How to properly set up Xiaomi watch with your phone: from pairing to error elimination

Why syncing Xiaomi watches with your phone is not just a Bluetooth connection

Xiaomi smartwatches — whether it’s the Mi Band (version 5 to 8), Xiaomi Watch or Redmi Watch — require not only physical pairing with the phone, but also the right software setup. Many users mistakenly believe that it’s enough to turn on Bluetooth and confirm the connection, but in practice this is only the first step. Without the correct binding to the account Mi Account or Zepp Life (depending on the model), the watch will not be able to transmit data about steps, sleep, pulse and notifications.

Moreover, starting in 2023, Xiaomi is splitting the wearable ecosystem into two platforms: Mi Fitness (for older models) and Zepp Life (for new smartwatches and fitness bracelets).This means that the instructions for the Mi Band 6 and Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro will be different — and this is a key point that is often overlooked. In this article, we will break down both options, and also look at the typical errors that cause the clocks to stop syncing after updating the phone or resetting.

Before you proceed to setup, make sure your phone meets the minimum requirements:

• 📱 Android 6.0+ or iOS 12.0+ (iPhone)
• 🔄 Bluetooth 4.2+ (stable-connection)
• 📶 Internet access (for authorization and downloading firmware)
• 🔋 Charge the clock ≥ 20% (otherwise, synchronization may be interrupted)

Step 1: Choosing the Right App – Mi Fitness or Zepp Life

The first and most common mistake is installing the wrong app. Xiaomi is gradually moving all new devices to the Zepp Life platform (formerly known as Amazfit), but the old models still work through Mi Fitness. Here's how to determine which app you want:

If you are not sure what app you need for your model, check the official Xiaomi support site or look at the device box – it usually indicates the recommended software. Installing the wrong application will lead to the fact that the watch will simply not be found when searching.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously used Mi Fit (older version of the app), uninstall it before installing Mi Fitness or Zepp Life. Version conflict may cause sync errors.

Step 2: Prepare your phone and watch for pairing

Before you connect the clock, you need to perform several mandatory actions on the phone and the device itself, skipping at least one point can cause failures:

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone

Make sure the watch is charged (≥20%)

Remove old Xiaomi apps (Mi Fit, Wear)

Restart your phone (especially after an OS update)

Turn it off. VPN/Proxies (they can block Xiaomi servers)-->

The watch itself also needs to be reset to factory settings if it has already been paired with another phone.

1. On the Mi Band: Press the touch button for 10-15 seconds until the vibration and logo appear.
2. On Xiaomi Watch: go to Settings → System → Data Reset.

If the watch is new, no reset is required – it will automatically go into pairing mode when you first turn on. Please note that after reset, all data (steps, sleep history) will be deleted from the device, but stored in the cloud if you previously linked an account.

💡

If the watch doesn't respond to reset, plug it into charging and try again. Low battery charge can block reset.

Step 3: Step-by-step instructions for pairing with Mi Fitness

Consider the Mi Band 7 and Mi Fitness (also for the Mi Band 6/8 and Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite) and if you have a different model, move on to the next Zepp Life section.

1. Download Mi Fitness from Google Play or App Store: 📱 Choose the region of Russia (or your country). 🔑 Sign in via Mi Account, Google or Apple ID. 🛡️ Confirm access to notifications and geolocation (required for weather display).

Searching device

Click Add Device → Bracelet and select your model from the list. Make sure the watch is near the phone (<1 m away).

Confirmation of connection

The watch will have a 4-digit code on it, compare it to the code in the app. If the codes match, click Confirm.

Firmware update

After pairing, the application will suggest updating the firmware. Do not cancel this process - without the current firmware, new features may not work (for example, monitoring). SpO₂ Mi Band 7).

If you have a “failed to connect” error during the device search phase, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on).
• 📵 Remove the watch from the list of associated devices in the phone settings.
• 🔌 Connect the watch to charge (sometimes helps with communication errors).

💡

If the watch is not identified in Mi Fitness, check if it is connected to another phone, and the device can only be linked to one smartphone.

Step 4: Sync with Zepp Life for Xiaomi Watch and new bracelets

The Xiaomi Watch S1/S2, Redmi Watch 3 and Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro use the Zepp Life app, which is different from the Mi Fitness interface, but the pairing process is similar.

1. Unlike Mi Fitness, it is mandatory to register via email or phone number. the application does not support authorization through Mi Account!
2. Select Device In the main menu, click Add Device and select a category (e.g., Smart Watch for Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro).
3. Scan. QR-The clock will appear on the screen. QR-code - scan it through the app. If the code doesn't show, go to Settings on the clock. → Connection → QR-code.
4. After pairing, Zepp Life will offer you to configure access to notifications, contacts and calendar. Allow all requests, otherwise the watch will not be able to show incoming calls and messages.

The thing about Zepp Life is that it's more integrated with health services, and you can configure this here.

• 🩺 Stress monitoring (requires constant wear of hours).
• 🏃 Autodetermining training (running, cycling, swimming).
• 💤 Analysis of sleep phases (taking into account naps and awakenings).

⚠️ Note: On iPhone, for notifications to work correctly in Zepp Life, you must manually enable access to Notifications in iOS settings: → Zepp Life → Notifications → Permission.

Step 5: Set up notifications and additional features

Once paired successfully, you have to adjust your personal settings, and without that, your watch will work half-heartedly, like not vibrating when you call or not displaying messages from messengers.

In both apps (Mi Fitness and Zepp Life), the path to notification settings is as follows:

Device Profile → Notifications → Notifications Management

Switch on for:

• 📞 Incoming calls (with the contact name displayed).
• 💬 Communications (SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram and others.).
• 📅 Calendar (reminders of events).
• 🔔 Other applications (e.g., mail or social media).

To save battery power, you can turn off vibration for low-value notifications (for example, newsletters).

• ⏰ Alarm clocks (synchronized with the phone).
• 🌍 Weather (automatic update every 3 hours).
• 🔒 Screen locking (PIN-data-protection).

Step 6: Solving synchronization problems

Even after successful pairing, Xiaomi watches can periodically fall off or stop updating data. Here are the most common problems and solutions:

If neither of these methods worked, try resetting the clock completely and pairing again, which solves synchronization problems in 90% of cases, and check if the antivirus or firewall is blocking the application from accessing the Internet.

💡

On Android, for stable operation of Mi Fitness/Zepp Life, add the app to the list of "Protected" in the battery settings. This will prevent automatic closing of the background.

Step 7: Optimize the operation of the clock to extend autonomy

By default, Xiaomi smart watches are set to maximum functionality, which affects the time of operation. For example, Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro in constant monitoring of the pulse and the user’s heart rate. SpO₂ discharges in 1-2 days, while with optimized settings it can work up to 7 days.

Here are the key parameters that should be adjusted:

• ❤️ Pulse rate: Set every 10 minutes instead of Continuous.
• 🌙 Sleep monitoring: Turn off sleepwalking if no detailed analysis is needed.
• 📶 Wi-Fi Connection: Turn off if you don’t use a voice assistant.
• 🔦 Screenlighting: Reduce Activity Time to 5 Seconds.
• 🔄 Autosynchronization: Set the interval every 6 hours.

Also, look at the background apps on your phone. If you have a memory cleaner installed (like Clean Master), add Mi Fitness or Zepp Life to exceptions, otherwise the connection will break.

💡

For models with AMOLED-screen (for example, Xiaomi Watch) S1 Pro) use dark dials – this reduces power consumption by 15-20%.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)