The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular trackers due to its balance of price, functionality and reliability. Even years after its release, the device remains relevant – it is bought to monitor activity, sleep, pulse and even control music from the phone. However, beginners often have questions about how to properly turn on the bracelet, connect it to a smartphone and customize it to their needs.
In this article, we’ll look at the activation process from scratch, from unpacking to the first steps in the Mi Fit app (or its alternatives), focusing on common mistakes: why the bracelet doesn’t turn on, sync with your smartphone, or show notifications, and highlight hidden features that many users miss, such as setting an alarm clock for sleep phases or using a bracelet to unlock your phone.
If you just bought the Mi Band 4 or pulled it out after a long downtime, this guide will help you avoid common problems and maximize the potential of the device.
Preparing for the first turn on: what to do before activation
Before you press the button on the bracelet, check a few key points, which will determine how smooth the adjustment process goes.
1. Charge level. Mi Band 4 comes with a partially charged battery, but if the bracelet has been in storage or in the store for several months, the charge could drop to zero. Connect the device to the charging cable (comprised) for 10-15 minutes, even if the indicator does not burn. This will eliminate problems with the onset.
2. Smartphone compatibility. The bracelet works with Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+. On older versions of the OS, the Mi Fit application may not install or work with errors. You can check the OS version in the phone settings in the About Phone section.
3.Availability: Without Mi Fit (or alternatives like Zepp Life), the bracelet will work like a normal watch, without synchronizing data, notifications or advanced features.
- 📱 For Android: Google Play (official version).
- 🍎 For iPhone: App Store.
- 🌐 APK For older Android: If your phone doesn’t support the latest version, download it. APK with APKPure (version 4.6.0 and later).
4. Application permissions. Once installed, Mi Fit will request access to:
- 📱 Contacts (to display names in notifications).
- 📍 Geolocation (for accurate steps and jogging).
- 🔔 Notifications (to make the bracelet vibrate when calling and texting).
- 📸 Camera (for scanning) QR-code-in).
⚠️ Note: If you refuse notification permissions, the bracelet will not vibrate when incoming calls or if you are not allowed to do so. SMS. This is one of the most common reasons for users to complain about the “defunct” Mi Band 4.
How to turn on Xiaomi Mi Band 4: step-by-step instructions
If the bracelet is discharged, first connect it to charging for 10-20 minutes. The charge indicator (the small round LED under the screen) should light up red.
Step 1. Physically activate: Press and hold the touch button under the bracelet screen for 3-5 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
- 🔋 Check the charge (the indicator should burn when connected to the USB).
- 🔌 Try another one. USB-port or charger (sometimes the problem is low current).
- 🔄 If the bracelet has been previously used, reset: connect to the charger and press the 10 button.+ seconds until the reset menu appears.
Step 2: Language selection. Once downloaded, the bracelet will suggest you choose a language. Swipe the list up/down and click on Russian (or any other language you want), confirm the choice by pressing a button.
Step 3: Connect to your phone. Now the bracelet is ready to sync. Open the Mi Fit app and:
- Click Profile → Add the device.
- Choose a bracelet. → Mi Smart Band 4.
- Allow the app to access Bluetooth and geolocation.
- Follow the instructions on the screen (scanning may be required) QR-bracelet).
If the bracelet doesn't find the phone:
- 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your smartphone (turn off/on in settings).
- 📱 Make sure there are no active phones on the phone. VPN flight-mode.
- 🔋 Check the bracelet charge (at a low level it may not appear in the list of devices).
Bracelet charge > 20%|Bluetooth on your phone is on|Mi Fit app installed and updated|Permits for Mi Fit issued|The bracelet is located next to the phone (within a radius of 1 m)-->
Set up the main parameters in the Mi Fit application
Once successfully connected, the bracelet will be displayed in the Mi Fit main menu, so you need to configure key functions, and then you need to analyze the most important sections.
1. User profile. Go to Profile → Edit and indicate:
- 👤 Gender and age (affects calorie and pulse zones calculation).
- ⚖️ Weight and height (need to calculate steps and distance).
- 🏃 Steps by step (standard 10,000, but can be changed).
Notifications: To make the bracelet vibrate when calling and texting:
- Go to Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications.
- Turn on the Call Notification switch.
- Select the apps you want to receive notifications from (such as WhatsApp, Telegram).
- Set up a time of inactivity (e.g., vibration every 10 minutes if you sit for a long time).
3. Display data on the screen. In the section of the bracelet screen, you can choose what information to show on the home screen:
- ⏱️ Time and date.
- 🩺 Pulse (current or average per day).
- 🚶 Steps and distance travelled.
- 🔋 Charge level.
The Mi Band 4 supports up to 10 alarm clocks, including smart alarm clocks for sleep phases.
- Go to Mi Smart Band 4 → Alarm clocks.
- Click Add an alarm clock and specify the time.
- Choose the days of the week (for example, only on weekdays).
- Turn on the Smart Alarm (Wake up in the optimal sleep phase 30 minutes before the set time).
| Function | Where to set up | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic sleep detection | Profile → Sleep | Turn on if you want to track sleep phases without manually starting. |
| Heart rate control | Mi Smart Band 4 → Heart rate | Set a measurement interval (e.g., every 30 minutes). |
| Managing music | Mi Smart Band 4 → Managing music | It only works with default players (like Google Play Music). |
| Phone search | Mi Smart Band 4 → Additionally. → Phone search | The bracelet will make a sound if the phone is lost within Bluetooth radius. |
⚠️ Note: If the bracelet does not vibrate when calling after setting notifications, check:
- 📵 Is not the mode not to disturb on the phone.
- 🔕 Are notifications for a specific application (e.g. Viber) disabled in the settings Android/iOS.
- 🔄 Does not require a reboot of the bracelet (sometimes helps to disconnect / connect to Mi Fit).
💡
If the bracelet does not sync data (steps, sleep), try untie it in Mi Fit (profile). → Mi Smart Band 4 → Turn it off, and then reconnect it. It resets the cache of the connection.
Hidden features of Mi Band 4, which few people know
Most users only use the bracelet to count steps and time, but the Mi Band 4 has a lot more to do with it.
1.Unlock phone.The bracelet can unlock the smartphone on Xiaomi (and some other brands) without entering a password.
- Open the phone settings → Unlocking.
- Select Trust Devices and add Mi Band 4.
- Enable the option to unlock the bracelet in Mi Fit.
Now, when the bracelet approaches the phone, the screen unlocks automatically.
2. Camera control. You can take photos from your smartphone remotely:
- Open the camera on your phone.
- In the Mi Fit app, go to Mi Smart Band 4 → Additionally. → Camera control.
- Press the button of the bracelet to take a picture (delay 3 seconds).
3. Do not disturb mode. Disables all notifications and vibrations for a given time (e.g., in a meeting):
- Swipe down on the bracelet screen.
- Choose an icon 🔔 and set a timer (from 1 hour to 24).
4. Weather on the screen. The bracelet can show the current weather and the forecast for 3 days.
- In Mi Fit, go to Mi Smart Band 4 → Weather.
- Turn on the option and select the city.
- On the bracelet, swipe left/right to see the weather widget.
Training with GPS. Although the bracelet doesn't have a built-in GPS, It can use the smartphone module to accurately track jogging:
- 🏃 Start the training on the bracelet (training mode) → Run).
- 📱 Take your phone with you (put it in your pocket or a special belt).
- 🗺️ After completion, the route will be displayed in Mi Fit with map and statistics.
How to reset Mi Band 4 to factory settings?
Typical problems and their solutions
Even a reliable device like the Mi Band 4 sometimes fails, and we'll look at the most common user complaints and how to fix them.
1. The bracelet is not switched on. Possible causes and solutions:
- 🔋 Battery discharged: connect to charging at 30+ If the light is not on, try another cable or USB-port.
- 💧 Moisture: Dry the bracelet in rice or silica gel 24+ Don't use a hair dryer!
- 🔧 Software failure: perform reset (see spoiler above).
2. The data is not synchronized.
- 📶 Bluetooth: should be on the phone, and the bracelet – within a radius of 10 meters.
- 🔄 Updates: Check out the Mi Fit version in the app store.
- 📱 Background Processes: On Android, add Mi Fit to battery optimization exceptions (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fit → Battery → No restrictions).
3. Vibration is not working. Common causes:
- 🔕 Notifications disabled: check settings in Mi Fit → Notifications.
- 📵 Do Not Disturb Mode: Swipe down on the bracelet and turn off 🔔.
- 🔋 Weak charge: at levels below 10%, some functions are turned off.
4. Incorrectly counts steps. To improve accuracy:
- 👟 Wear the bracelet on the non-working hand (for right-handed - left, for left-handed - right-handed).
- 📏 Specify the correct height and weight in the Mi Fit profile.
- 🚶 Calibrate the steps: walk 50 steps with your phone in your hand, then compare the data in the Mi Fit and bracelet.
5. The bracelet discharges quickly. Extend the operating time:
- 🔋 Turn off continuous pulse monitoring (set the measurement every 30 minutes instead of 1 minute).
- 📵 Reduce the brightness of the screen in the bracelet settings.
- 🔔 Disable unnecessary notifications (for example, from social networks).
- 🌙 Use sleep mode (turns off the display at night).
💡
If the bracelet is no longer responsive to presses, but the screen is on, try hard reboot: plug in to charge and hold the button for 20 seconds, which often helps when you freeze.
Firmware update: why and how to do it
The Mi Band 4 firmware is updated periodically, fixing bugs, adding new features (such as support for new dials) and improving stability. Update takes 5-10 minutes and requires no special skills.
How to check the current version:
- Open Mi Fit and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4.
- Scroll down to the firmware version section.
- Compare it to the latest version on the support website.
How to update:
- Connect the bracelet to charge and make sure the charge is > 50%.
- Open Mi Fit and wait for the update notification (or check manually in the bracelet settings).
- Confirm installation and do not disconnect the bracelet from the phone until it is completed.
What to do if the update is suspended:
- 🔄 Reset the bracelet (hold the button for 10 seconds).
- 📱 Reinstall Mi Fit (sometimes cleaning the app cache helps).
- 🔌 Connect the bracelet to another phone and try again.
⚠️ Attention: if during the upgrade the bracelet disconnects from the phone or discharges, this can lead to a breech (breaking the firmware). PC Using the Mi Band 4 Tool.
The latest stable firmware version for the Mi Band 4 at 2026 is 1.0.9.54. Updates after 1.0.9.50 added support for new dials and fixed a weather-display bug in some regions.
Mi Band 4 apps: When Mi Fit doesn't work
The official Mi Fit app doesn't always suit users: some lack features, some don't like the interface. Fortunately, there are alternatives with advanced features.
1. Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit) An app from the same manufacturer, but with more advanced analytics:
- 📊 Detailed sleep statistics by phase (REM, light, deep).
- 🏃 Supporting more types of training.
- 🎨 More dials (including animated ones).
Download: Android/IOS.
2. Notify & Fitness for Mi Band. Expands the functionality of notifications and add widgets:
- 🔔 Set up vibration for each application separately.
- 📝 Ability to respond to messages with templates (e.g., “I’ll call you later").
- 🎵 Managing music from a bracelet (including Spotify).
Download: Android (iOS is not supported).
3. Mi Band Master. For advanced users:
- 🔧 Manual control of firmware (downgrade, installation of custom versions).
- 🎨 Loading of informal dials.
- 📡 Set up Bluetooth parameters (e.g. signal strength).
Download: Android.
4. Gadgetbridge: Open source software for working with wearable devices without cloud services:
- 🔒 Complete Data Control (Nothing is sent to Xiaomi).
- 📥 Export of statistics in format CSV.
- 🛠️ Support for custom firmware.
Download: official website (accessible in F-Droid).
⚠️ Warning: When using third-party applications (especially firmware) there is a risk of losing warranty or bracelet failure!