How to connect Xiaomi watch to iPhone: full instructions with error solutions

Xiaomi smartwatches have long ceased to be exclusive to owners of Android-smartphones. Despite the fact that the company initially focused on its own ecosystem MIUI, most models — from the budget Mi Band 7 to the flagship Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro — successfully work with the iPhone.

The main difficulty lies in the limitations of iOS: Apple blocks access to certain functions (for example, answering calls after hours) and requires the use of a special application Mi Fitness instead of the usual Mi Home or Zepp Life. In this article, we’ll break down not only the basic connection, but also the hidden settings that will get the most out of the device – from accurate sleep tracking to customizing dials.+ How to fix it without resetting the settings.

Which Xiaomi watches are compatible with the iPhone?

Not all Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets work equally well with iPhones, here’s the current list of supported devices (as of 2026):

• 📱 Mi Band Series: Mi Band 6, Mi Band 7, Mi Band 8 (including versions with the following: Mi Band 8) NFC China)
• ⌚ Xiaomi Watch: Watch S1, Watch S1 Pro, Watch S1 Active, Watch 2 Pro
• 🏃 Amazfit (brand Xiaomi): GTR 4, GTS 4, Bip 5, T-Rex 2
• ❌ Incompatible models: Mi Band 5 (limited support), Xiaomi Watch Color 2 (synchronization issues after iOS 16)

Important: Even if your model is on the list, the functionality on the iPhone will be reduced compared to Android.

• 📞 Answering calls directly from the clock (notifications only)
• 🎵 Manage music on iPhone in hours (only pause/play)
• 📱 Use Xiaomi Pay to use Xiaomi Pay (NFC-Payment is only available in China)

Before buying, check the Bluetooth version of your iPhone:

Preparing iPhone for connection

Before you start synchronization, perform the mandatory settings on your smartphone:

1. Update iOS to the latest version. Xiaomi watches require iOS 14.0+, but for stable work it is better to use iOS 16.4+.
2. Turn Bluetooth on in Settings → Bluetooth and keep it active throughout the process.
3. Allow notifications for the Mi Fitness app in Settings → Notifications.
4. Disable VPN (if you use it). Some servers block the connection to Xiaomi servers.

⚠️ Note: If your iPhone has previously installed the Mi Home or Zepp Life app, remove it.These programs conflict with Mi Fitness and can cause a sync error.

Update iOS to the latest version|

Enable Bluetooth and geolocation |

Remove old Xiaomi apps (Mi Home, Zepp) |

Allow notifications for Mi Fitness|

Shut down. VPN (if used)-->

We also recommend rebooting your iPhone before you connect, which will clear the Bluetooth cache and reduce the risk of errors. If you’re using an iPhone 14 Pro or later, check that Low Power Mode is off, which can interrupt the connection to your watch.

Step-by-step instructions for connecting

Now, let’s get to the process itself. We’ll look at the connection using the Xiaomi Mi Band 8, but the instruction is also relevant for other models (with slight differences in the interface).

1. Download the Mi Fitness app from the App Store. Note: you need to install Zepp for Amazfit, but in this guide we focus on the original Xiaomi watch.
2. In the Mi Fitness app, click Profile → Add Device → Bracelet (or “Clock”, depending on the model).
3. Confirm pairing on your iPhone and watch, and the bracelet will show a tick, and the app will say Connected.

⚠️ Attention: If after scanning QR-When you have a “failed to connect” error, try it:

• 🔄 Restart the clock (press the touch button for 10 seconds)
• 📱 Remove the watch from the list of Bluetooth devices on iPhone (Settings) → Bluetooth, click on "i" next to the watch name and select "Forget this device")
• 🌐 Change the region in your Xiaomi account to China (sometimes helps with server errors)

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If the clock is not determined by QR-Try to connect them manually: in Mi Fitness, select Other ways to connect" →"Bluetooth and find the device in the list.

Once you've successfully connected, the app will suggest you update the firmware of the watch. Don't refuse, without the current version, many functions (such as stress monitoring) will not work. The update will take 5-15 minutes, do not interrupt the process and do not leave the application.

Setup of notifications and data synchronization

By default, Xiaomi watches only show basic notifications (calls, SMS) to configure alerts from instant messengers and other applications:

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Your Device → Notifications.
2. Turn on the Call Notification and Notifications from the apps switch.
3. Click Notification Management and select the apps you want to see on your watch (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
4. Return to the main device settings and activate Vibration at notifications.

⚠️ Note: On iPhone, Xiaomi watches cannot display notification text from third-party messengers (only the name of the app and the icon). This is a restriction of iOS, not devices. To see the content of the message, you have to reach the phone.

To synchronize health data (steps, sleep, pulse):

• 🔄 Enable Autosynchronization in your device settings in Mi Fitness.
• 📊 Connect to your Apple Health account (profile) → Settings → Synchronization of data → Apple Health will export data from the watch to the standard Health app on the iPhone.
• ⏱ Set the sync interval: Every hour (for accurate tracking) or Once a day (for battery savings).

If the data is not synchronized:

1. Check that the watch is on sleep/step mode (in some models it turns off after the update).
2. Restart the Mi Fitness app (remove it from multitasking).
3. Turn off and turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone again.

Solving common problems

Even with the right connection, iPhone users often encounter errors.-5 problems and solutions:

If the Xiaomi watch is not determined when you first connect:

1. Make sure they are at least 50% charged (at low charge, the Bluetooth module shuts down).
2. Try connecting via another device (Android smartphone or tablet) and then back to your iPhone.
3. Reset the clock settings: on the Mi Band, this is done via Settings → Reset (5 clicks on the touch button).

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If none of these methods worked, check to see if your corporate Wi-Fi (such as your office) is blocking your connection to Xiaomi servers. Try connecting via mobile internet (4G/5G).

Another common problem with the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro and Amazfit GTR 4 is that heart rate monitoring is not working, because iOS is restricting access to health sensors to fix:

1. Open Mi Fitness and go to Profile → Privacy Settings.
2. Enable permission to access health data.
3. Restart the clock and wait for the synchronization to re-run (it can take up to 30 minutes).

Additional settings and life hacks

To unlock the full potential of Xiaomi’s iPhone watches, take advantage of these tips:

• 🎨 Change of dial: In Mi Fitness go to Profile → Your device. → Dials. There are over 100 free options available for the Mi Band 8, and animated themes for the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro.
• 🏃 Training without phone: Enable exercise mode → Settings → Store data on the device, and then the watch will record the route and pulse even without connecting to the iPhone.
• 🔔 Alarm clock with vibration: Set the alarm in the Mi Fitness app → The vibration of the clock will wake you up without disturbing others.
• 🔋 Battery savings: Turn off the Hand Raise for Activation and the Constantly Active Screen (if any) This will increase the life from 5 to 10-14 days.

For owners of Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro there is a hidden feature: Spotify support (despite the limitations of iOS).

1. Install Spotify on your iPhone and log in.
2. In Mi Fitness, go to Music → Connect Spotify.
3. Select a playlist for offline playback (tracks will be loaded onto the clock the next time you sync).

⚠️ Note: Music can only be listened to through Bluetooth headphones connected directly to the watch!

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If you are swimming, remember to turn on Pool Mode in the watch settings. This will turn off the touch screen and prevent accidental taps. After training, dry the device and dump water through Settings → Water Reset (available on Mi Band 7/8 and Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro).

Alternative applications for connection

The official Mi Fitness app doesn’t always work well on iOS. If you’re facing persistent communication interruptions or lack of features, try alternatives:

• 📱 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (App Store) – Expands notification options, adds support for WhatsApp and Telegram with text display messages.
• 🔄 Mi Bandage (requires jailbreak) – allows you to customize the interface of the watch, add new dials and even change fonts.
• 📊 HealthFit syncs data from Mi Fitness with Apple Health and Google Fit bypassing restrictions.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party apps, turn off automatic sync in Mi Fitness to avoid conflicts:

• 🚫 Subscription required (e.g. Notify & Fitness is free for the first 7 days only).
• 🔒 Request access to contacts and messages (check permissions in iPhone Settings) → Confidentiality).
• 📉 Reduce battery life due to additional background processes.

For Amazfit (like GTR 4 or GTS 4), it’s best to use the official Zepp app, but with one caveat: Before connecting to your iPhone, reset your clock to factory settings via Settings → System → Reset. This will eliminate conflicts with previous Android connections.

FAQ: Frequent questions