Xiaomi wearables have long since ceased to be just a pedometer and turned into a full-fledged smartphone extension. The Mi Band 5 model has become a real hit with a larger screen and improved features, but many users face difficulties in initial synchronization. The most important aspect for most owners is to receive timely alerts about calls and messages, so as not to miss anything important without taking the phone out of their pocket.
The process of activating push notifications requires careful attention, because modern Android and iOS operating systems have complex power saving mechanisms. If you just unpacked the tracker or bought it recently, you will need to properly configure the bundle between the bracelet, the Mi Fit application (or Zepp Life) and the smartphone system itself. Errors at any of these stages can cause the bracelet to remain silent at the most inopportune moment.
In this article, we will take a look at all the stages of connection, from basic settings to solving specific problems with specific messengers. You will learn how to make your wrist vibrate when you receive SMS, messages from social networks and emails.
Basic preparation and interface
Before you delve into the subtleties of notification settings, make sure the basic connection is done correctly.Make sure your smartphone has Bluetooth enabled and the Mi Fit app (or its current counterpart) is updated to the latest version.The bracelet must be charged and in close proximity to the phone during all manipulations.
Open the app and go to your device profile, usually by clicking on the bracelet icon at the bottom of the screen, and it shows all the basic information: charge level, step count, and connection status, and it's in this section that the main controls for the tracker's functionality are hidden.
It's important to understand that the Mi Band 5 doesn't have its own communication module and is completely dependent on a smartphone. All data, including text messages, is transmitted over Bluetooth Low Energy. If the connection is unstable or the application is "killed" by the system to save energy, notifications will not come.
⚠️ Note: Make sure that your phone’s Bluetooth settings don’t mark the bracelet as “Calling Only” or similar restriction if such an option is present in the OS interface.
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For stable operation, keep the Mi Fit app open in the background without closing it completely through the Task Manager.
Check the firmware version of the bracelet itself. Sometimes manufacturers release updates that fix the lost connection bugs. If the system suggests upgrading the device, agree and wait until the process is complete before you start setting up alerts.
Activation of notifications in the Mi Fit application
The main control over which messages will come to your wrist is through the app menu. Go to Profile, select your Mi Band 5, and find Settings or Application Notifications, and here is a complete list of all the programs installed on your phone that can send push signals.
In the list that opens, you need to activate the switches opposite the desired points. For standard SMS and calls, there are usually separate categories at the top of the list. Make sure the sliders are green to confirm activation.
☑️ Checking notification settings
Below is a list of third-party apps, where you can choose whether to duplicate messages from Viber, Telegram, WhatsApp or email clients, and be selective: if you turn everything on, the bracelet will vibrate constantly, which will quickly drain the battery and cause irritation.
Note that the text of the message is displayed only if it came after activation of the function. Old messages that came before the option was turned on are not broadcasted on the bracelet, and the length of the text is limited by the screen and font, so long messages can break.
System permissions and settings of Android
Even if Mi Fit is all-inclusive, the smartphone’s operating system can block data transfer. On Android devices, it is critical to give the intermediary app access to notifications. Without this permission, the application will not physically be able to “see” the incoming SMS and transmit it to the bracelet.
Go to your phone settings, Apps or Notifications. Go to Mi Fit (or Zepp Life) and check the Notifications section inside the app menu to check if you check the "Allow Notifications" box. You also often need to turn on the "Display on the Lock Screen" option.
Special attention should be paid to access to notification history. In modern versions of Android (10 and above), there is a special security or privacy section where you need to manually allow an application to access notifications. The path can look like: Settings → Applications → Special features → Access to notifications.
| Parameter | Where to find out. | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Top curtain/Settings | Included. |
| Geolocation | Settings/Stork | Included (for Android) |
| Auto-start | Phone settings / Applications | Permitted. |
| Working in the background | Battery/Applications | No restrictions. |
Another important aspect is geolocation, and for Bluetooth to work properly, many smartphones need to have GPS enabled, and if you turn off the geolocation, the system can break the connection to the bracelet, and notifications will stop coming.
Features of setting up on iOS (iPhone)
Apple smartphone owners are lucky with a more unified notification system, but there are some nuances here, too: First of all, make sure that the iPhone itself allows notifications for the apps you want to see on the wristband, and the logic is that if the phone is silent, the bracelet is silent.
Go to Settings → Notifications on the iPhone itself. Select the app you want, like Messages or WhatsApp. Make sure the Allow Notifications switch is activated, and the sounds and displays on the lock screen are enabled. The Mi Band 5 simply duplicates what appears in the Notification Center of iOS.
⚠️ Note: On iPhone, the bracelet does not vibrate if the phone is currently unlocked and in your hands.
Also, in the Mi Fit app on iOS, you need to give permission for push notifications when you first start, and if you ever click "Disable," you'll have to go to your phone's settings, find the Mi Fit app, and enable manual notifications, without which synchronization won't work.
Why is the text text not coming to the iPhone?
Solving problems with specific applications
Often times, SMS comes and messages from Viber or Telegram don't, and this is due to the individual settings of each messenger, go to the settings of the messenger app on your phone, look for the Notifications section and see if there are restrictions.
For example, Telegram can set up notifications for individual chats, if a particular contact or group is in "No Sound" or "Hide Text" mode, then the bracelet will not get this information, similar to WhatsApp: check the notification settings inside the app.
- 📱 Check if the messenger is not included in the mode "Do not disturb" or "Sleep".
- 🔔 Make sure that no individual silent alert is needed for important contacts.
- 🔄 Try reinstalling the messenger app if notifications suddenly disappear.
Sometimes cleaning the cache of the Mi Fit app helps. Go to your phone's settings, find the app, select Memory and click Clear Cache. This won't delete your data, but it can fix bugs in the notification service.
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Notifications come only from those apps that are already installed on the smartphone and have active push notifications.
Do Not Disturb and Other Restrictions
It is important to distinguish between the bracelet and the smartphone. The Mi Band 5 has its own Do Not Disturb (DND) mode, which blocks the vibration and backlight of the screen at a given time. Check the Mi Fit app in the "Bracelet settings" section to see if it has a schedule.
You can also activate global mode "Do not disturb" or "Flight mode" on your smartphone, in which case the phone will not transmit signals to the bracelet, and if you see a crossed out month on the tracker screen, then the mode is activated on the device itself.
Another factor is energy savings: Aggressive power saving settings can kill the Mi Fit process when the phone screen goes out. Add an app to the exceptions or a whitelist in your smartphone battery settings. For Xiaomi and Huawei phones, this is critical: you need to allow auto-start and work in the background.
⚠️ Warning: If you reset the bracelet to factory settings, all notification settings will fly away. You will have to re-allow in-app access and configure the app list.