How to connect Xiaomi Mi Band 3 to a smartphone: instructions with pictures and tips for setting up

The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 remains one of the most popular fitness bracelets even years after its release, thanks to a combination of affordable price, reliability and basic functionality to track activity. However, many users have difficulties with first connecting a device to a smartphone, especially if it is a matter of old or informal firmware. In this article, we will analyze all the steps of synchronization, from installing the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) to setting notifications and solving typical errors.

It is important to understand that the Mi Band 3 connection process is different from newer models (such as the Mi Band 7 or Smart Band 8), since the device runs through the outdated Bluetooth 4.2 protocol and requires a special version of the application. If you encounter a problem when the bracelet is not detected by the phone or permanently disconnects, there is a section in the article with diagnostics and correction methods.

We’ll also look at the nuances of connecting to iPhones (where notification issues often occur) and Android phones. 13/14, For convenience, the article has interactive checklists, compatibility tables and spoilers with rare cases (for example, connecting to two phones at the same time).

1.Preparation for connection: what to check before starting

Before you start syncing, make sure your smartphone and bracelet are ready to go, and problems often arise from trivial things like a dead battery, an outdated phone firmware, or an on-line power saving mode that blocks Bluetooth.

Here is the mandatory checklist before connecting:

Load the bracelet to 100% (charging indicator – green LED)

Turn off the “Do Not Disturb” mode on your smartphone

Enable Bluetooth and geolocation (required for Android)

Remove old versions of Mi Fit or Zepp Life apps

Reboot your phone (especially if you’ve had Bluetooth crashes before)-->

Pay special attention to the operating system version. Mi Band 3 officially supports:

• 📱 Android 5.0 and higher but on Android 12+ Manual permits may be required)
• 🍎 iOS 10.0 and higher on iPhone 6s newer)

If you have a phone with MIUI (For example, the Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3), Check if the system is blocking background activity of the Mi Fitness app:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Fitness.
2. Enable options: Autostart, Background Activity, Show notifications.
3. In the Permissions section, give access to Contacts (necessary for call notifications).

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If you have an iPhone, turn off the “Tracking Limit” function in your privacy settings before connecting (Settings) → Confidentiality → Geolocation services → Mi Fitness → Always).

2. Install and configure the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit)

Since 2023, the official Mi Band 3 app is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit or Zepp Life), and it is important to download the current version, as older builds may not support new smartphones or contain synchronization errors.

Download the application from official sources:

• 🤖 Google Play for Android
• 🍎 App Store for iOS

After installation:

1. Launch Mi Fitness and register (via Xiaomi Account, Google or Apple) ID).
2. Select the region of Russia (important for the correct operation of notifications in Russian).
3. In the main menu, click Add the device. → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 3.

Attention during the registration phase: if you choose China or Europe, some features (such as Russian notifications or weather) may not work properly, and the Chinese version of the app does not sync with Google Fit.

Step-by-step: how to connect Mi Band 3 to the phone

Now, to the synchronization process itself, follow the instructions carefully, and at this point, many users make errors that prevent the bracelet from connecting.

Step 1 Activation of the bracelet

• 🔋 Make sure the Mi Band 3 is charged (the indicator burns green when fully charged).
• 📱 Turn on Bluetooth on your phone.
• 🔄 Click on the touch button of the bracelet to wake up the screen (the Mi logo should appear).

Step 2. Search for the device in the application

1. In Mi Fitness, click Add Device → Mi Smart Band 3.
2. The app will start searching. Wait until your bracelet appears on the list (the name will be of the Mi Band type). 3_XXXX).
3. Press the device you found.

Step 3: Confirmation of connection

• 📲 The phone will be asked to pair – confirm it.
• 🔄 The bracelet will have a vibration and a 4-digit code. Compare it to the code in the app and click Confirm.
• ✅ If everything goes well, a message will appear Device connected.

Step 4: Update the firmware (if necessary)

Once connected, the app may suggest updating the bracelet firmware. Do not interrupt the upgrade process, which may lead to the device becoming "bricked" (the bracelet will stop turning on).

• 📵 Don't leave the app.
• 🔋 Do not unplug the bracelet from charging (if the battery is below 50%).
• 📶 Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi (the firmware weighs) ~10–15 MB).

4. Set up notifications and basic functions

Once connected, the bracelet will only display time and steps, and to activate all functions, you need to set up notifications, alarms and data synchronization.

How to turn on notifications about calls and messages:

1. In Mi Fitness go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 3 → Notifications.
2. Turn on the Call Notification switch.
3. In the Applications section, select messengers (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber), notifications from which you want to see on the bracelet.
4. On Android, additionally give permission to read notifications (in your phone settings).

Configure the displayed data on the screen:

On the Mi Band 3, you can display up to 5 widgets on the main screen.

1. In the application, select Profile → Mi Smart Band 3 → Display and labels.
2. Drag the desired widgets (e.g. Weather, Pulse, Steps) into the active area.
3. On the bracelet, swipe the screens left/right.

Table of notification compatibility:

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On iPhone notifications from third-party messengers (except for the SMS The solution is to use apps like Notify for Mi Band (requires PC settings) and calls don't work due to Apple's restrictions).

Typical problems and their solutions

Even with the right connection, users often encounter errors, and let's look at the most common cases and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The bracelet is not in the app

• 🔄 Reboot your phone and bracelet (hold the 10 seconds button).
• 📱 Remove the bracelet from the list of conjugate devices in the Bluetooth settings of the phone.
• 🔋 Check the bracelet charge (at a level below 10% it may not be displayed).
• 📲 Install an alternative app Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (supports older models).

Problem 2: The connection is constantly breaking.

⚠️ Note: If the bracelet is turned off every time 5–10 Just a minute, check the power saving settings on the phone. Xiaomi/Redmi s MIUI You need to turn off battery optimization for Mi Fitness:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.
2. Find Mi Fitness and select Without Limits.
3. Turn on background activity for the application.

Problem 3: Notifications are not received

• 📵 Check if Do Not Disturb on the bracelet is enabled (slip down on the home screen).
• 🔄 In the Mi Fitness app, update the notification list: Profile → Mi Band 3 → Notifications → Update.
• 🍎 On iPhone, make sure that in Settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness included alerts.

Problem 4: The bracelet doesn't vibrate when notified

If the bracelet receives notifications but does not vibrate:

1. In the app, check the vibration settings: Profile → Mi Band 3 → Vibration.
2. Make sure that the bracelet is not activated mode No sound (the bell icon with cross-out).
3. If the vibration is weak, clean the charging contacts (the dirt can affect the operation of the motor).

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If the bracelet has stopped synchronizing data (steps, pulse), try to disable it in the application (Profile) → Mi Band 3 → Turn it off, then reconnect. That resets the connection cache.

6. Additional settings: alarm clocks, training, weather

Mi Band 3 supports not only basic features, but also advanced options that many users do not use.

Setting alarm clocks

The bracelet can vibrate at a given time, even if the phone is turned off.

1. In the app, go to Profile → Mi Band 3 → Alarm clocks.
2. Click Add an alarm clock and specify the time.
3. Choose the days of the week (for example, only on weekdays).
4. Activate the Repeat option.

On the bracelet, the alarm clock is switched off by double pressing the touch button.

Tracking training

The Mi Band 3 can automatically recognize walking, running and cycling, but to accurately account for other activities (for example, swimming or gym) you need to start the mode manually:

1. On the bracelet, flip to the Training screen (the running person icon).
2. Choose the type of activity (such as Running or Bicycle).
3. Press the button to start recording. Once completed, press the button again.

Training data is synced with the app and can be exported to Google Fit or Apple Health.

Set-up of weather display

To show the weather on the bracelet:

1. In the Mi Fitness app, enable geolocation.
2. Go to Profile. → Mi Band 3 → Weather and activate the option.
3. Select the city manually or allow automatic determination.

The weather is updated every 6 hours, and if the data is not shown, check the phone's internet connection.

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

One of the key benefits of the Mi Band 3 is its ability to integrate with popular fitness platforms, which allows you to collect all your health data in one place and analyze it with third-party services.

Sync with Google Fit (Android)

1. Make sure that the phone has Google Fit app installed.
2. In Mi Fitness go to Profile → Settings → Accounts and synchronization.
3. Select Google Fit and log in.
4. Allow access to data on steps, pulse and training.

Synchronization with Apple Health (iOS)

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Settings → Apple Health.
2. Turn on the switches for the parameters you want to sync (e.g. Steps, Distance, Calories).
3. Confirm access in the pop-up window.

Exporting data to Strava

To synchronize training with Strava:

1. In Mi Fitness go to Profile → Settings → Strava.
2. Sign in through your Strava account.
3. Select the types of activities to export (e.g. Running, Bicycle).

Table of supported services:

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Full sleep sync with Google Fit requires manual setup in the Health Sync app (available on Android).

8. repair and repair of the bracelet (if it does not turn on or does not react)

If the Mi Band 3 has stopped responding to touch, stopped turning on or got stuck after the update, try the following recovery methods: In most cases, the device can be brought back to life without going to the service center.

Reset to factory settings

This helps if the bracelet is glitzy, not synchronized or shows incorrect data:

1. Disconnect the bracelet from the application (profile) → Mi Band 3 → Shut down).
2. Put the bracelet on the charger.
3. Press and hold the touch button for 10-15 seconds until you feel the vibration.
4. After restarting, reconnect the bracelet.

Handheld firmware through Mi Band 3 Tools

If the bracelet does not turn on after a failed update, you will need firmware via PC:

1. Download the Mi Band 3 Tools utility.
2. Connect the bracelet to charging and start the utility.
3. Select a firmware file (for example, mi_band_3_firmware_1.6.0.28.bin).
4. Press Flash Firmware and wait until the bracelet is completed.

Battery replacement

If the bracelet is not holding a charge (discharges in a few hours), most likely, you need to change the battery.

• 🛠️ Carefully tuck the bracelet cover with a plastic card (it is on the latches).
• 🔋 Unplug the battery plume and replace it with a new one (bought on AliExpress or at a service center).
• 🔧 Collect the bracelet in reverse order, making sure that the sealing ring is in place (important for moisture protection).

⚠️ Warning: If you replace your battery yourself, you lose the official warranty (if it is still valid) and don’t use metal tools, which can damage the bracelet board.

Frequent questions about repairs:

FAQ: Answers to popular questions