Xiaomi fitness bracelets (Mi Band, Smart Band series) have long been the standard for tracking activity, sleep and health. But even with such popular devices, the first launch raises questions about how to properly sync the bracelet with your phone, what apps to use, and what to do if your smartphone “can’t see” the gadget. This article will help you understand all the nuances of choosing a compatible application to solving typical connection problems.
We will look at the current models of 2022-2026 (Mi Band 7/8, Smart Band 7 Pro, Band 8 Active), and also pay attention to the features of synchronization with Android and iPhone. A separate section is devoted to errors like “unconnected” or “bracelet is not determined” – with specific ways to fix them. If you just unpacked the box with a new tracker, start with the first partition. If you encounter a problem, immediately go to the diagnostic unit.
What applications are needed to tie the fitness bracelet Xiaomi
For the full operation of any Xiaomi bracelet requires an official application - without it, the device will not be able to synchronize data with the smartphone.
- 📱 Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit) is a universal application for most bracelets, including Mi Band 3-8, Smart Band 7 Pro. Supports Russian, but in some regions (for example, the EU) may require a change of country in phone settings.
- 🌍 Xiaomi Wear – a new platform for devices with Wear OS (Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, for example, but also compatible with some wristbands. It has advanced features for smartwatches, but is less stable for simple trackers.
- 🔄 Zepp Life is an alternative app for Amazfit bracelets (a brand of the same ecosystem), but it is also suitable for some Xiaomi models.
Important: Xiaomi is actively moving users from Mi Fit to Mi Fitness from 2023. If you have an older version of the application, the system will suggest updating. Failure to update may lead to loss of sync with the newer Mi Band 6 bracelets.
For iPhone owners, the choice is limited: officially supported only Mi Fitness (available in the App Store). Alternative applications like Notify & Fitness or Tools & Mi Band allow you to expand the functionality (for example, add support for notifications from instant messengers), but require separate configuration and can conflict with official software.
Preparation of the bracelet and telephone for pairing
Before you tie your fitness bracelet to your phone, follow a few mandatory steps to avoid mistakes like “cannot find the device” or “connection is interrupted.”
Download the official app (Mi Fitness or Xiaomi Wear)
Turn on Bluetooth on your phone
Charge the bracelet to at least 20%
Make sure your phone has the latest OS (Android 8.0+/iOS 12+) installed.
Turn it off. VPN (It can block Xiaomi servers)-->
Pay special attention to the application permissions. On Android, after installing Mi Fitness, you must manually allow:
- 📍 Geodata (for accurate jogging tracking).
- 📱 Notifications (to have the bracelet show incoming calls and messages).
- 🔋 Autorun (otherwise, the application may close in the background, interrupting synchronization).
On the iPhone, check out:
- 🔄 B Settings → Confidentiality → Geolocation services for Mi Fitness must be selected mode "When using».
- 📶 B Settings → Bluetooth bracelet should be shown as “Connected” (even if the application is not already tied).
⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi or Redmi with a branded shell MIUI, Enable the “Device Visibility” option in Settings → Bluetooth → In addition, without it, the bracelet may not appear in the list of available gadgets.
Step-by-step: how to tie the bracelet to the phone
Consider the Mi Band 8 and Mi Fitness (relevant to most models) and the instructions are suitable for Android and iOS, the differences are listed separately.
Step 1. Turn on the bracelet
Put the bracelet on your hand and press the touch button (on the Mi Band 7/8 is the only button below the screen). The device vibrates and the Mi logo appears on the screen. If the bracelet does not respond, plug it into charging for 5-10 minutes.
Step 2: Launching the application
Open Mi Fitness and click Add Device (+ in the upper right corner). Select your bracelet model from the list. If it's not available, update the app or check your account region (should match the region of your bracelet purchase).
Step 3: Bluetooth interface
The app will suggest turning on Bluetooth and allowing access to geodata, then start searching for devices, when your bracelet appears on the list (the name will be of the type Mi Band). 8_XXXX), You can tap it. The bracelet will appear on the screen. 4-code - confirm it in the application.
Step 4: Set up an account
If you are not logged in to Xiaomi, the system will offer to create an account or log in via Google/Apple ID. Without an account binding, the bracelet will not be able to sync data with the cloud, and some features (for example, payment Mi Pay) will not be available.
Step 5: Update the firmware
Once attached, the app may suggest updating the bracelet firmware. Don't interrupt! On the Mi Band 8, the update takes 3-5 minutes, the bracelet will reboot automatically. On the iPhone, this step may require a Wi-Fi connection (mobile internet isn't enough).
| Model bracelet | Minimum version of Android | Minimum version of iOS | Does Xiaomi account need to be accounted? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 7 | Android 6.0 | iOS 12.0 | Yes. |
| Mi Band 8 | Android 8.0 | iOS 13.0 | Yes. |
| Smart Band 7 Pro | Android 7.0 | iOS 12.0 | No (but loss of function) |
| Mi Band 6 | Android 5.0 | iOS 10.0 | Yes. |
⚠️ Note: On iPhone, after bracelet binding, you may need to adjust notifications further. → Notifications → Mi Fitness and enable the Allow Notifications option.Without this, the bracelet won't vibrate when incoming calls or messages are sent.
Configure notifications and basic functions
After successful pairing, the bracelet will display time, steps and basic information, but for full use you need to configure:
- 📞 Notifications – Selecting applications from which the bracelet will vibrate (WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS etc.).
- 🏃 Activity tracking – setting goals by steps, calories, sleep time.
- 🔒 Security – lock the bracelet screen with a password (on the Mi Band 8 supports 4-digit PIN).
- 💳 Mi Pay – a contactless payment card binding (only available in supported countries).
To set up notifications:
- Open Mi Fitness and go to the section of your bracelet.
- Select “Profile → App alerts” (Select “Profile → App alerts”).
- Turn on the switches in front of the desired messengers.
- On Android, allow Mi Fitness to access notifications in your system settings (Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Notifications).
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If the bracelet doesn't vibrate when alerted, check the Do Not Disturb mode on your phone. On Android, it can block notifications from being transmitted to associated devices.
To set up sleep tracking:
- Go to Profile → Sleep.
- Turn on the option of “Sleep Auto Tracking”.
- Set your target sleep time (recommended 7-9 hours).
- The Mi Band 8 feature is available as a “Dremote” – the bracelet will remind you to take a nap if you are not active during the day.
Solving problems with connecting the bracelet
If the bracelet doesn't connect to the phone, first check the obvious:
- 🔋 Bracelet charge level (less than 10% can block pairing).
- 📶 Bluetooth is on the phone and the bracelet is within a radius of 1 meter.
- 📱 Mi Fitness app updated to latest version.
If the problem persists, use the table of common errors and their solutions:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The bracelet is not on the list of devices | Conflict with another Bluetooth device | Turn off all the associated gadgets (earphones, speakers) and restart the phone. |
| The “Cannot Connect” Error | Outdated bracelet firmware | Connect the bracelet to charging and update the firmware through Mi Fitness. |
| The application freezes at the interface stage | Regional restrictions | Change the region of your Xiaomi account to “Russia” or “China” in your profile settings. |
| The bracelet connects but does not synchronize data | Limitations on energy conservation | Add Mi Fitness to battery optimization exceptions (Settings → Battery → Optimization). |
For Mi Band 7/8 models, if the error “Failed to update the firmware” is:
- Remove the bracelet from the list of devices in Mi Fitness.
- Reboot your phone and bracelet (press the button on the bracelet for 10 seconds).
- Connect the bracelet to charging and repeat the pairing.
- If the error repeats, download the firmware manually from the site mi-band.ru and update through Settings → About device → Update firmware.
What to do if the bracelet is frozen during the upgrade?
Resetting the bracelet to factory settings
If the bracelet is unstable (often shuts down, does not sync data), a factory reset can help, which will delete all data from the device, but save it in the Xiaomi account (if there was synchronization).
For the Mi Band 7/8 and Smart Band 7 Pro:
- Open on your phone Mi Fitness and go to the profile of the bracelet.
- Select "Untie the device" (Profile → Unpair).
- Confirm the action – the bracelet will be reset automatically.
Alternatively (if the phone is not available):
- On the bracelet, go to Settings → System → Reset (for Mi Band 8, the way: swipe down → Settings → Reset).
- Confirm the reset by pressing a button.
- The bracelet will reset and be ready for a new tie.
⚠️ Warning: After resetting the Mi Band 8 bracelet may require resetting the lock screen (PIN-If you forget your password, the only way to unlock your device is to reset via Mi Fitness with your Xiaomi account tied.
Compatibility with other devices and services
Xiaomi fitness bracelets can be used not only with smartphones, but also with other gadgets of the ecosystem:
- 🖥️ Laptops/PC – via Mi Fitness for Windows (only data synchronization is officially supported, notifications are not working).
- 🏠 Smart home – bracelet can control Xiaomi Smart Home devices (for example, turn on the light when waking up).
- 🎧 Headphones – Mi Band 8 has a quick connection to Xiaomi Buds.
For integration with Google Fit or Apple Health:
- In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Settings → Data Synchronization.
- Select the right service and log in.
- Specify the types of data for export (steps, sleep, pulse, etc.).
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Xiaomi’s bracelets do not support direct synchronization with Samsung Health or Huawei Health. To transfer data, you will need third-party applications like Health Sync (Android) or Apple Health (as an intermediate service).
If you use a contactless payment bracelet (Mi Pay), consider:
- The function works only with partner banks (in Russia – Tinkoff, Sberbank, VTB).
- Mi Pay is not available on iPhone due to Apple restrictions.
- To activate, you need to link the card to Mi Fitness and install it. PIN-bracelet.