Xiaomi fitness watches have long been an integral part of the daily lives of millions of users, from athletes to office workers. These compact gadgets are able not only to show time, but also to track the pulse, analyze sleep, count steps and even manage a smart home. However, many owners face the problem: after purchase, the watch does not sync with a smartphone, show the wrong time or display notifications. In this article, we will discuss the step-by-step setting of fitness bracelets Mi Band (of all generations) and Xiaomi Watch smartwatches, including hidden features that the manufacturer does not advertise.
It's important to understand that the setup process depends on the device model and the firmware version. For example, the Mi Band 8 supports NFC for contactless payments, and the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro runs on Wear OS and requires additional applications to be installed. We'll look at generic instructions, as well as nuances for specific models. If you've just unpacked the box, start with the first partition. If the watch is already connected but is not working properly, go to the "Problemss."
1. Preparation for setting up: what to do before turning on the clock
Before you start syncing, make sure you have everything you need. Here are the minimum requirements for successful setup:
- 📱 Android smartphone 6.0+ iOS 12.0+ (for the Mi Band 8 And newer, Android. 8.0+/iOS 14.0+).
- 🔋 Charging hours to at least 20% - with a low charge, synchronization can be interrupted.
- 📶 Stable Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data) for app downloads and updates.
- 🔄 Turn it off. VPN/Proxies – They Can Block Xiaomi Servers.
Pay special attention to the compatibility of the watch model and the application. For example, Mi Band 7 and later require the Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life), and Xiaomi Watch S3 requires Xiaomi Wear. Outdated versions of the applications (for example, Mi Fit) do not support new devices.
- 🤖 Mi Fitness for Android
- 🍎 Mi Fitness for iOS
⚠️ Note: If you are using the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro or other models on Wear OS, Install the Wear app additionally OS Without it, some functions (such as voice assistant) will not work.
2. First Enablement and Synchronization with Smartphone
The process of connecting Xiaomi watches to the phone takes no more than 5 minutes, if you follow the instructions.
- To do this, press and hold the touch button (on the Mi Band) or the physical button (on the Xiaomi Watch) for 3-5 seconds until the logo appears.
- Launch the Mi Fitness app. Click Profile → Add the device (the + icon in the upper right corner).
- Select a watch model. Find your model (e.g. Mi Smart Band 8) in the list. If you don't have one, update the app.
Once successfully connected, the watch will automatically update the firmware (if a new version is available), which can take up to 10 minutes - don't interrupt it!
Do not remove the watch from the charger.|Don't close the Mi Fitness app|Check the stability of the Internet connection|Wait at least 15 minutes before forced reboot-->
On Mi Band 6/7/8 models, re-binding may be required after the update – go to Device Profile → Untie and reconnect.
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If the watch isn’t on the list of available devices, try rebooting Bluetooth on your smartphone (turn it off and turn it on again) or reinstall the Mi Fitness app.
3. Setting the time, date and time zone
One of the most common problems is the wrong time on the clock, usually because of a phone sync failure or a time zone setting that's not right.
- Automatic sync: Open Mi Fitness → Select your watch → Device settings → Date and time. Activate Sync with your phone.
- Manual setting (if automatic does not work): In the same menu, turn off Sync with your phone. Select Time Zone (e.g. GMT+3 Moscow). Set time format (12/24 hours) and date format.
If the time on the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro clock is lost after the reboot, check the Wear OS settings:
- On the clock, open Settings → System → Date and time.
- Enable Automatic Date and Time and Automatic Time Zone.
- If you do not have an option, update the firmware through Mi Fitness.
⚠️ Attention: On the Mi Band 3/4 If you manually set the time, the step counter can get lost. To avoid this, always use automatic synchronization.
| Model clock | Does it support automatic time synchronization? | Do you need to manually adjust the time zone? |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 3/4/5 | Yes. | No. |
| Mi Band 6/7/8 | Yes. | Only when it fails. |
| Xiaomi Watch S1/S2 | Yes. | Yes (in Wear OS settings) |
| Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro | Yes. | Yes (via Wear OS or Mi Fitness) |
4. Set up notifications: calls, SMS and instant messengers
By default, Xiaomi’s fitness watch only shows call notifications and SMS. To add alerts from WhatsApp, Telegram, VK and other apps, follow the following steps:
- Allow notifications in your phone settings: Android: Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Notifications → Allow. iOS: Settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness → Enable alerts.
- Set up notification filtering in Mi Fitness: Open your device profile → Notifications. Turn on Call Notifications and Notifications from apps. In the list, select the messengers you want to see on your watch.
On the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro and other models on Wear OS, you can configure quick responses to messages:
- On the clock, open Settings → Notifications → Quick answers.
- Add templates (e.g., “I’ll answer later,” “OK”).
- For voice responses, activate Voice input in the Wear OS settings.
⚠️ Note: On iPhone notifications from third-party messengers (except for the SMS The solution is to use the Notify for Mi Band app (available on the App Store).
How to turn off vibration for specific notifications?
5.Tune fitness functions: pedometer, pulse, sleep
The main advantage of Xiaomi watches is health monitoring, but by default many features are disabled or not working accurately.
📊 Stepper and distance
- 👟 Calibration of steps: Go to Mi Fitness → Profile → Settings → Steps. → Calibration: Walk 20 to 30 steps with your phone in your hand so your watch can count correctly.
- 📏 Step length adjustment: In the same menu, specify your height – the clock will automatically calculate the average step length.
- 🗺️ GPS For accurate tracking: On Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, enable Settings → Location → Accurate (consumes more battery).
❤️ Pulse and SpO₂ (oxygenation)
- ⏱️ Measurement interval: In Mi Fitness, select Device Profile → Heart monitoring → Measurement frequency (recommended every 10 minutes for balance of accuracy and autonomy).
- 🛌 Night monitoring: Activate sleep monitoring → Auto-detection so that the clock automatically records sleep phases.
- 🚨 High pulse warnings: Set a threshold in Settings → Notifications of heart rate (for example, 120 beats / min).
The Mi Band 8 and Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro feature is available to measure stress – to activate it, go to the Device Profile → Health → Stress Level and turn on automatic monitoring.
6. Solving common problems
Even after setting up the watch correctly, Xiaomi can malfunction.-5 problems and solutions:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The clock is not synchronized with the phone. | Outdated firmware, Bluetooth conflict | Update Mi Fitness and watch firmware, reboot Bluetooth |
| No notifications coming. | Lack of permits or energy saving | Check notification settings in Mi Fitness and turn off battery optimization for the app |
| Battery discharges fast | Constant monitoring of pulse or GPS | Reduce the frequency of measurements or disable unnecessary functions |
| Wrong number of steps | Incorrect calibration or wearing on the wrong hand | Recalibrate the pedometer and wear the watch on a non-dominant hand |
| The clock does not vibrate when notified. | Disabled sound/vibration in settings | Enable Vibration at Notifications in Mi Fitness |
If the Xiaomi watch does not turn on after discharging, connect it to charging for 30-60 minutes.
- Check the cable and power supply (use the original 5V/1A adapter).
- Clean the contacts on the watch and charger from dust (use a dry soft brush).
- If the watch does not react anyway, reset (for Mi Band: plug in and press the button for 20 seconds).
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If after updating the firmware clock stopped working - try to roll back to the previous version through Mi Fitness (in the device settings, select "Roll back firmware").
7. Hidden functions and life hacks
The manufacturer doesn’t always talk about all the features of Xiaomi watches, but here are some useful tips that will make it easier to use:
- 🔊 Music Management: On the Mi Band 7/8 Xiaomi Watch can switch tracks and adjust volume directly from the watch screen (swipe left on the home screen).
- 🔦 Lantern: On the Mi Band 6/7/8 Swipe down on the main screen and hold 2 Seconds, the screen will light up in white.
- 🔒 Screen lock: Enable in Mi Fitness → Settings of the device → Locking the screen to avoid accidental pressing.
- 🏠 Smart home: On Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro you can control Mi Home devices (lamps, sockets) through a voice assistant or a special menu.
- 💧 Water Reminder: Activate in Mi Fitness → Health → Reminder of water and set an interval (e.g. every 2 hours).
For Mi Band 8, the dial is replaced with custom options:
- Download dials from sites like Amazfit Watch Faces (suitable for Mi Band).
- In Mi Fitness, go to Device Profile → Dials → Add and select the downloaded file.
How to turn on the "Do Not Disturb" mode on the clock?
8. Update firmware and reset to factory settings
Regular firmware updates fix bugs and add new features to update the clock:
- Connect the watch to charging and make sure the charge is at least 50%.
- Open Mi Fitness → Select Device → Device Settings → Firmware Update.
- If the update is available, click Download and Install.
If the clock is unstable, reset to factory settings:
- For Mi Band 3-8: Go to Device Settings → Reset (in Mi Fitness). Confirm action - the clock will reset.
- For Xiaomi Watch: On the clock: Settings → System system → Reset settings. Enter PIN-code (if installed).
⚠️ Warning: Reset removes all data from the clock, including workout statistics. Before reset, sync the data with Mi Fitness to avoid losing the history.
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After reset, Xiaomi watches automatically go into the waiting mode of connection. Re-synchronization takes no more than 2-3 minutes.