Connecting Xiaomi Mi Band 4 to a smartphone via Bluetooth: instructions with nuances

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular activity-tracking gadgets, despite the launch of new models, and its key advantage is its ease of connection and stable operation via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which consumes the battery of both the bracelet and smartphone. However, even with such a device, users are asking why the phone does not see the bracelet, how to synchronize data correctly, or why communication is constantly broken.

In this article, we will not only discuss the basic procedure for connecting the Mi Band 4 to Android and iPhone, but also nuances that are rarely written about in official instructions, such as why the bracelet may not be determined in the Mi Fit app after updating the phone’s firmware, or how to avoid problems with notifications from instant messengers, you will also learn what Bluetooth settings on a smartphone can block a stable connection, and how to fix this without resetting the bracelet to factory parameters.

Preparing for connection: what to do before synchronization

Before you start pairing the Mi Band 4 with your phone, make sure all the preconditions are met, which will save you from most common mistakes, such as not having a bracelet on the list of available devices or not being able to complete the setup.

First, check the battery power of the bracelet. If the indicator on the screen shows a level below 20%, connect the Mi Band 4 to the charger for 30-40 minutes. Low charge can interrupt the synchronization process or cause Bluetooth malfunction. Also make sure that the phone has the latest version of the Mi Fit application (or Zepp Life for new firmware).Older versions often do not support current connection protocols.

• 🔋 Bracelet charge: at least 30% (optimally - 50% and higher).
• 📱 Version of the phone OS: Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+.
• 🔄 Mi Fit Update: Check out Google Play or App Store.
• 📶 Bluetooth and geolocation: must be enabled (on iPhone, also allow access to geolocation services for Mi Fit).

Pay special attention to app permissions. Android, beginning with version 6.0, requires explicit confirmation of access to Contacts, Notifications and Files. Without these permissions, the bracelet will not be able to display incoming calls or messages. On iPhone, additionally check your Privacy settings → Bluetooth – sometimes the system blocks connection to new devices.

Step-by-step: how to connect Mi Band 4 to Android

The process of syncing Xiaomi Mi Band 4 with the Android phone takes no more than 5 minutes, if you follow a clear algorithm. Below is a step-by-step instruction based on the latest updates to the Mi Fit app (version 4.6.0 and higher).

1. Install the Mi Fit app from Google Play. Alternatively, Zepp Life (for firmware after 2022).
2. Launch Mi Fit and click Add Device (+ icon in the upper right corner).
3. Follow the setup wizard: Confirm the pairing on your phone and bracelet (the code will appear on the Mi Band 4 screen – compare it with the code in the application).

After successful connection, the bracelet automatically synchronizes the time and activity data for the last 7 days (if they were recorded before pairing).If at this stage there is an error "Disabled to connect", try the following steps:

• 🔋 Reset the bracelet: Press the touch button on the Mi Band 4 for 10 seconds before the vibration appears.

Important: If your phone supports dual Bluetooth (e.g., on some Xiaomi or Samsung models), try manually selecting the BLE protocol in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → Build Number (7 taps) → Developer Settings → Select Bluetooth version).

Synchronization of Mi Band 4 with iPhone: features and limitations

Connecting the Mi Band 4 to the iPhone has several key differences from Android, related to Apple’s policy on third-party devices. The main problem is the limited functionality of notifications due to the closedness of iOS. For example, the bracelet will not be able to show text messages from WhatsApp or Telegram, but only the facts of their receipt (vibration + icon of the application).

To connect the bracelet to your iPhone, follow the following steps:

1. Download Mi Fit from the App Store (make sure it’s at least 4.5.0).

After connecting, check the operation of the main functions:

A critical feature for the iPhone: after updating iOS to version 16.0+, the bracelet may stop syncing data due to changes in the Bluetooth protocol. Solution - reconnect the device to Mi Fit (remove it from the list and add again).

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If the bracelet doesn’t vibrate when notified after connecting to your iPhone, check the Do Not Disturb settings in Mi Fit. Sometimes this mode is activated automatically.

Solving problems: bracelet fails to connect or communication is cut

Even with the right setup, the Mi Band 4 can occasionally lose connection to the phone, and let’s look at the typical causes and ways to fix them.

1.The phone does not see the bracelet in the list of devices

If Mi Band 4 is not displayed in Mi Fit when you try to connect, follow these steps:

• 📵 Make sure the bracelet is not connected to another device (like a tablet).The Mi Band 4 supports connection to only one gadget.

2. Permanent communication breaks

If the bracelet is periodically turned off, the problem may lie in:

• 📶 Power saving mode: Turn it off in your phone settings or add Mi Fit to the exclusion list.
• 🔋 Background restrictions: on Android, check Settings → Annexes → Mi Fit → Battery → Optimizing the battery → No restrictions.
• 📱 Conflict with other Bluetooth devices: disable headphones, speakers or other gadgets connected by the Internet BLE.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi phones (e.g. Redmi Note) 8/9) Built-in Quick Optimization can block Mi Fit background work. Turn it off in Settings → Battery → Fast optimization.

3. The bracelet connects but does not synchronize data

If the Mi Band 4 is paired with a phone but does not transmit steps, sleep or pulse data:

• 🕒 Check the time zone: on the phone and bracelet it should coincide.

Configure notifications and additional functions

Once you've successfully connected the Mi Band 4, you can customize it to your needs, pick the notifications that will come to the bracelet, activate the alarm clocks, or turn on heart rate tracking. Let's look at the key options.

1. Notification management

To set up alerts:

1. Select applications that should be duplicated on the bracelet (for example, WhatsApp, Viber, Gmail).

On iPhone, the list of supported apps is limited by system restrictions, such as notifications from Instagram or Facebook may not arrive.

2.Activating sleep and heart rate tracking

To enable automatic monitoring:

• 💤 Sleep tracking: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Son → Auto-tracking (recommended to include 22:00 to 8:00).
• ❤️ Pulse frequency: Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Heart rate → Automatic measurement (interval: every 30 minutes or 1 hour).

Important: Continuous heart rate tracking reduces the bracelet's life by 1-2 days, if autonomy is critical, set a 1 hour interval or turn off automatic monitoring.

Setting alarm clocks

Mi Band 4 supports up to 10 alarm clocks that can be set directly in the bracelet or through the app:

1. In Mi Fit, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Alarms.
2. Click Add an alarm and specify the time, days of the week and the type of signal (vibration or sound on the phone).
3. To control alarm clocks on the bracelet, swipe up the screen and select an icon. ⏰.

⚠️ Warning: If the alarm on the bracelet doesn't work, check if the Do Not Disturb mode is activated in the Mi Fit settings. Also make sure the bracelet charge level is above 15% - when the charge is low, some functions are automatically turned off.

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For maximum autonomy, turn off automatic pulse measurements and reduce the number of active notifications, which will increase the life of the bracelet from 15 to 20+ days.

Update of the firmware bracelet: why and how to do it

Regular firmware updates to the Mi Band 4 fix bugs, add new features (such as support for additional languages or gestures) and improve connection stability.

How to update the firmware through Mi Fit

To check for updates:

1. Connect the bracelet to your phone and open the Mi Fit.
2. Go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Update firmware.
3. If a new version is available, click Update and wait for the process to complete (the bracelet will reboot automatically).

Important points:

• 🔋 The charge of the bracelet must be at least 50%.
• 📶 Stable Internet connection (Wi-Fi is recommended).
• 🕒 Do not interrupt the process – this can cause the bracelet to fail.

If the update is suspended during the Preparation for Update stage, follow the following steps:

1. Reset the bracelet (hold the button for 10 seconds).
2. Turn off and turn on Bluetooth on your phone again.
3. Repeat the update attempt.

Hand-held firmware through third-party tools (for power users)

If automatic updates are not available (e.g. due to regional restrictions), you can install the firmware manually using the Mi Band 4 Tools utility (root rights are required for Android), but this method is risky - improper actions can cause the bracelet to fail.

Warning: Using unofficial firmware deprives you of Xiaomi warranties and can lead to unstable operation of the device.

Reset Mi Band 4 to factory settings

If the bracelet is not working properly (e.g., it does not sync data, permanently shuts down or freezes), a factory reset may be required, which will remove all data from the device, including alarm clock settings and activity history.

How to reset

There are two ways:

1. Through the Mi Fit app: Open Profile → Mi Smart Band 4 → Untie the device. Confirm deletion and reconnect.
2. Through the bracelet: On the Mi Band 4 home screen, swipe right to the Other. Select Reset and confirm the action (the bracelet vibrates and reboots).

Once you're reset, the bracelet will go back to "out of the box."

• 🔄 Connect it to the phone via Mi Fit.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet fails to turn on or respond to touch after reset, connect it to the charger for 1-2 hours. Sometimes the discharged battery blocks the start of the system.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Mi Band 4