How to set up notifications on Xiaomi Mi Band 4: from SMS to instant messengers

Xiaomi Mi Band 4 remains one of the most popular fitness bracelets due to its combination of affordable price, long autonomy and wide functionality. However, many users face difficulties in setting up notifications - the bracelet either does not vibrate when incoming messages, shows them incorrectly, or completely ignores some applications. In this article, we will discuss how to properly configure notifications on Mi Band 4 for SMS, calls, instant messengers and social networks, and consider typical errors and ways to fix them.

It’s important to understand that the functionality of notifications on the wristband depends on two factors: the version of the device’s firmware and settings in the Mi Fit app (or its alternatives like Zepp Life). If you recently upgraded your smartphone to Android 13+ or iOS 16+, some settings may have reset — they will have to be reconfigured. It’s also worth considering that the Mi Band 4 does not support displaying notifications from all applications: for example, some banking applications or corporate messengers may be blocked by the system for security reasons.

Before you start setting up, make sure that:

  • 📱 Your smartphone is running Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+.
  • 🔄 The bracelet is connected to the phone via Bluetooth 4.2+ and is within range (up to 10 meters).
  • 📲 Mi Fit is updated to the latest version (check in Google Play or App Store).
  • 🔋 The charge level of the bracelet exceeds 20% – at low charge, some functions are turned off automatically.

1. Preparation: Update of firmware and applications

Before setting up notifications, make sure that both the bracelet and the Mi Fit app are running on current versions.Outdated software can cause synchronization failures or no support for new features.

To update the firmware Mi Band 4:

  1. Open the Mi Fit app and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4.
  2. Slip on the item Firmware Update (if available).
  3. Confirm the boot and wait for the process to be completed (the bracelet will reboot automatically).

To update the Mi Fit app:

  • 📱 On Android: Open Google Play, find Mi Fit and click Update.
  • 🍎 On iOS: Go to the App Store → Updates and Find Mi Fit.

⚠️ Note: If after updating the firmware bracelet stopped showing notifications, try untie it from the phone (Profile) → Mi Smart Band 4 → Untie the device and reconnect. That'll reset the sync settings.

📊 What version of the Mi Band you are using?
Mi Band 4
Mi Band 5
Mi Band 6
Mi Band 7
Other

2. Basic notification settings in Mi Fit

The main notification settings are configured directly in the Mi Fit app, where you can turn on or off vibration, select applications from which alerts will come, and configure the display of text messages.

Instructions for setting:

  1. Open the Mi Fit and select your bracelet at the top of the screen.
  2. Go to Notifications (on some versions of the app it may be called Notifications or Synchronization of Notifications).
  3. Activate the slider Enable notifications (if it is turned off).
  4. In the Applications section, select the messengers and social networks from which you want to receive notifications (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, VK).
  5. Set up the vibration parameters: 🔄 Vibration when incoming call - turn on for call alerts. 💬 Vibration when message – activate for notifications from messengers. ⏰ Repeat vibrations – set the interval (e.g. every 3 minutes if you missed the notification).

Note the item Show notification contents. If it's disabled, the bracelet will vibrate but not show text to the message. On Android, this option can be blocked by the system's privacy settings, which we'll talk about in the next section.

Make sure notifications are included in Mi Fit|Check the list of permitted applications|Activate vibration for calls and messages|Set up a vibration replay|Check the display of the text of notifications-->

3. Set up access rights for Android and iOS

A common reason for the lack of notifications on Mi Band 4 is the lack of access rights of the Mi Fit app to the system. On Android and iOS, these settings are different, so let’s consider both options.

For Android:

  1. Go to Phone Settings → Applications → Mi Fit → Permissions.
  2. Make sure that the following rights are included: 📱 Notifications – Access to notifications from other applications. 📞 Phone – to display incoming calls. 📁 Storage - for backup of bracelet data. 🔄 Auto-Run – to keep Mi Fit running in the background.

Settings → Special features → Mi Fit

Showing over other windows

For iOS:

  1. Open the settings → notifications → Mi Fit.
  2. Enable Allow Notifications and select Banner Style.
  3. Go to Settings → Privacy → Bluetooth and make sure Mi Fit has access.
  4. In Settings → Main → Update in the background, turn on the update for Mi Fit.

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If notifications are unstable after all the manipulations, try temporarily disabling other fitness apps (such as Google Fit or S Health) that may conflict with Mi Fit.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Can you set up notifications from specific contacts (e.g., family only)?
The standard Mi Fit app does not support contact notification filtering, but some alternative apps (like Notify & Fitness for Mi Band) allow you to set up whitelists of contacts from which alerts will come. To do this, install an alternative app. In the notification settings, select Contact Filter. Add the contacts you want to the list of allowed contacts. Note that this feature may require the app to access your contacts.
Why does the bracelet vibrate but not show the text of the notification?
This problem is usually related to the privacy settings on the phone. Check this: On Android: Settings → Apps → Mi Fit → Notifications → Show notifications on the lock screen. On iOS: Settings → Notifications → Mi Fit → Show Preview (select Always). In Mi Fit itself: turn on the option to Show the contents of notifications. If the problem persists, try reinstalling Mi Fit or resetting the bracelet settings.
How to turn off notifications during sleep?
To do this, you can use Do Not Disturb: Open Mi Fit and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Do Not Disturb. Activate mode and set a schedule (for example, from 23:00 to 7:00). Save settings. In this mode, the bracelet will not vibrate when notifications and calls, but the alarms will work as usual.
Can you set different vibrations for different types of notifications?
The standard Mi Fit app does not support custom vibration patterns for different types of notifications. However: Calls and alarms use different default vibration rhythms. Some alternative applications (such as Mi Bandage) allow you to customize unique vibrations for messengers, but this requires root access on Android. On iOS, custom vibrations cannot be set up due to system limitations.
What if after updating the bracelet firmware notifications stopped working?
Firmware updates sometimes reset sync settings. Try this: Untie the bracelet from your phone in Mi Fit (Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Untie the device). Reboot the phone and bracelet. Reconnect the bracelet and reconfigure the notifications. If the problem persists, reset the bracelet to factory settings (Mi Fit → Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Reset). Also check if the antivirus or firewall is blocking Mi Fit.