How to connect the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band to your Android phone: full instructions with pictures and tips

Why can’t you connect Mi Band to Android and how to fix it?

The Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets remain among the most popular activity tracking gadgets due to the combination of affordable price and wide functionality. However, even experienced users sometimes have difficulties with the first connection of the device to a smartphone, the reasons may lie in outdated firmware of the bracelet, incompatibility of versions of the Mi Fitness application (formerly Mi Fit), Bluetooth disabled or a banal lack of battery power.

In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step synchronization algorithm for all current models - from Mi Band 3 to Mi Band 8, including nuances for different versions of Android (from 8.0 to 14), pay special attention to typical errors such as "Can not find the device" or "Connection is interrupted", and also explain how to circumvent restrictions on phones without Google services (for example, Huawei or Honor).

If you've tried to plug in the bracelet and you've encountered a problem, skip the basic steps and go straight to "Prevalent Errors and Solutions." For beginners, a visual checklist with mandatory conditions for successful synchronization is prepared.

Requirements for phone and bracelet before connection

Before you start setting up, make sure your device meets the minimum requirements, which will save 80% of potential problems:

📱 Android version: 6.0 and higher for the Mi Band 7/8 Android recommended 8.0+). On Android phones. 5.0 and below the Mi Fitness application may not install or malfunction.
🔋 At a level below 15%, some models (Mi Band 5 and older) block the connection to save energy.
📶 Bluetooth: version 4.0 or later. check the phone settings (Settings) → Connections → If your smartphone only supports Bluetooth 3.0, synchronization will not be possible.
🌐 Internet: stable Wi-Fi or mobile connection. Mi Fitness application requires access to Xiaomi servers to activate bracelet.
📦 Free space: at least 100MB on the phone. app weighs ~50MB, plus space will be required for cache and firmware updates.

Important for owners of phones without Google Play (Huawei, Honor, some Xiaomi models for China): you will need to download APK-Mi Fitness application file from the official Xiaomi website or a trusted source like APKMirror. Links to third-party stores (for example, AppGallery) can lead to outdated versions.

Make sure the bracelet is charged (the indicator burns when you press the button)

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone

Connect to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data)

Download the latest version of the Mi Fitness app

Allow all application requests (geolocation, notifications, contact access)-->

Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application

Xiaomi’s official bracelet management app is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), which can be downloaded for free from Google Play or the App Store, but there are nuances:

Go to Google Play and find the app for “Mi Fitness.” Make sure the developer is Xiaomi Inc. (not to be confused with clones!).
Press "Install" and wait until the download is complete. If the button is inactive, check if there is enough space on the phone.
Once installed, open the app and register for a Xiaomi account. Without it, the bracelet will not activate! You can use email, phone number or Google/Facebook account.
Log in and fill in the basic data: gender, age, weight, height, and this information is needed to correctly calculate calories and steps.

🔹 For users of phones without Google Play (Huawei, Honor):

Download. APK-File from Xiaomi official website (Mi Fitness section»).
Before installation, allow installation from unknown sources (Settings → Security → Unknown sources).
Once installed, you may need to update the app manually through the same site.

⚠️ Note: If you are using the Mi Band 6 or newer, do not install outdated Mi Fit versions (before 2021). SpO₂ stress.

Mi Band 3/4

Mi Band 5

Mi Band 6

Mi Band 7/8

Another model.-->

Step-by-step: how to connect Mi Band to the phone

When the app is installed and the bracelet is charged, you can start syncing. Follow the instructions carefully - skipping steps often leads to errors.

Turn on the bracelet by pressing the touch button (on Mi Band 3/4/5) or touching the screen (on Mi Band 6/7/8).
Open the Mi Fitness app and click on the profile icon (in the lower right corner).
In the list of devices, find your Mi Band model and tap it. If your model isn't there, update the app.
Click "Connect" and allow the app to access geolocation and Bluetooth. Without these permissions, you can't connect!
Wait for the phone to find the bracelet. It can take up to 30 seconds. If the search is delayed, reboot the Bluetooth on the phone.
When the bracelet appears on the list, click on it. The bracelet will have a 4-digit code on its screen — confirm it in the app.
Wait until the sync is complete. The bracelet vibrates, and the main menu with the data will appear in the app.

🔹 For models with NFC (Mi Band 5 NFC, Mi Band 6 NFC, Mi Band 7 Pro: After connecting, you will need to additionally activate the contactless payment function through the “Wallet” in the application).

What if the bracelet does not vibrate when connected?

If the Mi Band is not vibrating and does not show the confirmation code: 1. Check if there is enough charge (plug in charge for 10 minutes). 2. Reset the bracelet: to do this, plug it into charging and hold the button 10 seconds until double vibration. 3. Remove the bracelet from the list of Bluetooth devices on the phone (Settings → Bluetooth → Forget device) and reconnect.

Set up notifications and basic functions after connecting

After successful synchronization, it is recommended to immediately configure the key parameters to make the bracelet work as efficiently as possible:

1. Notifications from the phone

📩 Enable notifications: Go to the Device Profile → Notifications and activate the switch. Allow Mi Fitness to access notifications in Android settings (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Notifications).
🔕 Filtering: In the same menu, you can select which apps will be duplicated on the bracelet (for example, only WhatsApp and Phone).
🔊 Vibration: Set up the vibration force in Profile → Bracelet settings → Vibration for the Mi Band. 7/8 Individual vibration patterns are available for different types of notifications.

2. Health monitoring

❤️ Heart Rate Frequency: Include automatic measurement in Profile → Heart monitoring. To save charge, set the interval no more than once every 30 minutes.
😴 Sleep: Activate sleep tracking in Profile → Sleep monitoring. For accurate data, wear a bracelet on your non-working hand.
🩺 SpO₂ (Oxygen saturation: Available on Mi Band 6/7/8. Manually activated through Profile → Measurement SpO₂.

Additional functions

Function	How to turn it on	Supported models
Contactless Payment (NFC)	Profile → Wallet → Add a map	Mi Band 5 NFC, 6 NFC, 7 Pro
Managing music	Profile → Managing music	All models except Mi Band 3
Alarm clock	Profile → Alarm clocks → Add	All models.
Phone search	Swipe down on the bracelet screen	All models.
Weather.	Profile → Weather → Update	Mi Band 5 and newer

⚠️ Attention: On Android 12 phones+ Mi Fitness may need to allow access to Precise Location and Background Activity without this notification and sleep monitoring will not work properly.

💡

If the bracelet discharges quickly, turn off the automatic pulse measurement in the background.

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even if the instructions are followed correctly, the connection can fail, and let’s look at the typical problems and ways to fix them:

1.The phone doesn't find the bracelet

🔄 Reboot Bluetooth: Turn off and turn on Bluetooth again on your phone. On some models, Samsung helps reset Bluetooth settings (Settings) → General. → Reset → Resetting Bluetooth settings).
📱 Check Compatibility: Make sure your phone supports Bluetooth 4.0+. On older devices (such as the Samsung Galaxy) S5) You may need to update the firmware.
🔋 Bracelet charge: Connect the bracelet to charge for 15-20 minutes, even if the indicator is on.

2. the error "Connection interrupted" or "Unable to connect"

🗑️ Clear the app cache: Go to Settings → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Memory. → Clear the cache.
📲 Reinstall the app: Remove Mi Fitness, restart your phone and install it again.
🔄 Drop the bracelet: For the Mi Band 3/4/5 hold the button 10 It's a double vibration for the Mi Band. 6/7/8 Go to Profile. → Bracelet settings → Reset.

3. The bracelet connects but does not synchronize data

🌐 Check the Internet: The app needs network access to sync with Xiaomi servers.
⏳ Update the firmware: In Profile → Update firmware check the relevance of the bracelet.
🔒 Permits: Make sure that Mi Fitness has all the necessary permissions (geolocation, notifications, contact access).

A critical mistake for phone owners MIUI (Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO): If the bracelet is not connected, turn off the dual apps feature for Mi Fitness (Settings) → Annexes → Dual applications. This feature creates a clone of the application that conflicts with the original.

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If none of these methods worked, try connecting the bracelet to another phone, and if the problem persists, the bracelet itself is defective (see the service center).

How to update the firmware Mi Band through the phone

Regular firmware updates fix bugs, add new features and improve stability, and it is recommended to check the relevance of the software every 1-2 months.

Open Mi Fitness and go to your bracelet profile.
Slip on the firmware update icon (usually located at the bottom of the screen).
If an update is available, click "Update." Make sure the bracelet is at least 50% charged!
Wait until the process is complete. The bracelet will reboot automatically. Don't turn off Bluetooth or close the app during the upgrade.

🔹 What to do if the update is suspended?

Wait 10-15 minutes – sometimes the process takes longer due to slow internet.
If the bracelet does not respond, restart it (hold the 10 seconds button).
Repeat the update attempt. If the error repeats, check the stability of the Internet connection.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the firmware update by turning off Bluetooth or closing the application.This can lead to a "brick" of the bracelet (completely inoperable), which is eliminated only by flashing through the PC.

Alternative ways to connect (without Mi Fitness)

If the official Mi Fitness app doesn’t work on your phone (for example, due to a lack of Google services), you can use alternative methods:

1. Notify & Fitness app (for Mi Band 3/4/5)

📥 Download the app from Google Play or APKMirror.
🔗 Connect the bracelet via Add Device (algorithm similar to Mi Fitness).
⚙️ Set up notifications and monitoring manually.

✅ Pros: works without Xiaomi account, supports custom dials.

❌ Cons: no cloud sync, limited support for new models.

2. Mi Band Master application (for advanced users)

🛠️ Allows you to unlock hidden features (e.g., Mi Band 6 pressure measurement).
🔧 Requires manual connection via the “Device Scanner».

⚠️ Use at your own risk – unofficial apps may violate Xiaomi’s policies.

3. Connection via PC (to restore the bracelet)

If the bracelet stopped turning on or hung on the logo, it can be reflashed through the PC using the Mi Band Tool utility:

Download the program from GitHub.
Connect the bracelet to charging and start the utility.
Select the bracelet model and follow the instructions on the screen.

💡

Before using third-party applications, back up the bracelet data via Mi Fitness (Profile → Data Export).

Frequently asked questions

Can I connect one bracelet to two phones at the same time?

No, the Mi Band only supports sync with one device. To connect it to another phone, first remove the bracelet from the profile in Mi Fitness on the first phone, then repeat the connection procedure on the second.

Why does the bracelet turn off the phone while sleeping?

This is due to optimizing the Android battery. To fix: Go to Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Battery. Select "No Limits" or "Allow Background Activity." Turn off "Adaptive Battery" for Mi Fitness.

How to reset the Mi Band to factory settings if it doesn't connect?

For reset without phone: For Mi Band 3/4/5: plug in and hold the 10-15 second button until double vibration. For Mi Band 6/7/8: swipe down on the bracelet screen, find Settings → Reset. Once reset, the bracelet will be as new - you will need to reconnect.

Does the Mi Band support the iPhone?

Yes, but with limitations. Mi Fitness is available on the App Store, but some features (like quick notification responses) are not stable due to iOS limitations.

How to check the originality of the Mi Band?

The original Xiaomi bracelet has: The Mi logo on the body and packaging. The serial number on the back of the module (checked through Profile → About the device in Mi Fitness). A trademark box with a hologram and barcode. Counterfeiting often poses as low-quality plastic, lack of NFC (on models where it should be) and errors in the application.