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

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular gadgets for monitoring activity, despite the release of new models, its main advantages are affordable price, long battery life and wide functionality from counting steps to controlling sleep and heart rate. However, iPhone owners often face difficulties when connecting first: the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) behaves unstable, and instructions on the network are often outdated or contradictory.

In this article, you’ll find the latest step-by-step instructions for connecting the Mi Band 5 to an iPhone (including iPhone 8 to iPhone 15 models), get to grips with notification settings and data synchronization, and learn how to solve typical problems – from the “failed to connect” error to stats display failures. All steps are tested on iOS 17, but are suitable for earlier versions of the system (starting with iOS 13).

1. Preparation for connection: what will be needed

Before you start syncing, make sure you have everything you need. Here's the minimum set:

• 📱 iPhone with iOS version is not lower than 13.0 (optimum - 15.0)+). On older systems, the Mi Fitness app may not work properly.
• 💰 Xiaomi Mi Band 5 with a battery level of at least 20%. at low charge, the bracelet can turn off during settings.
• 📲 Downloaded Mi Fitness app (free on the App Store) Not to be confused with Zepp Life - it is designed for other Xiaomi models.
• 🔄 Stable Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network) to download bracelet firmware updates.

Also check that your iPhone is enabled Bluetooth (Settings) → The Mi Band 5 is connected using this protocol, and synchronization is impossible without it. If you have previously used another fitness tracker (for example, Mi Band 4), remove it from the list of devices in the Bluetooth settings, this will help avoid conflicts.

⚠️ Warning: If you upgraded your iPhone to a new version of iOS less than a week ago, restart your phone before connecting the bracelet.

2. Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application

The official Mi Band 5 management app is called Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit), which is free to download from the App Store. Make sure you install this particular program, not a fake: check the developer's name, Xiaomi Inc.

After installation, follow the following steps:

1. Open Mi Fitness and click Sign up (if you already have a Xiaomi account, sign in under your details).
2. Select the region “Russia” (or your country) – this is important for the correct operation of notifications.
3. Fill out the profile: gender, date of birth, height and weight, and these are the data you need to accurately calculate calories and activity.
4. Click on the icon «+» in the upper right corner and select "Breasure» → «Mi Smart Band 5».

At this stage, the application may request access to:

• 📍 Geolocations (to track jogging routes).
• 📱 Notifications (to have the bracelet duplicate alerts from the phone).
• 🏃 Health data (for synchronization with Apple Health).

We recommend that you allow all requests, otherwise some of the functions of the bracelet will not be available. For example, without access to notifications, you will not be able to receive incoming calls or messages from messengers on the Mi Band 5.

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If Mi Fitness doesn't find the bracelet, try logging out and logging in again, sometimes solving the login problem.

3. Step-by-step connection of Mi Band 5 to iPhone

Now, to the synchronization process itself, follow the instructions carefully, and even one step can be missed, and you can get a connection error.

Charge the Mi Band 5 to 50% or more|Make sure the bracelet is on (vibrates when you press the button)|Disconnect it from other devices (if previously connected)|Place the bracelet next to the iPhone (no more than 1 meter away)-->

When the bracelet and phone are ready, follow these steps:

1. In the Mi Fitness app, click "Add device» → «Mi Smart Band 5».
2. It'll appear on screen. QR-Do not scan it! Instead, click "Manually connect" (this item may be called "I can't see it." QR-code»).
3. On the bracelet, press and hold the touch button for 3-5 seconds until a 6-digit code appears on the screen.
4. Enter this code into the Mi Fitness app on your iPhone.
5. Wait until the sync is complete. The bracelet vibrates, and the phone screen will show a message "Connected successfully."

If the bracelet does not respond to the button holding in step 3, check:

• 🔋 Charge level (at a discharge below 10% the sensor may not work).
• 💧 Cleanliness of charger contacts (oxidation or dirt interferes with charging).
• 🔄 Reboot the bracelet: connect it to charging, hold the button for 10 seconds until the Mi logo appears.

⚠️ Note: If after entering the code there is an error “failed to connect”, go to Settings iPhone → Bluetooth, find the device in the list «MI Band 5 and delete it. Then try again to connect.

4. Set up notifications and basic functions

After successful connection, you need to customize the bracelet to your needs» → «Mi Smart Band 5 in the Mi Fitness app.

Let’s look at the key settings:

Important: On iPhone, notifications to the bracelet only arrive if the Mi Fitness app is running in the background, and closing the program through a swipe up will cause synchronization to stop.

For stable operation of notifications:

1. Go to the iPhone Settings → Mi Fitness.
2. Enable the options “Notifications”, “Background Update” and “Cellular” (if you use mobile Internet).
3. In the Notifications section, select the Banners Alert Style.

5. Synchronize with Apple Health and other services

One of the main advantages of the Mi Band 5 is the ability to integrate with Apple Health, the standard iPhone health data storage app.

• 📊 Automatically export steps, distance and calories to Apple Health.
• 💤 Save sleep data for analysis in third-party applications (e.g. Sleep Cycle).
• 🏃 Use training information on services like Strava or Nike Run Club.

To set up synchronization:

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Settings → Data Synchronization.
2. Select Apple Health and click Connect.
3. Allow access to all categories requested (steps, sleep, heart rate, etc.).
4. Return to the main menu and click on Sync (icon) ⚙️ top-right).

Please note:

• 🔄 Data is synced in one direction only – from Mi Band 5 to Apple Health, but not vice versa.
• ⏳ The first synchronization can take up to 5-10 minutes, especially if the bracelet has accumulated a lot of data.
• 🚫 If you turn off Mi Fitness access to Apple Health, all previously exported data will remain, but new data will no longer be available.

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For the correct synchronization with Apple Health, it is necessary that the “fitness tracking” function is enabled on the iPhone (Settings) → Confidentiality → Geolocation services → System services).

Typical problems and their solutions

Even with the right connection, Mi Band 5 and iPhone users sometimes encounter bugs, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

6.1 The bracelet does not connect to the phone

If Mi Band 5 is not defined in the Mi Fitness app, try:

• 🔄 Reset the bracelet: connect to charging and hold the button for 10 seconds.
• 📱 Reboot iPhone (sometimes helps with Bluetooth crashes).
• 🗑️ Remove the bracelet from the list of Bluetooth devices in the iPhone settings and reconnect.
• 📲 Update the Mi Fitness app to the latest version in the App Store.

6.2 No notifications are received on the bracelet.

If the notifications are not duplicated:

1. Check what is in the iPhone settings → Notifications → Mi Fitness included "Banners».
2. Make sure that the Mi Fitness application itself selects the right messengers in the Notifications section.
3. Go to the iPhone Settings → Mi Fitness → Notifications and turn on “Sounds” and “Signs».

The bracelet discharges quickly

The Mi Band 5 has a lifespan of 10 to 14 days per charge, but can be shortened when used actively to extend its battery life.

• ⏳ Reduce your pulse rate to “every 30 minutes».
• 🌙 Turn off “Raising your hand to turn on the screen” (display and brightness section»).
• 📵 Turn off notifications from unnecessary apps.
• 🔋 Use the original charger – unoriginal chargers can damage the battery.

⚠️ Warning: If the bracelet discharges in 1-2 days, this may indicate a malfunction of the battery. Try resetting the bracelet to the factory settings (Settings) → Reset in Mi Fitness app If the problem persists, contact the service center.

6.4 Data is not synchronized with Apple Health

If no information is transmitted:

1. Open the iPhone Settings → Confidentiality → Health → Annexes → Mi Fitness and check that all categories are included.
2. In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Settings → Synchronize data and click on “Sync».
3. Remove and re-add the bracelet in the application.

7. Update firmware Mi Band 5 via iPhone

Regular firmware updates fix bugs, add new features and improve stability.To update Mi Band 5:

1. Make sure the bracelet is at least 50% charged.
2. Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi (mobile internet updates may not work).
3. Open Mi Fitness, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5 → Firmware Update.
4. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until the process is complete (usually takes 5-10 minutes).

During the update:

• 🚫 Don't turn off the bracelet from your phone.
• 🔋 Do not interrupt the process (for example, do not close the application).
• 📶 Don't leave the Wi-Fi range.

After a successful upgrade, the bracelet will reboot automatically. If the process is stalled during the Preparation for Update stage, try:

1. Reset the bracelet (holding the button for 10 seconds).
2. Remove it from the list of devices in Mi Fitness and connect again.
3. Update the Mi Fitness app itself in the App Store.

8.Reset Mi Band 5 to factory settings

If the bracelet is unstable (e.g., does not sync data, does not respond to touch or permanently shuts down), a complete reset may be required.This will delete all settings, but save the data in the Mi Fitness app (if they were synchronized).

The Mi Band 5 can be dropped in two ways:

Method 1: Through the Mi Fitness app

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 5.
2. Scroll down and select “Delete the device”.
3. Confirm the action. The bracelet will be untied from the account, and it can be reconnected.

Method 2: Hardware reset (if phone is not available)

1. Connect the bracelet to the charger.
2. Hold the touch button for 15-20 seconds until the “Reset” appears on the screen.
3. Release the button and the bracelet will reboot and return to factory settings.

After discharge:

• The bracelet will be displayed as new in the Mi Fitness app.
• You will need to reconfigure notifications, alarms and other settings.
• Step, sleep and workout data that is not synchronized with your phone will be lost.

⚠️ Warning: If you sell or transfer the bracelet to another person, make sure to reset. Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to connect the device to his account.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Band 5 and iPhone