How to connect Xiaomi smart watches to Samsung phone: full instructions with error solutions

Synchronizing Xiaomi smartwatches with Samsung phones is a task that at first glance seems simple, but often comes with technical nuances. Despite the fact that both brands run on Android, the differences in shells (MIUI vs One UI) and manufacturer restrictions can create obstacles. This article will help you understand how to properly connect the Mi Band 7/8, Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro or other models to Galaxy S23, A54 and others, avoiding typical errors.

The main problem is that Samsung is actively promoting its own Galaxy Wearable ecosystem by blocking some of the features of third-party devices. However, with the right approach, you can achieve full-fledged notifications, health monitoring and even music management.

1. Device compatibility: what Xiaomi watches work with Samsung

Before you start connecting, it's important to make sure your watch model is supported by a Samsung phone.Most modern Xiaomi devices are compatible with Android 6.0+, but there are nuances:

• 🔹 Mi Band 3/4/5/6/7/8 — Full compatibility, but require Mi Fitness (formerly Mi Fit)
• 🔹 Xiaomi Watch S1/S2 watch 2 Pro – working through Zepp Life, but may have trouble with notifications on One UI 5.0+
• 🔹 Amazfit GTR/GTS (Xiaomi subbrand – best synchronized, but require a separate Zepp app
• 🔹 Redmi Watch 2/3 — Budget models with limited functionality on Samsung

On devices with One UI 4.0 and later (such as the Galaxy S22 or Z Fold 4), you may need to manually adjust permissions for Xiaomi applications, since the system by default limits the background activity of third-party programs.

Important: On Samsung phones with Android 13+ Xiaomi applications can be automatically closed by the system 10-15 minutes after curtailment, which leads to loss of communication with the watch. UI.

2.Preparing Samsung phone for connection

Before you connect the watch, you need to configure the smartphone to avoid synchronization problems.

Disable battery optimization for Mi Fitness/Zepp

Allow auto-launch of the application

Include notifications for the annex

Update Bluetooth to the latest version

Reboot your phone after the changes-->

Detailed instructions for setting up:

1. Battery Optimization Disabled: Go to Settings → Device Maintenance → Battery → Battery Settings → Applications Not Optimized for Battery. Add Mi Fitness or Zepp. On One UI 5.1+, the path may be different: Settings → Applications → [Select App] → Battery → Optimize Battery Use → Disable.
2. AutoRun permission: In Settings → Applications → [Select App] → Permissions → AutoRun enable option. This will allow the application to run in the background.
3. Set up notifications: Go to Settings → Notifications → Additional settings → Notifications from apps and turn on all the switches for Mi Fitness/Zepp.

⚠️ Note: On some Samsung models (e.g. Galaxy) A33 or A52s) after upgrading to One UI 5.0 may miss the "Out-Start" option in the settings. ADB-warranty:

adb shell dumpsys deviceidle whitelist +com.xiaomi.hm.health/com.xiaomi.hm.health.service.PushService

This command adds the Mi Fitness app to the whitelist of system optimization. For Zepp, replace the package with com.huami.watch.hmwatchmanager.

3. Official connection via Mi Fitness/Zepp

The most reliable way is to use official applications. Consider the process with the example of Mi Band 8 and Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro:

For the Mi Band (all models)

1. Download Mi Fitness from Google Play (don’t use APKs from third-party sites!).
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi/Mi Account.
3. Click "Add device" and select your watch model.
4. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and wait for the device to be discovered.
5. Confirm the pairing on the watch (press the button or touch the screen).

For Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro / Amazfit

1. Install Zepp Life (link).
2. Sign in via Zepp Account (you can use Mi Account to link).
3. Select "Add device" → "Clock" → your model.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen. In the synchronization phase, you may need to allow access to contacts and SMS (required for notifications).

Typical errors when connecting:

• 🚫 "Unable to connect – check if Bluetooth is on both devices and if there are no active devices VPN.
• 🚫 "Device not found" - restart the clock (press the button for 10 seconds) and phone.
• 🚫 "Server Error – Try changing the Xiaomi account region to Russia or Singapore in your profile settings.

💡

If the clock is not set, try connecting via another app – Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (requires root or scaling). ADB-permissions on new versions of Android).

4. Alternative ways of connecting (without official applications)

If official methods do not work (for example, due to regional restrictions or server errors), you can use third-party solutions:

1 Notify and Fitness for Mi Band

This app allows you to bypass the limitations of Mi Fitness and configure advanced features:

1. Download Notify & Fitness from Google Play.
2. Turn on the Developer Mode on the watch (for this, click on the firmware version number in Mi Fitness 5 times).
3. In the application, select "Connect new device" and follow the instructions.
4. For full access, perform ADB-team:

adb shell pm grant com.mc.miband1 android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

Method 2: Mi Band Master (for advanced users)

This app gives you more control over settings, but requires manual adjustment:

• 🔧 Allows you to change the vibrations, screen colors and notification order.
• 🔧 Supports custom firmware for Mi Band.
• 🔧 Requires disabling battery optimization and permissions for WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party apps, the warranty on Xiaomi watches may be canceled.In addition, on Samsung with Knox, some features (such as unlocking the screen) may not work due to security restrictions.

5. Notification setting and data synchronization

Once connected successfully, it’s time to set up notifications and health syncs, and Samsung phones have their own unique features:

Notifications from annexes

1. In Mi Fitness/Zepp, go to Device Profile → Notifications.
2. Turn on the "Call and Message Notifications" switch.
3. Select applications that must be duplicated by the clock (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail).
4. On Samsung, check it out further: 📱 B Settings → Notifications → Additional settings → Notifications on the locked screen turn on the notifications display. 📱 In the settings of each application (for example, Telegram) allow "Show notifications".

Synchronization with Samsung Health

Unfortunately, direct synchronization between Mi Fitness and Samsung Health is not possible, but there are workarounds:

• 🔄 Use Google Fit as an intermediary: In Mi Fitness, connect your Google Fit account (Profile) → Settings → Accounts. At Samsung Health, go to Settings → Connected services → Google Fit and sync data.

Health Sync

6. Solving common problems

Even after a successful connection, Samsung users often encounter errors, and consider the most common ones and how to fix them:

Battery problem: If the watch is discharged in 1-2 days after connecting to Samsung, check:

• 🔋 Data synchronization frequency (in Mi Fitness set the interval at least 30 minutes).
• 🔋 Turn off the "Constant pulse" in the clock settings if you are not using it.
• 🔋 Update the firmware to the latest version (via the official app).