How to activate Xiaomi bracelet: a complete guide with photos and tips

Xiaomi fitness bracelets are some of the most popular wearables on the market due to their combination of functionality, sensor accuracy and affordable price. However, many users face difficulties already at the first activation stage: the bracelet does not connect to the phone, the application does not see the device, or the registration process ends in error. This article will help you understand everything from unpacking the Mi Band to setting notifications and synchronizing data.

We will take a detailed look at activation for all current models (Mi Band). 5/6/7/8, Smart Band Pro, Band 8 Pro, take into account the features of working with different versions of firmware and operating systems (Android/iOS). We will pay special attention to typical errors – for example, why the bracelet may not be determined in the Mi Fitness application or how to fix the problem with a constant reboot of the device after an update.

If you have just purchased a Xiaomi bracelet or plan to do so, save this instruction bookmarks - it will come in handy not only for the first setup, but also for resetting the device or reconnecting to a new smartphone.

1.Preparation for activation: what to do before connecting

Before you start pairing the bracelet with your phone, follow a few mandatory steps, which will save you most of the problems during the setup phase.

Xiaomi bracelets work with Android 6.0+ and iOS 10.0+, but some features (like quick notification responses) may require more recent versions of the OS. Make sure your smartphone has the latest firmware installed.

Also, look at the region where you buy the bracelet (CN-version may have limitations on interface language and compatibility with Xiaomi’s global servers. If you purchase such a model, you will need additional configuration (we will discuss this in the error section).

• 📱 Update your smartphone to the latest version (check in Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🔋 Charge the bracelet to at least 50% - with a low charge, activation can be interrupted.
• 🌐 Connect to stable Wi-Fi (for downloading firmware and synchronizing data).
• 📲 Remove old versions of Mi Fitness or Zepp Life apps if they were installed earlier.

Important: Xiaomi bracelets do not support simultaneous connection to multiple phones. If the device was already paired with another smartphone, it must first untie through the application or reset to factory settings.

Installation and configuration of the official annex

To activate the Xiaomi bracelet, an official application is required, depending on the device model and region, this can be:

• 🔹 Mi Fitness – for most bracelets (including Mi Band) 5/6/7/8).
• 🔹 Zepp Life – Smart Band Pro models and some Mi Band 8 Pro versions.
• 🔹 Xiaomi Wear – an alternative application for Chinese versions (requires registration in Mi Account with Chinese number).

Step-by-step installation:

1. Download the application from the official store: 🤖 Mi Fitness for Android 🍎 Mi Fitness for iOS

Start the application and select the interface language (Russian is available in all global versions).

Mi Account

Add the device

If your model is not listed, update the app or check the region of your Mi Account. Chinese versions of the bracelets may require a region change to China (but this can lead to a loss of warranty for global devices).

💡

If the Mi Fitness app doesn’t run on Huawei, add it to the “Secure Apps” list in your phone settings (Permissions → Auto Run).

3. Step-by-step activation of Xiaomi bracelet

Once the app is installed and the bracelet is charged, you can start pairing. Consider the process using the Mi Band 8 example (for other models, the steps are similar, only the names of menu items may differ).

Step 1. Turn on the bracelet

Press the Mi Band touch button (or tap the Smart Band Pro screen) – the device should vibrate and display the Xiaomi logo. If the screen does not respond, plug the bracelet into charging for 10-15 minutes.

Step 2. Search for the device in the application

In Mi Fitness, click Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 8 (or your model). The app will start scanning nearby devices. Make sure the phone is enabled with Bluetooth and geolocation (required for some models).

Step 3: Matching and Registration

When the bracelet appears in the list, click on it. The bracelet screen will display a 6-digit code — confirm it in the app. If the code does not appear, reset the bracelet (hold the 10 seconds button) and try again.

Step 4: Update the firmware

After pairing, the app will suggest updating the bracelet firmware. Don't interrupt the process, this can cause the device to crash. It will take 2-5 minutes to update, the bracelet will reboot automatically.

If after updating the firmware bracelet stopped responding to touch, reset through the application: Device Profile → Settings → Reset.

4. Set up notifications and basic functions

After activation, the bracelet is ready for use, but for full operation, you need to configure notifications, alarm clocks and other functions.

How to enable notifications:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Notifications.
2. Activate the Call Notification and Notifications from the apps switch.
3. Select the apps you want to see on your bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
4. Set up the Notification Style – full text or just the app icon.

Additional settings:

• 🔔 Alarm clocks: Add up to 10 alarm clocks through Profile → Alarm clocks. You can set the vibration or the beep (on the phone).
• 🏃 Activity tracking: Enable automatic recognition of walking, running and sleeping in Settings → Monitoring of activity.
• 💤 Sleep control: activate detailed sleep phase analysis (wearing a bracelet is required) >4 hours straight).
• 🔒 Screen lock: set up to unlock your phone through the bracelet (available for Android).

Synchronization with other services:

To automatically export your data to Google Fit or Apple Health:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Settings → Accounts and Sync.
2. Select the service (Google Fit or Apple Health) and log in.
3. Allow access to data on steps, sleep, pulse and training.

5. Typical activation errors and their solutions

Even with the correct following of the instructions, users often encounter problems, and let's look at the most common errors and how to fix them.

⚠️ Warning: If Xiaomi bracelet fails to turn on after several activation attempts, check the charger.Using unoriginal cables could damage the battery.

Special cases:

• 🇨🇳 Chinese version of the bracelet: if the app says "Device not supported in your region", change the Mi Account region to "China" (but note that this may limit functionality).
• 📵 Bracelet does not vibrate at notifications: check settings in Mi Fitness → Notifications → Vibration and permissions for the application in the phone settings.
• 🔄 Data is not synced: Turn off charge saving for Mi Fitness in phone settings and restart the app.

If none of these methods worked, try connecting the bracelet to another phone to help you determine whether it’s in your device or in your smartphone.

6.Reset Xiaomi bracelet to factory settings

Resetting may be required in several cases:

• 🔄 You sell or transfer the bracelet to another person.
• 🐌 The bracelet slows down or does not respond to touch.
• 📱 You need to connect the device to a new phone.

Method 1. Resetting through an application:

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to your bracelet profile.
2. Select Settings → Disable the device.
3. Confirm the action - the bracelet will be untied from the account and reset.

Method 2. Hardware reset (if the bracelet is not connected):

1. Charge the bracelet to at least 30%.
2. Hold the touch button (or touch the screen at the Smart Band Pro) for 20-30 seconds until you feel the vibration.
3. The bracelet will reboot and return to factory settings (the Xiaomi logo will appear on the screen).

⚠️ Note: After resetting, all data (steps, sleep, exercise) will be deleted from the bracelet, however, it will be stored in the Mi Fitness app if the device was synchronized before resetting.

If the bracelet does not turn on after reset, connect it to charging for 1-2 hours - perhaps the battery is completely discharged.

7 Additional Features: What Can Be Configured After Activation

After successful activation, unlock the full potential of Xiaomi bracelet with these features:

• 🎵 Music control: skip tracks or adjust volume directly from the bracelet (set up in Mi Fitness) → Music).
• 📸 Remote shutter release: Use the bracelet as a selfie remote (included in Settings) → Camera).
• 💳 Xiaomi Pay (NFC): Link a bank card for contactless payments (available for Mi Band 8) NFC Smart Band Pro).
• 🏊 Swimming mode: activate in Profile → Training. → Swimming to track pool length and style.
• 🌡️ Stress control: enable stress monitoring in Settings → Health → Stress.

How to set up the dial:

Xiaomi bracelets support interchangeable dials to install a new one:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Dials.
2. Choose your favorite design from the collection (there are animated and informative options).
3. Press Set – the dial is synchronized with the bracelet for 10-20 seconds.

For the Smart Band Pro, dials with widgets (weather, pulse, steps) are available. To add a widget, tap and hold the free area on the dial.

💡

Regularly update the bracelet firmware through Mi Fitness – this fixes errors, adds new features (for example, support for new types of workouts) and improves the accuracy of sensors.

FAQ: Frequent questions about activation of Xiaomi bracelets