How to connect a fitness bracelet to the camera of the Xiaomi phone: gestures, settings and secrets

Have you ever wondered how to take a selfie or group photo on a Xiaomi smartphone without touching the screen? With a fitness bracelet Mi Band (or Xiaomi Smart Band) it is possible! The function of controlling the camera through gestures or the button of the bracelet eliminates the need to run to the phone, press a timer or ask outsiders to help with the shooting. But how to set up this bundle if the instruction manual for the bracelet does not say anything about it?

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can connect your bracelet to your camera on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from basic synchronization via Mi Fitness to hidden features in MIUI firmware. You’ll learn which bracelet models support camera control, how to set up gestures for shooting, and what to do if your phone doesn’t see the bracelet. And a unique life hack for owners of older bracelet models (up to the Mi Band 5), who don’t officially support this feature.

What Xiaomi bracelets can be connected to the camera?

Not all Xiaomi fitness trackers are capable of controlling a smartphone camera, here is the current list of compatible models (as of 2026):

• 📱 Mi Band 5 and newer – full gesture and button support.

Important: Even if your bracelet is on the list, the camera control function can be blocked on some MIUI firmware. For example, on Xiaomi 12T Pro with the global version of the software gestures work, but in Chinese – not. You can check compatibility in the settings of the Mi Fitness application (formerly Mi Fit).

⚠️ Attention: On smartphones POCO With custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), the camera control function through the bracelet may not work due to the lack of Xiaomi branded services. APK-Mi Fitness file from the official website.

Preparation: What to do before connecting

Before syncing the bracelet with the camera, follow these steps:

Update the bracelet firmware to the latest version

Install Mi Fitness (not Zepp Life!)

Turn on Bluetooth and geolocation on your phone

Allow Mi Fitness to access camera and microphone

Reset the bracelet (press the button for 10 seconds)-->

Pay special attention to the permissions of the application. Without access to the camera, the bracelet will not be able to send commands to shoot.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Mi Fitness and select Permissions.
3. Activate the Camera, Microphone and Bluetooth.

If you’re using the Mi Band 4 or older, download alternative software (like Notify & Fitness for Mi Band) that sometimes reveals hidden features, but beware: unofficial firmware can disrupt the heart rate sensor.

Method 1: Connect via the official Mi Fitness app

This is the most reliable method, but it only works on Mi Band 5 and later.

1. Synchronize the bracelet with your phone: 📲 Open Mi Fitness and click Add Device. 🔍 Choose your bracelet model from the list. 🔗 Confirm pairing on phone and bracelet (click button on tracker).
2. Activate camera control: 📷 Go to Profile. → My device. → Bracelet functions. 🔍 Find the Camera Control (or Camera Control). 🔘 Turn on the switch and allow access to the camera.

Set up your gestures.

Mi Band 6

• 👋 Select a gesture to shoot (usually a swing of your hand up and down).
• 🎯 Do the test: raise your hand with the bracelet in front of the camera - a timer should appear.

If this item is not, try an alternative method:

1. Connect the bracelet to your phone via Bluetooth.


2. Enable the developer mode on the phone:




- Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).




3. Go back to Settings → Additional → For developers.




4. Activate Bluetooth Debugging and Mok location.




5. Install the Mi Band Tools app (requires root or ADB- permission).

⚠️ Note: Using Mi Band Tools can cause the bracelet settings to reset if the permissions are not configured correctly.Before experimenting, back up your data via Mi Fitness.

Customizing gestures for shooting: secrets and life hacks

The camera gestures don't work perfectly, sometimes the wristband doesn't recognize movement or it's delayed, and here's how to make them work better:

• 🔄 Recalibrate the sensor: in Mi Fitness go to bracelet settings → Sensors. → Calibrate gestures and repeat the movement 3-5 times.
• 📏 Optimal distance: Keep your hand with the bracelet at a distance of 30–50 cm from the body.
• 🔋 Charging the bracelet: At a charge level below 20%, gestures may not work. Charge the device to at least 50%.
• 🌐 Account Region: If gestures are inactive, change the region in Mi Fitness to India or Europe (in profile settings).
• Voice assistant: 🎤 Set up a voice command (e.g., “OK, Google, take a photo”) and tie it to press the bracelet button via the button. IFTTT. ⚠️ Note: When using Tasker or AutoWear, the bracelet discharge will increase by 15-20% per day. FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting a bracelet to a camera Can you control the camera on an iPhone using a Xiaomi bracelet? No, officially this feature only works on Android. However, there is a workaround: install the Shortcuts app on your iPhone, create a shortcut for shooting, and then link it to the bracelet through the bracelet IFTTT Or Home Assistant (requires a constant Wi-Fi connection). Why does the bracelet take a photo with a 3-second delay? This is the standard timer in the Xiaomi Camera app. To remove the delay: Open the camera. → Settings → Timer. Select Off or 2 seconds. Restart the camera app. Can you control the video from the bracelet? Yes, but only on Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro and later. To do this: Turn on the video mode in the camera app. Twice press the button on the bracelet: first press is the beginning of recording, second press stop. On old bracelets this function is not implemented. How to turn off camera control if it interferes? Go to Mi Fitness → Profile → My device. → Control the camera and deactivate the switch. If you don't have a switch, reset the bracelet or untie it from the phone. Does camera control work in third-party apps (Instagram, Snapchat)? Officially not. The bracelet only interacts with the standard Xiaomi Camera app. However, you can use Tasker to emulate screen tapping in other applications (root rights required).