Xiaomi’s wearable electronics have long established themselves as a benchmark for accessibility and functionality, and the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 has become a hit worldwide. This activity tracker offers users not only step counting, but also pulse monitoring, call notification, and even NFC support, making it an excellent assistant in everyday life. However, in order for the device to work correctly and delight with measurement accuracy, you need to properly perform the initial setup and pairing with the smartphone.
The activation process can seem confusing to beginners due to the many nuances of Android and iOS operating systems, as well as the peculiarities of app localization. Incorrect Bluetooth connection or an outdated version of firmware often cause unstable work of the gadget. In this article, we will discuss each step in detail, from unpacking to fine-tuning notifications and installing third-party dials so you can squeeze the most out of your fitness bracelet.
Initial preparation and charging of the device
Before you start the software part, make sure your fitness tracker has enough battery power to carry out all the necessary procedures. Often new devices come from the factory with a minimum charge level, so it is recommended to put the capsule on charge on the battery. 15-20 To do this, remove the tracker from the silicone strap and connect it to the USB-computer port or power adapter via special cable dock.
Notice the contacts: on the back of the capsule are metal pads that should fit tightly to the pins of the charger. If the battery indicator on the screen does not catch fire, try to wipe the contacts with dry cloth or slightly change the position of the capsule in the dock. Full charging before first turning on is not necessary, but desirable for calibrating the power controller.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to charge the tracker if moisture or condensate is visible on the contacts, this can lead to oxidation of the contacts and failure of the electronics.
Once the battery image appears on the display, you can insert the capsule back into the strap, make sure that the convex side of the screen is facing outwards and the sensors are pointing towards the wrist, and now the device is ready to interact with the smartphone, and you can move on to install the necessary software.
- 🔋 Check the availability of charging on the screen immediately after connecting to the USB.
- 🧼 Wash the contacts with a dry wipe before each charge.
- ⏱️ Allow the device to lie on the charge for at least 10 minutes before turning on.
Installation and configuration of the Mi Fit application
The main tool for managing the bracelet is the official Mi Fit app (renamed Zepp Life in the new versions), you can download it from official Google Play or App Stores by entering the appropriate name in search. Avoid using third-party devices. APK-files from unverified sources, as this could lead to leakage of personal data or installation of malicious code.
Once installed, launch the app and create a Xiaomi account if you don't already have one. The registration process requires you to enter your email address or phone number, as well as your password. It's important to use reliable data, because all your health and activity history will be tied to this account. Authorization is a prerequisite for the device to work.
In your profile settings, specify your actual physical parameters: height, weight, age and gender. These data are critical for algorithms that calculate calories burned and distance traveled. If you enter the wrong values, the statistics will be incorrect, which makes using the tracker meaningless from the point of view of health control.
iPhone users also need to allow the app to access notifications and geolocation. Without these permissions, the bracelet’s functionality will be severely limited: it will not be able to display messages from messengers and correctly map the route when running. In iOS, privacy settings are located in the phone’s system menu, not inside the app itself.
The process of pairing the bracelet with a smartphone
The pairing of Xiaomi Mi Band 4 with the phone is a key stage, which is the most common error in inexperienced users. First, make sure that the smartphone is enabled Bluetooth and geolocation (GPS). Unlike conventional headphones, you do not need to search for the device through the standard Bluetooth menu of the phone - all actions are performed strictly inside the Mi Fit application.
Open the app, go to the Profile tab, and select Add the device. In the list of available gadgets, find Mi Band 4 and click on it. The tracker screen will show a vibration signal and ask you to confirm pairing (the icon with the man).
If the device is not found, try the following steps:
1. Make sure the bracelet is not connected to another phone (it can automatically connect to the owner's previous device).
2. Reboot Bluetooth on your smartphone.
3. Come closer to the phone, the distance should not exceed 1-2 meters.
☑️ Checklist of successful pairing
Once the connection is successful, the app will suggest updating the tracker firmware. Updating firmware is an important process that fixes bugs, improves connection stability, and adds new features. Don't interrupt this process and keep the phone next to the wristband until it's complete.
⚠️ Warning: During a firmware update, the bracelet screen may go out or the device may vibrate – this is normal behavior, do not press buttons or move away from the phone.
Set up notifications and calls
One of the main features of the smart bracelet is the ability to receive notifications of incoming calls, SMS and messages from social networks. To work, you need to go to the device settings in the Mi Fit app and find the "Application Notifications" section, where you need to activate switches for those programs that you want to see on your wrist.
It is important to understand that to work notifications, the Mi Fit application must constantly work in the background. Android operating systems often “kill” background processes to save energy, so you need to add the application to battery exclusions and autoloads. For Android, this is done through system settings: “Applications” → “Mi Fit” → “Battery” → “No restrictions”.
For iPhone users, setting up is easier, but also requires attention. The Mi Fit app needs to allow notifications to be accessed, and then in iOS system settings ("Settings" → "Bluetooth" → "i" icon next to the Mi Band 4) enable "Shared System Notifications." Without this step, the bracelet will only vibrate when calling, but ignore messages.
- 📱 Configure the display of only important applications so as not to be distracted by trifles.
- 🔋 Turn off power savings for the Mi Fit app in your phone settings.
- 📢 Check the vibration volume in the bracelet settings if you don’t feel notifications.
You can also activate the Do Not Disturb function in this mode, which will not vibrate or glow at a given time (for example, at night during sleep), which allows you to not interrupt your rest due to unnecessary messages.
Customization of dials and interface
The visuals of the Xiaomi Band 4 are important to the experience of the device. The standard dial can get boring quickly, fortunately, the model supports third-party design installation. In the Mi Fit app, go to Profile → Mi Band 4 → Dial settings. There is a store with thousands of free and paid options available.
When choosing a new dial, pay attention to its weight and complexity. Too complex animated dials can consume more power and slightly reduce the autonomy of the device. In addition, some custom dials may not display Cyrillic characters correctly if the font does not support Russian.
How to set your own dial?
In the menu of the bracelet itself, called by the swipe to the left, you can also adjust the order of the displayed functions. You can remove unnecessary modules such as Weather or Events, or move the frequently used pulsemeter to the top of the list for quick access.
Solving Common Problems and FAQs
Even with the right setup, users can face technical difficulties, most often due to time out-of-synchronization, lack of steps or inability to find the device, and in most cases, a simple reset of the wristband through the app menu or a complete reset to factory settings helps.
If the bracelet stops counting steps, check if it fits tightly with the wrist. The sensor should contact the skin, but not squeeze the hand. Also make sure that the profile shows the correct height, since the length of the step is calculated automatically based on this parameter.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The bracelet doesn't vibrate. | Do Not Disturb mode is on | Check the schedule settings in Mi Fit |
| No WhatsApp notifications | No access to notifications | Allow access in system settings Android/iOS |
| Time is not synchronized. | Synchronization disabled | Open the Mi Fit application for forced synchronization |
| The battery goes down fast. | High brightness or lots of notifications | Reduce brightness and disable unnecessary applications |
💡
Most connectivity problems are solved by completely soldering the Bluetooth connection: remove the device from the phone’s Bluetooth list, forget the device in the Mi Fit app, and reconnect.
For a deeper diagnosis, you can use the device search function in the application, which makes the bracelet vibrate. If the bracelet does not respond even to charging and searching, you may need to reset it through the settings menu of the tracker itself (System or Reset). Remember that after reset, all data on the bracelet will be deleted, but they will be stored in the Xiaomi account cloud.