First inclusion of Xiaomi fitness bracelet: full instruction with photos and tips

You just unpacked a box with a new Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelet and don't know where to start?The first turn on may seem simple, but beginners often have questions: how to properly charge the device, what to do if the bracelet does not respond to touch, or why the Mi Fit app does not see the gadget. This article will help avoid typical mistakes and adjust the bracelet the first time - without unnecessary movements and searching for information on the forums.

We will go through the process in detail for all current models, from the Mi Band 3 to the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro, point out the key differences between versions, and give advice on optimal settings out of the box. Particular attention will be paid to the problems faced by Android and iOS users, they often require different approaches. If you have tried to turn on the bracelet, but something went wrong, at the end of this article there is a section with solutions to the most common malfunctions.

Preparation for the first turn on: what to do before launch

Before you press the power button, make sure you follow all the preliminary steps, which will save time and eliminate the need to restart the process.

Charging the bracelet is the most important step. Even if the box says that the device is 30-50% charged, it is better to connect it to the network for 15-20 minutes. Mi Band 7/8 models have more capacious batteries, and their first launch may require more power to initialize the modules. Use only the original cable - cheap analogues often do not provide stable power, which leads to failures when updating the firmware.

• 🔋 Check the charge level: the bracelet should display a battery indicator when you connect to the charger. If it is not, try another one. USB-port.
• 📱 Install the app: for Android, download Mi Fit or Zepp Life (for new models) from Google Play, for iOS - from the App Store.
• 🔄 Update your smartphone firmware: Outdated versions of Android (below 8.0) or iOS (below 13) may not support the latest bracelet models.

⚠️ Note: If you use an iPhone, before connecting the bracelet, turn on the Settings option in your phone settings → Bluetooth → Allow applications to access Bluetooth. Without that, Mi Fit won't be able to detect the device.

2. Step-by-step instructions: how to turn on the bracelet for the first time

When the bracelet is charged and the app is installed, you can start to turn on. The process is slightly different depending on the model, but the overall scheme is the same.

For the Mi Band 3/4/5 models:

1. Press and hold the touch button under the screen for 3-5 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
2. Release the button and the bracelet will start vibrating and start the initialization process.
3. Wait for the Pair (Conjugation) to appear on the screen.

For the Mi Band 6/7/8 and Smart Band 8 Pro models:

1. Touch the bracelet screen and swipe your finger up to unlock it (if the screen doesn’t respond, plug it into charging for 10 minutes).
2. Click the Bluetooth icon on the menu or swipe left before it appears QR-code.
3. In annex Mi Fit/Zepp Life Select Add Device and Scan QR-bracelet.

If the bracelet does not turn on after 10 seconds of holding the button, this may indicate a dead battery or factory defect. Try charging it for 1-2 hours, and then try again.

3.Phone pairing: why the bracelet doesn't connect

The most common problem with the first switch on is that the bracelet is not defined in the application, and the reasons can be different, from a banal lack of permissions to conflict with other devices.

Typical errors and decisions:

• 📵 Bluetooth not on: check that the phone is activated Bluetooth and visibility mode.
• 🔄 Device conflict: If you already had another Xiaomi bracelet connected, remove it from the list of devices in Mi Fit.
• 📱 Older version of the app: Update Mi Fit or Zepp Life to the latest version.
• 🚫 Block permissions: on Android go to Settings → Annexes → Mi Fit → Permissions and enable all options.

⚠️ Note: After pairing, your iPhone may have a request for permission to notify you, if you ignore it, the bracelet will not show incoming calls and messages. To fix this later, go to Settings. → Notifications → Mi Fit.

4.Initial setting: what to change after connecting

After successful pairing, the bracelet is ready to work, but some settings are better changed immediately to avoid inconvenience later.

Mandatory parameters for verification:

• ⏰ Time and Date: sync with your phone in Device Profile → Time settings.
• 🔔 Notifications: Select applications that will duplicate alerts on the bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram).
• 🏃 Activity goals: Set realistic steps (we recommend starting with a step-by-step approach) 6000-8000 day-to-day).
• 🔒 Screen lock: turn on PIN-code or fingerprint unlock (available on Mi Band) 7/8).

For models with NFC (Mi Band 6 NFC, Smart Band 7 Pro), be sure to configure contactless payments. In Russia, Mir and Mastercard cards are supported (via the bank application). In Mi Fit path: Profile → Mi Pay → Add a card.

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If you have a magnetically charged Mi Band 8, don't press the cable too hard, it can damage the contacts. Just a little touch before the click is enough.

5. Firmware update: should I do immediately after turning on

When you first connect, Mi Fit or Zepp Life usually offers you to update the bracelet firmware. But should you accept it?

When to update:

• ✅ If the firmware version is older than 6 months (check in the Device Profile). → About the device).
• ✅ If there are critical bugs in the fix list (e.g., “step synchronization problem fixed").

When to postpone:

• ❌ If the bracelet charge level is below 50%, the upgrade may be interrupted.
• ❌ If you are using an iPhone with iOS 16+ — Sometimes there are conflicts with Bluetooth.

The update process takes 5-15 minutes. Don't turn off Bluetooth or close the app until it's finished.

1. Reset the bracelet (hold the button for 10 seconds).
2. Close Mi Fit through Task Manager.
3. Try again.

6.Typical Beginner Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even after successful inclusion, users often face problems that are easy to prevent.

Mistake 1: The bracelet discharges quickly

Reason: Always on screen lights or frequent notifications.

• Reduce the backlight time in Screen Settings → Backlight (optimally - 5 seconds).
• Turn off unnecessary notifications in Settings → Notifications.

Mistake 2: Inaccurate steps

Reason: wrong calibration or wearing on the wrong hand.

• Wear the bracelet on the non-dominant hand (for right-handed - left, for left-handed - right).
• In Mi Fit, specify the correct height and weight – this affects the calculation algorithms.

Error 3: The bracelet is not synced to the phone

Reason: conflict with other devices or energy saving settings.

• Add Mi Fit to the battery optimization exceptions (Settings → Battery → Optimization).
• Reboot both devices.

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If the bracelet stopped syncing after upgrading your phone to Android 14, try turning off the “Automatic Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Switch” feature in your network settings.

7. Reset to factory settings: when necessary

If the bracelet is unstable (hangs, doesn't sync, shows incorrect data), you may need to reset. This is also useful before selling the device.

How to reset your settings:

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → Additional → Reset (the path may differ depending on the model).
2. Confirm the action on the bracelet screen.
3. After restarting, pair again, as when you first turn on.

For models without touch screen (Mi Band 3):

1. Hold the button for 15-20 seconds until the vibration occurs.
2. Release the button and the bracelet will reset and reset.

⚠️ Warning: Reset removes all data from the bracelet, including activity history. If you care about statistics, pre-sync it with the Mi Fit app.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions