Connecting Mi Band 5 to Xiaomi smartphone: full instruction with error solutions

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular wearables due to its combination of functionality and affordable price. However, even experienced users sometimes have difficulties with connecting a device to a smartphone for the first time – especially if both devices are from Xiaomi. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard pairing procedure through the Mi Fitness application, but also nuances that will help avoid typical errors.

It is important to understand that the process of connecting the Mi Band 5 to Xiaomi phones (for example, Redmi Note 10, POCO X3 or Mi 11) has its own peculiarities due to the integration with brand services. We will consider two scenarios: pairing with a phone on MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) and on pure Android (for example, after firmware custom ROM).

If you've tried to plug in the bracelet before, but you've encountered errors like "Device failed" or "Connection failed," there's a section at the end of this article that addresses some of the most common problems, and for those who've just unpacked the Mi Band 5, we've prepared a step-by-step guide that illustrates the key points.

1.Preparation for connection: what to do before pairing

Before you start connecting, make sure your smartphone and bracelet are ready for the procedure.Neglecting these steps often causes Mi Band 5 to malfunction after pairing.

First, check the firmware version on the bracelet. Outdated software may conflict with the latest versions of the Mi Fitness app. To find out the current version, flip through the bracelet screen to About (About in English). Current version at 2026 is 1.0.9.54 or later. If you have an older version, you will need to update immediately after you connect.

Secondly, make sure that your Xiaomi phone is powered on:

• 📶 Bluetooth (version 4.2 or higher)
• 📱 Geolocation (required for some functions, such as weather)
• 🔋 Bracelet charge at least 50% (at low charge, the pairing may be interrupted)
• 📲 The latest version of Mi Fitness (you can download it from Google Play or AppGallery)

Special attention should be paid to application permissions. On MIUI, background processes can be blocked by default, which will cause the connection to the bracelet to break. To avoid this, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Fitness → Permissions and turn on:

• 📍 Access to geolocation
• 📱 Auto-start
• 🔄 Background work
• 📞 Access to notifications

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If you have a MIUI 14+ phone, turn off the Battery Optimization feature for the Mi Fitness app before connecting.

Step-by-step: how to connect Mi Band 5 to a Xiaomi phone

Now, let's move directly to the pairing procedure. Follow the instructions carefully, because even one step can lead to errors.

Step 1: Install the app. Download and install Mi Fitness from the official store. Avoid third-party APK-files, they may contain viruses or outdated versions. Once installed, open the app and register (or log in) through your Xiaomi account. If you don't have one, create it in advance at account.xiaomi.com.

Step 2: Add the device. In the main menu of the app, click on the + icon (or Add the device) in the upper right corner. In the list, select the Mi Smart Band 5. If your bracelet is not displayed, make sure it is near the phone (no further than 1 meter) and on.

Step. 3: Bluetooth pairing. You'll see a request on the phone screen to connect to a device called "Mi Band." 5_XXXX». Confirm the pairing. The Bluetooth icon should flash on the bracelet at this point. If there is no blinking, reset the bracelet by holding the touch button. 10 seconds.

Step 4: Update the firmware (if necessary). Once successfully connected, the app will suggest updating the bracelet software. You should not interrupt the update process categorically - this can lead to "bricking" of the device (the bracelet will stop turning on), make sure that the bracelet charge is at least 70% and do not leave the phone until the procedure is completed.

Install Mi Fitness from the official store|Registering a Xiaomi account|Enable Bluetooth and geolocation on your phone|Charge the bracelet to 50% or more|Disable battery optimization for Mi Fitness (on the MIUI)-->

3. Set up notifications and basic functions

After successfully connecting the Mi Band 5 to the Xiaomi phone, you need to configure notifications and basic parameters to make the gadget work as efficiently as possible.

Step 1: Notifications from apps. Go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Application Notifications. Here you can choose which apps will send alerts to the bracelet. We recommend leaving only the most important ones (such as calls, SMS, messengers) so that you do not overload the device.

Step 2: Set up the screens. In the Display and Brightness section, you can select which data will be displayed on the main screen of the bracelet (time, steps, pulse, weather, etc.), and here you can adjust the automatic locking of the screen and the brightness of the backlight.

Step 3: Monitor sleep and activity. In the Health menu, activate sleep, heart rate and blood oxygen tracking functions (SpO₂). For accurate pulse measurement, the bracelet should fit snugly to the wrist (but not crush the skin).

Step 4: Alarm clocks and reminders. You can set up vibrational wake-up signals in the "Alarm clocks" section, and a useful feature is "Inaction reminder," which will vibrate if you sit still for a long time.

Tracking steps|Sleep monitoring|Call notifications|Pulse measurement|Other-->

4. Solving Mi Band 5 connectivity issues

Even with the right setup, there are sometimes errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The phone can't find the bracelet

• ✅ Make sure the Mi Band 5 is charged (the charging indicator should burn when connected to the charger).
• ✅ Reset the bracelet (hold the touch button for 10 seconds until vibration).
• ✅ In Bluetooth settings, delete all previously saved devices called “Mi Band” and try to connect again.
• ✅ Turn it off. VPN Proxies – they can block the connection to Xiaomi servers.

Problem 2: Connection is terminated after pairing

• ✅ Nana MIUI Turn off Battery Optimization for Mi Fitness.
• ✅ In the Bluetooth settings of the phone, find Mi Band 5 in the list of associated devices and click “Forget the device”, then reconnect.
• ✅ Check if the antivirus (such as Avast or 360 Security) is blocking the application.

Problem 3: Notifications are not received

• ✅ In Mi Fitness settings, check if notifications are enabled for the desired applications.
• ✅ Nana MIUI Go to Settings. → Notifications → Mi Fitness and allow notifications to be displayed.
• ✅ Make sure the bracelet does not activate the Do Not Disturb mode (moon icon in the top menu).

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet stops turning on after the firmware update (black screen, no charging reaction), don't try to disassemble it yourself. Contact an authorized Xiaomi service center with a check about the purchase - in most cases, the firmware can be restored through service software.

5. synchronization with other services (Google Fit, Apple Health)

One of the advantages of the Mi Band 5 is the ability to sync data with other fitness platforms like Google Fit or Apple Health (for iPhone users), which allows you to collect all your health data in one place.

To sync with Google Fit:

1. Open the Mi Fitness app.
2. Go to Profile → Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
3. Select “Google Fit” and log in through your Google account.
4. Allow access to data on steps, sleep, pulse, etc.

To sync with Apple Health (on iPhone):

1. Install the Mi Fitness app from the App Store.
2. In the app settings, look for the “Apple Health” section.
3. Turn on switches for the types of data you want to sync (e.g. steps, weight, sleep).

Note that syncing can take up to 24 hours, especially if you have a lot of data, and some parameters (such as blood oxygen levels) may not be transmitted to Google Fit due to API limitations.

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Sync with Google Fit allows you to use data from Mi Band 5 in other fitness applications, such as Strava or MyFitnessPal.

6.How to reset Mi Band 5 to factory settings

If you decide to sell the bracelet or it starts to work incorrectly, you may need to reset to factory settings, which will delete all data from the device, including activity history and settings.

Method 1: Through the Mi Fitness app

1. Open the app and go to your Mi Band 5 profile.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Disable the device."
3. Confirm the action - the bracelet will be untied from the account and reset.

Method 2: Through the bracelet itself (if you don't have access to the phone)

1. On the bracelet, scroll to the “More” (or “More”) menu.
2. Select Reset (circle arrow icon).
3. Confirm the reset by clicking on the tick icon.

⚠️ Warning: After resetting, the bracelet will return to factory settings, but the firmware will remain current. If you plan to transfer the device to another person, we recommend you also update the software to the latest version via Mi Fitness.

7.Mi Band 5 battery consumption optimization

The average lifetime of the Mi Band 5 on a single charge is 10-14 days, but with active use (frequent notifications, constant monitoring of the pulse), the battery can go down faster.

• 🔋 Turn off automatic pulse measurement in the background (leave only manual measurements).
• 📵 Reduce the number of apps that send notifications to the bracelet.
• 🌙 Use dark dials – they consume less energy AMOLED-screen.
• 🔄 Turn off automatic synchronization with Mi Fitness (manual synchronization is enough) 1-2 day-to-day).
• 🛌 Activate Don’t Disturb at Night if you don’t need sleep monitoring.

If the bracelet has been discharged in 2-3 days (during normal use), this may indicate wear and tear of the battery, in which case only the replacement of the battery in the service center will help.

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To quickly check the charge level of the bracelet, flip the screen to the right to the battery icon. If the charge is below 20%, connect the bracelet to charging - a complete discharge can damage the battery.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions