Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets have long been an integral part of the daily lives of millions of users. These compact devices not only track physical activity, but also serve as a convenient tool for receiving important notifications right on the wrist. However, many owners face difficulties in setting up alerts - someone can not turn on vibration when calling, someone does not receive messages from WhatsApp or Telegram, and some simply do not know where to look for the desired parameters in the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit).
In this article, we will learn how to properly configure notifications on any Xiaomi Mi Band model, from the Mi Band 6 to the fresh Mi Band 8. You will learn what types of alerts the bracelet supports, how to sync it with your Android or iOS phone, and why notifications sometimes stop coming. And we will give practical tips on how to optimize the alerts so that the bracelet does not vibrate from every spam message, but also misses an important call.
What are the notifications supported by Xiaomi Mi Band
Before you start setting up, it is important to understand what notifications your Mi Band can display. Functionality depends on the bracelet model and firmware version, but in general, all devices in the series support:
- 📞 Incoming calls are the number or name of a vibration contact.
- 💬 Messages from messengers — SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, Facebook Messenger and others.
- 📧 Emails from email clients - Gmail, Yandex Mail, Outlook.
- 📅 Calendar reminders - events, alarm clocks, timers.
- 🔔 Alerts from third-party apps – Instagram, TikTok, bank notifications, etc.
- 🏃 Sports notifications – achieving goals in steps, pulse, exercise regimens.
However, there are nuances: for example, Mi Band 6 and older can show the full text of the message (up to 100 characters), while earlier models (Mi Band 5 and below) are often limited to notifying a new message without detail.
Important: The bracelet does not support response to messages or notification management (for example, a swipe to delete), its purpose is only to alert the user with vibration and brief information on the screen.
Preparing for Configuration: What to Do Before Notifications Are Enabled
Before setting up notifications, make sure your bracelet and smartphone are ready to go.Shipping these steps often results in alerts either not coming or not working properly.
Install the latest version of the Mi Fitness app (for Android) or Zepp Life (for iOS)
Connect the bracelet to your phone via Bluetooth
Update the Mi Band firmware to the current version
Enable notification permission for the Mi Fitness app in your phone settings
Make sure your phone is on Bluetooth and internet.-->
Special attention should be paid to app permissions. On Android, go to Settings → Apps → Mi Fitness → Notifications and turn on all available switches. On iPhone, the path will be: Settings → Zepp Life → Notifications.
Also check if your phone is blocking background activity Mi Fitness. On some firmware (such as MIUI or EMUI), apps are not allowed to run in the background by default. To fix this, on Android, go to Settings → Battery → Battery → Battery Optimization and add Mi Fitness to the exception list.
⚠️ Warning: If you use the Mi Band with two phones (e.g., a work phone and a personal phone), notifications will only come from the device the bracelet is currently connected to.
Step-by-step, set up notifications in the Mi Fitness (Zepp Life) app
Now, let's get straight to the settings, and the instructions are for all Mi Band models, but the interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the application.
1. Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for iOS) and select your bracelet at the top of the screen.
2 Go to the Notifications section (or Notifications in some versions).
3. Enable the Notification master switch on the device.
4 Below you will see a list of notification types. Activate the ones you want to receive on the bracelet:
- 📞 Incoming calls — turn on if you want to see who's calling you.
- 💬 Messages – you can select specific messengers here.
- 📧 Mail - alerts for new emails.
- 📅 Calendar - Reminders of events.
- 🔔 Other applications are notifications from third-party services.
5 For each type of notification, you can adjust the vibration and display on the screen, for example, for calls you can choose long vibration, and for messages you can choose short vibration.
6. In the Applications section, select which programs you want to receive notifications from, and you can turn on or off notifications for each messenger separately.
💡
If you don’t have the app you want (like Slack or Discord) on the list, try adding it manually through your phone’s notification settings. To do this, turn on the “Show notifications from all apps” option in Mi Fitness.
Set up notifications for specific applications (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.)
By default, the bracelet can show notifications from all apps, but it's not always convenient - you'll get a vibration from every spam message or ad shoot.
Here’s how to do it for popular messengers:
| Annex | The Way in Mi Fitness Settings | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications → Messages → WhatsApp | Shows the sender name and the beginning of the message (up to 30 characters on Mi Band 5, up to 100 characters on Mi Band 7/8) | |
| Telegram | Notifications → Messages → Telegram | You can choose to show notifications from all chat rooms or only from a select few. |
| Viber | Notifications → Messages → Viber | On iOS may require additional permissions in the settings of the phone |
| Gmail | Notifications → Mail → Gmail | Shows the subject of the letter and the sender, but not the text |
Telegram and WhatsApp have additional settings inside the messengers themselves, for example, in Telegram you can create a special group for important chats and set up notifications only for it.
1. Open Telegram on your phone.
2. Go to Settings → Notifications and sounds → Exceptions.
3. Add the desired chats to the exclusion list and set up separate alerts for them.
⚠️ Warning: On iPhone, some notifications may not arrive on the wristband due to iOS restrictions. For example, Apple blocks duplicate notifications from WhatsApp to third-party devices unless the "Show Preview" option is enabled in the messenger itself. To fix this, go to iPhone Settings → Notifications → WhatsApp → Show Preview and select "Always."
Problems with notifications and their solutions
Even after you set up the notifications correctly, these are the most common problems and ways to solve them:
- 🔄 Notifications don't come at all: Check if the Bluetooth on your phone is on. Make sure the bracelet is connected to your phone (Mi Fitness should have a green signal light on), reboot the bracelet (press the button for 10 seconds) and phone. Update the bracelet firmware and the Mi Fitness app.
- 📵 Notifications come with a delay: Turn off the power saving mode on your phone for the Mi Fitness app. Check if antivirus or firewall is blocking the application. If you use an iPhone, turn on the background update for Zepp Life in Settings → Main → Content Update.
- 🔕 The bracelet vibrates but does not show the notification text: On the Mi Band 5 and below, it is normal behavior - the bracelet does not support text display. On the Mi Band 6/7/8 check the settings of a particular application in Mi Fitness - the content display may have been disabled.
If none of these methods worked, try resetting the bracelet to factory settings.
1. In the Mi Fitness app, go to the Device Profile → Untie the device.
2. On the bracelet itself, go to Settings → Reset (the path may differ on the Mi Band 6/7/8).
3. Reconnect the bracelet to the phone and set the notifications again.
What if the bracelet stops vibrating when notified?
Additional settings: Do not disturb mode, alarm clocks and reminders
In addition to standard notifications, the Mi Band allows you to set alarm clocks, reminders of inactivity and mode "Do not disturb", which help to make the use of the bracelet more comfortable.
Alarm clocks:
To add an alarm clock:
1. In the Mi Fitness app, go to the Device Profile → Alarms.
2.Push Add the alarm and select the time.
3.Tune the days of the week, repetition and type of vibration.
4. Save the changes.
The alarm clock will be displayed on the bracelet as an icon of a bell, and you can use a button on the device to turn it off or move it.
Do not disturb mode:
This feature turns off all notifications and vibrations for a given amount of time, useful if you don't want the bracelet to wake you up at night or distract you at important meetings.
To activate:
1. In the app, go to the Device Profile → Do not disturb.
2. Turn on the mode and select a schedule (for example, from 23:00 to 7:00).
3. Add exceptions if necessary (e.g. alarm clocks or calls from selected contacts).
Reminders of inactivity:
The bracelet may remind you to stretch if you're sitting in a long position.
1. Go to the Device Profile → Inactivity reminders.
2. Enable the function and select the interval (e.g., every 45 minutes).
3.Tune the days of the week and the time of activity (for example, only on working days from 9:00 to 18:00).
💡
Do Not Disturb mode does not turn off alarm clocks by default. If you want the bracelet to not vibrate even from the alarm clock, turn them off separately in the settings.
Tips for optimizing notifications: how to avoid spam on the bracelet
One of the main drawbacks of smart wristbands is that they can become a source of constant vibration from unnecessary notifications. Here are some tips to avoid this:
- 📱 Disable notifications from unnecessary apps, such as games or social media, where you are not keeping important correspondence.
- 🔕 Set up priority contacts – in some Mi Band firmwares, you can choose which numbers will always make their way, even if Do Not Disturb mode is enabled.
- 🕒 Use a notification schedule — for example, turn off alerts from work chats after 19:00.
- 🔔 Group notifications – Mi Fitness can be configured to only vibrate once in a few messages from a single sender (useful for active chats on Telegram or WhatsApp).
- 📊 Check notification statistics — there's a section in the Mi Fitness app that tells you which apps are sending the most alerts, and it helps you identify and disable unnecessary sources.
If you use Mi Band for work, we recommend you create a separate notification profile, such as:
On working days: notifications from Slack, Telegram (working chats), Gmail and calls.
On weekends: only calls and messages from loved ones.
The Mi Band 7 Pro and Mi Band 8 Pro have Smart Notifications, which analyzes your activity and automatically turns off alerts during sleep or exercise. To activate it, go to Mi Fitness → Device Profile → Smart Notifications and turn on the appropriate options.