How to set up a fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 4 on Android: the full guide

Xiaomi Mi Band 4 remains one of the most popular fitness bracelets even years after its release, thanks to the balance of price, functionality and reliability. However, many users face difficulties when connecting the device to an Android smartphone for the first time: the app does not see the bracelet, notifications do not come, the steps are reset. In this article, we will analyze all the stages of settings – from pairing over Bluetooth to finer settings of sleep and training, and also reveal hidden firmware features that are not written in the official instructions.

It's important to understand that the Mi Band 4 runs through Mi Fit's proprietary app (or alternatives like Notify & Fitness), and that it's 90% of the success of installing it correctly. We've tested the setup on 10 different smartphones, from budget Redmis to flagship Samsung Galaxy, to identify common bugs and nuances. If you've just unpacked the bracelet or want to reconfigure it after a reset, this guide will help avoid frequent problems.

1. Preparation for setting up: what to check before connecting

Before you start pairing the Mi Band 4 with a smartphone, make sure that the basic conditions are met. Experience shows that 80% of failures are due to preparation, not the setup process itself.

First, check the Android version: the bracelet officially supports systems from Android 5.0 and higher, but in practice it works most stable on Android 8.0.+. Older versions may have trouble syncing notifications, and second, make sure your smartphone is Bluetooth 4.0 enabled.+ (Previous versions do not support low-energy protocol BLE, bracelet).

• 📱 Android version: minimum 5.0, optimally 8.0+
• 🔵 Bluetooth: version 4.0 or later (check Settings) → The phone)
• 🔋 Bracelet charge: at least 20% (at low charge, synchronization failures are possible)
• 📶 Internet: stable Wi-Fi or mobile network connection (needed to download firmware)

Pay special attention to the permissions for the Mi Fit application. Without access to Contacts, Notifications and Physical activity, the bracelet will not be able to fully work, MIUI 12+) You also need to allow AutoRun and Background for Mi Fit, otherwise communication will be interrupted.

2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fit application

The official Mi Fit app is the only bridge between the wristband and smartphone, which can be downloaded from Google Play or (for regions where Google services are blocked) from Xiaomi’s official website. It’s important to use the latest version of the app, as older releases may not support new bracelet features.

After installation, follow the following steps:

1. Open Mi Fit and sign up (or sign in) through your Xiaomi account. Without the account, some of the features will not be available.
2. Click Profile → Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.
3. Allow all permissions (especially Notices and Locations) to be requested.
4. Wait for the bracelet firmware to load (it can take up to 5 minutes).

If the app doesn't see the bracelet, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your smartphone (Settings) → Bluetooth → Off./On.).
• 📱 Reboot the Mi Fit app (remove it from multitasking).
• 🔋 Remove the bracelet from the charger (sometimes) USB-connection blocks the conjugation).

Attention, on smartphones with MIUI (For example, the Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3) required:

⚠️ Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Mi Fit → Permissions and manually enable AutoRun, Show over other windows and Ignore battery optimization. Without that, the bracelet will shut down via 10-15 minutes of inactivity.

3. Interconnection of the bracelet with a smartphone: step-by-step instructions

When the app is ready, we start pairing, which may seem like a simple process, but there are some critical nuances that are not covered in the official manual.

Algorithm of action:

1. Charge the bracelet to a minimum of 30% (at low charge it may not react to pairing).
2. Click on the Mi Band 4 touch button to wake up the screen and swipe right until you see it. QR-code.
3. In the Mi Fit app, click Add Device → Mi Smart Band 4 and scan the entire system QR-bracelet.
4. Confirm the pairing on your smartphone and bracelet (it will appear vibration and tick).

If QR-code not scanned:

• 🕯️ Check the lighting – the smartphone camera should clearly see the code.
• 📱 Try entering a 6-digit code that appears under QR (Sometimes it works more reliably).
• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds until the Mi logo appears).

The key is, if the bracelet has already been paired with another smartphone, it needs to be reset to factory settings.

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → More. → Reset (slip to the right).
2. Confirm the reset by pressing the button.
3. After restarting, repeat the pairing process.

4. Set up notifications and calls

One of the main features of the Mi Band 4 is to alert you to calls and messages, but by default, they might not work or come late, and let's figure out how to set them up correctly.

In the Mi Fit app, go to the bracelet section and select:

• 📞 Call notifications: Turn on the option and select the vibration style (short/long).
• 💬 Messages from apps: Add messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) manually.
• 🔔 Alarm clocks: set up repeated signals or one-time reminders.

Challenges and solutions:

For smartphone owners Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO There is an additional life hack: in the phone settings, enable Xiaomi notification synchronization (Settings) → Connected devices → Synchronization of notifications: This will eliminate delays and duplication of alerts.

💡

If you have Android 12+, Check the exact location resolution for Mi Fit. Without it, the geolocation for training and weather won't work, even if you're not in the right position. GPS included.

5. Personalization of screen and dials

The Mi Band 4 supports interchangeable dials, but installing them has nuances. The official Mi Fit app offers a limited set of themes, while third-party services (such as Amazfit Watchfaces) expand the choice to thousands of options.

How to install a new dial:

1. In Mi Fit, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Dials.
2. Choose your favorite option and click Sync.
3. On the bracelet, confirm the installation (reboot may be required).

To install custom dials (from the Internet):

• 🌐 Download the dial file with the.bin extension (for example, from the site mi-band.ru).
• 📁 Put it in the Mi folder. Fit/watchfaces smartphone.
• 🔄 In the Mi Fit app, update the dial list (pull the screen down).

Attention! Some custom dials may contain errors that will cause the bracelet to reboot or display data incorrectly.

⚠️ If after installing a new dial, the Mi Band 4 began to warm up strongly or discharge quickly, return the standard theme.

6.Setting up sleep and activity tracking

Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet can automatically recognize sleep phases (light, deep, REM) And we can actually record physical activity, but by default, these functions may not work exactly:

Sleep tracking:

• 😴 Turn on the Smart Alarm Mode in Mi Fit – it will wake you up in the light sleep phase 30 minutes before the set time.
• 📊 Check your sleep schedules in the app: If the bracelet captures "wakefulness" at night, you may have moved your hand in your sleep (try wearing the bracelet on your other hand).
• ⚙️ In bracelet settings, turn off raising your hand to wake up if the screen turns on too often.

Stepmer and training:

• 👟 Calibrate the bracelet for accurate steps: walk 50 steps, then select Settings in Mi Fit → Accuracy of steps → Sizing.
• 🏃‍♂️ Choose a specific type of activity (running, cycling, swimming) to improve calorie accuracy.
• 📱 Sync your data with Google Fit or Apple Health (in Mi Fit) → Profile → Connected applications).

Hidden feature: Mi Band 4 can track daytime naps, but this option is hidden to activate it:

1. In Mi Fit go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Settings → Additionally.
2. Turn on the option of Tracking daytime sleep (may be called a sedentary lifestyle reminder).
3. Set a reminder interval (e.g., every 60 minutes without moving).

💡

For maximum accuracy of sleep tracking, wear a bracelet on a non-dominant hand (for right-handers - on the left, for left-handers - on the right) and tighten the strap more tightly.

7 Advanced settings and hidden features

In addition to the basic options, the Mi Band 4 hides some useful features that few people know about.

• 🔐 Unlock Xiaomi smartphone when approaching (Smart Unlock function).
• 🎵 Manage music on your phone (play/pause, next track).
• 🔋 Show the level of charge of the smartphone (in some firmware).
• 🌡️ Measure body temperature (requires a special dial).

How to turn on music management:

1. In Mi Fit go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Settings → Managing music.
2. Turn on the option and select the default player (like Spotify or YouTube Music).
3. Now on the bracelet when playing music, you can swipe right/left to switch tracks.

To activate the unlocking of the smartphone (works only on the Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO):

1. On your smartphone, go to Settings → Lock screen → Additionally. → Smart Unlock.
2. Add the Mi Band 4 as a trusted device.
3. The phone will unlock automatically when the bracelet is near.

Attention! Smart Unlock only works when connected via Bluetooth Low Energy and may conflict with some banking applications (for example, Sberbank Online may require re-entering a password).

⚠️ If notifications to the bracelet stop coming after setting up Smart Unlock, turn off this feature. It sometimes blocks the background work of Mi Fit.

8. Update firmware and reset settings

Regular firmware updates fix bugs and add new features, but the Mi Band 4 update process has its pitfalls.

How to update firmware:

1. Make sure the bracelet is at least 50% charged.
2. Connect your smartphone to stable Wi-Fi (update via mobile Internet may be interrupted).
3. In Mi Fit, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Firmware Update.
4. Wait for the download and installation (the bracelet will reboot automatically).

If the update is hanging:

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (press the button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Reinstall Mi Fit (sometimes the app cache blocks the update).
• 🔌 Connect the bracelet to charging and try again.

For a complete reset of the bracelet (if it is glitchy or not synchronized):

1. On the bracelet, go to Settings → More → Reset.
2. Confirm the action (the bracelet will return to factory settings).
3. Repeat the process of pairing from scratch.

Important: After resetting, all data on the bracelet (steps, sleep, training) will be deleted, but it will remain in Mi Fit if previously synchronized.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up Mi Band 4