How to properly set up Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness tracker: a complete guide from connectivity to fine-tuning

Xiaomi Mi Band 4 remains one of the most popular fitness trackers due to its combination of affordable price, compactness and wide functionality. Even years after its release, the device does not lose its relevance - it is bought to monitor activity, sleep, pulse and even control music from the phone. However, many users face difficulties when first setting up: the tracker does not sync, does not show notifications or quickly discharges.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the Mi Band 4’s step-by-step setup from scratch, from connecting to a smartphone to hidden features that aren’t mentioned in the standard manual. You’ll learn how to install Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), set up time displays, alarms, notifications, and even extend battery life, and focus on common bugs that make the tracker malfunction and give recommendations for fixing them.

If you’ve just unpacked the bracelet or want to recheck its settings, this guide will help you avoid common problems and use the Mi Band 4 100%. For convenience, we’ve broken the process into logical blocks, from basic synchronization to advanced features like controlling your phone’s camera or setting up screensavers.

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

Before you start syncing the Mi Band 4 with your phone, make sure all the prerequisites are met, which will eliminate most problems such as inability to connect or errors when updating the firmware.

First, check the compatibility of your smartphone. The bracelet works with Android 5.0 devices.+ or iOS 10.0+. If your phone is older, you may need to update your operating system.Also make sure the smartphone is turned on:

• 📶 Bluetooth (version 4.0 or later)
• 📱 Geolocation (for proper pedometer operation)
• 🔄 Automatic data synchronization (in the settings of the Xiaomi account)

Second, charge the bracelet. Although the Mi Band 4 comes with a partial charge, it's best to bring the battery to 100% before setting it up.

1. Remove the tracker capsule from the strap.
2. Connect it to the charging cable (included) - the magnetic contacts should match.
3. Connect the cable to USB-port (charging from a computer or adapter) 5V/1A).

Charging to full level takes about 1.5-2 hours, and the bracelet screen displays a battery level indicator during charging.

⚠️ Note: Do not use chargers with higher voltage 5V — This can damage the bracelet battery, and avoid charging at temperatures below 0.°C or higher than 40°C.

Finally, download the official Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) from Google Play or the App Store. make sure you have the latest version - older releases may not support Mi Band 4.

2. Connecting Mi Band 4 to a smartphone: step-by-step instructions

Now, to the most important step, which is synchronizing the bracelet with the phone, if you do it right, you can set it up in 10 minutes.

Open the Mi Fitness app and follow the following steps:

1. Click Profile → Add the device.
2. Choose a bracelet. → Mi Smart Band 4.
3. Allow the app to access geolocation, notifications, and Bluetooth (required!).
4. Click Connect and wait for the phone to find the bracelet.
5. On the screen of Mi Band 4 will appear 6-digit code – confirm it in the application.

If the bracelet is not present, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Mi Band 4 (press the touch button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Restart Bluetooth on your phone.
• 🔌 Make sure the bracelet is charged (the battery indicator should be on the screen).

After a successful connection, the application will offer to update the firmware. We recommend you to agree - the new version corrects errors and adds new features. The update will take 5-15 minutes, do not turn off Bluetooth at this time!

Bracelet charge ≥ 50%|Bluetooth on your phone is on|Mi Fitness app updated|Appendix permits issued|The bracelet is next to the phone (≤ 1m)-->

3. Basic settings: time, alarms and notifications

Once synchronized, you can start personalizing the wristband, and let's start with the most important thing, setting the time and the alarm clocks.

How to set the time and date:

• ⏰ The time on Mi Band 4 is synchronized automatically with the phone when you connect. If it gets lost, check the date and time settings on your smartphone (Should be enabled Automatically).
• 🌍 Time format (12/24 (hours) changes in annex: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Screen settings → Time format.

Setting alarm clocks:

The bracelet supports up to 10 alarm clocks that can be set both in the app and on the device:

1. In Mi Fitness: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Alarm clocks → Add an alarm clock.
2. On the bracelet: swipe up the screen → More. → Alarm clock → +.

You can choose:

• ⏰ Response time (within minute accuracy).
• 🔄 Repeat (once, daily, day-to-day, week-to-day).
• 🔔 Type of vibration (short/long).

Notifications from the phone:

To have the bracelet show incoming calls and messages:

1. In Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications.
2. Turn on the Notification switch.
3. Select the apps you want to see alerts from (such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber).
4. Set up the display style (only the icon or text of the message).

⚠️ Note: For iPhone notifications to work correctly, you must additionally allow Mi Fitness to access alerts in iOS settings (Settings) → Notifications → Mi Fitness).

If notifications do not arrive:

• Check if the Do Not Disturb mode is turned off on the bracelet.
• Make sure Mi Fitness is not optimized by the system (on Android: Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Battery → No restrictions).
• Reset the bracelet and phone.

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If the alarm on the bracelet doesn't work, check to see if the phone is silent. On some Android models, this blocks the vibration of external devices.

Health monitoring: pulse, sleep and activity

The Mi Band 4 can track key health indicators, such as heart rate, sleep quality and physical activity, and let's figure out how to adjust each of these parameters for maximum accuracy.

Pulse measurement:

The bracelet automatically measures the pulse every 30 minutes, but you can manually run the check:

1. On the bracelet, swipe up the screen.
2. Pick Pulse.
3. Wait 15-30 seconds (the result will appear on the screen).

For more accurate readings:

• 🩺 Wear the bracelet 2-3 cm above your wrist (not too tight!).
• 🧘‍♂️ Measure your pulse at rest (sitting or lying down).
• 🚫 Avoid measurements immediately after exercise or eating.

Sleep tracking:

The bracelet automatically detects sleep phases (deep, light, REM), But it's necessary:

1. Wear Mi Band 4 before bed (skin sensor!)
2. Make sure the battery is at least 30% charged.
3. Do not remove the bracelet until you wake up.

Sleep data will appear in the Mi Fitness app in the Sleep section, where you can also configure:

• 🛌‍♂️ Sleeping Purpose (Recommended Time).
• 📊 Sleep analysis (detailed statistics by phase).
• 🔔 Smart alarm clock (waking up in optimal sleep phase).

Stepper and activity:

For an accurate calculation of steps:

• 👟 Put the bracelet on a non-mining hand (for example, on the right if you are left-handed).
• 📱 Enable geolocation on your phone (improving accuracy).
• 🎯 Set a personal goal by steps in Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Target by step.

The bracelet also recognizes the following types of activity:

⚠️ Note: To track swimming, the Mi Band 4 must be worn tightly (but not squeezing your hand), and after training, it must be rinsed with fresh water to remove chlorine or salt.

5. Personalization: dials, brightness and gestures

Mi Band 4 supports removable dials, screen brightness and gesture control, and let's figure out how to customize the look of the bracelet for yourself.

Installation of dials:

There are few standard faces in the bracelet, but you can download additional ones through apps like Amazfit Watch Faces or Mi Band Master.

1. Download your favorite dial (file with.bin extension).
2. In Mi Fitness go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Dial.
3. Select Add the dial and upload the file.
4. Confirm the installation on the bracelet (reboot will be required).

Popular sources of dials:

• 🌐 Amazfit Watch Faces
• 📱 Groups in Telegram (for example, @miband_faces)
• 🛒 Google Play (Mi Band 4 Faces app)

Setting brightness and lighting time:

The screen bracelet was clearly visible in the bright sun, but did not put the battery:

1. In Mi Fitness: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Screen settings.
2. Adjust Brightness (recommended 3-4 divisions out of 5).
3. Set the time of lighting (5-10 seconds is enough).

Gesture control:

Mi Band 4 supports two gestures:

• 👆 Raising your hand – turning on the screen when moving.
• 🔄 Wrist flipping - flipping notifications.

To include them:

1. In Mi Fitness: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Gestures.
2. Activate the options you need.

⚠️ Attention: Hand lifting gestures may accidentally turn on the screen while sleeping or walking, which increases battery consumption.If the bracelet discharges too quickly, turn off this feature.

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Not only do interchangeable dials change the design, but they can also add new features, such as weather display or battery level.

6 Advanced functions: music management, phone search and NFC

Mi Band 4 has a lot more to do than count steps, and we're going to take a look at the hidden possibilities that a lot of people don't know about.

Music management:

From the bracelet, you can switch tracks and adjust the volume on the phone:

• 🎵 While playing music, swipe up the bracelet screen.
• 🔊 Select Music.
• 🎶 Use the buttons. ▶️/⏸, ⏭, ⏮ volume control.

It works with most players: Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music and the standard Android player.

Phone search:

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

1. Put the bracelet up.
2. Choose More. → Find the phone.
3. The phone will give a loud signal (even if it is silent).

NFC-Version: Payment and transportation:

Model Mi Band 4 NFC Supports contactless payments via Mi Pay (restricted in Russia) and transport cards (e.g. Troika in Moscow:

1. In Mi Fitness: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → NFC.
2. Add a bank card or transport pass.
3. To pay, bring the bracelet to the terminal (like a bank card).

It's important: NFC Mi Band 4 only works when the phone screen is unlocked (app confirmation required).

Quick responses to messages (only for Android):

On Mi Band 4, you can customize template responses to incoming messages:

1. In Mi Fitness: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications → Quick answers.
2. Add up to 10 templates (e.g., “I’ll call you later,” “I’m busy right now”).
3. When receiving a message on the bracelet, swipe left and select the answer.

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If NFC It does not work, check if it is enabled in the phone settings (Settings) → Connections → NFC). Also make sure the bracelet is tied to the same Xiaomi account as the phone.

7. Battery Optimization: How to Prolong Bracelet Life

The average lifetime of the Mi Band 4 on a single charge is 15-20 days, but when used actively (constant pulse, notifications, backlights), it is reduced to 5-7 days.

The main "eaters" of the battery:

• 🔋 Frequent pulse measurement (every 1-5 minutes instead of 30).
• 📱 Constant synchronization of notifications.
• 🌞 Maximum brightness of the screen.
• 🤳 Gesture "Hand Raising".

How to reduce costs:

Additional advice:

• 🔄 Turn off Bluetooth on your phone when you are not using the bracelet (for example, at night).
• 🛌 Turn on the flight mode on the bracelet before bedtime (swipe up) → More. → Flight mode).
• 🔋 Avoid full discharge – charge at 20-30% charge.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet discharges in 1-2 days, check for moisture inside (especially after swimming). Condensation can cause short circuit and accelerated discharge. In this case, dry the device in rice or silica gel for 24 hours.

8 Problem Solving: What to Do When Mi Band 4 Is Not Working

Even if you set up the Mi Band 4 properly, you can still get into trouble, and we'll look at some of the most common problems and how to fix them.

The bracelet does not connect to the phone:

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet (press the button for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Restart Bluetooth on your phone.
• 🗑️ Remove the bracelet from the list of devices in Mi Fitness and connect again.
• 📲 Update the Mi Fitness app to the latest version.

Notifications are not coming:

• 🔔 Check the notification settings in Mi Fitness (Profile) → Mi Smart Band 4 → Notifications).
• 📵 Make sure the phone is not on Do Not Disturb mode.
• 🔧 On Android: Check if the system optimizes Mi Fitness (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Battery → No restrictions).

The bracelet doesn't measure your pulse:

• 🩺 Check the density of the fit (the bracelet should sit tightly, but do not clasp your hand).
• 🔋 Make sure the battery is charged ≥ 10%.
• 🔄 Reset the bracelet.
• 📲 Update the firmware through Mi Fitness.

The screen does not respond to touch:

• 🧼 Wash the screen with a wet wipe (it may be contaminated).
• 🔋 Check the battery charge.
• 🔄 Reset the bracelet.
• 🛠️ If the screen is cracked or scratched, contact the service center.

The bracelet discharges quickly:

• 🔋 Check the settings on the table from the previous section.
• 💧 Make sure there is no moisture inside.
• 📲 Reset the bracelet to factory settings (Profile) → Mi Smart Band 4 → Untie the device).

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

1.In Mi Fitness: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Untie the device.


On the bracelet: press the button for 10 seconds before the Mi logo appears.




3. Reconnect the bracelet as you first set up.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Mi Band 4