The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 fitness bracelet remains one of the most popular health monitoring gadgets, despite the release of new models. Huawei smartphone owners often face difficulties in syncing devices due to the features of EMUI firmware and the limitations of Google services. In this article, we will analyze not only the standard connection process, but also alternative methods for phones without Google Play Services, as well as solve common errors such as “cannot find the device” or “constant communication breaks”.
The Mi Band 5 requires a mandatory Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit), which doesn’t always work properly for Huawei because of the company’s policy of replacing Google Mobile Services with a new one. HMS. We tested all the current ways of connecting on firmware EMUI 10–14 and put together working solutions, including bypassing restrictions through APK-If you've tried to sync the bracelet and you've got an error, skip the basic instructions and go straight to the "Problem Solving" section".
Requirements before connecting: what to check on Huawei
Before you start syncing, make sure your Huawei phone meets the minimum requirements.The Mi Band 5 bracelet officially supports Android 5.0 and higher, but on EMUI below version 9.1, there may be problems with Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) - this is critical for stable performance.
Main checkpoints:
- 📱 Version. Android/EMUI: Open the Settings. → The phone, you need a trouble-free job. EMUI 9.1+ (Android 9+) or HarmonyOS 2.0+.
- 🔄 Bluetooth: Enable the module in Settings → Wireless networks → Bluetooth, make sure Visibility mode is active.
- 📲 Google Play Services: Most Huawei models (except the series) P40/Mate 40 And newer, they're set by default. You can check in Settings. → Annexes → Google Play Services.
- 🔋 Bracelet charge: Mi Band 5 battery level should be at least 20.
💡
If you have a Huawei model without Google Play Services (for example, Google Play Services, P50 Pro or Mate 40, download it. APK-Mi Fitness application file from the official Xiaomi website or a trusted source like APKMirror. version must be at least 4.6.0 to support Mi Band 5.
Pay special attention to permissions: Mi Fitness will require access to location (to search for Bluetooth devices), contacts (for notifications) and storage (for data backups). On Huawei, these permissions are often reset after updates - manually check them in Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Permissions.
Installation and configuration of the Mi Fitness application
The official Mi Band 5 management app is Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit).
- 📱 AppGallery (for Huawei models with a HMS): Search for "Mi Fitness." Please note that the version may be outdated.
- 🌐 Google Play for models with GMS): standard-setting.
- 🔗 Xiaomi official website: [link to] APK](https://www.mi.com/global/mi-fitness-app/) — It is important for phones without access to Google Play.
After installation, follow the following steps:
- Open Mi Fitness and sign up through a Xiaomi account (required!).If you don't have an account, create one at account.xiaomi.com.
- Select the region Russia or Global (important for proper notifications).
- In the main menu, click Profile → Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 5.
Xiaomi account is registered|Mi Fitness app installed (version 4.6.0)+)|Bluetooth on your phone|Bracelet charged at least 20 times%|Permits for Mi Fitness issued manually-->
If the app requests access to geodata, be sure to allow — without this scanning Bluetooth devices will be impossible. Huawei with EMUI 12+ may appear pop-up with a warning about “security risks” — ignore it and click Allow.
Mi Band 5 is connected to Huawei
Now, to the synchronization process itself, follow the instructions in the following steps:
- Activate the bracelet: Press the Mi Band 5 touch button (under the screen) and hold for 3 seconds until it appears QR-That means the bracelet is ready to pair.
- Scan in Mi Fitness: In the app, click Add Device → Mi Smart Band 5. You will start searching for available gadgets.
- Code Confirmation: A 6-digit code will appear on the bracelet screen and in the app. Make sure it matches, and click Confirm on your phone.
- Firmware update: Once connected, the app will prompt you to update the bracelet software. Don't interrupt the process, it can take up to 10 minutes. Disabling at this stage will lead to a "brick" of the device.
If the bracelet is not in the scanning stage, try:
- 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (Settings) → Bluetooth → Reset).
- 📱 Remove Mi Band 5 from the list of associated devices (Settings) → Bluetooth → Repeat the search and repeat the search.
- 🔋 Remove the bracelet from the charger (if it was connected) – sometimes this prevents detection.
P40/P40 Pro|Mate 30/Mate 40|Nova 7/Nova 8| Other with EMUI|HarmonyOS-->
After successful connection, set up the main parameters:
- 🔔 Notifications: Allow access to SMS and messengers in the Device Profile → Notifications.
- 🏃 Activity tracking: Enable automatic walking/running recognition in Settings → Monitoring of activity.
- 🔒 Unlocking the screen: Set up unlocking the phone through the bracelet in Settings → Unlock the screen (requires Android 8)+).
Connect to Huawei without Google Play Services (HMS)
If you have a Huawei model without Google services (e.g., P50 Pro, Mate 40 or more), the standard way to connect via Mi Fitness may not work.
- Install Mi Fitness via APK: Download the latest version of APK from [Xiaomi official website](https://www.mi.com/global/mi-fitness-app/). Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Security → Additional → Installation from unknown sources.
- Using Huawei Mobile Services (HMS): Open AppGallery and find "Huawei Mobile Services." Update to the latest version. In Settings → Apps → HMS Core, enable auto-update.
Manual Bluetooth setup
- Go to Settings → Wireless Networks → Bluetooth → More
- Turn on the option to Show devices without a name (on some firmware).
- Set up Bluetooth in low power mode: In Settings → Wireless networks → Bluetooth → Disable Adaptive Bluetooth (if any: 🔋 Disable Smart Resolution for Mi Fitness in Settings → Annexes → Permits – This will prevent automatic resetting of permits. 📶 Use stable Wi-Fi instead of mobile internet to synchronize data. 🔄 Reload the bracelet once a week (hold the 10 seconds button until vibration). 💡After the update EMUI The bracelet has stopped syncing, try to remove it from Mi Fitness, clear the app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Warehouse → Clear the cache) and reconnect. Alternative applications for Mi Band 5 If Mi Fitness is unstable, you can use third-party applications. They support the basic functions of the bracelet, but may not have some signature chips like Mi Pay or music control: 📊 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (Play Market/AppGallery): Supports notifications, sleep monitoring, pedometer. There is customization of dials. Minus: no official synchronization with Xiaomi Cloud. 🔄 Tools & Mi Band 5 (only APK): Advanced vibration and screen settings, support for automatic time-shifting. 🏃 Mi Band Master (for power users): Allows you to customize hidden bracelet features. Requires manual import of the device profile. ⚠️ Warning: Third-party apps may not support the latest Mi Band firmware 5. Before using, make a backup of the data in Mi Fitness (Profile) → Settings → Backup). For installation APK-Files on Huawei may need to disable security check: Go to Settings → Security → Additionally. → Installation from unknown sources. Select the browser or file manager you want to install through. APK. Frequent questions on connecting the Mi Band 5 to Huawei Can Mi Band 5 be connected to Huawei without Mi Fitness? Technically yes, but with limitations. Third-party apps like Notify & Fitness let you control the bracelet without official software, but you will lose access to proprietary features (such as Mi Pay or cloud sync), and automatic firmware updates may not work. Why Huawei doesn't see Mi Band 5 when Bluetooth is on? Causes could be: Conflict with other devices: Disable all other Bluetooth gadgets (earphones, speakers). Limitations EMUI/HMS: Add Mi Fitness to secure apps (see Battery Optimization section) Obsolete bracelet firmware: Try updating it with another phone, then go back to Huawei. Hardware incompatibility: On some Huawei models (e.g., on some Huawei models, Y7 Prime 2019) There may be no Bluetooth support 5.0, necessary for the Mi Band 5. If nothing helps, try resetting the network settings on your phone (Settings) → System system → Reset → How to transfer data from Mi Band 5 To transfer data: On an old phone, open Mi Fitness and back up (Profile) → Settings → Backup.Install Mi Fitness on the new Huawei and log in to the same Xiaomi account.Restore data from the backup (Profile) → Settings → Restore). If the account is not synced, the steps and sleep data can be manually exported through the Profile. → Data export (file) CSV). Can I use Mi Band 5 with Huawei Watch? GT? Both devices can be connected to the same phone, however: Notifications will be duplicated on both gadgets. Health data (steps, pulse) is not added up - each device will need a separate application (Mi Fitness for bracelet and Huawei Health for watches). On some firmware, Huawei Health can block Mi Fitness — in which case, add both apps to the protected ones. EMUI Is the bracelet not synced? EMUI Often reset permissions and optimization settings. Follow these steps: Remove Mi Band 5 from the list of associated devices (Settings) → Bluetooth). Clear the cache and data of Mi Fitness (Settings → Applications → Mi Fitness → Storage). Reboot your phone. Reconnect the bracelet via Mi Fitness. Check the resolutions and battery settings (see Battery Optimization section). If the problem persists, try rolling back the Mi Fitness update to the previous version (download APK with APKMirror).