How to connect a smartwatch to the phone Xiaomi Mi 5: all ways and solutions to problems

Why sync your watch with Xiaomi Mi 5

Xiaomi’s smartwatch is not just an accessory, but a full-fledged assistant for health tracking, notification management, and even payment. But to unlock the full potential of the device, it needs to be connected correctly to a smartphone. Xiaomi Mi 5, despite its age (the model was released in 2016), is still able to work with most of the brand’s modern fitness bracelets and smart watches – provided it is properly configured.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to connect the watch to the Mi 5, including the official Mi Fit app, alternative methods via Bluetooth and solving typical errors. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances associated with the outdated version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow on this smartphone, which can affect the stability of the connection. If you are faced with the problem that the watch does not find the phone or constantly switches off, here you will find proven solutions.

Before you start, make sure your watch is at least 50% charged – this will eliminate battery failure during synchronization. Also check that the Mi 5 has the latest available firmware version (even if it’s MIUI 10 – it’s optimized for wearables).

What watch is compatible with Xiaomi Mi 5?

Not all Xiaomi smartwatches can work with the Mi 5 due to Android and hardware limitations, here’s a list of proven models that are guaranteed to be supported:

  • 📱 Mi Band 1-6 – all generations of fitness bracelets, including Mi Band 6 (the latest model with support for Android 5.0)+).
  • ⌚ Amazfit Bip / Bip S / Bip U – budget smart watches with long battery life.
  • 🏃 Amazfit GTS / GTR — model AMOLED-Display and advanced health monitoring functions.
  • 💎 Xiaomi Watch / Watch S1 — flagship watch with support NFC (But you will need Android 8.0 to pay for it.+, What's not available on the Mi 5).

Important: Watches based on Wear OS (such as Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro) are not officially supported Mi 5 due to the requirement of Android 8.1+. If your model is not included in the list above, check compatibility on the manufacturer's website or in the description of the Mi Fit application in Google Play.

Also, be aware that some functions may be limited, such as:

  • 🔊 XiaoAI voice assistant won’t work on Mi 5 due to Android 8.0 lack of support+.
  • 📱 Notifications from third-party messengers (such as Telegram or Viber) may come with a delay.
  • 🔄 Automatic data synchronization will be less stable than on new smartphones.
📊 What kind of smartwatch do you use?
Mi Band 6
Amazfit Bip S
Amazfit GTS/GTR
Xiaomi Watch
Another model.

Preparing the Xiaomi Mi 5 phone for connection

Before you start syncing, you need to configure the smartphone itself. Here are the key steps:

  1. Update your firmware to the latest available version. For the Mi 5, it's MIUI 10 (based on Android 6.0). Check for updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.
  2. Activate Bluetooth and make sure it works consistently. Go to Settings → Connected Devices → Bluetooth and turn it on.
  3. Allow access to location. This is required for Mi Fit to function properly (even if the watch does not have a location). GPS). Path: Settings → Annexes → Permits → Location.
  4. Clear the Bluetooth cache if you have previously had problems connecting other devices. You can do this in Settings → Apps → All apps → Bluetooth → Storage → Clear the cache.

Note: If your Mi 5 has custom ROM installed (like LineageOS), some Mi Fit features may not work properly, and it is recommended to use alternative applications like Notify & Fitness or Amazfit Tools.

Update the firmware to MIUI 10|

Turn on Bluetooth and check its operation |

Allow location access for Mi Fit|

Clear the Bluetooth cache (if there have been failures before)|

Charge the clock to at least 50%-->

Also check that there is enough free space on the phone – the Mi Fit app and data from the clock can take up to 500 MB. If memory is scarce, clear the cache of other applications or transfer files to the computer. SD-map.

Installation and configuration of the Mi Fit application

The official Mi Fit app is the main tool for connecting and managing Xiaomi smartwatches, and here’s how to install and configure it correctly:

  1. Download Mi Fit from Google Play. Make sure it's an official app from Xiaomi Inc. (developer com.xiaomi.hm.health).
  2. Sign up or sign in to a Xiaomi account, without which data synchronization will not be possible. If you do not have an account, create it directly in the application or on account.xiaomi.com.
  3. Allow all necessary permits: 📍 Location – To accurately track activity. 📱 Notifications – to let the clock show incoming messages. 📁 Storage - for backup of data. 🔋 Auto-Run – to make the application work in the background.

Update the watch firmware

Mi Fit

⚠️ Note: If you are logging into Mi Fit, you may have an error "Can't connect to the server", check the date and time settings on Mi 5. Automatic sync should be enabled (Settings) → System system → Date and time → Autodetermination).

After successful authorization in the app, click Add Device and select your watch model from the list. Follow the instructions on the screen - they may vary slightly depending on the model.

💡

If Mi Fit doesn’t find the watch, try rebooting the phone’s Bluetooth module: turn it off and back on in the settings, then restart the app.

Step-by-step instructions for connecting the clock

Now, let's move directly to synchronization. The instructions are universal for most models, but we'll give you some nuances for popular devices.

  1. Turn on the watch and activate pairing mode. To do this: On the Mi Band, tap the touch button before it appears. QR-On the Amazfit. Bip/GTS — press the side button on 3 seconds.

Mi Fit

Add the device

Mi 5

ID of the device

Confirm the pairing on the watch (usually you need to press a button or touch the screen).

5 minutes.

Method 2: Connect via Bluetooth (without Mi Fit)

If Mi Fit doesn’t work or you’re using unofficial firmware, you can connect directly via Bluetooth:

  1. Open Settings → Connected Devices → Bluetooth on Mi 5.
  2. Activate the search mode on the clock (as in method 1).
  3. In the list of devices found, select the name of your watch (for example, Mi Band 6 or Amazfit Bip).
  4. Confirm the pairing on both devices.

⚠️ Note: With this connection, the watch will work like a normal Bluetooth accessory without synchronizing health data.

What if the watch is not in the Mi Fit?
If Mi Fit doesn’t see the watch, try this: 1. Reboot both devices. 2. Remove the watch from the list of paired Bluetooth devices in the phone settings. 3. Update the Mi Fit to the latest version. 4. Check if the connection is blocked by an antivirus or an optimizer (such as Clean Master). 5. If nothing helps, reset the watch to factory settings (usually through the menu on the device itself).

Configure notifications and functions after connection

Once you've successfully synchronized, you need to customize your watch to suit your needs, and here are the key parameters that you should set up first:

1. Notifications

To keep the clock showing incoming messages and calls:

  1. Open Mi Fit and go to the section "Device Profile → Notifications".
  2. Turn on the "Show notifications" switch.
  3. Select the applications you want to see notifications from on your watch (for example, WhatsApp, SMS, VKontakte).
  4. Set up the display style: vibration only, sound or full text.

Note: When using third-party apps, some features (such as NFC payment or voice assistant) may not be available.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting the watch to the Xiaomi Mi 5

Can you connect the Xiaomi Watch S1 to the Mi 5?
Yes, but with limitations. The watch will connect, but NFC (payment, transportation) will not work due to the requirement of Android 8.0+.
Why does Mi Fit ask you to update the firmware of the phone?
The app sometimes mistakenly identifies Android 6.0 on the Mi 5 as an outdated version. Ignore this message - the clock will work, but some features (like voice commands) may not be available.
How to reset the clock to factory settings if they are not connected?
For most models: Charge the watch by at least 30%. On the Mi Band: tap the touch button 10 times in a row. On Amazfit: press the side button 15 seconds before the logo appears. Repeat the connection procedure after reset.
Can I connect the watch to the Mi 5 without the Mi Fit?
Yes, but the functionality will be severely limited, you will only be able to receive calls (if the watch supports a Bluetooth profile HFP) and listen to music.
What to do if the watch is quickly discharged after connecting to the Mi 5?
The problem may be constant synchronization of data. Try: Turn off automatic pulse measurement (leave only manual mode); Reduce the sync frequency in Mi Fit (for example, every 6 hours instead of every hour); Disable notifications from unnecessary applications; If it doesn't help, update the firmware of the watch.