terms of design and features.

The new device brings several advancements over its predecessors, including the ability to install custom watch face on its color AMOLED display. Users can easily customize the look of the watch by installing the custom watch faces from the store. So, if you want to customize WatchFace Mi Band 4, here are the steps and methods to do so.

Specifications of WatchFace Mi Band 4

WatchFace Mi Band 4 has a 0,95-inch color screen with a 120 x 240 pixel resolution and supports brightness up to 450 nits. It is waterproof 5ATM up to 50 m.

To make the WatchFace Mi Band 4 feature-rich, the company added support for step counter, distance, and calories burned activity tracking. You can easily distinguish between six different workout modes like treadmill, exercise, outdoor running, cycling, walking, swimming.

You may also be interested in learning about: Smartwatch Won't Turn On: 10 Solutions to the Problem

Xiaomi also features several health monitoring sensors such as heart rate monitor, sleep monitor and inactivity alerts. The device supports Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity efficient and improved. However, users will get NFC support on the NFC Special Edition.

There are some other features like an alarm clock, timer, find phone, event reminder, DND mode and music controls. It comes with a 135 mAh battery with the ability to be fully recharged in 2 hours. The WatchFace Mi Band 4 device can last up to 20 days on a single charge.

My Band 4 will work on devices with Android 4.4 iOS 9 or higher. It is an incredible value for money for a budget fitness band with elliptical design and 2.5D display. Easily fits in the hands with a comfortable rubber strap, the MI Band 4 acts as a powerhouse for most health enthusiasts.

There are hundreds of personalized watch faces available for Xiaomi Band 4 in official stores. To customize WatchFace Mi Band 4, please follow the steps below carefully.

Prerequisites for customization WatchFace Mi Band 4:

Before customizing WatchFace Mi Band 4, we advise you to have the following requirements:

  1. You must have the application downloaded MY Fit which you can download here LINK
  2. You must have a File Manager: Most devices always have a default file manager.

Steps to customize WatchFace Mi Band 4

If you selected a cover for customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 get ready to install it on your fitness band. Follow these steps:

1 method: customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 with MI Fit

  • Step 1:: Download the circular watch face / watch band that you want to replace on the Xiaomi Mi Band 4.
  • Step 2:: Then, Open the MI Fit appinstall any available dial.
  • Step 3:: Now, opens Folder watch_skin_local at the file manager browsing through Android > Data > com.xiaomi.hm.health > files > watch_skin_local.
  • Step 4: Copy the name and then remove the file . Bin from the watch_skin_local folder.

NOTE: : the file name would be similar to 4lIYUjzg3Vwqt8tJU9sYLeOSqUSAreJNzUxJhxgM.bin).

  • Step 5:: Sticking el new .bin file in the watch_skin_local folder y rename it to the old one.
  • Step 6:: Now open the application MY Fit Again, head to Band Displays and sync the new watch face.
  • Step 7:: You have successfully installed a new watch face on Mi Band 4.

2 method: customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 setting up watch faces.

Follow these steps to customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 setting the built-in watch faces:

  • Step 1:: Unlocks the band if it is locked.
  • Step 2:: Scroll down to the option that says: "More" and open it.
  • Step 3:: Scroll down to the menu «Band screen» and open it.
  • Step 4:: You can scroll up or down to see the available covers (currently 3).
  • Step 5:: Tap the one you want to set on the home screen.

Customize WatchFace Mi Band 4

3 method: customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 setting watch faces via MI Fit app

Now, let's look at the third method for  customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 setting watch faces online from the app MY Fit

  • Step 1:: Open the application MY Fit and go to Profile → MI Smart Band 4 → Display Settings from the band.
  • Step 2:: The first tab shows all the watch faces available in the MI store. Tap on the one you like the most.
  • Step 3:: Now, tap the option that says: «Synchronize watch face» to sync with Band.
  • Step 4:: It will take approximately 15-20 seconds depending on the Bluetooth strength
  • Step 5:: Once the full band is displayed «correctly synchronized»
  • Step 6: Finally, the watch face is now on the Band.
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Synchronize the watch face
Synchronize the watch face

4 method: customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 with personal photo using MI Fit app

Now let's see how customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 with personal photo using the app MY Fit:

  • Step 1:: Open the application MY Fit and go to the band display settings → Customized.
  • Step 2: Select the design and click on change background.
  • Step 3: Take a photo or select any photo from the gallery.
  • Step 4: Crop photo using any of the available apps.
  • Step 5: Synchronize face to the band.

MI Fit App

Method 5: Steps to customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 setting watch faces via third-party apps

There are several third-party skins available online. Or we can use apps available on Play Store or download these covers manually after downloading them from websites like amazefitwatchfacesThe sideloading procedure is quite complex and non-technical people will not be able to follow it.

So here we will only discuss a few apps that almost automate the task. Some examples include:

All three here work well. Of this, the most popular one with a large collection of faces is ROkitskiy.DEV. So we will follow the steps of this app only. Other apps are also easy to follow with the instructions required only within the app.

  • Step 1:: Download the app DEV from the PlayStore or in this LINK.
  • Step 2:: Install the app, open it, and accept the permission requests.
  • Step 3:: Let the catalog load. You can use filters such as language, no installations, etc.
  • Step 4:: Click on the watch face you want to install.
  • Step 5:: Download it by tapping the download button.
  • Step 6:: Open the same watch face again and click install.
  • Step 7:: Carefully follow the instructions shown.
  • Step 8:: Open the app MY Fit and go to Profile → MI Smart Band 4 → Band display settings → Online band displays
  • Step 9: Click on the watch face that was displayed on the instruction screen (this is the official watch face whose files are replaced by the app based on the watch face we downloaded in the step 5).
  • Step 10: Simply sync this watch face to enjoy the one we chose in step 4.
Online band views
Online band views

Method 6: Steps to customize Mi Band 4 WatchFace with DIY watch faces

This is actually a bit interesting to see where you can customize virtually every aspect of the watch face while having almost complete control over its components.

But for this, you need to have some general Photoshop skills along with some coding skills. Unlike the above methods to set up watch faces, this is a DIY tutorial to first create/modify a watch face and then install it. So, it will be long and will be covered in a separate article.

Other methods to customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 by adding faces and drawings

Now, let's see other methods to customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 by adding faces and drawings with simple step by step.

Customize WatchFace Mi Band 4
Other Methods to Customize WatchFace Mi Band 4

Method 1: Customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 by adding faces and drawings

You can customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 or download one from the Internet. Creating your own watch face is a bit of a tedious job and requires a bit of Photoshop and programming skills. programming.

Apart from that, you can also download custom watch faces via an Android app, which is the easiest way. But if you have found the desired watch face via the Internet, you will have to download it manually.

Method 2: Customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 with third-party apps

The easiest way to insert custom watch faces into your app We Fit It is through a third-party Android app. The one I would recommend is:

  1. Mi Band 4 WatchFace.

However, you can also try other apps from the Play Store like:

  1. Notify & Fitness for Mi Band 4
  2. AmazonFaces.

Now let's see the steps to customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 with third-party applications:

  • Step 1:: Install the application Mi Band 4 WatchFace and select the desired cover. Tap on it and on the next page, tap Install.
Mi Band 4 WatchFace
Mi Band 4 WatchFace
  • Step 2:: Now, open the application We Fit and go to the Setting the watch faceYou will find the new watch face in the “Screens of my band« Tap on it and then select the « buttonSynchronize the watch face» to set it as the watch face of Mi Band 4.
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Synchronize the watch face
Synchronize the watch face

 Method 3: Customize WatchFace Mi Band 4 with Manual Sideloads

Instead of using an Android app, you can also download covers from sites like: Amazfit Watch FacesLet's see the procedure:

  • Step 1:: Simply open the site in the Web navigator from your computer, choose the watch face you like and download the “.bin” file.

NOTE: : You must download the bin file to configure it as a Mi Band 4 watch face.

Synchronize the watch face

  • Step 2:: Now, to use this as a cover, you need to move the file «.bin» to the Mi-Fit app data folder. To do that, connect your smartphone to the PC. Navigate to the folder where you have downloaded the watch face and copy it.
Synchronize the watch face
Synchronize the watch face
  • Step 3:: After copying the bin file, you need to paste it in the following path. This is the Mi-Fit app data folder where it stores watch faces and other related data.
    • Storage internal of Android > Data > com.xiaomi.hm.health > files > watch files > watch_skin_local

Android internal storage > Data > com.xiaomi.hm.health > files > watch files > watch_skin_local

Android internal storage > Data > com.xiaomi.hm.health > files > watch files > watch_skin_local
Android internal storage > Data > com.xiaomi.hm.health > files > watch files > watch_skin_local
  • Step 4:: Once you have pasted the file, head over to the Mi-Fit app and navigate to the tab Profile. Click on the Mi Smart Band 4 link in the section My devices.

My devices

  • Step 5:: In the Mi Smart Band 4 menu, tap the Band display settings to go to the watch faces.

My devices

  • Step 6:: Within the watch face section, swipe right to go to the tab «My Band Screens». Here, you will find the local watch faces in your local storage. Since you have not applied a preview file for the watch face, it will appear blank.

NOTE: : In case you are not able to see the watch face, it may be due to an incorrect hex header file.

Sync face

  • Step 7:: Now, tap on the watch face and tap «Sync face«. It will take a few seconds to sync and apply the watch face to the strap.
Sync face
Sync face

NOTE: : When you apply a custom watch face on Mi Band 4, it will be replaced with the previous custom watch face. Therefore, you can only store 1 custom watch face on your Mi Band 4 at a time.

Fix clock face not visible:

In case the watch face is not showing up in the Mi-Fit app, it is due to the incorrect hexadecimal header. In simple words, the watch face header has simply been copied from Amazfit Bip or other covers.

But the same headers don't work for Mi Band 4. So, you have to modify the header file using a hex editor like HexEdit (you can download it here ENHANCE).

En Mac, you can use hex fiend (DOWNLOAD LINK) and for Android, you can use HEX Editor (DOWNLOAD LINK) to edit the binary file.

  • Step 1:: After installation, open HexEdit and click on the menu Archive in the top toolbar. In the extended menu, click OPEN.
HexEdit
HexEdit
  • Step 2:: Once you click Open, the file selection will appear. Find the downloaded bin file and double-click to open it in the Hex Editor.
Hex editor
Hex editor
  • Step 3:: Now when the bin file opens, you will have the hex code in front of you. It's a scary mess of hex numbers. But don't worry, you just need to change the second row. Whatever the hex code is, change it to “24 00 12 04 00 00 61 CA FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF”. This makes the binary file the same format as other pre-installed watch faces and will now be visible in the Mi-Fit app. Save the file by pressing Ctrl + S

Original code:

Original code
Original code

Modified code:

Modified code
Modified code

Now after modifying the “.bin” file, move the file to the Mi-Fit app data folder and the watch face should be visible.

NOTE: If any of the watch faces are not working and the strap is stuck on the screen «Synchronized successfully«, the watch face probably has a broken hex code. Don't touch the band, just sync a compatible watch face from the Mi-Fit app to the band, it should start working again.

Method 4: Customize Mi Band 4 WatchFace (Build Your Own Watch Face)

In case you want to build your own watchface, you will need to know a bit of code JSON and Photoshop. First of all, you need 2 things.

  1. A "bin file» from the random Mi Band 4 watch face from the Internet for reference.
  2. Mi Band watch face tool to extract images and source code from bin file. (DOWNLOAD LINK)
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Now, let's see the procedure:

  • Step 1:: Once you have downloaded the Mi Band watch face tool, unzip it.
  • Step 2:: Next, navigate to the “PaletteImageMode» inside it. The folder should have the following content.
PaletteImageMode
PaletteImageMode
  • Step 3:: Then, copy and paste the reference watch face bin file you downloaded from the internet into the PaletteImageMode folder.
  • Step 4:: Next, all you have to do is drag and drop the bin file into the archive exe.

PaletteImageMode

NOTE: : Alternatively, you can also navigate to PalleteImageFolder via the symbol of the system and run the following command: WatchFace.exe

The tool will extract all the files from the watch face bin file into a separate folder. The folder will contain all the images needed for the watch face, a GIF and PNG preview of the watch face, and a JSON file that maps and controls the entire data flow.

WatchFace.exe
WatchFace.exe

Coding to customize WatchFace Mi Band 4

  • Step 1:: First, open the JSON file in notepad. The first few lines of code describe the background image for the watch face. In this case, the following are the first few lines of the JSON file.
    • {
    • "Background": {
    • "Image": {
    • «X»: 0,
    • «Y»: 0,
    • «ImageIndex»: 0
    • }
    • },

In these lines, the first parameter is Background, which indicates that a few more lines define the background of the watch face. The values ​​of X and Y indicate the location of the background image on the watch screen. It has to be 0 since the background has to start at coordinates 0 and expand across the entire screen.

  • Image Index: 0 indicates that the PNG file named «0» is the file used for the background.

Now, you need to create your own custom background. The background image is more like a template that will hold all the values.

  • Step 1:: Find the file with the name «0» and drag it into Photoshop. Modify it appropriately to get a custom background. The dimensions of the file background must be 120 x 240 pixels, which is equivalent to the screen size of the Mi Band 4.

WatchFace.exe

NOTE: : Also, if you dig deeper into the JSON file, you can see a parameter called “Activity”. This parameter contains several objects such as Steps, Pulse, Distance, Calories. These objects can be used to extract data from the Mi Band 4 sensor to the watch face.

  • Step 2:: Below is some sample code to display the step count on the watch face.
    • "Activity": {
    • «Steps»: {
    • "Number": {
    • «TopLeftX»: 40,
    • «TopLeftY»: 105,
    • «BottomRightX»: 80,
    • «BottomRightY»: 105,
    • «Alignment»: «Center»,
    • «Spacing»: 2,
    • «ImageIndex»: 11,
    • «ImagesCount»: 10
    • }
    • },

NOTE: : The values ​​«TopLeftX" Y "TopLeftY» decide the initial drawing point of the values, while «BottomRightX" Y "BottomRightY» decide the endpoints. You can manipulate the X value within a range of 0 to 120 and the Y values ​​within a range of 0 to 240.

  • Step 3:: Finally, when you are done with the changes, copy and paste all the clock screen files into PalletImageFolder. Then drag and drop the JSON file in the File exe and it will generate the final bin file for you.
PalletImageFolder
PalletImageFolder
  • Step 4:: Move the bin file and the GIF to the following location on your Android.
    • Internal storage of Android > Data > com.xiaomi.hm.health > files > watch files > watch_skin_local

You will now have your watch face inside the Mi Fit app and you can sync it with your bracelet.

Android internal storage > Data > com.xiaomi.hm.health > files > watch files > watch_skin_local

NOTE: : In case there is an issue with your watch face, the Mi Band 4 screen will go blank. To fix this, go to the Mi Fit app and sync a previously working watch face.

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Conclusion

These were the methods to customize WatchFace Mi Band 4. The best thing about it is that you can use third-party apps in various domains like camera control which although is not officially supported by MI Band 4 but can be enabled using “selfie band","remote shutter”, etc., band interface using the device bridge and then setting unlimited watch faces using third-party apps. We hope we have helped you.