Modern smartphones from Xiaomi have a wide range of functionality that can be significantly expanded with the help of wearable electronics. Connecting a smart watch or fitness bracelet to the device allows you to track your health, receive notifications about calls and messages right on your wrist, and control music. The process of synchronizing gadgets usually does not cause difficulties, but in the MIUI ecosystem there are nuances that you need to know about for stable operation.
Before starting the procedure, it is important to make sure that your mobile device is ready to pair, not only with battery power, but also with the communication modules working correctly. The wireless connection must be activated and the Android version of the operating system must meet the minimum requirements specified in the accessory documentation. Ignoring the basic conditions can lead to the fact that the phone simply does not see the new device in the list of available.
Owners of Xiaomi equipment often face an aggressive energy saving system that can interrupt the background work of applications for managing watches. Therefore, the correct setting of access rights and permissions is a critical step, without which it is impossible to fully use the functionality of the tracker. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps necessary for a successful connection, and point out the typical mistakes that users make when they first set up.
Preparation of the smartphone and watch for pairing
The first step in the process of integrating gadgets is to carefully prepare both devices: the smartphone must be unlocked and the screen is active. Charge the watch to a level of at least 50-60% so that during the process of updating the firmware or synchronizing data, they do not turn off. Low battery power often causes a connection to be interrupted at a critical stage.
Make sure your phone is Bluetooth enabled. In Xiaomi devices, this module is controlled via a notification curtain or in the settings menu. It is also recommended to enable geolocation (GPS), as in modern versions of Android this requirement is necessary to find and pair Bluetooth devices with low power.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to pair the watch immediately through the standard Bluetooth menu in your phone settings. This is a common mistake. The pairing must occur exclusively through a dedicated companion app, otherwise the watch may lock for other devices or not work properly.
Check the version of your smartphone's operating system. Most modern watches require Android 6.0 and higher to work smoothly. If you have an old phone, functionality may be limited. Also clear the Bluetooth cache if you've previously had problems connecting other accessories.
- 🔋 Charge the clock by at least 50% before setting up.
- 📶 Turn on Bluetooth and GPS (geolocation) on a Xiaomi smartphone.
- 📱 Make sure your phone screen is unlocked and on standby.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone if Bluetooth is not stable.
It is important to understand that the stability of the connection depends not only on the software, but also on the physical proximity of the devices. During the setup stage, keep the watch and phone at a distance of no more than 1-2 meters from each other.
Selecting and installing the right application
A key element of the smart device ecosystem is the companion app. Xiaomi and Mi Band products have historically used the Mi Fit app, but now the main and most relevant application is Zepp Life (formerly known as Mi Fit), which is where the basic configuration, firmware updates and synchronization of health data takes place.
For devices released under the brand Xiaomi Watch (powered by Wear OS or HyperOS), you may need the application Xiaomi Wear or Zepp. It is important not to confuse these programs, as they are designed for different product lines. download applications only from official sources: Google Play store or GetApps (Mi Store) to avoid malware.
Once you install the app, you need to register for an account, whether it's a Mi Account, Google or Facebook account, and you need to register to save your data in the cloud and recover your data when you change your phone, and when you first start it will ask for a number of permissions that you need to provide.
The table below shows the correspondence of watch models and recommended applications for their management:
| Model of the device | Recommended annex | Minimum version of Android | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 4/5/6/7/8 | Zepp Life | Android 6.0+ | Basic activity tracking |
| Redmi Watch / Xiaomi Watch Lite | Xiaomi Wear | Android 6.0+ | Extended notices |
| Mi Watch / Watch S1 | Zepp / Xiaomi Wear | Android 8.0+ | A full OS |
| Amazfit (all series) | Zepp | Android 7.0+ | Advanced analytics |
Note that some applications may require additional plugins or service frameworks. System components are often updated automatically, but if errors occur, it is worth checking for updates for all related applications in the store.
Connection process via Bluetooth
Once you have the software ready and installed, you can go directly to pairing. Open the installed application (e.g. Zepp Life) and log in to your account. On the home screen, find the Profile button or the add-on icon of a new device, usually located at the top of the interface.
The app will start scanning available devices in range. Make sure the watch is in pairing mode. For new watches, this mode is activated automatically when you first turn on. If the watch has been used before, you may need to reset it to factory settings via the Settings → System → Reset menu.
The path to reset (example): Menu → Settings → System → ResetWhen the name of your watch appears on the list (such as the Mi Band 6 or Redmi Watch), click on it. A confirmation code will appear on the watch screen and on the smartphone screen. Verify the numbers and confirm pairing on both devices. The process can take anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds.
☑️ Checklist of successful connection
When you connect, the system can request confirmation to create a pair through the Android system window. Automatic confirmation speeds up the process, but requires the user's attention. If the request does not appear, check if the notification window is hidden.
⚠️ Note: If the Bluetooth list in your phone settings shows the watch as "Conjugated" but it's not in the app, remove the device from the Bluetooth list and start the process again strictly through the app. Direct pairing through Android settings often leads to data synchronization errors.
Successful connection will be confirmed by the vibration of the clock and the appearance of the corresponding status in the application. From this point, the initial time-date synchronization begins, which occurs automatically, and the time zone will also be pulled from the settings of the smartphone.
Configuring MIUI Permits and Energy Saving
Xiaomi’s MIUI or HyperOS-enclosed smartphones are known for their aggressive energy-saving policies, which can force the background processes of the watch app to close, causing connection breaks and no notifications, and to avoid this, you need to manually configure access rights.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find your watch app (like Zepp Life) on the list. Go to Battery or Energy Saving and select No Limits mode. This will prevent the system from killing the application process.
Then you need to enable auto-start. In the same app settings menu, find "Start" and activate it. This will allow the app to start immediately after the phone is turned on, providing instant connection to the clock. Without this notification, they can come with a delay.
- 🚀 Enable "Autostart" for a companion application.
- 🔋 Set energy saving mode "No restrictions".
- 🔒 Stick the application in memory (optional via the menu of recent tasks).
- 📢 Allow notifications to be displayed on a locked screen.
It is also important to check the permissions for the application itself. In the access rights menu, make sure that the application is allowed to use location (always mode), access to contacts, call log and SMS. The lack of permissions to read contacts will result in only numbers displayed on the clock, not the names of callers.
💡
Lock the app into RAM: Open the menu of running apps, press the icon of the watch app, and select the lock icon. This will prevent accidental memory clearing.
Don’t ignore Bluetooth access and background requests. In newer versions of Android, these permissions are split and require individual user confirmation every time you upgrade.
Synchronizing data and setting notifications
Once you've successfully connected and configured access rights, you'll enter the personalization phase, where you can choose which notifications are to be sent to your watch, and messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber), social networks, and system notifications (calls, SMS) are usually available.
To activate notifications, go to the device profile in the app and find the "Application Notifications" section. Here you need to tick the correct programs. Android system notifications are broadcast automatically to the clock, if authorized.
Time-date synchronization is an important aspect. 99 percent of the time on the clock is automatically adjusted from the phone. However, if you're traveling and changing your time zone, make sure that the phone has the "Auto-Time" option on the network so that the watch updates the data correctly.
⚠️ Note: If notifications don’t come, check if the watch is not on “Do Not Disturb” or “Sleep.” Also make sure that the phone itself for the specific application (such as WhatsApp) allows notifications in the Android system.
You can also customize the dial. You can have a huge selection of designs in the Dials or Store section, and it can take time to load a new dial, and it requires a stable Internet connection on the phone, and once you install the dial, it's stored in the watch memory.
Solving (Frequent Problems) When Connecting
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users may encounter difficulties, and one of the most common problems is that the phone can't see the watch, so you need to make sure that the watch isn't connected to another phone, and you can't connect to two devices at the same time.
If the clock falls off or the connection is unstable, try the following:
1. Turn off and turn on Bluetooth on your phone.
2. Reboot both devices.
3. Remove the device from the application and add again.
4. Check if the phone is antivirus or a “cleaner” that blocks Bluetooth.
What to do if the reset does not help?
In case the app says "Device is busy" or "Pairing error," there may be another fitness app running in the background that has taken control. Close all the extra apps and try again.
- ❌ Not found error: Make sure your watch is not connected to another phone.
- 📉 Weak signal: Closer to the phone, remove metal objects.
- 🔄 Cyclical reboot: Update the watch firmware through the app.
- 📱 Software conflict: remove third-party apps to manage the clock.
Sometimes the problem is with an outdated version of the app. Go to the app store and check for updates for Zepp Life or Xiaomi Wear. Developers regularly release patches that fix compatibility bugs with new versions of Android.
💡
The main reason for connection problems is the conflict of previous Bluetooth settings or aggressive power saving MIUI. Full reset and correct right setting solves 90% of the problems.