How to Connect Xiaomi Smartwatches to Samsung Phone: A Complete Guide to Error Solutions

The synchronization of Xiaomi smartwatches with Samsung phones often raises questions among users – despite the popularity of both brands, their ecosystems are not always perfectly compatible. If you have purchased a fitness bracelet Mi Band, smart watch Amazfit or model from the line Xiaomi Watch, but your smartphone runs on One UI (Samsung's firmware, this guide will help avoid common mistakes. Let's look at all the steps from preparing devices to fine-tuning notifications and solving connection problems.

The main difficulty lies in the differences in Bluetooth protocols and manufacturers’ limitations: for example, Samsung Health does not support Xiaomi devices, and the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) can conflict with the energy-saving settings of Galaxy phones. We tested compatibility on Mi Band models 7/8, Amazfit GTR 4 Xiaomi Watch S3 with Samsung Galaxy phones S23 Ultra, A54 Z Flip 5 — All the solutions in the article are relevant for firmware One UI 5.1/6.0 and MIUI 14/15.

1. Preparation of devices before connection

Before you start syncing, make sure both gadgets meet the minimum requirements. For Xiaomi watches and Samsung phones, it is critical:

• 📱 Android Version: Not Lower 8.0 (for the Mi Band 6/7) or 9.0 (Xiaomi Watch S2/S3 and Amazfit. Check the settings. → The phone. → Android version.
• 🔄 Updates: Install the latest security patches on Samsung (via Settings) → Software Update. For hours, update the firmware through the proprietary app.
• 🔋 Battery charge: The watch must have at least 50% charge, the phone 30% charge.
• 📶 Network and geolocation: Enable Mobile data or Wi-Fi, as well as Geodata (necessary to activate certain features, such as weather).

Pay special attention to permissions: Samsung aggressively restricts background activity of apps. → Annexes → Mi Fitness/Amazfit and allow:

• 🔘 Auto-start
• 🔘 Background work
• 🔘 Accurate location determination
• 🔘 Notifications (enable Show without sound)

⚠️ Note: If your Samsung is powered on Power Saving or Battery Optimization, the watch may be turned off via a powered device. 10-15 Add the Mi Fitness app to the exceptions: Settings → Maintenance of the device → Battery → Background constraints.

2. Selecting the Right Application for Connection

The key mistake users make is trying to use Samsung Health or Google Fit to sync with Xiaomi, which is incompatible. You'll need one of the official apps:

After you install the app, don't start it right away.

1. Reboot your Samsung phone (this will reset the Bluetooth cache).
2. Turn off Bluetooth for 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
3. Remove from the phone memory all previously paired Xiaomi devices (in Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth).

3. Step-by-step connection instruction

Consider the process on the example of Mi Band 8 and Samsung Galaxy phone S23. For other models, the steps are similar, but the names of menu items may differ.

Install the Mi Fitness app|Enable Bluetooth and Geodata|Remove old devices from your phone’s memory|Charge the clock to 50%+|Reboot the phone.-->

Launch of the annex and registration:

Open Mi Fitness and sign in to Xiaomi (or create a new one). If you already have a Mi Account, use it, it will make it easier to synchronize data. In the region selection phase, specify "Russia" (for Mi Band 8). NFC This is critical, otherwise contactless payment will not work).

Addition of the device:

Click Profile. → Add a device and select your model from the list. if there is no model (for example, for Xiaomi Watch). S3), Update the app or download the beta version from APKCombo.

Bluetooth interface:

It'll appear on the clock screen. QR-code 6-Hold the phone up a distance. 5-10 See, wait for the automatic connection. If the process is stuck in the "Device Search" phase":

• 🔄 Restart Bluetooth on your phone.
• 📴 Hold the button on the clock for 10 seconds to reset (for Mi Band – touch the sensor 3 times in a row).
• 📲 Remove the Mi Fitness app cache in Settings → Annexes → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

Permit settings:

After successful connection, the application will request additional permissions:

• 📁 Access to files – required for exporting training data.
• 📞 Phone – to display incoming calls on the clock.
• 📩 Notifications – Allow access to SMS messenger.
• 🏃 Physical activity – synchronize steps with Google Fit.

⚠️ Note: On Samsung phones with One UI 6.0 after granting permissions, be sure to return to the application settings and turn on the option "Show over other windows." Otherwise, notifications will arrive with a delay.

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If Xiaomi watches are not defined by Samsung phone, try connecting via Developer Mode. Enable it in Settings → The phone. → Build number (click 7 times), then activate Debugging over Bluetooth in Developer Settings.

4. Solving typical connection problems

Even when you set it up properly, users are faced with errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative method of connecting through the Notify & Fitness for Mi Band app (available on Google Play).

• 🔔 Advanced notifications (with emojis and action buttons).
• 📊 Exporting data to Google Fit and Apple Health.
• 🔧 Setting up vibration and screen illumination.

5. Set up notifications and fitness features

After the successful connection, we will configure key features to make Xiaomi watches work with Samsung as efficiently as possible.

Notifications:

1. In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Notifications.
2. Turn on the "Incoming Calls" and "Applications" switch.
3. Select the messengers you want to see on your watch (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber).
4. Set up Vibration and Screen Lighting (we recommend setting 3 seconds to save battery).

Fitness tracker:

• 🏃 Stepmer: Include in Profile → Steps and set a goal (recommended 8000 steps to start with).
• 💤 Sleep: Activate Automatic Monitoring and set the alarm clock with a smart wake-up.
• 🚴 Exercise: Add activities to your Profile → Training. → My types (running, cycling, swimming, etc.).

Additional functions:

• 🌡️ Weather: To display weather on the clock, turn on GeoData and allow the app to access location.
• 🎵 Music Management: In Profile → Select the default player (such as Spotify or YouTube Music).
• 🔒 Screen lock: Set up phone unlock through the clock in Profile → Unlocking the device (Mi Account required).

⚠️ Note: On Samsung phones with One UI 5.1+ Search for Watches (via the app) may not work due to the limitations of Google Play Services. Use third-party apps like Bluetooth Scanner to search for your watch.

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For stable notifications on Samsung, be sure to turn off battery optimization for the Mi Fitness app and add it to the Not Optimize exceptions.

6.Sync with Samsung Health and Google Fit

By default, data from Xiaomi watches is not transferred to Samsung Health, but it can be exported via Google Fit:

1.In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → Settings → Synchronization of data.

2. Connect your Google account and enable sync with Google Fit.

3.In the Samsung Health app, go to Settings → Connected services and add Google Fit.

4. Select the types of data to import: steps, sleep, exercise, pulse.

Limitations:

• ❌ Blood oxygen levels (SpO₂) Not transferred to Samsung Health.
• ❌ Training is imported without detail (e.g. running route).
• ✅ Steps and sleep are synchronized.

For full sync, use the Health Sync (Google Play) app, which allows you to:

• 🔄 Transfer data between Google Fit, Samsung Health and Apple Health.
• 📊 Keeping history for any period.
• ⚡ Automatically synchronize data every 3 hours.

7. Battery and energy optimization

Xiaomi watches and Samsung phones may clash over different energy-saving approaches to extend battery life:

On the phone:

• 🔋 Turn off the Adaptive Battery for Mi Fitness in Settings → Maintenance of the device → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
• 📴 Enable "Always Active Bluetooth" in Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → Additionally.
• 🔄 Set the data synchronization interval no more than 1 time per hour (in the application settings).

On the clock:

• 🌙 Reduce the brightness of the screen to 50-60%.
• ⏱️ Turn off "Lift to Activate" (if not necessary).
• 🔔 Reduce the vibration time of notifications to 1 second.

If the battery of the watch is discharged for 1-2 day, check it out:

• 🔍 Background Processes: In Mi Fitness, disable unnecessary options (e.g., Weather or Currency Course").
• 📡 Bluetooth signal: Keep your phone and watch no more than 10 meters away.A weak signal increases power consumption.
• 🔄 Software updates: Outdated firmware can cause excessive battery consumption.

8. Alternative ways of connecting (without official applications)

If the official Xiaomi apps are not working consistently, try third-party solutions:

1.Notify & Fitness for Mi Band app:

Supports all Mi Band and Amazfit models, offers advanced notification and widget settings.

• 🔔 Support for action buttons in notifications (e.g., “Respond” or “Delete").
• 📊 Exporting data to Google Sheets.
• 🎨 Customization of dials (even for models without official support).

2. Gadgetbridge (for advanced users):

Open-source application with support for Mi Band 1-8, Amazfit and other devices:

• 🔧 Bypass manufacturer restrictions (e.g. include SpO₂ loose-leaf).
• 📥 Install custom firmware.
• 🛠️ Set up hidden parameters (for example, pulse scanning frequency).

Cons: complex interface, no Russian language, possible bugs.

3. Tools & Mi Band:

A utility for fine-tuning the watch.

• 🔄 Forced data synchronization.
• 🔊 Setting the volume of the alarm clock.
• 📱 Reset hours to factory settings without a phone.

⚠️ Warning: When using third-party apps, disable official Xiaomi software to avoid conflicts. Do not install custom firmware on the watch if you are not sure of your skills - this can lead to "bricking" of the device.

FAQ: Frequent questions