Fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band: how to set up, use and reveal all the features

Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets have long been synonymous with an affordable and functional activity tracker. These compact devices can track steps, pulse, sleep quality, display notifications from a smartphone - all at a price that is often in the hands of the company. 2-3 It's less than Apple or Samsung, but many users use only one. 20-30% The capabilities of their Mi Band, without even knowing about the hidden functions, fine settings and life hacks that will turn the bracelet into a real assistant for health and productivity.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Xiaomi fitness bracelets – from basic setup and phone sync to advanced chips like PAI (You'll also learn how to solve typical problems, such as: how to use your personal activity index, how to control music, or even how to take a remote photograph. Why doesn't the bracelet count steps correctly when walking with a wheelchair, how do you reset it to factory settings if it's frozen, and why do notifications come with a delay? Ready to turn your Mi Band into a super-gadget!

1. Which Mi Band model to choose in 2026: a comparison of features

The Mi Band lineup is updated almost every year, and each new model brings something interesting. But do you need all of these innovations? Let's see what the current versions are different and which ones are right for you.

As of 2026, the following are available for sale:

• 🔹 Mi Band 8 - flagship with AMOLED-screen-support NFC (in pro-version), 150+ Exercise regimens and improved heart rate sensor.

If you only need a step and notification bracelet, take the Mi Band 6 and save. For athletes and health care professionals, the Mi Band 8 (or Pro if you need it) is better. NFC But the Mi Band 7 is the gold standard in price/quality: it's not the newest, but it's cheaper than the flagship and almost as good as it is.

2.The first setup: how to connect Mi Band to the phone

Xiaomi’s new bracelet won’t work without being tied to a smartphone, and you’ll need to download the official Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life) and follow a few simple steps.+ iOS 10.0+, But older versions may have synchronization problems.

Step-by-step:

1. Install the Mi Fitness app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Register (you can use Xiaomi Account, Google or Apple) ID).
3. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and allow the app to access geodata (required!).
4. Press "Add device" → "Bracelet" → Choose your Mi Band model.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen: Confirm the pairing in the phone’s Bluetooth settings.
6. Update the bracelet firmware if the app offers.

Bluetooth on the phone |

Application Mi Fitness| installed

Bracelet charged at least 20% |

Notifications for Mi Fitness are allowed|

Power saving mode for the application is disabled-->

Typical problems with connection:

• 🔌 The bracelet is not → Reboot Bluetooth on your phone or try connecting from another device.
• 🔄 Synchronization interrupted → turn off VPN AdGuard (they can block Xiaomi servers).
• ⚠️ Asks for firmware updates but not updated → Check if there is enough space on the phone (need a minimum of 100 MB of free space).

3. Basic features: what the Mi Band can do and how to use it

Even the basic Mi Band models have a lot more to do than count steps, and let's look at the key functions and how to activate them.

📊 Tracking activity and sports

The bracelet automatically recognizes walking, running and some other activities, but for accurate accounting it is better to start the modes manually:

1. On the bracelet: swipe up → select "Practice" → sport.
2. In the annex: “Statistics" → "Training" → "Start".

You can turn on the running and the bike. GPS-tracking (if you connect the bracelet to the phone) data will be stored in Mi Fitness with a route map.

💤 Sleep monitoring

Mi Band analyzes sleep phases (deep, light, REM) And it gives you recommendations for better rest, so that the data is accurate:

• 🛏️ Wear a bracelet on a non-working arm (usually the left arm).
• 📵 Turn off notifications for the night in the bracelet settings.
• ⏰ Set an alarm clock with Mi Fitness – it will wake you up in the optimal sleep phase.

❤️‍🩺 Pulse measurement and Spo2

The heart rate sensor on the Mi Band works on the principle PPG (photoplethysmography for accurate measurements:

• 🩺 Wear the bracelet tightly but not compressed (the distance between the sensor and the skin should be minimal).
• 🧘‍♂️ Measure your pulse at rest – sitting or lying down.
• 🚫 Avoid measurements immediately after exercise (wait). 5-10 minute).

Function Spo2 (Blood saturation with oxygen is available in the Mi Band 6/7/8. Normal values: 95-100%. If below, this is a reason to consult a doctor.

💡

To quickly measure your heart rate, add the Heart Rate widget to the bracelet's main screen. Go to Profile in the app. → Screen settings → Widgets and drag the desired element to the active area.

📱 Notification and telephone management

Mi Band can show incoming calls, SMS Notifications from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, VK And so on. To set up:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to "Device Profile" → Notifications".
2. Turn on "Show notifications" and select apps.
3. Set up the Notification Style (full text or icon only).

The bracelet also does:

• 🎵 Manage music (play/pause, next track).
• 📸 Take a photo on your smartphone (click on the camera icon in the bracelet menu).
• 🔍 Find the phone (the bracelet will make sound, even if the phone is silent).

💡

If notifications come with a delay, check your phone's power saving settings. add Mi Fitness to the background activity exceptions (on Android: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery).

4. Hidden features and life hacks for Mi Band

Many users don't know that the Mi Band has much more to do than the official manual says, and here are some advanced features that will turn your bracelet into a super-gadget.

🔋 How to extend the battery life

Officially, the Mi Band 8 holds a charge of up to 16 days, but in practice, this time can be increased.

• 🌙 Turn off "Raising your hand to activate" (in screen settings).
• 📵 Reduce the frequency of data synchronization to 1 time per hour.
• 🔕 Disable notifications from unnecessary applications.
• 🌡️ Use "Energy Saving Mode" (on manually at low charge).

If the bracelet is discharged for 2-3 day - check whether the constant pulse measurements are running (in the settings "Heart rhythm" → Frequency of measurements”). Optimal mode: “Each 30 minute".

🎯 Personal activity index (PAI)

PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence is a unique algorithm that measures your activity not by steps, but by the intensity of the loads. PAI, Your cardiovascular health is better. Rate: 100.+ weekly.

How to raise PAI:

• 🏃‍♂️ Add interval training (alternating high and low load).
• 🚶‍♀️ Walk fast (from 100 steps / min).
• 🏊‍♂️ Swimming – This gives you maximum points in a short time.

🔄 Alternative Firmware: How to Unlock Hidden Potential

The official Mi Band firmware limits some features (like Always-On Display on the Mi Band 7), but enthusiasts have created custom firmware like Mi Band Master or Notify & Fitness, which add:

• 🎨 New dials (including animated dials).
• 📊 Detailed statistics (for example, real-time pulse graphs).
• 🔓 Unlocking the phone on the bracelet (on some models).

⚠️ Attention: Installing custom firmware is warranty-free and can lead to unstable work!

🛒 NFC Mi Band: How to pay for a bracelet

Mi Band 8 Pro and some versions of Mi Band 7 support NFC for contactless payments:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to the "NFC → Addition of the map".
2. Choose a bank (Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB, etc. are supported).
3. Follow the instructions of the bank for binding.

Limitations:

• 💳 Only works with Mastercard and Visa (the World is not supported).
• 🏦 Limit on payments without PIN-code: 1,000 ₽ (bank-dependent).

5. Typical problems and their solution

Even the most reliable gadgets sometimes get bugged, and let's look at the most common Mi Band problems and how to fix them.

🚶‍♂️ The bracelet does not count the steps (or thinks wrong)

If the Mi Band shows 1,000 steps and you’ve walked 10,000, check out:

• 👕 Bracelet position – it should sit tightly on the wrist (do not hang out!).
• 📱 Synchronization with the phone – sometimes data is reset when communication is broken.
• 👟 Calculation algorithm – in the application settings, you can select “Precision of steps” (recommended “High step").

If you push a wheelchair or you drive a bicycle, the bracelet won't count steps -- it only recognizes hand movements, in which case, turn on Bicycle or Walk mode manually.

⚡ Bracelet discharges quickly

Normal battery consumption: 5-10% If more, look for the reason:

🔄 The bracelet is not synchronized with the phone.

If the data are not updated:

1. Reset the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds).
2. Remove the bracelet from the phone’s Bluetooth device list and reconnect.
3. Check if the antivirus or VPN is blocking access to Xiaomi servers.

⚠️ Note: If after the firmware update the bracelet stopped working, try to roll back to the previous version through Mi Band Tools. Officially Xiaomi does not support downgrade, but it often helps.

💦 The bracelet does not work after bathing.

All Mi Band models have 5 protections ATM (can withstand immersion up to 50 meters, but sometimes after water there are glitches:

• 🌊 If the screen does not respond, dry the bracelet in rice or silica gel on the 12-24 hour.
• 🔋 If not charged - check contacts for corrosion (clean alcohol).
• 🔄 If you are stuck, reset (see the next section).

6. Resetting and flashing

If the bracelet is frozen, does not respond to touch, or after the update it becomes worse, resetting to factory settings will help, which will delete all data from the device, but bring it back to life.

How to drop the Mi Band:

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Device Profile → Settings → Reset".
2. Confirm the action.
3. If the bracelet does not respond, perform a hardware reset:

If the reset does not help, try re-flashing the bracelet:

1. Download the latest firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website or 4pda.ru.
2. Connect the bracelet to the PC via Bluetooth adapter.
3. Use Mi Fit bootloader or Gadgetbridge to install firmware.

🎨 Customization: dials and stickers

There are hundreds of free dials in Mi Fitness, but you can download your own:

1. Download your favorite dial from sites like amazfitwatchfaces.com.
2. In Mi Fitness go to "Profile" → Dials → My dials".
3. Press "+" and select the downloaded file.

For the Mi Band 8, even animated dials with weather, steps and pulse are available.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Mi Band