Why Mi Band 4 is not connected to your phone and how to fix it

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular activity tracking gadgets, but even it is not immune to technical failures. One of the most common problems is the lack of communication with the phone when the bracelet is not detected in the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app, constantly breaks the connection or does not turn on at all, the causes can be due to software errors and hardware malfunctions.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible scenarios, from commonplace user errors (for example, forgetting to turn on Bluetooth) to complex cases where you need to reset or even repair. We’ll focus on the differences between Android and iOS, because the connection algorithms on these platforms differ, and you’ll find a table with typical error codes and their decryption, which will help diagnose the problem faster.

If your Mi Band 4 stopped connecting after a firmware update, a crash, or a long period of inactivity, don't rush it to the service center. In 90% of cases, you can solve the problem yourself by following our instructions.

1. Checking the basic connection conditions

Before you sin on a malfunctioning bracelet, make sure that all the prerequisites for successful synchronization are met. Often users miss the obvious points that make the Mi Band 4 not visible in the list of available devices.

Minimum connection requirements:

• 📱 Version. Android/iOS: Android 5.0 iOS 10.0. On older systems, the Mi Fit application may not work properly.
• 🔵 Bluetooth: must be enabled on the phone and be in search mode (Settings) → Bluetooth → Visibility).
• 📶 Distance: bracelet and phone should be no more than 10 meters away (no obstacles) Walls, metal objects and other devices at 2.4 GHz (such as Wi-Fi routers) can cause interference.
• 🔋 Bracelet charge: Battery level must be at least 20%.When the discharge is below this threshold, the Mi Band 4 automatically turns off the Bluetooth module to save energy.

Also check if your smartphone is in Energy Saving or Flight Mode - these settings block Bluetooth. On Android, go to Settings → Battery → Power Saving Mode and Turn It Off. On your iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen (or up on models with the Home button) and make sure the Bluetooth icon is illuminated in blue.

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS or MIUI Global Beta, the problem may be the unstable operation of the Bluetooth module.

2.Reboot the bracelet and phone

The classic “off and on” method works with the Mi Band 4.Reboot resets temporary communication errors, clears the cache of the Bluetooth module and often solves the problem of “invisibility” of the device.

How to reboot Mi Band 4:

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
2. Press and hold the touch button under the screen for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears on the display.
3. Release the button and wait for the full load (usually takes 20-30 seconds).

In parallel, reboot your smartphone. On Android, hold the power button and select Reboot. On iPhone:

• 📱 iPhone 8 and newer: quickly press and release the volume button, then reduce the volume, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
• 📱 iPhone 7/7 Plus: Hold the side button and volume button at the same time.
• 📱 iPhone 6s and older: Hold the side (or top) button and the Home button.

After restarting both devices, try reconnecting. If the problem persists, move on to the next step.

3. Update of the application and firmware of the bracelet

An outdated version of the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app can conflict with the bracelet's firmware, especially after the phone's operating system is updated, and the Mi Band 4 itself may require firmware updates to work properly with newer versions of Bluetooth.

How to update the app:

• 📲 On Android: Open the Google Play Store, find Mi Fit or Zepp Life and click Update.
• 🍎 On iOS: Go to the App Store → Profile → Updates and find the app in the list.

How to update the bracelet firmware:

1. Open the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app.
2. Go to the Profile section → Mi Smart Band 4 → Firmware update.
3. If a new version is available, follow the instructions on the screen. Do not disconnect the bracelet from your phone during the process!

Updating the firmware can take up to 10-15 minutes, make sure the bracelet has a charge level of at least 50%, and the phone is connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi (update via mobile data may be interrupted).

4. Reset bracelet settings to factory

If the Mi Band 4 still doesn't connect, the next step is hard reset, which will remove all data from the bracelet (steps, notifications, settings), but often helps to restore communication with the phone. → Settings → Backup).

How to reset Mi Band 4 to factory settings:

Once reset, the bracelet will automatically reset, and now it needs to be reconnected:

1. Open Mi Fit or Zepp Life.
2. Click Add Device (the + icon in the upper right corner).
3. Select the Mi Smart Band 4 from the list.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen for pairing.

If the reset didn’t work, the problem could be a damaged Bluetooth bracelet or phone module, in which case, try connecting the Mi Band 4 to another smartphone, which will help to localize the malfunction.

⚠️ Warning: After reset, the bracelet may temporarily display incorrect time or data. Synchronization will recover after the first successful connection to the phone.

5. Bluetooth problems: diagnosis and solution

If the bracelet is not detected by the phone at all (it does not appear in the list of available Bluetooth devices), the problem may lie in a conflict of Bluetooth profiles, outdated cached data, or a hardware malfunction of the module.

Steps for diagnosis:

How to clear the Bluetooth cache on Android:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Find Bluetooth (or Bluetooth Share) and open it.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. Reboot the phone.

There is no separate option for clearing the Bluetooth cache on iOS, but you can reset your network settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Mainstream → Removing or resetting iPhone.
2. Select Reset → Reset network settings.
3. Enter the password and confirm the reset.

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If your phone supports dual Bluetooth (such as Samsung Dual Audio or Xiaomi Dual Bluetooth), disable this feature before plugging in the bracelet.It can create conflicts when pairing with the Mi Band 4.

6 Conflicts with other applications and services

Some apps (especially those that actively use Bluetooth or background services) can block Mi Band 4 connectivity.

• 🎵 Music apps (Spotify, Yandex Music) – can take up a Bluetooth channel for streaming.
• 🎮 Game launchers (Steam Link, Xbox App) – use Bluetooth to connect gamepads.
• 🔒 Antivirus and VPN (Avast, Kaspersky, NordVPN – can block a connection as “suspicious».
• 📡 Smart Home apps (Mi Home, Google Home) – conflict with Mi Fit over shared Xiaomi libraries.

How to identify and resolve conflict:

1. Close all background applications through Task Manager.
2. temporarily disable the antivirus or VPN.
3. Try connecting the bracelet in Safe Mode (on Android: hold the power button) → Safe regime).
4. If the connection is successful in safe mode, the culprit is among the installed applications.

On iOS, conflicts are less common, but if they are, try:

• Disable Background Application Update (Settings) → Mainstream → Content updates).
• Reset location and privacy (Settings) → Mainstream → Reset → Reset location and privacy).

7. Hardware malfunctions: when to carry in the service

If all software methods have been tried, but Mi Band 4 still doesn't connect, the problem could be hardware.

• 🔌 The bracelet does not respond to charging (the indicator does not burn, does not vibrate).
• 📶 Bluetooth module is not turned on (bracelet is not defined by any device).
• 💧 Artifacts appeared on the display (stripes, flickering, unreadable symbols).
• 🔋 The battery is discharged in a few hours without use.
• 💥 The bracelet fell from a height or came into contact with water (despite the declared moisture protection 5). ATM, Salt water or steam can damage contacts).

What you can do on your own:

• 🔧 Check charging contacts: gently clean the bracelet and charging cable contacts with an alcohol wipe. Sometimes oxidation or dirt interferes with normal charging, which leads to malfunctions in work.
• 🔋 Battery replacement: If the bracelet only turns on on charging, but immediately turns off after turning off - most likely, the battery is swollen. It can be replaced yourself (video instructions are available on YouTube), but you need a soldering iron and experience with small electronics.

When to contact the service:

• If the bracelet is not turned on at all (no reaction to the button and charging).
• If the sensor or display stops working after the fall.
• If the Bluetooth module is not defined by any device (check on 2-3 phones).

Official Xiaomi service centers in Russia and CIS can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service/center. Average cost of diagnosis — 500–1000 ₽, repairs (such as replacing a display or Bluetooth module) are expensive 1500–3000 ₽. If the bracelet is warranty (usually) 12 months from the date of purchase, the repair will be free of charge.

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Before visiting the service center, reset the bracelet to the factory settings and remove it from the Mi Fit application. This will speed up the diagnostic process, since the wizard will not have to waste time untie the device.

8. Alternative ways of connecting (if nothing helps)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try non-obvious solutions that sometimes help in desperate situations.

Method 1: Connecting through another application

Sometimes Mi Fit or Zepp Life is glitched, but the bracelet is successfully connected through third-party utilities, for example:

• 📱 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (Android) – Supports Mi Band 4 and offers advanced customizations.
• 📱 Mi Band Master – an alternative to the official application with additional features.
• 📱 Tools & Mi Band – allows you to manually control your Bluetooth firmware and settings.

Method 2: Manually add the device via Bluetooth settings

On some phones (especially Android before version 10), the Mi Band 4 doesn't appear in the list of available devices in Mi Fit, but is visible in Bluetooth system settings.

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Find it on the list. MI Band 4_XXXX (where XXXX — unique identifier).
3. Connect to it manually (may be required). PIN-code, usually 0000 or 1234).
4. After successful pairing, open Mi Fit and try synchronizing the data.

Method 3: Using another phone to set up the initial setup

If your main phone persistently doesn't see the bracelet, try connecting it to another device (like a tablet or a friend's phone). After successful synchronization, return the bracelet to the main phone, a method that helps wake up the Bluetooth module of the bracelet.

Method 4: Firmware rollback (for advanced users)

If the problems started after the firmware update, you can try to roll back to the previous version.

• Download the old firmware from the site amazon-mi-band.ru.
• Install the Mi Band 4 Tools utility on the phone (available on the phone) 4PDA).
• Follow the instructions for the firmware through ADB (computer).

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect firmware rollback can turn the bracelet into a brick.Do this only if you are confident in your actions or under the guidance of an experienced user.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Mi Band 4