How to connect a watch to a Xiaomi 4 phone: the full guide

Modern wearables have become an integral part of the digital lifestyle, allowing you to track activity and notifications right on your wrist. However, owners of previous generations of devices, such as the legendary Xiaomi Mi 4, often face difficulties when trying to sync a smartphone with the new smartwatch. Despite the age of the device, its technical characteristics allow you to work with most accessories if you configure the software correctly.

The pairing process can seem complicated due to differences in the versions of the Android operating system and the interfaces of the MIUI shell. In this article, we will take a detailed look at each step required for a successful connection, bypassing common errors and system limitations. You will learn which applications are needed, how to configure permissions and what to do if standard methods do not work.

Before you get to the practical steps, it is important to make sure that your smartphone is fully ready to interact with external devices. Check the battery level, as the process of finding and installing connections may require additional energy. It is also recommended to restart the device to clear the cache of system services and ensure stable operation of communication modules.

Compatibility check and equipment preparation

The first step is to assess the technical capabilities of your Xiaomi Mi 4. This smartphone came out a few years ago and runs the Android operating system, the versions of which can vary depending on the firmware installed. Most modern smartwatches require a minimum of Android 4.4 or 5.0, which is quite capable of this device, but requires attention.

You need to make sure that the Bluetooth module is functioning correctly and supports the necessary energy saving profiles. Mi 4 owners should pay attention to the Bluetooth version - this model uses the 4.0 standard, which is the basic requirement for working with fitness trackers and smart watches. If the module is damaged or drivers are not working correctly, connection will be impossible.

It is also important to check for free space in internal memory. Watch management apps like Zepp Life (formerly Mi Fit) or Galaxy Wearable take up a certain amount of space, and also require space to store a cache of health data. Clear unnecessary files if the memory is more than 80% full.

⚠️ Warning: Before starting the procedure, make sure that the watch also has enough battery power.Attempting to pair the discharged device may lead to connection errors or interrupt the process of updating the accessory firmware.

Preparation includes physical inspection of accessories, make sure that the security film from the sensors on the back of the watch is removed, as this may affect the initial activation of some models, and if the watch was previously connected to another phone, it must be reset to factory settings through the device menu.

Installation and configuration of the control application

The centerpiece of the smart device ecosystem is a dedicated companion app. For Xiaomi and Amazfit brand devices, the de facto standard has become the Zepp Life app (formerly known as Mi Fit). Other Android-compatible models may require Google Fit, Samsung Health, or proprietary software from the watch brand.

Since the Xiaomi Mi 4 is a device with limited official support for new versions of app stores, installation may require manual intervention.It is recommended to use the official Google Play store, but if it does not work correctly, you can download the APK installation file from the proven resource.

  • 📱 Open the app menu and find the Play Market store or file manager.
  • 🔍 In the search box, type the name of the required application, for example, Zepp Life.
  • ⬇️ Click the “Install” button and wait until all components are downloaded.
  • 🔐 After installation, launch the application and accept the user agreement.

The critical step is to register an account. Without logging in to Mi Account or Zepp, the clock will be severely restricted, enter the correct data, confirm email and, if necessary, set region settings to a value that corresponds to your location, so that the servers are stable.

Once logged in, the app will request access to various smartphone features. For the Xiaomi Mi 4 with its aggressive MIUI energy saving system, all requested permissions must be issued immediately, which includes access to geolocation, contacts, phone and background work.

☑️ Preparation of the annex

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The process of pairing via Bluetooth

Direct connection is via the smartphone’s Bluetooth menu. Unlike the newer models, the Xiaomi Mi 4 can require manual activation of the device’s visibility. Go to Settings → Bluetooth and make sure the switch is in the “On” position.

Next, you need to start looking for new devices. Your watch should appear on the list of available gadgets. It can look like a Mi Band, Amazfit or a particular manufacturer's model. Don't try to connect directly through the Bluetooth system menu, which often leads to the "failed to hide" error.

The correct algorithm of actions involves the use of the application interface:

  1. Open the installed app for managing the clock.
  2. Go to the “Profile” or “Devices” section.
  3. Click the “Add device” button or the plus in the corner of the screen.
  4. Select your model from the list or click “Search”.

When you search, the watch screen may be prompted to confirm pairing with or without code. On the Xiaomi Mi 4, the system request pop-up can be hidden behind other windows, so watch for notifications carefully. If the code on the phone and watch screen matches, confirm the action.

PhaseAction on the phoneAction on the clockExpected output
1. PreparationTurn on Bluetooth and GPSActivate the screenSystems ready to search
2. Search.Launching scanning in the applicationStandby regimeDisplaying the model in the list
3. Request.Press "Connect"Appearance of code/iconRequest for interface
4. SynchronizationData uploadingAnimation of the connectionSuccessful connection

After a successful connection, the app will automatically prompt you to update the firmware of the watch. For the Xiaomi Mi 4, this process may take longer due to the data transfer speed over Bluetooth 4.0.

What if the watch is not visible in the app?
If the app doesn't find the watch, try connecting it first through the Bluetooth Android system menu and then running the app. Sometimes you need to "forget" the device in the Bluetooth settings and start searching again.> Configuring Permits and Energy Saving MIUI The most common cause of communication breaks on Xiaomi smartphones is aggressive battery optimization. MIUI, The one on the Mi 4 tends to kill background processes to save energy, which leads to loss of connection to the watch. To avoid this, you need to perform a series of settings. → Battery and performance (or simply “Battery”). Find your watch app (e.g. Zepp Life) in the installed app list. Change your mode from “Energy Saving” to “No Limits». This will prevent the system from turning off the application in the background, then you need to configure autostart. In the same battery settings menu or through the Security app, find the Autostart section. Make sure that the switch opposite the watch app is activated. Without this, after restarting the phone, the watch will not automatically connect. 🔋 Open the battery settings and find the desired application. ✅ Set the “No Limits” mode for background work. 🚀 Enable auto-start in the appropriate part of the system. 🔒 Lock the application in the list of running tasks (swipe down) so that it does not close. Another important aspect is the permissions for geolocation (BLE) Android versions 6.0 and higher (which can be installed on Mi 4) require enabled GPS And the location permission, without that, the app just can't scan the environment. ⚠️ Note: On some versions of the firmware MIUI You may need to manually enable the permission to "Mask on top of other applications." Without this, you may not see pop-up notifications from the clock or pairing requests. You should also check the notification settings» → «Permits» → «Other permissions" make sure the app is allowed to send notifications and run in the background.The absence of these rights will result in the watch running like a regular chronometer without data synchronization. Even if you follow all the instructions, you can have technical difficulties. One of the common problems on the Xiaomi Mi 4 is the conflict of Bluetooth versions. If the watch is new and uses Bluetooth 5.0 and the smartphone is running at its limit, the connection may be unstable. In this case, clearing the Bluetooth cache helps. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications. Find in the list “Bluetooth” (sometimes hidden in system processes) and click “Clear Data” and “Clear Cache”. After that, the phone will need to reboot. This action will reset all the saved pairing keys. If the application sees the clock but cannot complete the pairing, try the following method: 1. Remove the watch application from the phone. 2. In the Bluetooth settings, click “Forget the device” on the clock again. Xiaomi will need to reboot. Sometimes the Bluetooth device will be reset 4. This will free up the resources of the communication module. In cases where nothing helps, it is worth checking the compatibility of Android versions. If the watch has a new firmware that requires Android 7.0+, and the Mi 4 is the old version, connection may be physically impossible without flashing the smartphone. However, most of the basic functions of the watch work on Android 5.x. Setup of notifications and data synchronization After a successful connection, the main task is to adjust the data flow. In order for notifications from social networks and calls to come to the wrist, you need to activate the corresponding switches in the companion application. On Mi 4, this process may have its own features from the “Atler” menu of the installed applications. Include the ones you want to see on your watch: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, calls and SMS. It is important not to overdo it: too many active notifications can lead to lags of the watch interface and quick discharge of both devices. To correctly display Russian in the notifications on the clock, in the application settings, you often need to download a language packet. Find the "Language" or "Language Pack" and download Russian. Without this, the clock screen can display Cracosabra instead of text messages. 📩 Enable the content of messages to be displayed in privacy settings. 📞 Set up vibrations on incoming call for quiet modes. 🌐 Download and install the Russifier of the clock interface. 📊 Set up Health Data Synchronization with Interval 15-30 Synchronizing your steps and pulse also requires attention. On older devices like the Mi 4, it is better not to put the synchronization interval too small (for example, 1 minute) so as not to create a constant load on the processor and radio module. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Can I connect an Apple Watch to the Xiaomi Mi 4? Unfortunately, no. Apple Watch works exclusively in conjunction with the iPhone and the iOS operating system. Connect them to an Android smartphone, including the Xiaomi Mi 4, is technically impossible without the most complex and unstable jailbreak methods that do not guarantee the result. Why the watch goes off on its own after a while? Most likely, the MIUI system closes the application in the battery, as it does not need to save energy, or to deactivate the battery. What is the maximum version of Android supported on Xiaomi Mi 4? Officially Xiaomi Mi 4 was updated to Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) with a MIUI shell. There are unofficial firmware (Custom ROM) based on Android 7, 8 and even 9, but their installation requires unlocking the bootloader and carries risks. For the work of the watch, the official version is usually enough. What to do if the text of notifications comes in “krakozyabra”? This means that the clock does not have a font for Cyrillic. Go to the watch management application, find the profile or systems section and download the battery after the Miguage speed and the clock is installed. On the Mi 4 with its 2 or 3GB of RAM, it is recommended to close heavy applications if you are actively using real-time synchronization.