How to set up Xiaomi Mi Band 4: full instruction from connection to hidden features

Xiaomi Mi Band 4

all stages of adjustment

The Mi Band 4 is unique in that it works through the Mi Fit app (or its Zepp Life alternative) rather than the phone’s standard settings, which means that without the right link to your Xiaomi account, you won’t be able to use even basic features. We’ll explain how to avoid mistakes, such as why the bracelet can hang on the logo or why notifications from instant messengers don’t come.

If you’ve just unpacked the bracelet or reset it to factory settings, our instructions will help you set it up in 10-15 minutes, and for power users, we’ve prepared a section with hidden features that aren’t written about in official manuals – for example, how to turn on the weather display or adjust gestures to control music.

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

Before you start syncing the Mi Band 4 with your smartphone, make sure all the prerequisites are met, which will save you most of the problems like the invisibility of the bracelet in the application or connection errors.

First, check your smartphone’s compatibility. Mi Band 4 works with Android 5.0 devices.+ or iOS 10.0+. If your phone is older, the Mi Fit app may not install or work properly. Also make sure your phone is on Bluetooth 4.0 or later – without it, communication with the bracelet will be unstable.

Second, charge the bracelet to at least 30%. Although the Mi Band 4 can be turned on at a lower charge, it is recommended to have a power reserve for the first setup. Charging takes about 1-1.5 hours (full cycle - up to 2 hours). Use the original cable or certified analogue to avoid damage to the contacts.

Finally, download the official appendix:

• 📱 Mi Fit - [Link to Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xiaomi.hm.health) / [Reference to App Store](https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/mi-fit/id937477644)
• 🔄 Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit) – Suitable for advanced settings, but may not support all of the features of the Mi Band 4.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously used the Mi Band 3 bracelet or another Xiaomi model, remove it from the Mi Fit app before connecting a new device.

2.First connection: synchronization with smartphone

Now, to the most important step, which is connecting the bracelet to the phone, it takes no more than 5 minutes, if done correctly. Here's a step-by-step guide.

1. Turn on the Mi Band 4 by clicking on the touch button below the screen. The bracelet vibrates and the Mi logo appears on the display.

2. Open the Mi Fit app and log in through your Xiaomi account (or create a new one if you don’t have one).

3.Push the badge. + (add the device) in the upper right corner and select the bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.

4. Allow the application to access notifications, geolocation and Bluetooth (this is mandatory for proper operation).

5. Wait for the phone to find the bracelet and confirm the connection on both devices.

If the bracelet is not present, try the following:

• 🔄 Reboot the Mi Band 4 by holding the touch button for 10 seconds.
• 📱 Restart Bluetooth on your smartphone or turn on Device Search».
• 🔋 Make sure the bracelet is charged (the charging indicator is green).
• 📲 Update the Mi Fit app to the latest version.

Install Mi Fit/Zepp Life

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone

Charge the bracelet to 30%+

Sign in to your Xiaomi account

Allow all requests of the application-->

Once synchronized successfully, the bracelet will automatically update the firmware (if a new version is available).Do not interrupt this process - disabling Bluetooth or discharging the bracelet may cause a failure.

⚠️ Note: If the bracelet displays a time several hours apart after the connection, check the time zone settings in the Mi Fit application (Profile section) → Time zone. The bracelet takes time from the smartphone, but sometimes it gets lost the first time you connect.

3. Setting the time, date and alarm clocks

One of the most common problems for new users is the incorrect display of time on the Mi Band 4. The bracelet does not have its own clock in the classical sense: it synchronizes time with a smartphone.

• ⏰ Time zone on the phone and in the Mi Fit application does not match.
• 📵 The bracelet did not sync with the phone (for example, because Bluetooth was disabled).
• 🔄 Manually changed the format of time (12/24 hour) in bracelet settings.

To correct this, follow the following steps:

1. Open Mi Fit. → Profile → Mi Smart Band 4.
2. Go to the Device Settings → Additionally. → Date clock and format.
3. Choose a 24-hour format or a 12-hour format (optional).
4. Make sure that the auto-synchronization time option is enabled.
5. Return to the main menu and click Sync (Icon) ⚙️ top-right).

If time is still running out, try Forced Synchronization:

1. Turn off the Bluetooth on your phone.
2. Close the Mi Fit app (remove it from the background).
3. Turn on Bluetooth back and launch the app.
4. Wait for automatic synchronization (usually takes 10–30 seconds).

Now, let's get to the alarm clock settings. The Mi Band 4 supports up to 10 alarm clocks that can be set directly from the bracelet or through the app. To add an alarm clock through Mi Fit:

1. Open the Alarms section in the bracelet menu.
2. Click Add an alarm clock and specify the time.
3. Choose the days of the week (for example, only on weekdays).
4. Activate the option to Repeat if you need a regular alarm clock.

The bracelet will vibrate at a given time, even if the phone is turned off. To turn off the alarm, swipe the bracelet screen to the left and press the bell icon.

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If the alarm doesn’t work, check if the bracelet is in Do Not Disturb mode (DND). This mode turns off all vibrations, including alarm clocks.

4. Set up notifications: calls, SMS and instant messengers

One of the key features of the Mi Band 4 is to alert you about calls, messages and events in the calendar, but by default, the bracelet only shows notifications from standard applications (Phone, Messages), and to receive alerts from WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber and other messengers, you need to configure them manually.

For this:

1. Open Mi Fit. → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications of annexes.
2. Turn on the Notification slider (at the top of the screen).
3. Click Application Management and select the messengers from which you want to receive alerts.
4. For each application, set up: 🔔 Show notifications (on/off) 📝 Display content (message text) 🔕 Vibration (strong/weak/off)

Note: Mi Band 4 only displays the first 100 characters of a message. If the text is longer, you will see an ellipse, and the bracelet does not support response to messages or notification management (for example, you can not mark the message as read).

If notifications do not arrive, check:

• 📵 Is Bluetooth on the phone.
• 🔕 Is the bracelet worth it in mode Do not disturb.
• 📱 Are notifications for Mi Fit allowed in phone settings (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fit → Notifications).
• 🔄 Do not need to update the firmware bracelet.

⚠️ Note: On iPhone notifications from some messengers (for example, VK or Skype may not come due to iOS restrictions, in which case try using the Zepp Life app or configure notification forwarding via Shortcuts).

5. Personalization: dials, wallpapers and gestures

The Mi Band 4 supports interchangeable dials, allowing you to adapt the bracelet to your style. In the basic configuration, 5-7 standard dials are available, but you can download additional ones through the app or third-party services.

To change the dial:

1. Open Mi Fit. → Mi Smart Band 4 → Dials.
2. Choose your favorite option from the list (categories: Classic, Sports, Minimalism, etc.).
3. Click Sync to apply the changes.

To install custom dials (such as those with Among Us, Marvel or animated wallpaper), use third-party apps like Amazfit Watchfaces or Mi Band 4 Faces. However, beware: unofficial dials may contain errors or incorrectly display the time.

In addition, the Mi Band 4 supports gestures to control:

• 👆 Raising your hand - turning on the screen.
• 👈 Scrolling left/right - changing menus.
• 👆⬅️ Double touch - going back.

To tune the gestures:

1. Go to the Device Settings → Gestures.
2. Enable the option to raise your hand to activate.
3. Adjust the sensitivity (if the screen is turned on too often or does not respond).

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Castom dials can drain the battery faster than standard ones because of animation or complex elements. If autonomy is more important than design, choose simple static dials.

Energy saving and autonomy: how to extend the work of the bracelet

The standard battery life of the Mi Band 4 is 15-20 days with moderate use, but if you are actively using notifications, constant data synchronization or animated dials, the charge can be consumed faster.

The main tips for energy saving:

• 🔋 Turn off Permanent Time Display (in screen settings).
• 🔔 Reduce notifications or turn off vibrations for unnecessary apps.
• 📊 Manually sync data (turn off Autosynchronization in Mi Fit settings).
• 🌙 Use Sleep Mode (turns off screen and notifications for a given time).
• 🔄 Update the firmware only when connected to charging.

If the bracelet discharges too quickly (less than 5 days), check:

• 🔌 Quality of charging cable (unoriginal cables can damage the battery).
• 📱 Synchronization frequency with the phone (in the Mi Fit settings) → Synchronization of data).
• 🌡️ Ambient temperature (lower in frost) -10°C battery goes down faster).

To check the status of the battery:

1. Open Mi Fit. → Mi Smart Band 4 → Status of the device.
2. Look at the percentage of charge and the estimate of autonomy.
3. If the battery is discharged in 1-2 days, you may need to replace it (contact the service center).

⚠️ Note: Do not leave the bracelet on charging more 3 hours after 100%. Overcharging can shorten battery life. also avoid using the bracelet in extreme temperatures (above) +45°C or lower -20°C).

7. Hidden features and life hacks for Mi Band 4

Beyond the basic features, the Mi Band 4 hides a few useful features that few people know about.

1.Music control from the bracelet

You can switch tracks and adjust volume directly from the Mi Band 4 if you enable this feature in the settings:

1. Open Mi Fit. → Settings of the device → Managing music.
2. Turn on the option and select the default player (such as Spotify, YouTube Music or the standard player).
3. Now when playing music on the phone on the bracelet will display a player with buttons Play/Pause, Next and Previous.

2. Phone search

If you lose your phone, you can make it ring from your bracelet:

1. Flick the bracelet menu to the icon 📱 (phone-search).
2. Click on it – the phone will give a loud signal, even if it is in silent mode.

3.Fast access to the weather

To see the weather forecast on the bracelet:

1. Turn on geolocation on your phone.
2. In Mi Fit, go to Device Settings → Weather and activate the option.
3. Now, when you flip through the screens of the bracelet, the temperature and the weather icon will be displayed.

4.The secret regime of the developer

For experienced users, a hidden mode is available, allowing you to test new features:

1. Open Mi Fit and quickly click on the firmware version 5 times (in the About Device section).
2. A developer menu will appear with options like Log Data or Vibration Test.

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If you’re missing standard features, try Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (available on Android) which extends the bracelet’s capabilities by adding, for example, text responses or camera control.

8. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you set up the Mi Band 4 properly, it can malfunction, and we've collected some of the most common problems and ways to fix them.

If none of the methods helped, try to reset the bracelet to the factory settings:

1. Open Mi Fit. → Mi Smart Band 4 → Untie the device.
2. Synchronize the bracelet again, as when you first connect.

If the problem recurs, the bracelet may be faulty, in which case, contact Xiaomi's service center.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions