How to connect Galaxy Watch 4 to Xiaomi phone: full guide

Modern wearables often require deep integration with the operating system, and the bundle of Android smartphones and smartwatches is no exception. However, when a user decides to combine the Samsung ecosystem with a Xiaomi device, they may face a number of software limitations and hidden settings. Galaxy Watch 4 runs on Wear OS, which theoretically provides broad compatibility, but in practice manufacturers often block functionality on third-party gadgets.

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones need to understand that the standard “found and plug” process here may not work without prior preparation. You will not only need to install standard applications, but also possibly resort to changing system parameters through the engineering menu or ADB. This is not a complicated process, if you follow the algorithm of actions clearly.

The main difficulty lies in the fact that Google Play services and specific frameworks Samsung must correctly interact with the shell MIUI or HyperOS. In this article, we will examine every step from preparing the phone to fine-tuning notifications, you will learn which components are required for stable operation of the bundle, and which functions can be limited.

System Requirements Check and Xiaomi Preparation

Before you start syncing, make sure your smartphone meets the minimum technical requirements. Galaxy Watch 4 requires Android version 8.0 or higher, but for comfortable work with the MIUI shell, it is better to have Android 11 and newer. Check for free space in memory, as installing all the necessary components can take up to 2-3 GB.

The critical point is the Google account. Unlike the Wear OS watch from Google, Samsung models require you to sign in to the Samsung Account. Make sure you have a valid account and remember the login details. It is also recommended to update all system applications in the Google Play Market store to the latest versions.

The aggressive battery optimization algorithms in Xiaomi phones often kill the clock’s background processes, causing the connection to break. Prepare to set up auto-start and remove restrictions on Samsung’s utility apps in advance.

⚠️ Attention: Before installing third-party APK-Be sure to enable installation from unknown sources in the security settings of your Xiaomi phone, otherwise the process will be interrupted at the installer download stage.

Installation of mandatory components: APK and services

Since there may be restrictions on non-Samsung devices in the Galaxy Store, the most reliable way is to manually install the necessary devices. APK-You will need to download three main components: Galaxy Wearable, Galaxy. Watch4 Plugin and Samsung Accessory Service should be downloaded only from trusted sources, such as APKPure or Samsung Galaxy Store (via the browser).

The order of installation matters. First install the Samsung Accessory Service, then the plugin for your watch model, and only at the end is the main Galaxy Wearable app. If you violate this sequence, the main application may not see the plugin and require it to be downloaded from the store, where there may be a compatibility error.

Once you have all the components installed, take your time to start pairing. Go to your phone's settings and find the Apps section. Make sure all three installed components have the necessary permissions, especially access to geolocation, Bluetooth and background work. Without this, the clock will be permanently switched off.

• 📱 Galaxy Wearable – the main application for managing the clock, setting up dials and installing applications.
• ⌚ Galaxy Watch4 Plugin is a specific driver that “explains” the main application how to work with the fourth series of watches.
• 🔗 Samsung Accessory Service – a system service that provides low-level connection between your phone and Samsung accessories.

The process of pairing: step-by-step instructions

Launch the Galaxy Wearable app on your Xiaomi smartphone. Click Start or Device Search. At this point, the watch should have a confirmation code window. If the search lasts too long, make sure the watch is paired (usually activated automatically when it is first turned on or reset).

When you request to install Galaxy Watch4 Plugin is right out of the app, OK. If the system offers to download it from the Galaxy Store and it gives you an error "Device is not supported", you will need to manually install it. APK-The plugin file you downloaded earlier, and after manual installation, restart the Wearable app.

The key is logging in. The app requires you to log in to Samsung Account. Enter your details. Then you synchronize your contacts, calendar and media files, which can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the amount of data on the phone.

Settings → Bluetooth → Find Galaxy Watch 4 → Connect

During the setup process, the system may request multiple permission confirmations, read pop-ups carefully, especially those relating to notification access and call history, and denying these rights will make the watch virtually useless.

Configure access and energy saving rights in MIUI

This is the most important section for Xiaomi owners. By default, the aggressively kills background processes to save charge. To keep the Galaxy Watch 4 running consistently, you need to configure each of the three installed Samsung apps. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps.

Search for Galaxy Wearable, go to “Battery Savings” and select “No Limits” mode. Then go to “Other Permissions” and enable all options, especially “Start” and “Master on top of other apps.” The same procedure must be repeated for Samsung Accessory Service and the watch plugin.

It is also recommended to fix the applications in memory. Open the menu of running applications (swipe from the bottom up and hold), find the Galaxy Wearable window, click on the lock or select "Stock" This will prevent the process from unloading from RAM during cleaning.

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Turn on a permanent Bluetooth widget in the notification curtain to quickly check the status of the connection without going into deep system settings.

Typical Compatibility Problems

One of the most common problems is broken sleep monitoring or lack of heart rate data.This is often because the Samsung Health app doesn't have the data collection rights.Install Samsung Health separately if it's not built in automatically and give it all possible permissions, including access to fitness trackers.

Another common complaint is the lack of vibration when notifying from instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp). MIUI has a separate category of notifications “Important” and “Other”. Make sure that notifications from the right apps are marked as important and have priority display. Also check the settings of the watch in the Wearable app under “Notifications”.

If the clock is no longer synced to time or date, check the time settings on your phone. They must be in Auto mode (over the network), a time difference of even one minute can block some Google services on the watch.

⚠️ Note: ECG (electrocardiogram removal) officially works only in countries where Samsung watches are certified. In other regions, including Russia and CIS countries, this function can be software blocked, and it is extremely difficult to get around this with standard means in conjunction with Xiaomi.

Functional restrictions on third-party Android

Despite the successful connection, some features of the Galaxy Watch 4 will remain unavailable or will work with limitations, primarily for Samsung’s ecosystem chips. For example, Samsung Pay (pay by the clock) on a watch connected to an uncertified phone won’t work. NFC-The module can only be used for transport (if supported by a region) or keys, but not for payment via bank cards.

There may also be difficulties with the Phone Search feature. If it doesn't work, it means that the background service doesn't have sufficient rights in the MIUI shell to scan a Bluetooth signal in sleep screen mode. This is treated only by the manual setting described above, but there are no 100% guarantees of operation.

It’s important to note that watch firmware updates can come with a delay, sometimes the system says “no updates” even though they’re already out, which helps to clear the Galaxy Wearable app cache or wait 2-3 days.

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The full functionality of the watch is only available in conjunction with Samsung phones. On Xiaomi, you get 90% of the features, losing mostly payment features and some exclusive widgets.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions