How to turn on and configure Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4: a complete guide from unpacking to fine-tuning

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4

In this article, you will find detailed instructions for launching the Mi Band 4, step-by-step configuration through the Mi Fit/Zepp Life app, and hidden features that are not mentioned in the official manual. We will deal with firmware updates, personalization of dials and solving common problems, from lack of communication to notification failures.

If you’ve just unpacked the bracelet or decided to reconnect it to a new smartphone, this guide will save you time and avoid disappointment, with a focus on Android/iOS compatibility, notification settings and battery optimization — these are the things that most often cause users to struggle.

1.Preparation for the first inclusion: what to do before the bracelet is launched

Before you press the button on Mi Band 4, make sure you have everything you need to set up successfully. Many users are experiencing problems precisely because of missed preparatory steps.

First, check the bracelet's equipment.

• 📦 The fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 with a strap
• 🔋 Charging cable (special) USB-contact-module)
• 📄 Short instructions in several languages (Russian is usually present)

If something is missing, it's a good reason to go to the store, and it's especially important to have an original charging cable, because the non-original cables often don't provide stable contact.

Second, prepare your smartphone:

• 📱 Make sure your phone has one of the supported OSes: Android 5.0 and above iOS 10.0 and higher.
• 🔄 Turn on Bluetooth (set up) → "Wireless networks")
• 📲 Free up at least 100MB of memory to install the application
• 🌐 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network or mobile Internet (required to download firmware)

⚠️ Attention: On iPhone with iOS 13+ You may need additional permission to access notifications in your system settings, without which the bracelet will not show incoming calls and messages.

Also, the Mi Band 4 has 5 ATM water protection, but that doesn't mean it can be used underwater without restrictions, like swimming in a pool and diving more than 5 meters below.

2. First activation and charging of the bracelet: step-by-step instructions

Now, to the bracelet itself. Turning on Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 is easier than it seems, but there are nuances that are not written about in the official documentation.

Step 1: Charging the device

• 🔌 Connect the charging cable to USB-port of the computer or charger adapter (power no more than 5V/1A)
• 🔋 Carefully insert the bracelet into the charging module so that the contacts on the back side coincide with the cable connectors.
• ⚡ Wait for the charging icon (lightning battery) to appear on the bracelet screen. If the icon doesn't appear, check the contact density.

The first charge can take up to 2 hours, even if the indicator shows 100% in 40 minutes.

Step 2: Turning on the bracelet

• 🔘 Press and hold the touch button under the screen for a period of time. 3-5 A few seconds before the Mi logo appears.
• 📱 If the bracelet does not respond to pressing, check the charge level (at a discharge below 5%, it will not turn on).

Once turned on, you'll see a standard time dial, and if the time isn't displayed or is shown incorrectly, don't worry, it syncs with the phone once you're connected.

⚠️ Note: Do not use Mi Band 4 adapters with output current more 1A (This can lead to overheating of the battery and reduce its lifespan.

If the bracelet is turned on, but the screen does not respond to touch, try resetting to the factory settings.

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
2. Press and hold the touch button for 10-15 seconds until the vibration and the Mi logo appear.

3.Installation and configuration of the application: Mi Fit vs Zepp Life

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 requires an official app to work, with users choosing Mi Fit or Zepp Life (formerly known as Amazfit), both apps developed by Xiaomi but different.

Comparison of annexes:

We recommend Zepp Life for users who need detailed health analytics and Mi Fit for those who need maximum compatibility with other services (e.g. Google Fit or Apple Health).

Instructions for installation (on the example of Zepp Life):

1. Download the application from the official store: 🤖 Google Play (Android) 🍎 App Store (iOS)

Xiaomi Account

Google

Facebook

Add the device

Mi Smart Band 4

Follow the instructions on the screen: Allow access to notifications, geolocation and contacts (this is necessary for the bracelet to work properly).

💡

If the app doesn't find the bracelet, try restarting Bluetooth on your phone or restarting the device itself, sometimes turning off the VPN or power saving mode.

Once you've successfully connected, the app will suggest you update your bracelet firmware. Don't refuse to upgrade, new versions fix bugs and add features. However, make sure the bracelet's charge level is at least 50%, otherwise the update may be interrupted.

4. Basic bracelet setting: time, notifications and user profile

Now that the bracelet is connected to the phone, it's time to customize it to suit your needs, and let's start with the most important thing, the user profile and the basic parameters.

Step 1: Set up a profile

• 👤 In the app, go to the Profile section (the icon of the person at the bottom of the screen).
• 📏 Specify exact data: Height and weight (affects calorie calculation) Date of birth (for heart rate analysis) Gender (sleep algorithms differ for men and women)
• 🏃 Choose the activity level: Low, Medium or High (this will affect your daily steps goals).

Step 2: Synchronize time and weather

• ⏰ The time on the wristband syncs automatically with the phone. If it gets lost, check the date and time settings on your smartphone (Automatic mode should be enabled").
• 🌦️ To display the weather in the application go to the Device → Display. → Weather and choose your city.

Step 3: Set up notifications

• 📳 Go to the Device. → Notifications.
• 🔔 Enable the "Call Notifications" and "Notifications from Applications" switch".
• ⚙️ In the Notification Management section, select the apps you want to see on your bracelet (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).

⚠️ Attention: On Android 10+ For the notifications to work correctly, you must manually allow the Zepp application Life/Mi Fit access to "Special Access" (Settings) → Annexes → Three points. → Special access → Access to notifications).

If notifications do not arrive:

1. Check if the phone is on "Do Not Disturb".
2. Make sure the bracelet is within Bluetooth range (up to 10 meters without obstacles).
3. Reset the bracelet (hold the button for 10 seconds).

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For stable notifications, disable battery optimization for the Zepp Life/Mi Fit app in Android settings.

5. Personalization of the bracelet: dials, labels and gestures

One of the advantages of the Mi Band 4 is that it's highly customizable, and you can change not only the look of the dial, but also set up quick access to the features.

How to change the dial:

• 🎨 In the app, go to the Device → Display. → Dials.
• 🔍 Scroll through the list of options available. Free dials are marked with a green checkmark.
• 📥 Click "Download" for the selected dial, then "Apply".
• 🔄 If the dial has not changed – synchronize the data manually (pull the bracelet screen down).

Hidden feature: Some dials support weather, battery levels, and even moon phases. To see this data, tap the bracelet screen twice.

Setting up shortcuts (quick access):

• 🔗 In the application, select Device → Labels.
• 🔄 You can change the order of the functions that open when swiping up/down on the bracelet screen: 🏃 "Training" 💤 "Sleep regimen" 📊 "Statistics" 🔋 "Charge level"

Activation of gestures:

• 🙌 Enable "Raising your hand to activate the screen" in the Device → Display. → Raising your hand. It's convenient, but it slightly increases your battery consumption.
• 🔄 Set up the "Screen Turn" (useful for left-handed people).

If you change the dial, the bracelet starts to brake, return the standard version and restart the device. Some animated dials consume a lot of resources.

6.Advanced features: tracking sleep, exercise and pulse

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 has a lot more to do than just show time, and let’s figure out how to customize key health and fitness features.

Sleep tracking:

• 💤 By default, the bracelet automatically detects when you are sleeping (22:00 to 8:00).To change the schedule: In the app, go to the Device → Sleep mode. Specify your normal bedtime and wake time. Turn on the Smart Alarm, and it will wake you up in light sleep 30 minutes before your set time.

Son

Heart rate monitoring:

• ❤️ Enable "Continuous Monitoring" in the Device → Heart rate. Note that this reduces the bracelet's time to work. 20-30%.
• ⚠️ Set up high/low pulse notifications (threshold values are manually adjusted).

Training and activity:

• 🏃 There are 6 training modes available in the bracelet: Running on the street Walking Bike Treadmill (treadmill) Swimming Gym
• 📱 To start the workout, swipe up on the bracelet screen, select "Training", then the desired mode.
• 🔄 After training, the data is automatically synchronized with the application, where you can see: Distance traveled Average pulse Spent calories Paid route map (if it was turned on) GPS phone-on) ⚠️ Note: When swimming, do not press the touch button of the bracelet underwater, this can lead to moisture entering the body. Use gestures (for example, shaking your hand for pause) to control the workout. Check if your phone is interrupted during class. Make sure the application is synchronizing data (Device) → Data synchronization. Reset the bracelet and re-sync. 💡For more accurate tracking of running or cycling, connect the bracelet to an external heart rate sensor (e.g., Xiaomi Mi Band Heart Rate Monitor) via the app. 7. Firmware updates and typical problem solving Regular firmware updates fix bugs and add new features, but the upgrade process may not go as planned. 4 What to do if something goes wrong: 📱 Make sure the bracelet is charged at least 50%, And the phone is connected to Wi-Fi. 🔄 In the app, go to the Device → Firmware update. 📥 If a new version is available, click "Update". ⏳ Do not disable Bluetooth or close the application until the process is complete (usually takes a lot of time). 5-10 Frequent problems and their solutions: Problem Cause Solution Bracelet not synced Bluetooth or applications Reboot the bracelet and phone. Remove the device from the application and connect again. No notifications come OS or application restrictions Check permissions for Zepp Life/Mi Fit. Turn off the power saving mode for the app. Battery goes down quickly Continuous pulse monitoring or bright dial Turn off continuous pulse measurement. Reduce screen brightness. Bracelet doesn't vibrate Firmware failure or mechanical damage Update firmware. Check the vibration settings in the app. If the bracelet stopped turning on after the update: Place it on charge at 30 Press and hold the button. 15 If it doesn't work, contact Xiaomi Support (you may need to flash it over your PC). 💡Before updating the firmware, turn off VPN Power saving modes on the phone – they can interrupt the process. 8. Optimizing battery consumption: how to extend the life of the bracelet Average time Mi Band 4 single-charge — 15-20 days, but with active use it can be reduced to 5-7 days. Here's how to extend autonomy: Basic tips: 🔋 Turn off "Continuous Heart Rate Monitoring" (saves up to a minimum) 30% charge). 🌙 Use Sleep Mode at Night – It Turns Off the Display and Notifications. 📵 Reduce the frequency of data synchronization (in the application, select Manual Synchronization"). 🔍 Choose a face without animation (static ones consume less energy). 🔔 Turn off vibration for unnecessary notifications (e.g. from social media: 🕒 Reduce screen lighting time to 5 seconds (Device) → Display. → Illumination). 🔄 Turn off the screen (if you are not left-handed). 📶 In the weak Bluetooth signal area, turn off notifications, the bracelet will waste energy on constant attempts to connect. 1-2 This may indicate: Battery malfunction (call service) firmware failure (try to update or reset settings). Constant background activity (check monitoring settings). ⚠️ Note: Do not use the bracelet at a lower temperature. -10°C or higher +45°C. This can damage the battery and shorten its life. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions 🔹 Can I use the Mi Band? 4 No smartphone? Yes, but with limitations. The wristband will manually show time, steps and pulse, but it won't synchronize data, show notifications or update firmware. 🔹 How do you reset your bracelet to factory settings? There are two ways: App: Device → Additionally. → Hardware: connect the bracelet to charge, then hold the button. 15 After resetting, all data on the bracelet will be deleted, but the statistics in the application will remain. 🔹 Why is the bracelet not counting steps or showing incorrect data? The reasons may be: Wrong position on the arm (wear the bracelet on the arm) 2-3 Sync failure (pull the bracelet screen down for manual sync) Active power saving mode on the phone (turn it off for the Zepp app) Life/Mi To calibrate the pedometer, pass 20 steps with your phone in hand, then compare the data in the Google app Fit/Apple Health. 🔹 Can I change my band to Mi Band? 4? Yeah, the strap is removable. Standard width — 18 Um, Mi Band straps will do. 3/4/5, And you can use a new one, and you can use one from other manufacturers like Amazfit or Huawei to replace it with: Pull the bracelet out of the strap attachment (it takes a little effort), insert a new strap before you click, beware of low-quality silicone straps, which can irritate the skin. 🔹 How do you turn off notifications on your wristband while you're meeting or sleeping: 📱 Enable "Do Not Disturb" Mode in the Appendix (Device) → Don't disturb). 🕒 Set up a Schedule to automatically disable notifications (e.g. 22:00 to 7:00). 🔕 On the bracelet itself, hold the screen on the dial, then select the bell icon to turn off the sound. In Do Not Disturb mode, the bracelet will only vibrate at alarm clocks.