How to set up a fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 4: a complete guide with photos and tips

Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is one of the most popular fitness bracelets on the market, combining affordable price, compact design and wide functionality. Even in 2026, this model remains relevant due to stable operation, long autonomy and support for basic health monitoring functions. However, many users face difficulties when connecting or configuring the device for the first time - especially if they have not previously had experience with wearable electronics.

In this article, we’ll take a step-by-step guide to setting up the Mi Band 4 from scratch, from unpacking and charging to fine-tuning notifications and training modes. You’ll learn how to sync your bracelet to your smartphone, update your firmware, adjust your time display, and even solve typical problems like no connection or quick discharge. And if you’re just planning a purchase, at the end of this article, there’s a comparison to new Mi Band models and answers to frequent questions.

1.Preparation for the first inclusion: unpacking and charging

Before setting up, make sure the bracelet is fully charged. The Mi Band 4 comes with a minimum charge level (about 20-30%), which is only enough for a few hours of battery life.

• 📦 The fitness bracelet itself in sealed packaging
• 🔌 Charging cable with USB-Type-A (without power supply!)
• 📄 Short instructions in several languages (Russian is available)

To charge the device:

1. Remove the bracelet from the package and remove the strap, pulling it away from the body.
2. On the back, find two goldpin pins (metal dots).
3. Connect the bracelet to the charging cable - it should be "clicked" by the magnet.
4. Connect the cable to USB-Computer port, powerbank or power adapter (5V/1A).

⚠️ Note: Do not use adapters with a current higher than 1A (for example, from fast charging of smartphones.

It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to charge, and the green indicator on the bracelet screen signals the end of the process, and then you can start setting up.

2.Installation of Mi Fit or Zepp Life app For full operation of Mi Band 4 requires an official application. Since 2022, Xiaomi has gradually replaced Mi Fit with Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit), but both options remain compatible. We recommend that you install Zepp Life, which has a more modern interface and is updated more often: 🤖 Zepp Life for Android (Google Play) 🍎 Zepp Life for iOS (App Store) ⚠️ Note: Do not install applications from third-party sources (APK-This can lead to data leakage or malfunction of the bracelet. After installation: Launch Zepp Life and create an account (you can use Google, Apple). ID Select the region of Russia (important for the correct display of weather and metric units). Click "Add device" and select Mi Smart Band 4 from the list. ☑️ Preparation for synchronization Install Zepp Life Charge bracelet to 100%Enable Bluetooth on your smartphone Allow notifications for the application: 0 / 4 3. Synchronization of the bracelet with the smartphone The process of connecting the Mi Band 4 It takes no more than a phone 2–3 Just make sure you're on your smartphone: 📶 Bluetooth on. 4.0 or newer (check in the settings). 📱 Notifications for Zepp Life Allowed (otherwise no alerts will be sent). 🔒 Power saving mode is turned off for the application (on Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei). Step-by-step instruction: Open Zepp Life and tap the icon «+» In the upper right corner, select the Mi Smart Band. 4 → «Hide it. It'll show up on the bracelet. 6-the code is the code, confirm it in the application, wait for the synchronization to be completed (progress bar in the application: 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your smartphone. 📱 Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugate devices in the phone settings and try again. 🔋 Check the charge of the bracelet (at a level below 10%, communication may be interrupted). What to do if the Mi Band 4 does not connect to the iPhone?On iPhone, check that the Bluetooth settings enable the item "Mi Band 4" (sometimes it is displayed as "LE-Mi Band 4"). If the device doesn't show up, try turning off Bluetooth, turn on the plane mode for 10 seconds, then reconnect. Also make sure the iPhone has the latest version of iOS installed (at least 13.0). 4. Basic setting: Time, dials and user profile After synchronization, the application will offer to configure the main parameters. Consider the key points: Parameter Where to configure Recommendations Time zone Profile → Personal Information Choose your city or install manually (e.g, UTC+3 Moscow). Units of measurement Profile → Settings → Units For Russia: meters, kilograms, km / h for speed. → Display. → Download free themes from the Store section (there are animated ones). Screen brightness Device → Display. → Optimal: 3-4 division (at max, the discharge accelerates). Important: if the time on the bracelet is lost, check the synchronization settings in Zepp Life → The device → Additionally. → Time synchronization. Sometimes manual synchronization restarting helps. To customize the dial: In the app, go to the Device → Display. → Dials. Select a category (e.g. Sports or Minimalism). Tap on your favorite design and click "Install». ⚠️ Note: Some third-party dials may contain ads or incorrect data displays. Only install themes rated above 4.5. 💡To quickly change the dial directly from the bracelet, swipe right on the screen and select "More" → "Dials.' 5. Mi Band 4's notification and alert settings support notifications from instant messengers, social networks and other applications. However, to work properly, you need to: In Zepp Life, go to Device → Notifications: Activate the Call and Message Notifications switch. In the Notification Management section, select the apps you want to see on your bracelet: 🤖 Android: In your phone settings, allow Zepp Life to access notifications (Settings) → Annexes → Zepp Life → Notifications). 🍎 iOS: Notifications only work for incoming calls and SMS. For instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) you need to enable forwarding notifications in the iPhone settings (Settings) → Notifications → Zepp Life → Notification forwarding) Additional alert settings: 🔔 Vibration: Adjusted to the Device → Vibration (3 levels of intensity). 📵 Silent mode: activated by swipe down the screen of the bracelet. 🔔 Inaction reminders: included in the Profile → Reminders (useful for office workers). 💡On iPhone notifications from third-party apps (VK, Instagram) is not supported due to iOS restrictions. SMS. 6 Health Monitoring: Heart rate, sleep and workout Mi Band 4 equipped with heart rate sensor PPG, Accelerometer and gyroscope, which allows you to track: ❤️ pulse rate (manual or automatic every 30 minutes). 😴 Quality of sleep (deep, light, REM-phase). 🏃‍♂️ Activity (steps, distance, calories burned). 💪 Training (running, cycling, swimming, etc.) To adjust monitoring: Pulse: Enable automatic measurement in Profile → Heart rate → Heart rate monitoring. Recommended interval: 30 minutes (more often, the battery goes down faster). Sleep: Activate sleep tracking in Profile → Son → Sleep monitoring. The bracelet automatically detects sleep phases when worn on your hand. → Choose the sports you want to track (up to 6 at a time) for accurate readings: Wear the bracelet 2-3 cm above your wrist (the pulse sensor should fit tightly to the skin). Calibrate the pedometer: walk 100 steps and compare the data in the application with the real number. 💡If the bracelet counts steps incorrectly, check the step length in the profile settings. For growth of 170 cm standard step length - 60-65 cm 7. Additional features: weather, alarm clock, phone search Mi Band 4 can do more than just show the time and steps. Consider hidden features: How to turn on Zepp Life Weather Notes → The device → Weather data is taken from AccuWeather. Updated when synchronized. Zepp Life alarm → The device → Alarm clocks can be set to 10 alarm clocks. Vibration builds smoothly.Swipe phone search up on the bracelet → Phone icon Phone should be within range of Bluetooth (up to 10 m). → Note icon Works with Spotify, YouTube Music, standard player. To set the alarm clock: In Zepp Life, go to Device → Alarm clocks. Press "Add alarm" and specify the time, days of the week. Select the alert type: Vibration or Vibration. + phone. If Phone Search is not working: Check if Bluetooth is on on your smartphone. Make sure that the Zepp Life settings allow location access. Reset the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds). 8. Update the firmware and reset Regular firmware updates improve the stability of the Mi Band 4 and add new features. To update the bracelet: Connect the bracelet to charging and make sure that the charge is not lower than 50%. Open Zepp Life and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 step → Update of the firmware. 1.0.854 – Add new support for the new version. (new) (Enite the newer 1.0.858) If the bracelet freezes or does not work correctly, reset to factory settings: In Zepp Life go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Untie the device. On the wristband, press the touch button for 15 seconds until the Mi logo appears. Repeat the sync process from scratch. ⚠️ Warning: Reset removes all data from the bracelet (steps, training, settings. 💡Updating the firmware can take up to 10 minutes. If it's stuck 90 percent, don't interrupt it or turn off Bluetooth. Wait for the bracelet to automatically restart. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions ❓ Can you use the Mi Band 4 without a smartphone? Yes, but with limitations. The bracelet will show time, steps and heart rate (in manual measurement), but will not synchronize data, display notifications or update the weather. ❓ Why does the bracelet discharge quickly? Main reasons: Too frequent monitoring of the pulse (set the interval of 30 minutes); Constantly on display (reduce the brightness or backlight time); outdated firmware (update with Zepp Life); Normal life with moderate use: 10 to 14 days. ❓ How to enable notifications on the lock screen? on Android: Go to Settings → Annexes → Zepp Life → Notifications: Turn on the option to Show on Locked Screen. On iPhone, this is not possible due to iOS restrictions. ❓ Is the Mi Band 4 suitable for swimming? Yes, the bracelet has 5 protections ATM, But you don't want to swim in salt water (may damage the strap) and then you can wash the bracelet with fresh water and dry it. Swimming mode tracks the strokes, but not the depth of the dive. ❓ Than Mi Band. 4 It's different from the Mi Band. 5/6? Main differences: Mi Band function 4 Mi Band 5 Mi Band 6 Display. AMOLED, 0.95" AMOLED, 1.1" AMOLED, 1.56" SpO₂ (oxygenation) ❌ No. ✅ Yes. ✅ Automatic recognition of training ❌ No. ✅ Yeah (running, walking) ✅ Yes (6 Price of species (2026) ~1 500 ₽ ~2 000 ₽ ~2 500 ₽ Mi Band 4 It remains a good choice for basic activity tracking, but if advanced features are needed (such as measuring blood oxygen levels), new models are worth considering.