How to connect Xiaomi Mi Band 3 to a smartphone: full instructions with photos and tips

Why do you need to sync Mi Band 3 with a smartphone?

The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 fitness bracelet, released in 2018, is still popular with users due to its functionality and availability. However, without the right connection to the phone, the device turns into a regular electronic watch with a pedometer. Synchronization with a mobile application unlocks the full potential of the gadget, from call notifications to sleep monitoring and heart rate control.

Many owners have difficulty connecting for the first time — the bracelet is not detected by the phone, the app emits errors, or the data is not synchronized. In this article, we will discuss all the stages of setting up for Android and iOS, as well as consider typical problems and their solutions. We will pay special attention to compatibility with modern versions of operating systems (Android). 13/14, iOS 16/17), The official support of the Mi Band 3 has been discontinued, but the device continues to operate through workarounds.

Requirements for phone and bracelet before connection

Before you start syncing, make sure your device meets the minimum requirements. For the Mi Band 3, the following conditions apply:

• 📱 Operating system of the phone: Android 5.0+ or iOS 9.0+. In practice, stable work is observed starting with Android 7.0 and iOS 11.
• 🔋 Bracelet charge: at least 20%. At low battery level, connection may be interrupted.
• 📶 Bluetooth: version 4.0 or later. The phone must have Bluetooth enabled and permission to use geodata (for Android).
• 📲 Free space: at least 100 MB on the phone to install the application and data cache.

Important: if you use an iPhone, note that the functionality of Mi Band 3 on iOS is limited compared to Android. For example, there is no support for notifications from third-party applications (calls and SMS only).

⚠️ Note: If your phone is running on Android 12+ or iOS 15+, Before connecting, turn off battery optimization for the Mi Fit application. Otherwise, sync will be interrupted when the screen is locked.

Installation and configuration of the Mi Fit application

The official Mi Band 3 management app is Mi Fit (developer: Huami), although a new version called Zepp Life is available on Google Play and the App Store, Mi Band 3 still requires Mi Fit (version 4.6.0 and higher) and can be downloaded directly from the following links:

• 🤖 Mi Fit for Android
• 🍎 Mi Fit for iOS

After installation, follow the following steps:

1. Open the app and select the language (English or Russian is recommended – other localizations may not work properly).
2. Click Sign up or Sign in if you already have a Xiaomi account. You will need to provide an email or phone number to register.
3. Install China in the Profile → Settings → Region (this will avoid synchronization problems in some regions).
4. Return to the main screen and click Add Device (+ icon in the upper right corner).

Install Mi Fit (version 4.6.0+)| Register Xiaomi| Select China Region | Enable Bluetooth and geolocation | Charge bracelet to 50%+

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If the app requests access to contacts, notifications or fitness data, be sure to provide permissions. Without this, the bracelet will not be able to display incoming calls and messages.

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If you register with Mi Fit and you fail to connect to the server, try using a VPN with a connection to servers in China or Singapore, due to Xiaomi’s regional restrictions.

Step-by-step instructions for connecting Mi Band 3 to the phone

When the Mi Fit app is ready to go, you can start syncing with the bracelet.

1. Activation of the bracelet: Put the Mi Band 3 on your hand and tap the touch button below the screen. Flick down to More (more) and select Pair (patch). The bracelet will display a 4-digit code — remember or write it down.
2. Search for the device in Mi Fit: In the app, click Add Device → Bracelet → Mi Smart Band 3. Click Connect and wait for the phone to find the bracelet (can take up to 30 seconds). When the Mi Band 3 appears in the list, select it.

Confirmation of connection:

• On the phone screen, a request will appear to enter the code from the bracelet - specify those 4 digits that you saw earlier.
• After successful pairing, the bracelet vibrates, and the main menu with the device data will be displayed in the application.

If the bracelet is not detected, try the following steps:

• 🔄 Reboot the Mi Band 3 (press the touch button for 10 seconds until the Mi logo appears).
• 📵 Turn off and turn on Bluetooth on your phone again.
• 🚫 Make sure the bracelet is not connected to another device (in the More menu) → Disconnect on the Mi Band 3 itself).

Configure notifications and basic functions

Once you've successfully connected, you need to configure notifications, dial and tracking settings.

1. Notifications: In Mi Fit, go to Profile → Mi Smart Band 3 → Notifications. Enable switches for calls, SMS and apps (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram). On Android, additionally allow Mi Fit to access notifications in the system settings (Settings → Applications → Mi Fit → Notifications).
2. Dials: From the bracelet menu in Mi Fit, select Display → Dial Style. Download your favorite (~10 free dials available). For iOS, use third-party apps like Amazfit Watchfaces (requires registration).

Activity tracking:

• Turn on heart rate monitoring (heart → automatic monitoring).
• Set your goals by steps (Goals → Steps, 8000-10,000 per day is recommended).
• Activate sleep tracking (Sleep → Auto-tracking).

⚠️ Warning: Don't interrupt the firmware update process! If the bracelet "hangs" on the Mi logo after a failed firmware, reset: press the touch button for 20 seconds, then connect to charging for 1 hour. 90% of the time this restores performance.

Alternative applications for Mi Band 3

The official Mi Fit app doesn’t always suit users because of limited functionality, especially on iOS.

• 📱 Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (Android):
• 🍎 Mi Band Master (iOS/Android):
• 🖥️ Gadgetbridge (Android, open source):