Xiaomi Wear smartwatches (including Mi Band, Watch and Smart Band models) have become an integral part of Xiaomi’s ecosystem, combining stylish design, advanced health features and ease of control. However, many users face difficulties in the first setup, from connecting to a smartphone to calibrating sensors. This article will help you understand everything from basic synchronization to hidden features that the manufacturer does not always advertise.
We will look not only at standard steps (how to tie a watch to a Mi Fitness or Zepp Life app), but also at rare settings: for example, how to change the order of screens with a swipe or disable unnecessary notifications from messengers. Particular attention is paid to solving typical problems - when the watch does not detect the pulse, quickly discharge or lose communication with the smartphone. All instructions are relevant for firmware 2023-2026 and tested on Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Smart Band 8 and Mi Band 7 models.
1. Preparation for setting up: what to do before turning on the clock
Before you start setting up, make sure you have everything you need, which will save time and eliminate common errors such as inability to connect or crashes when updating your firmware.
First, check the compatibility of your smartphone.The Xiaomi Wear watch officially supports Android 6.0 devices+ or iOS 10.0+, But to work properly (such as notifications or Mi Pay) you may need a newer version of the OS. On the iPhone, some features will be limited – for example, you can not answer calls directly from the clock.
- 📱 Android smartphone 6.0+/iOS 10.0+ and free space (minimum) 200 MB for application)
- 🔋 Charger (original cable for your model – for example, Mi Band 8 uses magnetic charging)
- 🌐 Stable Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data for downloading firmware)
- 📌 Xiaomi account (you can create directly in the Mi Fitness app)
The second important thing is battery power: If the watch is under 20%, it may shut down during a firmware update, which will result in a blink (inoperable state), charge the device to at least 50% before setting up, and also make sure that the smartphone is power-saving mode is turned off, it can interrupt the data synchronization.
2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness/Zepp Life app
Xiaomi Wear’s official watch management app is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit) or Zepp Life, depending on the region and model of the device. Since 2023, Xiaomi has been actively moving users to Zepp Life, but both programs remain compatible.
- 🤖 Mi Fitness for Android
- 🍎 Mi Fitness for iOS
- 🌍 Zepp Life (official website)
After installation, follow the following steps:
- Open the app and sign up (or sign in to an existing Xiaomi account).
- Click Profile → Add the device and select your watch model.
- Follow the instructions on the screen: Allow access to notifications, geolocation and contacts (this is necessary for the correct operation of calls and activity tracking).
- Bring the watch to your smartphone – it should automatically be determined by Bluetooth.
If the clock is not there, try:
- 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your smartphone (disable/enable in settings).
- 📱 Make sure the watch is paired (usually activated automatically when first turned on).
- 🔋 Check the battery power of the watch (below 10% can block the connection).
☑️ Preparation for synchronization
3. Basic setting: time, notifications and screen
Once you've connected successfully, you can start personalizing your watch, and we can start with the most important thing, which is time synchronization, and the default time is from your smartphone, but sometimes there's discrepancies (like when you're flying or changing your time zone) to manually update your time.
- Open the Mi Fitness app.
- Go to Profile. → Your device. → Settings of the clock.
- Select a date and a time. → Synchronize.
If time is constantly straying, check the settings for automatic time zone determination on your smartphone (Settings) → System system → Date and time).
Next, set up notifications. By default, the clock shows all incoming messages, but this can be changed:
| Type of notification | How to set up | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Calls. | Settings of the clock → Notifications → Incoming calls | On the iPhone you need to allow access to contacts |
| Communications | Settings of the clock → Notifications → Messages (select messengers) | Supported: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, SMS |
| Annexes | Settings of the clock → Notifications → Other annexes | You can turn off notifications from games or social networks |
| Alarm clocks | Settings of the clock → Alarm clocks | Maximum 10 alarm clocks, you can set the repeat by day |
To save battery power, we recommend disabling notifications from underutilized applications.
- 🌓 Brightness: C Clock settings → The display can be selected automatic or manual adjustment.
- ⏱️ Backlight time: 5 seconds default, but can be increased to 15 (reduces autonomy).
- 🔄 Screen Rotation: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro) can enable automatic rotation when you turn your hand.
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If notifications come with a delay, check your power saving settings on your smartphone: add the Mi Fitness app to the “Exceptions” list for background activity.
4. Customization of health and fitness functions
One of the key advantages of the Xiaomi Wear watches is health sensors: pulsemeter, SpO₂ (They're oxygenated, they're monitoring sleep and stress, but for accurate readings, they need to be tuned and calibrated.
Heart rate monitoring works in two modes: Automatic (every 5-30 minutes, depending on the model) and Manual (on request).
- In the app, go to Profile → Your device. → Monitoring of heart rate.
- Select Measurement Frequency (recommended every 10 minutes for balance of accuracy and autonomy).
- Activate the High Pulse Warning option (the threshold is manually adjusted, usually 100-120 beats / min).
For measurement SpO₂ (Blood oxygen levels) go to the clock settings → Health → Oxygen saturation: The measurement takes about 30 seconds and only works manually on most models.At Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, automatic monitoring is available SpO₂ In a dream, it is a unique feature for the Wear line.
Sleep tracking settings:
Turn on the option of Sleep Monitoring in your health settings.
Set your target sleep time (recommended 7-9 hours).
Activate the Smart Alarm – it will wake you up in the light sleep phase 30 minutes before the set time.
How can we improve the accuracy of sensors?
5. Advanced Features: Payments, Voice Assistant and Gestures
Modern Xiaomi Wear watches support features that many users do not use simply because they do not know about their existence.
1. Contactless payments Mi Pay
To link a bank card:
- Open the Mi Fitness app and go to Profile → Mi Pay.
- Click Add the card and scan it or enter the data manually.
- Confirm the binding through SMS bank.
- The option to Pay in the menu will appear on the watch (available on models with NFC: Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, Smart Band 8 Pro).
2.Voice assistant Xiao AI
On a watch with a microphone (for example, Xiaomi Watch) S3) You can use voice commands:
- Activate the function in the Settings of the clock → Voice assistant.
- Say "Hey, Xiao." AI" Press the button on the crown (if any).
- Supported commands: "What weather?", "Set an alarm for 7:00", "Start running training."
3.Gestural control
Some models support gestures for control:
- Shake your wrist and turn on the screen.
- Cover the screen with your palm - turn off the alarm clock.
Twice tap the screen and flip the notification.
To set up gestures, go to the Settings of the clock → Gestures.
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Xiao's voice assistant AI It only works on Chinese and global firmware, and on European versions, the clock can be turned off by default.
6. Update firmware and reset settings
Regular firmware updates fix bugs, add new features and improve autonomy to check for updates:
- Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Your Device.
- Press firmware update.
- If a new version is available, click Download and Install.
Important points in the update:
Make sure the watch is at least 50% charged.
Do not interrupt the process – this can lead to a blink (inoperability) of the device.
After the update, the clock will restart automatically.
⚠️ Warning: If the watch stopped turning on after the update or the Xiaomi logo hung, try a forced reboot: press the power button for 15-20 seconds. If this does not help, you will need to reset via Mi Fitness (see below).
For a complete reset (for example, before selling the watch):
- Annex: Profile → Your device. → Untie the device.
- On the clock: Settings → System system → Data reset (combination may vary depending on the model).
After the reset, all data will be deleted, including health statistics and notification settings.
7. Optimization of autonomy: how to extend the working time
One of the most common complaints about smartwatches is fast battery drain, but with the right settings, even the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro can last up to 7-10 days on a single charge.
- 🔋 Turn off constant pulse monitoring (leave every 30 minutes instead of every 5 minutes).
- 📵 Reduce screen brightness and backlight time (optimum: 5 seconds).
- 🚫 Disable notifications from unnecessary apps (especially games and social media).
- 🌙 Use dark dials (on the AMOLED-This reduces the power consumption of screens).
- 🔄 Update your firmware – newer versions often optimize battery consumption.
If the watch is discharged in 1-2 days, even after optimization, check:
- Is the regime not on? GPS It should be activated continuously (only during training).
- Are there any background applications that drain the battery (e.g., an incorrectly running Xiao)? AI).
Whether the battery is damaged (if the watch is older than 2 years, it may need to be replaced).
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To check what exactly drains the battery, go to the Settings of the clock. → Battery → Use. It shows the most energy-intensive functions.
8. Solving common problems
Even after setting it up properly, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The clock is out of sync. | Bluetooth or App Failure | Reboot your smartphone and watch, update your Mi Fitness |
| No pulse measurement. | Dirty sensors or loose fit | Wipe the sensors with alcohol, tighten the strap |
| The battery goes down fast. | Continuous monitoring GPS/pulse | Turn off unnecessary sensors in the settings |
| No notifications coming. | Restrictions on energy saving on a smartphone | Add Mi Fitness to Optimization Exceptions |
| The clock doesn't define exercise. | Incorrectly selected type of activity | Update the firmware, recalibrate the sensors |
If the watch doesn’t turn on after it’s discharged, plug it into a charge for 10-15 minutes – sometimes it takes time for the battery to gain the minimum charge to start. If the charging indicator doesn’t burn, check the cable and contacts on the watch (they may have oxidized).
⚠️ Warning: Do not use non-original chargers – they can damage the battery or power controller, especially magnetically charged models (Mi Band 8, Smart Band 7 Pro).