Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelets remain among the most popular wearables due to the combination of affordable price, functionality and long-term autonomy. However, many users face difficulties in the first setup, from connecting to a smartphone to fine-tuning notifications and training modes. This article will help you understand all the nuances from basic synchronization with the Mi Fitness app to hidden features that are not written in the official instructions.
We will look at the setting for all current models (Mi Band). 7/8, Smart Band 8 Pro and earlier versions, pay attention to the typical errors in pairing with Android/iOS, We'll also talk about how to optimize the bracelet for maximum autonomy, focusing on screen personalization, adjusting sleep and heart rate monitoring, and integrating with third-party services like Google Fit or Apple Health.
If you've just unpacked the bracelet or you want to recheck your current settings, this guide will be your cheat sheet, and for convenience, we've broken the process down into logical blocks, added visual cues and warnings about typical pitfalls, and let's start with the most important thing, the first connection of the device.
Preparing for the first connection: what to do before turning on the bracelet
Before you turn on the Xiaomi Mi Band, make sure all the prerequisites are met.This will save you most of the problems with pairing and further work.
First, check the compatibility of your smartphone:
- 📱 Android: version 6.0 and higher with Bluetooth 4.2 support+ (Mi Band 8 Pro requires Bluetooth 5.0. On custom firmware devices (such as LineageOS) there may be problems - more on this below.
- 🍎 iOS: iPhone 5s and newer, with iOS 12.0+. For full operation (for example, notifications from Telegram) will require iOS 14+.
- 🚫 Incompatible devices: phones without Google Play Services (e.g. some Huawei models without Google Play Services) GMS), and devices with a damaged Bluetooth module.
Second, install the official annex:
- 🌍 For most countries, Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit) can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store.
- 🇨🇳 For China, Zepp Life (formerly Amazfit) may require a change of account region if you bought the bracelet from a Chinese store.
⚠️ Note: If you use the Xiaomi Mi Band with a HarmonyOS-based phone (e.g. Huawei) P50), pre-set APK-Mi Fitness file manually – in the official AppGallery store, the application may not be available.
The third step is to register a Xiaomi account, without which the bracelet will work in a limited mode (for example, it will not save your training history).
- 📧 Through email (it is recommended to use Gmail or Yandex – Mail.ru sometimes has problems with confirmation).
- 📱 Telephone number (supported by Russian operators, but SMS It can come with a delay of up to 5 minutes).
☑️ Checklist before connection
Step-by-step: how to connect Xiaomi Mi Band to the phone
When all the preparations are complete, we move on to pairing devices, which takes no more than 5 minutes, if you follow the algorithm:
1. Turn on the bracelet.
- Mi Band 7/8: Press and hold the touch button under the screen. 3 seconds.
Mi Band 6 and older: connect to the charger – the device will turn on automatically.
The Mi logo should appear on the screen, then the inscription Pairing... (if the bracelet is new) or Disconnected (if already used).
2. Open the Mi Fitness app and do the following:
- Click on the profile icon (in the lower right corner) → Add the device.
- Select your Mi Band model from the list (if not, update the app).
- Click Hide and allow the app to access geodata and notifications (this is a must for proper operation!).
3. Confirm the connection on the bracelet. The 6-digit code will appear on the screen of the device, it must match the code in the application. Press the bracelet for confirmation.
If the bracelet is not present:
- 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on in settings).
- 📱 Make sure there are no active phones on the phone. VPN Power saving mode (they can block the connection).
- 🔋 Check the bracelet charge – at a level below 10%, the pairing may be interrupted.
⚠️ Note: If you connect the bracelet to the iPhone, after pairing, go to the iOS Settings → Bluetooth and manually allow data exchange for the Mi Band device. Without this, notifications from messengers will not work.
Set up the basic parameters: time, notifications, health monitoring
Once the connection is successful, we start basic customization, and most of the settings are customized through the Mi Fitness app, but some options are hidden in the wristband menu.
1. Synchronization of time and date
The bracelet automatically pulls up time from the phone, but if it gets lost:
- Open the Device Profile → Settings of the device → Time and date.
Activate the autosynchronization option.
If the difference with real time exceeds 5 minutes, reset the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds).
2. Set up notifications
To make the bracelet vibrate when calling and texting:
- 📱 In Mi Fitness go to Profile → Notifications.
- 🔄 Turn on the Notifications switch and select apps (such as WhatsApp, VK, Text).
- 📵 For iPhone: additionally enable Mi Band Notifications in iOS Settings → Notifications.
Mi Band 8 Pro
vibration
3. Monitoring of heart rate and sleep
For accurate tracking:
| Parameter | Recommended setting | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pulse frequency | Every 10 minutes. | More frequent measurements reduce autonomy 15-20% |
| Sleep tracking | Automatic (from 22:00 to 8:00) | For manual mode, specify the real sleep time in Mi Fitness |
| Blood oxygen levels (SpO₂) | Enable (but not more than 1 time per hour) | On Mi Band 6 and older, it is only supported manually. |
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If the bracelet shows an inaccurate pulse during training, before measuring, moisten the strap with water - this will improve contact with the skin.
Screen personalization: dials, brightness, menu order
One of the key advantages of Xiaomi Mi Band is the ability to completely change the look of the screen.
Installation of dials
The Mi Fitness app has over 100 free dials, plus the ability to download custom dials:
- Go to Profile. → Dials.
- Select a category (e.g. Sports, Minimalism).
- Click on your favorite option and confirm the installation on the bracelet.
Animated dials are available for the Mi Band 8 Pro (for example, with the effect of soaring particles).
2. setting brightness and backlight time
To save the charge:
- Set Auto Brightness in Device Settings → Display.
Reduce the backlight time to 5 seconds (default 10 seconds).
- For the Mi Band. 7/8 Always-on Display is available (constantly active screen), but it reduces autonomy on the screen. 30-40%.
3. Change of menu order
Starting with the Mi Band 6, you can rearrange menu items:
- In Mi Fitness, go to Device Settings → Order of the menu.
Press the item icon (such as Training) and drag it to the right place.
On the Mi Band 8 Pro, you can hide unnecessary items (such as Weather or Music) to speed up navigation.
How to install a custom dial from third-party developers?
Set up training and sports regimes
Xiaomi Mi Band supports up to 30 sports modes, but by default only the basic ones are included.
Addition and deletion of regimes
To add a new sport:
- Open Profile. → Training. → Management of regimes.
- Select from the list (e.g. Yoga, Swimming, Cycling).
Click Save - new modes will appear in the bracelet menu.
Professional metrics are available for Mi Band 8 Pro (e.g., for the first time, VO₂ max = maximum oxygen consumption, which is not present in the basic models.
2. set up automatic recognition of training
The bracelet can independently determine the beginning of running or walking:
- Activate the option in Device Settings → Training. → Autodetermination.
Set a minimum duration (e.g. 10 minutes) to avoid false positives.
- To run, adjust Sensitivity (low/medium/high) - with a high bracelet will work even on a slow run.
3. Synchronization with third-party services
To automatically export your training data to Google Fit or Strava:
- In Mi Fitness go to Profile → Settings → Accounts and synchronization.
- Select the service and log in.
Set the synchronization frequency (recommended daily).
⚠️ Warning: If you use the Mi Band for swimming, manually activate the Swimming Mode before training - automatic recognition only works for open water. After training, rinse the bracelet with fresh water to remove chlorine!
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For accurate tracking of the Mi Band 8 Pro connect an external heart rate sensor (such as Xiaomi Chest Strap) via Bluetooth. 20-30%.
Optimization of autonomy: how to extend the work of the bracelet without recharging
The life of Xiaomi Mi Band from one charge varies from 5 days (Mi Band 8 Pro with Always-on Display) to 20 days (Mi Band 6 in economy mode).
1. Screen settings
- 🌓 Reduce the brightness to 30-40% (In the settings of the device → Display).
- ⏱️ Reduce the lighting time to 3 seconds.
- 🚫 Turn off Always-on Display (if you have it in your model).
2. Health monitoring
- ❤️🩺 Set your pulse every 30 minutes (instead of 10 minutes).
- 😴 Turn off automatic tracking SpO₂ (oxygen in the blood - it strongly depletes the battery.
- 📵 Deactivate notifications from unnecessary apps (such as games or news services).
Other optimizations
- 📶 Turn off your phone search (if you don’t use this feature).
- 🔄 Update the bracelet firmware only when connected to charging – the upgrade process consumes up to 15% of the charge.
- 🌡️ In cold weather (below) -10°C) wear the bracelet under your clothes - low temperatures reduce battery capacity.
| Model bracelet | Autonomy (baseline mode) | Autonomy (optimized mode) |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 8 Pro | 5-7 days | 10-12 days |
| Mi Band 7 | 10-12 days | 18-20 days |
| Mi Band 6 | 12-14 days | 25+ days |
Solving typical problems: the bracelet does not sync, vibrate, or charge
Even after setting up properly, users experience technical failures, and we've collected the most common problems and solutions:
1.The bracelet is not synchronized with the phone
- 🔄 Reboot both devices (bracelet and phone).
- 📱 In Mi Fitness, remove the bracelet from the list of devices and connect again.
- 🛠️ If the problem persists, clear the app cache (Android Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Memory. → Clear the cache).
2. no notifications are coming.
- 🔔 Check if notifications for Mi Fitness are allowed in your phone settings.
- 📵 For iPhone: Go to Settings → Bluetooth and click on the i icon next to the Mi Band, then activate Show notifications.
- 🔋 Make sure the bracelet has enough charge (below 15% of the notification may not work).
3. The bracelet is not charged
- 🔌 Check the cable and adapter – only use the original Xiaomi cable (cheap analogues may not fit the voltage).
- 🧹 Clean the contacts of the bracelet and charger from dust with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.
- ⚡ If the bracelet doesn’t respond to charging, hold it on the charger for 10 minutes – sometimes it takes time for the power controller to “wake up.
⚠️ Warning: If after updating the firmware bracelet began to quickly discharge or overheat, reset to factory settings (Device settings) → Resetting. This will help 80% of the time. If the problem persists, contact the service center (the warranty for the Mi Band is 12 months).