Transfer Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to another phone: full instructions with data saving

Why Transferring an Bracelet to a New Phone Is Not Always a Simple Task

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet has become a real bestseller thanks to its combination of functionality and affordable price. However, many users face unexpected difficulties when trying to connect a device to a new smartphone. Problems arise even for experienced owners: the bracelet is not detected in the application, training data disappears, or the device refuses to sync at all.

The main reason for the difficulties lies in the architecture of the Mi Fit system (or Zepp Life for new versions), the bracelet is not only attached to an account, but to a specific phone via a unique Bluetooth identifier. However, simply reinstalling the application on a new device does not guarantee the preservation of historical data – it must be transferred separately through the cloud or backups. In this article, we will examine all the nuances of the process, including hidden settings and workarounds for typical errors.

Preparation for transfer: what to do before the bracelet is unbundled

Before you start setting up the Mi Band 4 on your new phone, follow a few critical steps on your old device to prevent data loss and make it easier to sync further.

First, upgrade your bracelet firmware to the latest version via Mi Fit or Zepp Life. Outdated versions often cause conflicts when reconnecting. Check for relevance in Device Profile → Firmware Update. If an update is available, plug the bracelet into charging and wait until the process is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes).

• 📱 Sync all data with the cloud: Open the app, go to Profile → Settings → Synchronize the data and wait until it's done, and it'll keep a history of activity, sleep and exercise.
• 🔄 Create a backup manually: in Mi Fit, select Profile → Settings → Backup and Restore. Zepp Life is a different path: Profile → Settings → Export of data.
• 📋 Write down the current bracelet settings: screen brightness, notification order, alarm clocks and targets (steps, calories) that you have to reset.
• 🔋 Charge the bracelet to at least 50%. The reconnection process can take up to 30 minutes, and the battery will terminate it.

⚠️ If you are using Mi Band 4, please note: NFC, Before unbundling, be sure to deactivate the payment function in the bank application (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.). Otherwise, the card will remain tied to the old phone, and you will have to order a new one.

Untie the bracelet from the old phone: a step-by-step process

The most critical step is to remove the bracelet from your old account correctly, and if you skip this step, the new phone will simply not be able to connect to the device due to a binding conflict.

1. Open the Mi Fit or Zepp Life app on your old phone.
2. Go to Profile (the icon of the person at the bottom of the screen).
3. Select your Mi Band 4 from the device list.
4. Scroll down and click Remove the device (in Zepp Life - Untie the bracelet).
5. Confirm the action. The bracelet vibrates, and it signals a successful uncoupling.

If the application freezes during the removal step or gives an error It was not possible to untie the device, try an alternative method:

1. Go to your phone settings → Bluetooth.
2. Find Mi Band 4 in the list of associated devices and click Forget the device.
3. Return to Mi Fit, update your profile page (pull the screen down) and try again to delete.

Make sure the bracelet is charged (>50%)

Synchronize all data with the cloud

Create a backup copy manually

Record the current screen settings and notifications

Shut down. NFC-payments (if any)

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⚠️ Warning: If you sell or transfer the bracelet to another person, after unbundling, be sure to reset it to the factory settings. → Reset → Confirm (it takes 5 brief touch button clicks) Without a reset, the new owner will not be able to link the device to his account.

Installation of the application and initial setup on the new phone

Now, moving on to a new smartphone, it's important not only to install the app, but also to set up your account properly to recover historical data.

First, decide on the application:

• 📱 For Android: Download Mi Fit (Old Version) or Zepp Life (Recommended) from Google Play.
• 🍎 For iPhone: Only use Mi Fit from the App Store (on iOS Zepp Life does not support Mi Band 4).

After installation:

1. Launch the app and log in to the same account that was used on the old phone, and if you start a new account, historical data will be lost!
2. In Profile → Settings → Data Recovery, select the latest backup (if you created it manually).
3. Go to Add the device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen. When the app asks you to bring the bracelet to your phone, make sure that the Mi Band 4 logo is on (meaning it's in pairing mode).

If the bracelet is not detected:

• 🔄 Reboot both the bracelet and the phone.
• 📶 Turn on flight mode on your phone for 10 seconds, then turn off - this will reset the Bluetooth cache.
• 🔌 Try connecting via another app (like Notify & Fitness for Mi Band) and then back to Mi Fit.

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If you have an iPhone, turn off the “Breaking Communications with Bluetooth Devices” function in the charge saving settings before connecting, otherwise the bracelet will permanently turn off.

Synchronization of data: how to restore the history of activity

Even if you untie the bracelet correctly and connect it to a new phone, historical data (steps, sleep, workouts) may not automatically appear.

If the data does not appear:

1. Check that you are logged in to the same Mi/Xiaomi account as your old phone.
2. Update the app to the latest version.
3. Go to Profile → Settings → Data Sync and click Sync Now.
4. If you use Zepp Life, try temporarily switching to Mi Fit – sometimes data is only recovered through it.

Configure notifications and additional functions

Once you've successfully connected, you have to customize the bracelet to suit your needs, and pay special attention to notifications, which depend on the phone model and the Android/iOS version.

For Android:

• 📱 Allow Mi Fit or Zepp Life to access notifications in your phone settings: Settings → Annexes → Mi Fit → Notifications → Permission.
• 🔔 In the application itself, go to the Profile → Notifications and select the applications you want to see on the bracelet.
• 📵 If notifications do not arrive, check if the power saving mode blocks them (c Settings) → Battery → Battery optimization add Mi Fit to exceptions).

For the iPhone:

• 🍎 Enable notifications for Mi Fit in Settings → Notifications → Mi Fit.
• 🔗 In the Mi Fit app, allow access to Notifications and Bluetooth.
• ⚠️ On the iPhone, the bracelet only shows notifications from apps that support Apple Notification Center (such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Mail, SMS) may not be displayed.

Additional settings:

• 🌙 Do Not Disturb: Set up a schedule in your Profile → Settings → Don't disturb.
• 🏃 Activity goals: Change daily steps and calories in Profile → Goals.
• 🔋 Battery savings: Turn off the constant pulse (if not needed) in Profile → Heart monitoring.

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On the iPhone Mi Band 4, it doesn’t support responding to notifications and displaying emojis in messages — that’s Apple’s restriction, not the bracelet.

Solving typical problems after transfer

Even with the right connection, there can be problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If the bracelet is not connected at all:

1. Make sure it is charged (plug it into charging for 10 minutes).
2. Reset the bracelet settings: click on the Settings → Reset screen (confirmation will be required).
3. Remove the Mi Fit app cache in your phone settings: Settings → Apps → Mi Fit → Memory → Clear the cache.
4. Try connecting via another phone (to check the bracelet's performance).

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet requires a firmware update after reset, but the process is 0% hanging, do not interrupt it or turn off Bluetooth. Wait 20 to 30 minutes - sometimes progress appears with a delay.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions