How to connect Xiaomi fitness bracelet to another phone if it is already tied to an old device

Moving Xiaomi fitness bracelet to a new smartphone is often a headache for users. Even if you bought the Mi Band 8 or older model like the Mi Band 5, the binding system through the Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life) is not always intuitive. The main problem is that the bracelet “remembers” the last connected phone and blocks attempts to sync with the new device without first reset.

In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to transfer the bracelet to another phone, from a standard disconnection through the application to forced resetting if the old smartphone is already not at hand. We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of firmware and models - for example, the Redmi Band 2 behaves differently than the Smart Band Pro. You will also learn how to save the history of training and sleep data when reconnected.

Why is Xiaomi’s bracelet not connecting to a new phone?

Xiaomi fitness bracelets binding to a smartphone works through a unique Bluetooth identifier MAC-When you first sync a device, it stores the phone information in its memory and blocks the connection to other gadgets, which is designed to protect the user's data, but makes it difficult to change the smartphone.

The main causes of the problems:

• 📱 The bracelet is still tied to the old phone – even if you removed the Mi Fitness app, the connection in the device’s memory is saved.
• 🔒 Xiaomi account is not synchronized – without authorization in one account on both phones, the data history will not be transferred.
• 📲 Outdated bracelet firmware – models older than Mi Band 6 may require manual reset via Settings → Reset.
• 🚫 Restrictions of regional versions – Chinese versions of bracelets (with suffix) CN) Sometimes they block the binding to phones with non-Chinese SIM-map.

If you try to connect to a new phone and you see a "Device is already linked to another account" error, it means that the bracelet was not properly disconnected from the previous smartphone. There are three ways to solve the problem, which we will discuss later.

Method 1: Untie the bracelet through an old app (if the phone is available)

This is the most reliable and recommended method if you have access to an old smartphone, and it is guaranteed to store all your workout and sleep data in your Xiaomi account, allowing you to sync it with your new device.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for older models) on your old phone.
2. Go to the Profile section → My devices.
3. Choose your bracelet from the list.
4. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select "Disable the device».
5. Confirm the action - the bracelet vibrates, signaling a successful uncoupling.

You can then connect the bracelet to your new phone through the same Mi Fitness app, and it’s important that if you’re not logged in to the same Xiaomi account on both phones, the data history won’t be transferred!

⚠️ Warning: If the app doesn't have a "Disable Device" button, upgrade Mi Fitness to the latest version. In older versions, this item could be called "Delete Device" or "Forget the bracelet».

Method 2: Reset the bracelet to factory settings (if the old phone is not)

If access to the previous smartphone is lost (lost, sold, broken), the only option left is hard resetting the bracelet, which erases all data from the device, including training history and settings, but allows you to connect to a new phone.

How to reset your settings:

• 🔄 For the Mi Band. 3/4/5/6/7/8 and Redmi Band: Open the bracelet menu by swiping up the screen (for models with sensors). → Reset (or Reset) Confirm reset by pressing and holding the button (or tapping the tick).

Smart Band Pro

1. Press the physical button for 10-15 seconds until the Xiaomi logo appears.
2. Release the button and the bracelet will reset and reset.

Once reset, the bracelet will automatically reboot and be ready for a new tether. Connect it to a new phone via Mi Fitness, following the standard add-on procedure.

⚠️ Note: On bracelets with firmware for the Chinese market (CN) The reset may not work if the device is tied to a Xiaomi account with a Chinese phone number, in which case you will need to contact brand support.

Method 3: Transfer through Xiaomi account (save data history)

If you’ve used the same Xiaomi account on both phones, you can transfer your training and sleep history without loss, and this method only works if the bracelet has been untied from your old phone (see Method 1) or reset (see Method 2).

Synchronization instructions:

1. Install Mi Fitness on your new phone and log in to the same Xiaomi account as your old one.
2. Connect the bracelet to your new phone via Bluetooth.
3. In the app, go to Profile → My Devices → Add the device.
4. Select the bracelet model and follow the instructions on the screen.
5. After connecting, wait for automatic data synchronization (can take up to 10 minutes).

If the story doesn’t go through, check out:

• 🔄 App update – older versions of Mi Fitness had synchronization bugs.
• 📶 Internet connection – data is stored in the cloud Xiaomi Cloud, without a network synchronization is impossible.
• ⏳ Last sync time – if the bracelet didn’t connect to the phone for more than a month, some of the data could have been erased.

💡

Before resetting the bracelet, take a statistical screenshot in the Mi Fitness app on your old phone – this will help you recover data manually if synchronization doesn’t work.

Frequent mistakes and how to fix them

Even after resetting, the bracelet may not connect to a new phone, and consider typical problems and solutions:

1. “I failed to connect to the device” error

• 📱 Problem: Bluetooth Connection Conflict.
• 🔧 Solution: Turn off Bluetooth on your new phone and reboot it. Remove the bracelet from the list of associated devices in the Bluetooth settings. Run Mi Fitness again and reconnect.

2. The bracelet is not specified by the annex

• 📱 Problem: Outdated firmware bracelet or application.
• 🔧 Solution: Update Mi Fitness via Google Play or App Store. If the bracelet is connected but requests an update, agree (requires a stable Wi-Fi connection).

3.After reset, the bracelet requests the old one PIN-code

• 📱 Problem: Some models (Mi Band 4 and older) are still in use. PIN pre-binding.
• 🔧 Solution: Enter the standard code 0000 or 1234. If it doesn't fit, reset again.

Features for different models of bracelets

The unbundling and connection process may vary depending on the model, and the following are key nuances for popular devices:

Mi Band 3/4:

• 🔹 Reset requires holding the button on the bracelet screen in the Settings menu → Reset.
• 🔹 Supports tethering to only one phone at a time.
• 🔹 When connecting to a new phone, you may need to update the firmware.

Mi Band 5/6/7/8:

• 🔹 Reset is available through Settings → Restore the factory.
• 🔹 Multi-connection support (you can link to 2 phones at the same time, but the data will be duplicated).
• 🔹 On the Mi Band. 7/8 There is a function to export data to Google Fit – use it for backup.

Redmi Band / Band 2:

• 🔹 Reset menu hidden – swipe down on the home screen, then select System → Reset.
• 🔹 When connecting to a new phone, you may need to reboot the bracelet (hold the 5-second button).

Smart Band Pro:

If you change smartphones frequently, consider using multi-connection bracelets (such as the Mi Band 7 Pro or Smart Band Pro) that allow you to sync with two phones at once, which is convenient for users with a work and personal device.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions