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

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular wearables even years after its release. Its simplicity, reliability and wide functionality appeal to both beginners and experienced users of smart technology. However, many face difficulties when first setting up: the bracelet does not sync with a smartphone, does not show notifications or counts steps correctly. In this article, we will examine all the stages of settings, from connecting to the phone to subtle parameters like alarm clocks and training regimes.

The Mi Band 4 is a feature that works through the Mi Fit app (or its Zepp Life alternative), and without it, the bracelet becomes a normal watch. We will tell you how to avoid typical errors, such as why the bracelet may not detect the pulse or why communication with the smartphone is lost.

If you've just unpacked the bracelet or want to reinstall it after resetting, this guide will help you get it right the first time, and for those who already use the Mi Band 4, we've put together hidden features that few people know about, like how to turn on the weather display or adjust gestures to control music.

1. Preparation for setting up: what to do before turning on the bracelet

Before you start setting up, make sure you have everything you need, which will save time and save you from disappointment if something goes wrong.

Minimum requirements for Mi Band 4:

• 📱 Smartphone on Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+ (The bracelet does not support older versions).
• 🔋 Charged bracelet (minimum 20% battery, otherwise it may shut down during synchronization).
• 🌐 Stable Internet connection (for downloading the application and updating the firmware).
• 📲 Free space on the phone (the Mi Fit app weighs) ~100MB, plus cash).

Also check that you have the original bracelet.Fakes often have synchronization issues and don't support all the features.The original Mi Band 4 has:

• 🏷️ Serial number on the box and bracelet (you can check on the Xiaomi website).
• 🔍 Mi logo on the case and charger.
• 🎨 Clear. AMOLED-pixel-free.

⚠️ Warning: If you bought the bracelet with your hands, reset it to factory settings before connecting. The previous owner could have tied it to his account, and without resetting, you can't use all the features.

If you're done, you can go to the app, but first answer the question:

2. Install and configure the Mi Fit (or Zepp Life) application

Without the Mi Band 4 app, it will not be able to reach its full potential, and Xiaomi officially offers two options:

• Mi Fit is a classic application with basic functions.

Both apps are compatible with Mi Band 4, but Zepp Life is updated more often and offers more options for analyzing sleep and workouts, and we recommend installing it if your smartphone supports (the list of compatible devices is available on Zepp’s website).

Step-by-step installation:

1. Download Mi Fit from Google Play or App Store (or Zepp Life here).
2. Sign up or sign in via your Xiaomi, Google, Facebook account or phone number.
3. Provide all necessary permissions (access to notifications, location, contacts – this is necessary for the bracelet to work correctly).
4. In the main menu of the application, click Profile → Add device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 4.

⚠️ Warning: If the app doesn’t find the bracelet, check if Bluetooth is on on the phone and if the bracelet is in search mode (the icon should be on the screen). 🔍). Also make sure that the bracelet is not connected to another device.

Once you've successfully connected, the app will suggest you update the bracelet firmware. Always agree to upgrade, which fixes the bugs and adds new features. 5-10 Do not interrupt it or turn off Bluetooth.

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If you have two smartphones (for example, a work and a personal), the bracelet can only be connected to one device at a time. To reconnect it, first unplug in the app settings on the first phone.

3.Initial bracelet setting: time, language, notifications

Once you connect to an application, you need to set up the basic parameters, most of which can be changed later, but some (such as the interface language) are better set up right away.

The main settings in the appendix:

• ⏰ Time and Date: Sync automatically with your phone, but if the clock is in a hurry/lagging, check the time zone in your smartphone settings.
• 🌐 Language: Mi Band 4 has several languages available, including Russian. To change: Device profile → Bracelet settings → Language.
• 🔔 Notifications: Enable Notifications from your phone and select the apps you want to receive alerts from (WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS etc.).
• 🔋 Screen: Adjust brightness, backlight time and automatically shut down the screen.

Pay special attention to notifications. By default, the bracelet vibrates at any alerts, but you can configure this:

• 📵 Turn off vibration for individual applications (for example, for social networks).
• ⏱️ Set "Silent mode" for the night.
• 📱 Enable the display of the text of notifications (does not work with all messengers).

Important: If notifications don't come after setting up, check the permissions for the Mi Fit app in your phone's settings (especially access to notifications and autorun). On Android, you may also need to disable battery optimization for Mi Fit.

4.Tune fitness functions: pedometer, pulse, training

Mi Band 4 is primarily a fitness gadget, and its main functions are related to activity tracking, and the correct setting of these parameters will help you get accurate data about your health.

Stepper and distance:

• 👟 By default, the bracelet counts steps automatically, but for accuracy, specify your height, weight and step length in the application profile.
• 📊 To reset the step counter, go to Statistics → Steps. → Reset (available only at the end of the day).
• 🏃 If the bracelet overstates or lowers steps, try calibrating it: walk 10 steps with your phone in your hand, and the application will pick up the coefficient itself.

Pulse measurement:

• ❤️ Turn on Continuous pulse measurement in bracelet settings (but this reduces the operating time to 5-7 days).
• 🩺 For accurate measurement, wear a bracelet on 2-3 finger above the wrist and do not move your hand during measurement.
• ⚠️ If the pulse is not measured, check if the bracelet fits tightly to the skin (there should be no gaps).

Training regimens:

The bracelet supports 6 activities: running, walking, cycling, gym, swimming and general (for yoga, Pilates, etc.) To start training:

1. On the bracelet, swipe up the screen and select Training.
2. Select the type of activity and confirm the start.
3. After training, save the results – they are synchronized with the application.

⚠️ Note: Mi Band 4 has water resistance of 5 ATM, But after bathing in salt or chlorinated water, wash the bracelet with fresh water.

Indicate weight and height in the profile|Turn on GPS on the phone (for accurate tracking of the route)|Charge the bracelet to 100%|Wear the bracelet tightly, but without clasping your hand-->

5 Additional functions: alarm clocks, weather, music control

Beyond fitness features, the Mi Band 4 has a lot more to do with the bracelet, which will make it even more convenient to use.

Alarm clocks:

• ⏰ You can set up to 10 alarm clocks directly from the bracelet or through the app.
• 🛌 Switch on a smart alarm clock to wake you up in light sleep 30 minutes before your set time.
• 🔕 To turn off the alarm clock, swipe right on the bracelet screen or press the button.

Weather:

• 🌦️ To see the weather on the bracelet, enable this feature in the application settings and provide access to geolocation.
• 📍 Data is updated automatically when synchronized with the phone.
• ☀️ The bracelet screen displays temperature, humidity and forecast for the day.

Music management:

• 🎵 From the bracelet you can switch tracks, adjust volume and pause (works with most players).
• 🔀 To activate, swipe up the screen and select Music.
• 📱 If the feature doesn’t work, check if the music app is running on your phone.

Gestures:

Mi Band 4 has a hidden gesture control feature:

• 🙌 Shake your hand to turn on the screen light (configured in bracelet settings) → Gestures).
• 👋 Twice tap the screen to switch the tune (if music control is enabled).

Problems and Solutions: What to Do When the Bracelet Fails to Work

Even a reliable device like the Mi Band 4 sometimes fails, and we've collected the most common problems and ways to solve them.

If the bracelet has stopped responding:

1. Put it on charge for 30 minutes (even if the indicator is not on).
2. If it doesn’t work, make a hard reset: press the touch button for 20 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. After reset, you will have to reconnect the bracelet to the application.

⚠️ Note: If after updating the firmware bracelet began to work worse (for example, quickly discharged or glitches the screen), you can roll back to the previous version. → Mi Band 4 → Firmware update → Back to the factory.

7. Reset to factory settings and reconnect

If you sell a bracelet or want to start setting up from scratch, you'll need a reset, which will delete all data from the device, including your account binding.

How to Reset Mi Band 4:

1. Open the Settings menu on the bracelet → Reset (or press the touch button for 10 seconds).
2. Confirm the action - the bracelet vibrates and reboots.
3. Once reset, it will only display time and battery power.

To connect the bracelet to the new phone:

1. Remove it from the device list in the Mi Fit app on your old phone (if you have access).
2. On the new phone, install Mi Fit, register and add the device again.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen – the bracelet should be near the phone.

If the bracelet was tied to another account and you can’t untie it (for example, bought a used one), contact Xiaomi support via the Mi Fit app (Feedback section) and provide the device’s serial number.

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Once reset, the bracelet loses all settings, but the physical data (steps, pulse) is stored in the Mi Fit app on the phone, which can be restored when reconnected.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)