Smartwatches and fitness trackers have long ceased to be just pedometers, becoming full-fledged extensions of your smartphone. One of the main features for which users buy Xiaomi Mi Band or Amazfit is the ability to instantly receive messages from instant messengers, social networks and SMS right on the wrist, which allows you to avoid missing important calls and stay informed even when the phone is in your bag or on charge.
However, the initial setup process is often difficult for beginners, and many people face a situation where the clock is working perfectly but silent when incoming messages, the reason lies in the specifics of Android and iOS operating systems, which require manual permission for each application separately, and without the right configuration, the system simply blocks the transfer of data to the wearable device for the sake of saving battery life.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the algorithm for connecting notifications, and we will look at the settings in the Mi Fitness and Zepp apps, as well as the system resolutions of the smartphone itself, learn how to control vibration, adjust the Do Not Disturb mode, and eliminate typical errors that interfere with the correct operation of the gadget.
Preparation of the smartphone and choice of application
Before diving into the tracker menu, you need to make sure the underlying software is installed correctly. For modern models such as the Mi Band 7, 8, 9 and the Xiaomi Watch S1/S3, the Mi Fitness app (formerly Xiaomi Wear) is used. Older models, including the Mi Band 6 and predecessors, may require the installation of the Zepp app. It is important not to confuse the software, since the ecosystems are partially divided.
Once you install the app and successfully pair the gadget with your smartphone via Bluetooth, you should check the device's firmware version. Often notification problems arise due to bugs in older versions of the software that are fixed in updates. Go to the device profile and click the update check button.
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Make sure your smartphone has Bluetooth and geolocation (GPS) enabled.On Android without active GPS, synchronizing notifications often doesn't work due to security limitations.
It's also critical to install all the notifications you want to use on the phone itself, and if you don't have an app like Telegram or Viber installed, there's nothing on the watch, and it only reads notifications from active apps in the memory of the smartphone.
Configure permissions in the Mi Fitness and Zepp app
The main control over the flow of information is within the company's application, and this is where you decide which programs will be allowed to display text on the watch screen. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the software, but the logic remains the same for all Xiaomi devices.
To activate the function, perform the following actions:
- 📱 Open the Mi Fitness or Zepp app on your smartphone.
- ⌚ Go to the Profile section or select the image of your device in the list.
- 🔔 Find the “App Settings” or “Manage Notifications” option».
- ✅ Activate sliders opposite the desired messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, VK, SMS).
Note that when you first turn on a notification for a particular application, the system may request confirmation, at which point a window pops up on the smartphone screen with a warning about access to data, you must click "Allow" or "OK", otherwise access will be blocked.
It's important to understand that turning on a notification in the Mi Fitness app is only half the story: You give permission to the intermediary app, but not to the operating system itself, so the next step is key for Android owners.
Android System Settings: Access to Notifications
The Android operating system strictly controls access to personal data. Even if you have everything set up in the Xiaomi app, the system can block the reading of notifications at the OS level. You need to manually add the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp) to the list of trusted programs that have the right to read notifications from other applications.
The algorithm of actions can vary depending on the shell (MIUI, HyperOS, Stock Android):
- 🔍 In search of phone settings, type “Access to notifications».
- 📲 Find the Mi Fitness or Zepp app in the list.
- 🟢 Turn the switch to the "On" position».
- ⚠️ Confirm the action in the security system warning pop-up window.
On devices with a MIUI or HyperOS shell, the path may look like this: Settings → Notifications and Control Center → Notification Management → Access to Notifications. In some firmware versions, this item is hidden in the Privacy Protection section.
⚠️ Note: If you use a pure Android (for example, on Motorola or Pixel), the path may be different: → Annexes → Special facilities → Access to notifications: Without this permission, the watch will not be able to physically "see" the message that has arrived.
Once access is enabled, the system may require a smartphone reboot. Don't ignore this requirement, as notification services often only start when the system starts. Verification of this step takes a minute, but eliminates hours of searching for the cause of the dysfunctional function.
Features of settings for iPhone owners (iOS)
iOS users face a different security architecture: Apple doesn’t allow apps to read other programs’ notifications in the background the way Android does, instead using a mechanism to duplicate notifications via Bluetooth protocol.
In order for messages to arrive on a Xiaomi or Amazfit watch connected to an iPhone, the following conditions must be met:
- 🍎 Make sure the Mi Fitness app is running and running in the background.
- 🔔 Set up the notifications display in the iPhone itself: Settings → Notifications.
- 👁️ Enable the “Show on the Lock Screen” option for the desired applications.
- 🚫 Make sure that in Do Not Disturb mode on iPhone, you don’t need to block re-calls if it’s important.
Key point for iOS: if you read the notification on the screen of the locked iPhone, it may not come to the clock, because the system considers the task completed. Also, if the Mi Fitness application is completely closed (unloaded from memory with a pile up), sync may be interrupted until the next opening.
Why can’t Iphones answer a message from the clock?
Vibration and operating modes management
Even with a perfect setup of the software part, the user may not notice the messages due to incorrectly configured tactile returns. Xiaomi smart watch allows you to flexibly adjust the force and duration of vibration, as well as create schedules.
In the app, find the Vibration or Sound and Vibration section, where you can preset the alarm clock, pedometer and notification rhythms, and you can choose rhythms with clear pauses to distinguish the bell from the message in your pocket. AMOLED-It is also important to adjust screen lighting time when receiving notifications to save battery power.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Do Not Disturb mode | Completely disables notifications and lighting | Set up to schedule (night) |
| Raising the wrist | Turns on the screen when you move your hand | Turn on for quick viewing |
| Screen locking | Requires unlocking the watch to view | Disable for quick access |
| Time limitation | Period of silence at specified hours | Use instead of the DND regime |
Notably, the Do Not Disturb (DND) mode is worth noting: unlike a smartphone, it can work autonomously on a watch. You can set a schedule, for example, from 23:00 to 07:00, so that the clock does not vibrate at night, even if the phone rings. This is especially convenient for trackers that are used as an alarm clock.
Problem Solving: Why Are Not Notified?
If notifications never appear after all the settings, the problem is likely to be an aggressive smartphone energy saving policy.Modern MIUI/HyperOS processors and shells aim to kill any background process that consumes the battery, and the Mi Fitness app often falls under this optimization.
It is necessary to fix the application in memory:
- 🔋 Open the menu of running applications (swipe from the bottom up and finger delay).
- 🔒 Find the Mi Fitness window and click on the lock or select "Pack».
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Battery → Activity monitoring.
- 🚫 Select Mi Fitness and set the limit "No restrictions».
☑️ Checklist of diagnostics
⚠️ Attention: Third-party memory cleaners and antiviruses (Clean Master, DU Battery and the like can force Xiaomi services to close, add the app to the exceptions or remove such programs.
Another common reason is a crowded Bluetooth cache: If you frequently connect different devices, try clearing the Bluetooth cache in the developer settings or simply restarting both devices. Also make sure the tracker itself does not have On the Plane or Do Not Disturb mode on, which can block incoming signals.
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90% of notification problems are solved by removing power saving restrictions for the Mi Fitness app in Android system settings.